Relief flooded through Zara the moment she saw the shores of Maris in the distance. After weeks in Hercynia’s abysmal cold and then days at sea, she was glad to be home.
Cerulean waters lapped sandy white beaches that rose up to white rocky cliff sides speckled with vegetation. The city of Girona overlooked the cliffside, hundreds of years of history at every turn; ancient chapels decorated with statues and reliefs; the pointed arches and spires of Girona University rising high above the city; but nothing was quite as breathtaking as the Palace of Girona nestled among a grove of palm trees in the distance, it’s white stone walls gleaming in the sunlight.
“Finally,” Zara whispered to herself as the crew bustled behind her, pulling on ropes and redirecting the sails towards port. After weeks trapped in the frozen hellscape that was Hercynia, the warm kiss of the Marisian sun on her tawny skin had never felt so sweet.
In the distance, she could see as a crowd gathered at the docks, a silken flag in aquamarine showing a dolphin jumping over a water lily. Her mother’s flag. Maris’s flag.
With a laugh, she waved to the crowd, relishing in their excitement for their princess’s return.
“Happy to be home, Your Highness?” a voice said behind her. Zara turned to find Captain Gustello standing a respectful distance from her, back bent slightly in bow.
“Ecstatic,” she replied, fixing him with a toothy grin. Her stomach gave a jump as the ship sailed over a high wave, but then the waters calmed as they drew closer to shore.
When the ship finally made port, the last knot tied in the thick ropes that held it still, Zara had to keep herself from running down the plank. She couldn’t risk looking undignified, not with so many people and her mother present.
Queen Merle stood with her entourage, a horde of nobles including her ladies-in-waiting and advisors. Zara’s father, the Prince Consort Amari, stood at her mother’s side. Zara’s heart nearly burst at the sight of her parents, deep smiles that matched her own as she made her way towards them.
Stopping just shy of Queen Merle, Zara dropped into a perfect, practiced curtsy.
The Queen of Maris was stunning even into middle age. Her dark, silken hair was up off shoulders, the beginnings of grays tucked skillfully out of sight. Her brown eyes were ringed with fine lines, which didn’t detract from her beauty.
Prince Amari looked as if he hadn’t aged in decades. The son of a king from the Tanda Empire to the south, he had dark skin and even darker eyes, Zara’s eyes. His normally neatly trimmed beard had grown in the time that Zara had been away, which surprised her, as Prince Amari was normally a very prideful man, and took extra care in his grooming. The young princess couldn’t help but wonder if he’d been too distraught to shave while she’d been held for questioning.
“Welcome home, daughter,” Queen Merle said, one slender hand making a sweeping gesture as indication for her to rise.
“I’m delighted to be back, Your Majesty.” Zara smiled up at her mother.
“Come,” the queen said, gesturing to a carriage wrought from gold. “Let us return to the palace. I’m sure you’re tired from your journey.”
On the contrary, Zara was exhilarated to be home. She wanted to dance in the streets and sample all the foods in the market. Instead, she gave a polite nod and followed her parents to the carriage.
Once the royals were comfortably inside and the golden door was shut behind them, Zara felt herself being pulled into a rib-crushing embrace.
“Oomph,” she gasped as the air escaped her lungs.
“Oh, my darling girl,” Prince Amari choked, squeezing his daughter tightly. “I’m so happy you’re home safe.” Zara wrapped her arms around her father, returning the hug.
“She needs to breathe, Amari,” Queen Merle told her husband, her lofty laugh filling the carriage. Zara peaked a look over her father’s shoulder to find her mother smiling softly at her.
“She can breathe later,” he responded, tightening his grip on his daughter. When he finally released her, Zara found her mother’s arms spread wide.
“Come here,” she said, pulling her daughter into a somehow even tighter embrace. Zara breathed in the scent of her mother’s hair; jasmine, just like the fragrance she had shipped in from the east.
“I missed you,” the queen whispered into her daughter’s ear.
“I missed you too, Mamma,” Zara said tearfully.
“That bastard is lucky we don’t declare war on him,” Prince Amari said angrily once Queen Merle released their daughter. “Keeping you trapped like that, as if you are some common criminal.”
“Someone tried to kill Princess Neve,” Queen Merle reminded him gently. “We would have done the same in his position.”
Her husband scoffed, his mood darkening.
“Our Zara would never kill someone,” Prince Amari continued as if she hadn’t spoken, slamming one hand down onto the cushioned seat beside him.
“Hence why she was released, my love,” the queen said as she fought back a smile. She turned to the princess. “Other than witnessing an attempted murder, how was Hycernia?”
“Cold,” Zara said immediately. “I was sure I’d never be warm again.”
The queen laughed and even Prince Amari gave a small smile.
“If you think Hycernia is cold, try visiting Waldreich,” Queen Merle said with a shudder. “Now that place is cold.”
“If you don’t mind, Mamma, I think I’d like to stay home for a while. Besides, my royal tour will be starting in a few weeks.”
Zara’s eighteenth birthday had passed while she was stuck in Essen. As was custom with all heir apparents, she was supposed to go on a tour to visit the different regions across Maris. It was a way for both Zara and the citizens of Maris to see one another. As the future queen, it was important that Zara be familiar with her people and their needs.
At the mention of the tour, Queen Merle and Prince Amari gave each other twin looks that Zara had come to learn meant they had disappointing news.
“What?” she asked, looking between them.
“Perhaps it would be better to hold off on the tour,” Queen Merle suggested lightly, eyeing Zara as if she were trying to gauge her mood.
“What?” Zara said sharply. “Mamma you can’t be serious. You know I’ve been looking forward to it for months. Besides, it’s custom.”
“Princess Neve is currently fighting for her life,” Queen Merle said calmly, smoothing out the folds of her teal gown. “As far as the latest reports suggest, King Cygrus isn’t any closer to finding the culprit.”
“But that happened in Hycernia,” Zara said, unable to keep the whine from her voice.
“That doesn’t mean it can’t happen here,” Prince Amari cut in. “Until we know more, it’s best if you stay safely in the palace where we can watch over you.”
Logically, Zara understood their reasoning. Whoever poisoned Neve had yet to be caught, and there had been rumors that the culprit had managed to flee before the effects of the poison became known. It wouldn’t be out of the question that whoever it was had fled to another country. But Zara, who’d just spent weeks trapped behind castle walls, wasn’t thinking logically.
“So the answer is house arrest? I thought I wasn’t a common criminal?” Zara snapped.
“Watch your tone young lady,” Queen Merle said, her voice still calm but her brow furrowed in disapproval. “I know you’re disappointed, but that’s no excuse for poor manners.”
Zara grumbled and slumped back in her seat, crossing her arms tightly over her chest like a petulant child. “Sorry, Mamma, Papa.”
The carriage jolted as it pulled into the palace courtyard, the great iron gates screeching as they swung shut.
Prince Amari clapped a hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “Perhaps we can have a party,” he suggested. “Something small to celebrate your return. We missed your birthday as well.”
Zara couldn’t help but smile, disappointed as she was. Prince Amari’s idea of small was what most people would consider enormous.
The carriage came to a halt and a moment later the door was opened, letting in a stream of sunlight.
“Alright,” she said as she followed her parents out. Sweat trickled down the small of her back, but she didn’t mind. It was better than the bone-chilling cold that had left her skin covered in gooseflesh for weeks.
The courtyard was an atrium of white marble. At its center was a massive fountain showing a display of jumping dolphins in stone, small fish and water lilies resting in the basin. Potted palm trees and flowers lined the way to the palace. The air smelled of citrus, most likely from the array of orange and lemon trees in the palace gardens carrying on the wind. At the foot of the stairs leading towards the entryway, a group of guards stood on duty.
As the royals neared, the guards stood at attention. The captain, a man by the name of Ruiz, came forward. He was tall and muscular, his dark hair cut short and his beard neatly trimmed.
“Your Majesty,” Captain Ruiz said, bowing to the queen and then prince consort, and finally the princess. “Welcome home, Your Highness.”
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Zara gave him a polite smile and gave her thanks. One of the guards, a handsome young man. He had tawny skin similar to Zara, neatly trimmed dark brown hair, and bright blue eyes.
Captain Ruiz clapped the guard on the shoulder. “May I introduce your Majesty and Highnesses to Sergeant Ezra Thorton. I’ve assigned him as Her Highness’s personal guard, as requested.”
Zara blinked and looked at her parents in question. Queen Merle threw her a look that said they would discuss it later.
“Thank you, Captain,” Queen Merle said, turning back to the captain and smiling between him and Sergeant Thorton. “I trust he understands the severity of this assignment.”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” Sergeant Thorton said with another bow. “I will give my life to protect the princess.”
An uncomfortable heat that had nothing to do with the weather spread across Zara’s cheeks and down her back. While she appreciated his enthusiasm, she hardly thought there would be a need for such extremes now that she was back at the palace, and apparently would not be leaving any time soon.
Zara followed her mother and father inside, Sergeant Thorton hot on her heel.
“Is that really necessary?” she whispered to her mother.
“I should think so,” Queen Merle responded tightly, giving no room for argument. “Until Princess Neve’s would-be assassin is caught, you are not to be alone for even a second.”
Zara wanted to point out that Princess Neve had nearly been killed in a ballroom full of people, but didn’t think that would help her case. If anything, her mother probably would assign an extra three guards.
“I think I would like to have a bath and rest,” Zara said, fanning herself with her hand. After weeks in the frigid cold, the Marisian heat was making her head spin. She bid her parents goodbye, and hurried through the halls towards her room, Sergeant Thorton trailing her like a shadow.
“Thorton,” Zara said out loud, drawing out the syllables as if the name were an unfamiliar flavor and she was testing it on her tongue. “That’s not a common name in these parts.”
“My father is from Cendril, Your Highness,” Sergeant Thorton explained, and it was then that she heard the slight flourish to his words, similar to how her cousin Ash spoke. “My mother is from Maris.” They walked up a set of marble stairs that was carpeted with a plush, sea green carpet. Filigree crown molding painted in gold trailed up the walls, leading into sconces lit with thick, white pillar candles despite all of the sunlight streaming in through countless windows.
“Ah,” Zara said, unsure of what else to say, but she was never one for silence. Probably because she was used to her father's constant chatter. “Have you been with the guard long?”
“A little over a year, Your Highness,” Sergeant Thorton said, a hint of pride seeping into his voice. “I completed my training here in Girona.”
When she entered her bed chambers, a large, hexagonal room decorated in cream with gold and aquamarine accents. A large bed with a thick curtained canopy at the center, and the young princess couldn't wait to sink into those familiar sheets. But that would have to wait, as Zara was swarmed by her ladies-in-waiting, all of those who hadn’t been permitted to join her in Hycernia.
“Welcome home, Your Highness,” said Lady Catarina, a curvy girl with curly hair. A chorus of welcomes rang through the room, and Zara felt herself flush under the attention.
“Thank you, thank you,” she said with a smile. “I’d love to tell you all about the ordeal, but I require a bath and some rest first.”
“Of course, Your Highness,” the ladies chimed, hurrying off to start her bath. Zara sighed and sank into the nearest chair, fanning herself once again.
“Long trip?” Sergeant Thorton asked as he walked around the room, assessing every nook and cranny for potential threats.
“About two weeks too long,” Zara sighed, dropping her hand and looking about the room, wanting to commit it to memory.
“Yes, there was talk of war,” Sergeant Thorton said, coming to stand close by when he deemed the room safe.
“I highly doubt it would have come to that.” Even as she said it, Zara couldn’t help but taste the ashiness of her lie. She knew full well that the only reason King Cygrus and his guard allowed her and Ash go was because both her mother and uncle threatened war if he didn’t.
She wondered if Ash had returned to Cendril by now. He must have. Cendril was located directly south of Hycernia and his ship would have had to simply follow the coast line back to Auric.
A short time later, Lady Catarina returned to announce that the bath was ready, and Zara could have wept in relief. Several days traveling across the Wavering Sea had left her feeling grimy and covered in salt. She ran her tongue over her lower lip, tasting the remaining brine.
Sergeant Thorton made a move to follow her.
“You are not watching me bathe,” Zara said aghast, turning to face him with widen eyes.
To his credit, his cheeks turned a shade of red. “I’m supposed to stay with you at all times, Your Highness.”
“You may stand outside the door,” Zara offered, her cheeks also reddening. “I’ll have my ladies keep the door opened slightly.”
“I suppose that should be sufficient,” he relented. Zara turned away from him and followed Lady Catarina into the bathroom, trying not to roll her eyes.
As she dipped into the giant porcelain tub, a long sigh slipped past her lips. Ducking her head under the water, she felt her limbs relax. She sat up and leaned against the tub. The water smelled of tonka and jasmine, and little flowers from the garden floated on top of the water.
She swayed a hand through the water, watching as the motion made small waves which sent the flowers sailing in different directions.
It felt so good to be home.
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Once she finished bathing and she slipped into a soft silk robe in a dusty rose color, Zara sat at her vanity as one of her ladies-in-waiting, a girl by the name of Lady Tessa, began to come out her hair.
“Does Your Highness wish for food or drink before your nap?” Lady Tessa asked, gently working a smoothing oil through the strands.
Zara began to shake her head, regretting it when she caused Lady Tessa to pull slightly on her hair. With a wince, she declined. Besides, Prince Amari likely was already setting up a welcome home banquet for that evening.
Lady Tessa finished Zara’s hair, wrapping it in silk before curtsying and standing back as Zara inspected herself in the mirror. Already she felt more like her old self.
“Thank you, Tessa. You’re dismissed.”
Sergeant Thorton was standing outside the door when she exited, and she jumped, having forgotten he was there.
“I’d like to sleep now,” Zara informed him. He nodded but made no move to leave. Zara raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to watch me sleep?”
“I can’t leave you alone for even a second,” he reminded her.
With a sigh, she said, “Well, at least have a seat. You must be uncomfortable standing around.”
Sergeant Thorton reddened again. “I can’t while on-duty, Your Highness.”
“I won’t tell on you.”
Zara neared her bed and sat on the edge, feeling her legs sink into the plush mattress. Smoothing a hand over the center, she said, “Hello old friend.”
Even the beds in Hycernia had been cold.
As she ran a hand over her bed, she felt something odd which caused her to pause. With a frown, she muttered, “Why is my bed lumpy?”
“Beg your pardon, Your Highness?” Sergeant Thorton asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
“My bed is lumpy,” Zara said, pressing down gently on the area where she normally slept. Had the servants not turned down the mattress while she’d been away.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sergeant Thorton give her a bewildered look. He likely thought her high maintenance now.
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” he said.
“No, it’s lumpy,” Zara insisted. “Come feel.”
At the request to come into the princess’s bed, the poor man turned a worrisome shade of red that resembled a ruby.
“Just come feel it,” Zara said, rolling her eyes as she stepped away from the bed to give him room.
An agitated sigh slipped past his lips, but Sergeant Thorton came forward as requested. Leaning forward, he ran a hand over the mattress, pushing down slightly. “I don’t feel anything.”
Zara felt her face heat. She knew something was off. “There’s something under the mattress,” she insisted. Then, pushing past him, she began to push up the mattress. “Here, help me move this.”
“Your Highness -”
“Help me move this,” Zara repeated with a bit more force. With another sigh, Sergeant Thorton walked around the other side of the bed. Together, they lifted it up and peered underneath.
“What the fuck?” Sergeant Thorton yelped while Zara gasped. Underneath was an odd, metal contraption. “What is that?”
“I told you there was something under there!” Zara said, triumph spreading through her chest in a warm burst. Sergeant Thorton rolled his eyes.
“Yes, yes, but what is it?” he asked again, letting the mattress fall back down. Zara shrugged. “Don’t sit on it,” he told her as he inspected the top of the canopy.
“I wasn’t going to -” Zara began, but then Sergeant Thorton leapt from the bed, looking pale.
“Your Highness,” he said, trying and failing to keep his voice steady. “Step away from the bed.”
“What’s wrong?” Zara asked, trying to peer over the top of the canopy.
“Step away from the bed,” Sergeant Thorton repeated, his voice much harsher this time as he hurried to the door and called for more guards.
Immediately, a dozen more guards hurried into the room.
“Call for Captain Ruiz and the Queen,” Sergeant Thorton said, his voice wavering as he issued the command. “Let them know there’s been an assassination attempt on Her Highness.”
Zara felt her blood run cold. “What?”
The room began to spin. She couldn’t make sense of what was happening. What had he seen on top of the bed?
A set of hands, whose she wasn’t sure, led her back to her chair, gently pushing her into it.
She didn’t have to wait long, for a moment later Queen Merle, Prince Amari and Captain Ruiz came hurrying into the room.
“What is it? What’s happened?” Queen Merle demanded, racing to her daughter’s side, eyes wild and panicked.
“Thorton, you said there’s been an assassination attempt?” Captain Ruiz asked, looking around the room. He frowned upon seeing the room completely undisturbed.
“The bed, sir,” Sergeant Thorton said, pointed to the top of the canopy. “There’s some sort of mechanism under the mattress, and look what’s up there.”
The captain did as instructed, and stepped away from the bed swearing.
“What is it?” Queen Merle demanded, looking between Zara and the two men at her bed. Prince Amari clapped a hand on his daughter’s shoulder, squeezing hard in distress.
Silently, Captain Ruiz walked around the other side of the bed and nodded towards the mattress. Sergeant Thorton stepped back to the opposite side, and together both men placed their palms on either side of the mattress, just off from the center.
“On the count of three,” Captain Ruiz said, sweat dripping down his forehead. “One, two, three.”
On three, the pair pushed down hard on the mattress. A loud click echoed through the silent room and immediately something slashed through the top of the canopy, landing in the center of the mattress with an audible thud.
Zara’s heart thumped painfully in her chest, unsure of what she had just witnessed but knowing something awful just happened. As Sergeant Thorton stepped away, she saw that giant dagger was sticking out of the mattress, right where Zara normally slept. As Captain Ruiz pulled it free, she realized it was right where her heart would have been.
Suddenly very glad she had opted not to eat, Zara’s stomach coiled painfully as she let out a scream.