The courtyard stood silent, waiting for Laira’s answer.

  She drew in a long breath to steady herself, then smiled at the Prince. “I believe you have never been to Aldersthron before, my lord?”

  “No, Your Majesty.”

  Laira continued before he could push her into a worse situation, “You have been on the road for weeks, my lord. We have prepared suites with hot baths and refreshments for you and your people. Please enjoy Nanon’s hospitality. Once you are well-rested and refreshed, we can discuss matters of import.”

  Seeing she would not budge, the Prince nodded, then lifted a finger.

  “Allow me to first present you with a few gifts from my father.”

  At his signal, two more carriages rolled into the courtyard.

  Servants hurried to open the doors and began to withdraw their contents.

  Laira and the nobles found their breath stuck as the men took out roll after roll of silks dyed in various colors out of them. They stood in front of the pair, struggling to hold the weight.

  Tejas stepped closer to Laira.

  She took a step back.

  Halting in his tracks, he said barely above a whisper, “A small apology for the tragedy that happened on our lands. The Maharajah hopes our realms can stand together in such dire times.”

  She gave him a nod of acknowledgment, not risking showing the myriad of emotions roiling within her.

  He finally followed her into the castle, giving her perfunctory praise about Nanon. Once he and his entourage had been escorted into the wing reserved for them, she took a breath of relief.

  “That display of wealth will harden the stance of those opposing you, Your Majesty.” Ragenwald said. “They will be resentful if you refuse the Prince.”

  Laira didn’t reply.

  Her uncle watched her silently.

  That evening, fractured gold painted the main hall of Hohenburg castle as a feast was held in honor of Prince Tejas’s visit.

  Uncertainty, ambition and perfumes mingled in the air as the nobles vied to meet the Sindhu Prince.

  The herald struck the floor with his staff and the music stopped.

  “Presenting Her Majesty, Laira Nanon!”

  All eyes turned to look at the inner gates as Laira entered the hall. Men found themselves awestruck, while women’s eyes narrowed with jealousy. She had dressed to impress. Even though she did not want to capture the Prince’s interest, she could not afford to not look her best.

  A gaggle of giggling young noblewomen, bedecked in silks of green, red, blue and yellow parted as the Prince left them. He approached her with a confident gait. He was dressed in the green and gold of his house. His tight-fitting doublet showed off his fit physique, his various rings and necklaces glinting in the candlelight.

  His eyes remained on her face.

  Laira almost lamented that he didn’t leer. That would have made rejecting him easier. The man was younger than Jack but clearly a better politician.

  “Bards all across Sindhu sing of your beauty, Majesty. I see that even the best of them fail to capture a fraction of it,” he said, bowing deeply.

  “You’re too kind, my lord.”

  He extended an arm.

  She refused to take it.

  “Am I doing it wrong?” he said with genuine concern. “I believe this is the custom in your land?”

  “It is, but I am already betrothed. It would not be proper for us to be seen together like that.”

  He smiled, but his eyes had gone cold.

  “I’ve been in the capital only a few hours, but I have already heard many interesting tidbits about your fiancé. He sounds like a very mysterious man; a border noble who claims to be a ‘Supreme Leader’ of a realm no one has heard of. A man who killed his own father. In Sindhu, not even a thousand dips in the holy river would wash such a sin away.”

  Laira’s face was granite. “He punished a traitor to our realm. I’m sure God would understand.”

  “How do you know his father was a traitor.”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “A document my fiance discovered, which proved his father was colluding with people oddly interested in sensitive information about the court’s activities.”

  “And you decided to marry him?”

  “I don’t blame children for the sins of their father,” she said, making sure not to show the anger which had begun to bubble. As a servant carrying a tray of drinks passed by, she beckoned him with two fingers.

  “You have only arrived today, my lord. Enjoy the feast. We can discuss serious matters tomorrow.”

  A hint of anger flickered in Tejas’s eyes, but his smile remained. He followed her example and took a goblet from the tray.

  Laira tried her best to look happy throughout the event and took a sigh of relief once the Prince had left the hall.

  ──────── ??? ────────

  In the same hall, Brenn was doing his best to be invisible, careful not to crumple his new expensive dress. Occasionally, a noble would recognize him and give him a dirty look.

  “Walk with me,” General Hrodric said gruffly from his side. He followed the older man out, to a balcony.

  “I will be transferring you out from the Military Police.”

  “Sir?” he said, dumbfounded.

  “You have done a good job, but all this running around is a young man’s game, and you are on the tail end of youth.”

  “I can still do it, sir!” he said, too stunned to hide his panic.

  “Barely. I still remember your face after one sleepless night.”

  Brenn sighed. The General wasn’t wrong. Brenn wasn’t old, but neither was he young anymore. He could push himself for a few more years, but things would only get more difficult going forward, and there were a lot more corrupt men to capture.

  “What would I be doing then, Sir?”

  “You know about the new army units?”

  “The ones training men from the slums?”

  “Yes. They have an unorthodox structure. They include a new rank called non-commissioned officers; sergeants with formal authority.”

  “Another invention of the Queen’s intended?”

  The General sighed. “Yes. The NCOs are supposed to guide new soldiers and officers alike. A few landless knights joined it as officers, thinking they could bully the NCOs. They all had to be relieved of their positions. But I can’t let the new units remain without a nobleman’s leadership. Tensions are already high between the Queen and many of her vassals. I want you to lead them and turn them into a competent force.”

  “Are you sure about it, sir?”

  The General looked at him as if Brenn had insulted his mother. “You rose from a common soldier to the Vice-captain of the first troop of the Frontier Guards. That is no small feat. And now you are a knight.”

  Brenn nodded in resignation. “Korrin will make a good leader of the Military Police.”

  “I know. And grow a bloody beard. What is up with youngsters going hairless these days?”

  ──────── ??? ────────

  The next morning Laira invited Prince Tejas to a meeting. The man arrived with a confident gait, smelling of lavender. An alluring smile played on his face as he looked at her.

  Her heart skipped a beat. He did look a lot like his cousin, who had to flee from her home.

  The thought doused whatever had stirred within her.

  She introduced him to the men sitting around the large table. “My lord, these are my trusted advisors; Councilor Ragenwald, Duke Schwan, General Hrodric and Sir Arnulf.”

  After exchanging bows, they all sat down to discuss their shared future.

  Prince Tejas began, “As I told you before, my father seeks confirmation that the understanding reached with your late father still stands.”

  “And what understanding might that be, my lord?” Laira asked.

  “That you and I are to marry. Our two houses and realms would be bound forever through our marriage. Kin joined in blood. Together, we would be strong enough to stand against Zoran. Divided, it would be a lot more difficult.”

  “I agree with you on the last part. We definitely need to form an alliance. But,” Tejas’ face fell upon hearing that word, “I have already promised myself to another.”

  He remained silent, then looked her in the eyes. “Is our very existence less important than a promise?”

  “The way we treat our promises is what defines us, my lord. Besides, I received no word of our betrothal from my father.”

  “Are you calling me a liar?” he said. His voice, though low, seemed to echo through the large chamber.

  “Of course not. Maybe the pigeon was snatched up by a predator. I do know that my father would not decide my marriage without consulting me. Could I see the written agreement reached between your father and mine?”

  “My father believed that your father was a man of honor. That there was no need for an agreement written in ink when one had been forged in honor.”

  Bastard, Laira thought, while keeping her expression neutral.

  “Unfortunately, my father is no longer here to honor his agreement, and my honor demands I keep mine to marry Count Jack Nobart. If an alliance is what you want, my lord, I am quite open to one. We do need trade and military cooperation. Amlain was a major trade partner of yours, no?”

  “Yes,” he hissed. “But trade and defense pacts, while useful, can be broken at any time, while marriage is permanent. We do not seek merely allies of convenience, but those who would stick with us through thick and thin.”

  He exhaled audibly.

  “I understand your fears, Your Majesty. You fear Nanon losing its independence and becoming subordinate to Sindhu. Let me make it clear; if you marry me, I would lay down my claim to the throne of Sindhu. I would trade the crown for unity. I will also not insist on being titled King of Nanon. All for you and our future.”

  Eyes widened and breaths were drawn in response.

  “A most generous offer my lord,” Laira replied, “but a prince renouncing succession is no small matter. I would not insult your house by accepting such a sacrifice without proper ratification by your nobles. If your father and the lords of Sindhu confirm your renunciation, in writing and before witnesses, then we can discuss the matter.”

  Tejas’s smile froze. “I admire your tenacity, my lady. It only makes me admire you more.”

  Then, his voice went cold. “But tenacity must be matched by capacity. You are choosing a few novel toys over the support of a realm twice the size of yours. My father offers you certainty and you decline.”

  He stood up, pushed back his chair calmly and walked to the door.

  Then, he turned back to face her.

  “Do not think we don’t know about the snake you are harboring, Your Majesty. If you think you can attack our realm through her, you will find that you are sorely mistaken.”

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