Chapter 1

I prodded at my food, pushing it from one side of my plate to the other. All around me were discussions regarding the kingdom and what changes could possibly be made. I had tuned out from them only minutes after the dinner had began. I chased a tomato across the plate, flinching when it shot over the edge and bounced off the table onto the floor. I risked glancing up and with a sheepish smile, noticed only Amdor, best friend to my father, watching me. But instead of frowning, like my mother and father would have done, I saw the corner of his lips twitch with laughter. I could feel the blood rushing through my cheeks and ducked my head.

A gentle elbow prodded my side. I glanced over and saw my lady in waiting and my own best friend, Tari, leaning towards me.

“Pay attention,” she warned.

With a sigh, I sat up straight in my chair and with a deep breath to help wake me up, I turned to my parents.

They were deep in discussion with Taurnil, a member of the council. They were discussing the relations between the neighboring Kingdom of Orelis and my Kingdom, Reelik.

“It has been many years, your Majesty’s, since the Great War. The council simply feels that if we were to reach out to them, align ourselves with them, we would be so much stronger. An alliance would increase our stronghold-”

“Our land, you mean?” my father asked in his deep voice. I was used to it, as I have heard his voice since the day of my birth, but I do notice when my father is introduced to someone, they often cringe at the deepness of his voice. Of course I knew it wasn’t my father’s voice one had to worry about. I loved my father, as he did me, and I knew he would never hurt me, but if anyone were to come against my father, they would have difficulties. He stood over six feet tall and he was built to fight. His hands alone were callused from years of weapon training. There wasn’t a weapon my father didn’t know how to wield. Of course, he had never turned his training against me. I was, after all, his daughter. But there was a reason he was the King.

I must have missed part of the conversation because it was no longer a pleasant conversation.

“I have heard talk that the council does not simply wish to ally with the Orelisians but rather, to take them over. To take their land, their people, their identity. What would you say to this Taurnil?”

Taurnil laughed but I saw something in his face that was unsettling. Taurnil’s blue eyes flashed to me but I didn’t lower my eyes. This was something that finally caught my interest.

“I don’t know where you hear such things Your Majesty,” he said, keeping eye contact with me, which I thought was a tad strange. “The council just wants to make our kingdom the strongest we possibly can.”

It was my mother who spoke next and when she did the whole table fell silent. “The two kingdoms have lived next to each other since before our history can recall. There has only been the one war, which had begun under false pretenses and since then, there has been a peace. This alliance you speak of, Taurnil, already exists. So why, I wonder, would the council push this unless it is true what my husband says and you truly do wish to take them over.”

My mother was the Queen of Reelik, the true ruler. The royal bloodline always passes through the females. The men marry in and are given the title King, but the true power comes from the Queens and the Princesses. That was why when my mother spoke, all listened.

I had always thought my mother was the most beautiful person in the world. I had her hair, the same golden curls that fell to our waist, but where she had beautiful pale blue eyes, I had my father’s, a green the color of emeralds or jade. My mother was tall and slender, a common look among our people, but there was a power to my mother that made her stand tall and proud. However there was a difference between my mother and me. When I was born, the entire kingdom had been shocked. I was the first in the history of our kingdom since the first Queen, or so my mother had told me, to be born with dual colored eyes. Outside of my emerald irises was a circle of gold, the same color as my hair. I had attracted a lot of attention because of this, so my mother and father both decided it was for my own good to be confined to the palace grounds. People had travelled from all over our kingdom to see the child born with dual colored eyes..

“Princess Isilwen,” a voice came from next to me.

I jumped in my chair and turned, finding Amdor had moved to sit next to me. I had been paying such close attention to the conversation that I hadn’t noticed anything else in the room.

“You startled me,” I whispered, laughing slightly at my thumping heart. My hand rose to my throat, cupping it as I controlled my breathing.

“My apologies,” he chuckled. “Did you enjoy your dinner?”

I nodded, but looked down and noticed I had barely touched any of it. I glanced back up at Amdor and smiled again, trying to hide the blush that I hadn’t eaten any of my dinner. Amdor was the only one I had ever met with bright red eyes. It fit though with his pitch black hair that he kept cut just above his ears. He always dressed to match, his tunics were black with red trimming. I had heard from my parents once or twice that his look was intimidating to other council members. I had never seen him that way though, he was family to me.

“How are your lessons coming along?” he asked me.

I had known Amdor my entire life. He had grown up with my father and while my father was busy becoming King, Amdor had rose to be the leader of the council. He joined us at our dinners, came with us to the parties we attended and had been known to be my escort to balls more than once. My parents both felt I was too young to find myself a consort, so I would enter on his arm.

I took a sip of my water and nodded once more. “They are going well.”

He smiled ruefully, “Tell the truth now.”

I laughed, “They bore me.”

He laughed and nodded. “But they are necessary, so chin up.”

I smiled and looked up at him. There was something in his face that I was unsure of. He lifted his hand from his lap and patted my hand gently, his fingers trailing over my wrist. I frowned, and cleared my throat, lowering my hand to my own lap.

A corner of his lip turned up as though laughing at me. I saw my mother catch his eye then and he rose from his seat. “I have something I wish to discuss with you Princess, do you think you can meet me tonight?”

Taken aback, I frowned again, “I’m not sure. As you are aware, I am constantly under watch from my guards.”

He nodded, “I am sure you can find a way to slip away.”

I was confused. Amdor had never encouraged me to leave the company of my guards. And he had never asked me to meet him privately before. I shrugged then and nodded, “I suppose I could try.”

He bowed and lifted my hand to his mouth. His pressed his lips against the back of my hand, his eyes lingering on my face. Heat rose to my cheeks again and I gently withdrew my hand from his grasp.

“Until tonight, then, Princess.”

I nodded once and returned to the conversation my parents were having with Taurnil. They had changed the topic and moved on to discuss the upcoming ball that was being prepared.

“We have invited all the Lords and Ladies of the court. It’s customary of course that they attend. Eventually when the Princess is old enough, we will hold a ball in her honor in order for her to meet the eligible nobles so she can pick a consort.”

I grimaced at the thought of being showcased in the Hall. With a sigh I lowered my head. Tari had returned to her seat and she continued to pick at her plate, paying attention to some discussion two members of the council were having.

I looked up then and across the dining hall. There were two guards placed at each door, but I felt my attention being drawn to a specific doorway. Almost as though someone was calling my name. My eyes travelled to the arch behind my parent’s chairs and there I saw him. Our eyes met and it wasn’t like it was with Amdor. I didn’t feel my cheeks flush, but my heart fluttered. He was looking directly at me with wide eyes, his lips parted slightly. He didn’t have the usual bored look of the guards, he looked like he had been struck with something.

I immediately glanced away, my heart pounding erratically in my chest. I steadied my breathing and risked another glance. He was still looking at me but now his lips had turned up into the most charming smile I had seen, it took my breath away. His eyes were so warm and so inviting. My eyes travelled over his broad shoulders and slim waist, narrow hips and long legs. I dragged them back up to his face and saw him smile again. I smiled back, lowering my eyes to the table again.

“What is wrong with you?” Tari whispered.

I saw her look behind me and a knowing smile tugged her lips. “Who is that?”

“Stop looking,” I murmured, hoping no one else was paying attention to us.

“He is handsome,” she giggled.

“Stop it Tari!” I growled.

She was watching me now and I felt my cheeks flush again.

“Is he still looking over here?” I asked.

“Oh yes,” she informed me, “Poor guy looks like he’s been hit over the head with a hammer.”

I couldn’t resist, I looked up once more and saw she was right, he was still staring intently at me.

I felt something pass between us the minute our eyes connected.

My mother pushed her chair back and I snapped my attention back to her, my heart beating erratically as I tried to regain control.

“Well, I think it is time for us to all continue on with our night.”

The council accepted their dismissal and bowed before leaving the dining hall.

I pushed to my feet also. “Goodnight mother,” I pressed a light kiss on both her and my father’s cheek. I was nervous. The guard was standing at the doorway I had to pass through. I flattened my dress down and with a shuddering breath I moved towards the arch behind them which was the way to my room.

When I passed him it was as though time itself had slowed. His eyes moved with me, taking in every step I made. I passed him, my skin vibrating with excitement. He bowed politely as I passed and I sucked in my bottom lip. I exited the dining hall and let out the breath I didn’t know I had been holding.

“Wow,” Tari said when she moved up next to me. “That sure was something. I think he likes you.”

I laughed, “He’s a guard, the only thing he cares about is keeping us safe.”

Tari shook her head, “None of the other guards were watching you like he was.”

“Stop,” I said.

“Well, you seem to like him,” she said, ignoring my order.

I sighed, remembering how inviting his eyes were.

“Goodnight,” I said at my door.

Tari bowed to me, her eyes glowing mischievously, “Goodnight Issi.”

I lay in my bed restless after changing into my nightwear and combing out my hair. Every time I shut my eyes I could see that guard staring at me. I knew I was being ridiculous, he was a guard. They never felt anything but protective towards the royal line. And even if it was possible that I had caught his attention, it didn’t matter. It was forbidden for a Princess to be with anyone but a noble. Pushing him out of my thoughts, I finally fell to sleep, but the whole night I had the strangest dreams that I couldn’t remember when I woke up.