Author's Note: For those familiar with my work, you'll find this is romance to be a little quicker then my other works. Hopefully, it will still be believable. Also, it's rated M for adult language and situations. Don't forget to leave feedback for me.

The city of Goutine was within sight, and it wouldn’t be long before the escorts were relieved of their ward. Princess Charday was to be married to King Ilgar’s son in three days, but with the war ongoing, it was decided it would be safer for her to leave for her new home early. Unfortunately, the early departure didn’t fool for them for long, and they had been attacked several times on their way.

Pryene was the princess’ personal guard, as they had gone up together, and she would be remaining in Goutine with Charday. Pryene was from a race of human called the Zsusanu, which claimed to embrace their inner beings, and had no use for gods. They were strange in appearance as they had two different hair colors. Pryene had white hair on top, and a hidden dark red layer that could clearly be seen when she wore her hair up. Her eyes were also inhuman as for a majority of the time they were either a dark silver or gold color. The Zsusanu had the ability to remove all color from their eyes allowing them to see in the dark by seeing the heat that living creatures give off.

Though the Zsusanu were a peaceful race, they were fierce warriors. Masters of martial arts, as well as swords. Pryene, however, never had any formal training with her people. Her grandfather was saved by a man who would one day become the King of Aluke. The Zsusanu have a scared belief, that states if someone goes out of their way to save your own life, your family line is indebted to them for five generations. Pryene was the third generation tasked to uphold this oath.

Though her father had married another Zsusanu, and therefore gave birth to pure blood children. Pryene knew that would prove to be a difficult task for her, so far away from Aluke. When she was ready, she would have to send word to a relative in Zsusa that she was in need of a mate. It was imperative for her to continue her family’s bloodline and bare children to serve Charday’s. If not, she would shame not only her family but her people.

Riding in front of the carriage, she stared quietly into the horizon. Her brother Faraji rode beside her, his hair the same as her own, but he kept it short to show of the bi-coloring. Most Zsusanu do so, even the females, but Pryene preferred her hair long.

Speaking in Zsusan so that the others could not listen in, Faraji grinned and began to speak. “We are almost there.”

Pryene nodded, and looked back at the thirty some guards that had been tasked to bring the princess here. “So we are.” She swallowed deeply before turning her head back to the approaching city.

“Do you fear the coming change?”

“I worry about the unknown, yes. I do not believe I fear it.” Pryene sighed. Though neither of them were trained in Zsusa, their parents had ensured that they knew the ways of their people. Serene thoughts, seek knowledge, remain open minded, and listen always were just part of their everyday lives.

“You should not worry yourself. This is a learning experience, a time to live among a different culture, a different people.” Faraji reminded her of the words, her own mother had spoken when they left.

“I suppose, but I have heard that the southern counties do not care much for our kind.”

“Do not judge before you have seen for yourself, and when you have, still do not judge.” He spoke the old saying of their people.

Pryene nodded, “Yes, I must remember that always. See, this is why I worry. I am not trained fully in the ways of our people. Who will advise me?”

“You must teach yourself, be your own mentor, your own reminder of our customs and our beliefs. Mother nor father believed that you are ready, Pryene, otherwise they would of never let you come.”

“I am bound to Charday, they had to let me leave.”

He shrugged, “There are other children at the castle that you could be place in charge of.”

With a deep breath, Pryene looked up at the large gates of Goutine’s walls. “I shall accept my fate and find strength when I need it.”

Faraji grinned at her, as the captain of the guard spoke to the sentinels. After a moment, the gates were lifted and they began their journey into the heart of the city.

Everyone within was excited to see that the princess had arrived. They gathered along the sides of the road, and threw flowers at the carriage, as well as welcomes. Several times, Charday’s white gloves hand would appear from her window and dropped a handful of gold coins. It was a custom of her people for the nobles to show generosity when first entering a city.

---

“Princess Charday is on her way to the castle, milord.” Adrian kneeled down in front of the king, who was sitting in his throne.

The room was filled with guards, generals, and advisors. The king was an elder man in his fifties, but still as built as he had been when he was young. He grinned at the news. “Excellent, ensure she finds her way.”

“Yes, milord.” Adrian stood and began his way down the hall, waving several guards to come along with him.

They positioned themselves along the edge of the castle entrance. Adrian noticed that a large lock of his dark hair had fallen from it’s tie, and hurried fixed it before the carriage entered the castle’s courtyard. Afterwards, he checked to ensure that his armor was in good condition, though there was nothing that could have been done if it wasn’t.

The first thing that Adrian noticed was the two Zsusanu that lead the caravan. It caught his curiosity immediately, being a fourth himself, he had always been interested in their culture. Though his father had died when he was young, and had not been able to teach him much. His mother tried to tell him what she knew. It was something he did try to hide however, like the small patch of white at the back of his head, which he cut. He couldn’t hide that his left eye was silver, though it was mixed with the green that his other eye carried.

In all his life, he had never met a full blooded Zsusanu, and he prayed that they would stay long enough for him to speak with. With a shake of his head, he placed those thoughts in the back of his mind. His mission was to ensure that Princess Charday got the welcome she deserved, since Prince Edric was away for the rest of the day.

When the carriage stopped in front of the gates, he began the short journey down the stairs. The female Zsusanu dismounted her white horse, and opened the carriage door for the princess.

In a blue gown with white trim and gloves, Princess Charday stepped from the carriage. Her strawberry blonde hair in large curls, her body delicate. She held a smile on her face, as if she were pleased to be here. Adrian frowned when he noticed the small white dog in his right hand. The king did not allow pets within the castle, and knew this would cause tension. It wasn’t his place to say anything, so he only greeted her with a smile.

“Princess Charday, it is my most honorable duty to receive you. Please, come this way King Ilgar is awaiting you.” He extended his arm, and she laid her small hand upon the crook.

“Thank you, I am most anxious to meet him. I must admit.” Charday’s voice was soft and gentle.

Adrian grinned down at her as they walked up the stairs, “Between you and I, the entire castle is anxious to meet you. We do hope we live up to the standards by which you are accustomed to living.”

“From what I have seen of Goutine thus far, you have surpassed them.”

It was then that Adrian noticed the female Zsusanu following behind them. Her back straight and her hands folded behind her. There was no expression on her face, and she looked tense and alert. One other person walked behind them, though it wasn’t the other Zsusanu, but instead the captain of the guards.

Stepping into the castle, Charday gasped at it’s beauty. The walls were white like the outside of the castle had been, she had grown up in a gray stone castle. Beautiful paintings of previous kings and queens were hung along the walls, draped by purple velvet curtains.

“Stunning.” Charday mumbled, but kept up with Adrian as he lead her to the throne room.

Entering the throne room, everyone bowed to greet their new princess and future queen. Charday curtsied when she was within speaking distance of the gray haired king.

“Princess Charday, it is a distinct pleasure to welcome you here. I am only sorry that my son is away at the time.” King Ilgar stood from his throne, and took her hand.

“Please do not be sorry, I have received such a warm welcome from both the people and those in the castle. It feels like home already.” Charday patted his hand.

Ilgar grinned, “Speaking of home, Adrian will show you to your room. The wedding has already been taken care of. I was told that you were bringing servants, was this correct?”

“Yes, I have three ladies in waiting and. of course, my personal guard.” She gestured towards the Zsusanu behind her. Pryene was dressed in black leather pants, boots, and a top that showed a majority of her stomach. Her navel was pierce with a metal rod, and she carried a boomerang on her belt, along with two short swords and a dagger. On her back was two longer swords, she looked ready for battle.

Adrian was excited to hear that the Zsusanu would be staying.

Ilgar cleared his throat when the small dog barked, he looked down at it for a moment. “Are you certain that she is necessary?”

“It’s my dog, she won’t be of any trouble…”

“I meant the Zsusanu, I was aware that you were bringing a dog.”

Charday kept her smile, “Pryene has been with me since we were children. Surely, you want my adjustment to be as comfortable as possible.”

He nodded, “Of course.” The king’s eyes turned to Adrian, “Escort the princess to her room.”

Adrian bowed and offered his arm to the princess, who took it immediately. Upon turning around, he saw the three female servants holding Charday’s luggage. He walked past them and out into the hallway.

“I hope I did not upset the king.” Charday said after a moment.

“If you had, you would have been well aware.” Adrian said to reinsure her.

It remained silent until they reached her bedroom door, Adrian opened it for her and they both stepped inside. A bathing tub sat in the corner with thin silk curtains surrounding it, and the bed across the room was engulfed in the white silk. A fireplace and a small table and chairs stood closer to the bathtub.

“Lovely.” Charday said, as her servants went to work in putting away her clothing and other items that she had brought. “Thank you, Adrian.”

“It was my pleasure. A servant will inform you when dinner is ready or when Prince Edric returned, which ever occurs first.” He bowed and exited the room.

Pryene was positioned outside the door, and shut it when he stepped out. Without ever looking at him, she returned to guarding the door. Her face without emotion, and her eyes unquestioning of his presence.

Adrian stood silently beside her for a moment, trying to deicide if he wanted to speak to her now. He shook his head and began down the hall, he would let her adjust first before he started bombarding her with questions.

---

Once Adrian had been gone for what Charday thought was long enough, she opened the door and pulled Pryene in. Looking down at the short, petite princess, Charday threw herself onto the bed and sighed.

“It’s more beautiful then they could ever describe, isn’t it?” Charday smiled, and sat up to look at Pryene.

“I am glad to see that you are enjoying yourself.” Pryene responded and looked over at the servants who were finishing up their tasks.

“And if the king is any indication of what Edric will look like, then I am content. I have already heard that he is a kind man. That is all that I want.” She stood from the bed and walked over to the window to look over the city. “I am so excited, Pry!” She turned to her, and found that Pryene’s face did not hold the same excitement. “What is the matter, my dear friend?” Running around her bed, she took Pryene’s hands.

“I fear that I am already home sick, Charday. I am sorry, I don’t mean to ruin your day.”

The princess frowned, and brushed a stray lock of hair from Pryene’s face. “No, I am the one who should be sorry. You are my friend, and I never even asked you if you wanted to come with me to Goutine. Forgive me.”

“I would have come if you had asked, and I still feel this way. Nothing that you have done has caused me this grief. It’s just that… I do not know anyone, but you here. Nor am I comfortable with strangers.”

She grinned, “Don’t you worry, Pry! It’s always been my duty to introduce us into social situations.” She stood on her tip toes to hug her. “Of course, I don’t know how well I can help you with the guards. But Adrian seemed rather nice, didn’t he?”

“I suppose he was a likable sort.”

Charday playfully hit her arm, “Kind of odd looking though. I think one of his eyes were lighter then the other, did you notice?”

Pryene nodded, “Yes, it seemed to be that way.”

“Still handsome…”

“Don’t. You are to be a married woman soon. Leading a man on here, could get you in trouble, Charday.”

She stuck out her tongue and tossed herself back on the bed. “I know. I know.” Her eyes wandered behind Pryene when a knock came to the door.

One of the servant girls who was hanging up her dresses, opened the door revealing Adrian.

“Forgive me, milady.” He said without stepping into the room, “Prince Edric has returned and King Ilgar wishes for you to join them in the library for tea.”

“Did he return early?” Charday stood from the bed.

“Yes, milady.” Adrian bowed his head.

Charday walked past him with Pryene close behind her. Adrian tried to meet the Zsusanu’s eyes, but she never glanced at him.

“I don’t know how pleased the king will be if you bring your guard, milady.” Adrian told Charday as she took his arm.

“Pryene goes wherever I do, think of her more as my shadow.” Charday said with a smile, “And if he objects, then she can wait outside the library door.”

---

That was where Pryene and Adrian found themselves. The king had ordered them both out of the room, which had shocked Adrian to no end. Edric and he had grown up together, much in the same way that Pryene and Charday had. King Ilgar never sent him from the room, he was a trusted servant and knight. To satisfy his own pride, he decided that King Ilgar thought it was only fair to send both he and Pryene out, so that Charday would not be offended.

Looking at the woman standing across the hall from him, he shook his head. She had taken a soldier’s stance outside the door, while he leaned against the wall. Picking at the dirt under his nails for sometime, he kept glimpsing up at the Zsusanu.

Never had he imagined that they were so beautiful, if not aloof. Even the male he had seen had left him in a strange awe. He could clearly see the dark red hair in his hair as it mixed in with the white that she kept pulled back. Her muscles defined, her face slender, and she stood slightly taller then the average woman, though she still had curves if all the correct places.

“Pryene is it?” He finally asked, but she gave no response, only kept her eyes forward. “Your Zsusanu, correct? My grandfather was Zsusanu, though he married a human woman.” He cleared his throat when she didn’t reply again. If he thought the silence before was uncomfortable, now that he talked it is excruciating.

“I’ve always wanted to learn more about my Zsusanu ancestry. Seems that there aren’t many books on it, I read all that I can though.” Adrian tapped his thigh after he brought his foot up to rest on the wall behind him. “Have a little white patch of hair… I’d show it to you, but I cut it off.”

That got a reaction from her, for a brief moment her eyes left the distance and focused on him. As quickly as it had come, it vanished.

Adrian grinned, “I saw you look.” He teased, and when that had no effect, he stood up and walked to stand directly in front of her. “There you can’t help but look at me now.”

Pryene fought a grin, what an awry bastard, she thought.

He sighed, “Do you just not like me or are you not allowed to talk?” He didn’t know why, if any other woman would have ignored him, he would of walked away, but this one he wanted to speak to. It wasn’t that Zsusanu ancestry was all that important to him, after all he had gone thirty four years without knowing much.

Her eyes penetrated his chest, trying to ignore the man. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to answer him, but it was her duty to be silent and listen. If Charday needed her, she had to be ready to respond.

Suddenly Adrian took a step closer to her, he had gotten the urge to be annoying, though he had fought it initially. Holding out a finger, he slowly moved it towards her nose. She made no attempt to look at it, and stood perfectly still. Gently he placed the tip of his finger on her nose and began to move it from side to side.

Dropping his hand, he chuckled, and noticed that Pryene had almost smiled. “That’s just bizarre.”

Pryene finally turned her head to him, humor in her voice. “I would agree, a grown man playing with the nose of a woman he hardly knows.”

Adrian smiled, “I’ve done worse to women I hardly know.”

With nothing else said, she turned her eyes ahead of her again.

“Going to ignore me some more?”

“Yes.” She whispered after a moment.

Taking his position across from her, he once again leaned against the wall. “So, what do you think?”

Pryene didn’t try to ignore him this time, she looked up into his eyes.

“I’d like to know about my Zsusanu ancestry, think you could tell me…”

“Being Zsusanu is a way of life, it has nothing to do with blood. Even Charday could become one. Even if your grandfather was born unto us, you are not one of us.”

“So, you won’t tell me anything?” He didn’t even bother to become offended by her words.

“I would teach you if you actually wanted to become part of us, but all you care about is history of our people. I also have too many other duties.” She turned her head as the door opened.

Charday winked at her, a grin plastered across her face. She smiled at the young man who stepped out behind her. “I am so pleased to meet you, Edric.”

The dark haired man with broad shoulders, smiled back. Taking Charday’s hand into his own, he kissed her knuckles. “The pleasure was all mine, Charday.”

“I will see you at dinner then, I must prepare.”

“I shall hold my breath until then.” He released her hand, and watched her walk down the hallway, Pryene close behind.

King Ilgar shook his head, “You will need to control that charm once you are married son. She won’t appreciate it, if you do so with other women.”

Edric grinned.

“I am sorry that I sent you out, Adrian. I didn’t want to offend Charday or her guard.” Ilgar said looking up to him.

“There was no offense, milord. I understand.”

Ilgar nodded and returned to his study, and Edric grinned slyly at his friend. “I am… I can’t believe my father picked such a gem for me.”

Adrian chuckled.

“And she has a half naked guard, did you see that? Of course, you did, you were out here with her!” Edric wrapped his arm around Adrian’s shoulder as they walked down the hallway. “Wonder if I can talk Charday into letting her be in the room on our wedding night.”

“That’s perverse, Edric.” Adrian scolded.

“It was a jest.” The prince frowned, “Why do you like her?”

“I might try my hand.”

Edric laughed loudly, “She seemed a little tense to me. Might be a challenge.”

“I love a good challenge, besides I’ve got a way to get in close.” He watched the prince raise a questioning eyebrow. “She’s Zsusanu, and I’ve always been interested in their beliefs. Think I am going to get myself a mentor.” He winked.

“You cunning bastard.”