Elurra felt dizzy. She plopped down in a chair at the library table and caught her breath. She could still feel where Terrin’s hands had clamped around her wrists and her back had pressed into the bookcase. His words echoed inside her mind.

“Has he gone?” Tran’s voice slid into her thoughts, making her jump. She glanced up at him and took a long look. He didn’t look like he had any ulterior motives at first, but it was his eyes that gave him away. The subtle shift as they drifted away from her gaze and ran down her body before returning to her face. The dark glint of hidden thoughts vanished in a second, but Elurra had caught it. She didn’t want to know what he was fantasizing about.

“Excuse me. I need to get ready for the ball.” She scooped up her books and hastily walked away. She heard Tran’s footsteps follow her.

“That is unfortunate. Would you like my help with some of those books? It looks like they are more than you can carry, mi’lady,” he offered.

“I can carry them, thank you,” she said curtly, although they were very heavy.

“Please, let me assist you. It is my job, after all. Do you know how to get back to your room?”

That gave her pause. She had no idea how to get back. She stopped and turned around. He raised an eyebrow questioningly. She still felt uneasy. There was a hint of something dark in his eyes, but it was like seeing a stone in a muddy puddle. She could only glimpse it.

What am I afraid of? I can take care of myself. Terrin simply caught me unaware. I will be fine, Elurra told herself.

Without a word, she handed some of the books to Tran. He smiled and opened the library door for her. She exited and followed his lead down the hall. He started talking to her about daily life around the castle, but Elurra couldn’t seem to pay attention. Every time he looked at her, she felt her skin crawl. That dark glint never left his eyes, although his attitude was light and cheery.

Have other men looked at me like this? she wondered, shivers going down her back. I wonder what else I do not know about being older.

She was relieved when she reached her room.

“Thank you for escorting me,” she said formally. He bowed at the waist.

“I’m glad I got to meet you, mi’lady,” he said as he strutted off.

Elurra shook her head as she opened the door. She set the books down and was about to sit when she heard someone knocking.

“Yes?”

“Princess, I am here to help you get ready,” a servant’s voice called.

“You may enter,” Elurra called.

A young woman came in pushing a cart full of supplies. She took one look at Elurra’s disheveled appearance and frowned.

“It looks as if I have my work cut out for me.”

°◌°○●○°♣°○●○°◌°

One basin of water, two hairbrushes, lots of hair products, a few curlers, and two hours later, Elurra was ready for the ball. The servant sighed and wiped her brow.

“I love a good challenge,” she said with a smile. It had taken half an hour just to get Elurra’s hair brushed. The rest of the time was spent washing, curling, twisting, and braiding, not to mention the tugging and pulling required to get her into the dress.

Elurra had to admit she looked nice. The servant had put most of her hair in a bun, then braided one strand across her head like a band. Elurra could hear voices and shoes clacking against the floor below. The Amorian castle’s ballroom was on the ground floor, and the first three floors of guest quarters overlooked the open area below from connected balconies which made room for the large crystal chandelier dangling from the ceiling. The handrails around the edges of the balcony walkway were strange yet elegant. They were mostly solid, except with slits every few feet. The tops were wide and rounded, and the edges dipped in before abruptly swishing upward. On each side of the room, one spiral staircase gracefully twisted down to meet the ballroom floor, which was a tile mosaic of a flaming sun. Carvings of the sun crossing the sky decorated the stone ceiling far above. On the far side of the second floor, a large staircase carpeted in orange commanded attention. Elurra noted the layout was both appealing and strategic.

The slits in the walls lining the walkways on the second, third, and fourth floors were for archers. The strange shape of the handrails made it hard for grappling hooks to find a hold. The spiral staircases were narrow and easily defensible—soldiers could pick off enemies climbing them with ease. There were only three doors leading to the rest of the castle from the ballroom, which could be closed and barred to trap an invading army. There were even places for barricades at the top of the main staircase. The Amorians were known for their brilliant architecture for a reason. She doubted any other kingdoms had a structure that rivaled it in terms of combined defensibility and beauty.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Elurra clasped the sides of the railing and tilted forward to look over the unfolding scene. The official colors of Amora were gold and orange, and both mingled below. Golden tablecloths billowed as servants laid them over tables, and orange lilies accented the room. For a moment, she closed her eyes and remembered what a similar gathering would look like in Tor’ac Roh.

She could picture the light blue marble columns surrounding the large mosaic of snowflakes crossing the moons. Silver and blue silk flags would dangle from the columns, and ice sculptures depicting bears six feet high and mythical creatures frozen mid-attack would amaze. Her heart ached, and she pulled herself away from the balcony. The Amorian flag rippled as servants unrolled it and hung it from the fourth-floor balcony.

“This place is incredible,” Tristen said as he joined her.

Elurra glanced over at him and smiled.

“Lur Alava has never been much for such extravagance as this, but I might give it a chance one day,” she told him dreamily.

“I never thought I would ever step foot inside a castle, much less attend a party of this scale.”

His eyes watched every move the attendants made below. The guests would be arriving soon, so the servants were bringing out platters of food. Mouth-watering scents floated through the air, causing Elurra’s stomach to rumble. She’d been eating stew and dried fruit and meat for weeks, and it had been months since she was served food worthy of her position.

She glanced over at her young companion and studied him closely. During their weeks of travel, she realized her visions and their trials had kept her from getting to know her men. For the first time, she noticed Tristen had a lot of scars. Their heavy clothing had hidden them from sight. One ran all the way from his shoulder to his lower arm, a pale, jagged line in his flesh. She pondered what could’ve caused them, and a strange feeling nagged at the back of her mind.

“What?” he asked nervously when he noticed her staring.

“Tristen, why do you have so many scars?” she blurted out.

His entire body seemed to shrink away from her, like he was collapsing into himself as he tried to cover all his exposed skin. The intense fear and shame in his eyes almost took Elurra’s breath away.

“I-I w-was a very c-clumsy kid,” he sputtered, averting his gaze.

“You are not being truthful,” she said gently, her heart aching as she realized the likely cause of the numerous scars.

“I’m not lying!” he insisted, his words sounding hollow.

“I did not mean to say that, I just…” she trailed off as she reached out to put a hand on his shoulder comfortingly, but he recoiled as if he feared she was about to strike him.

Terrin is right, I need to curb my impulsive actions and think before I act, she thought with overwhelming remorse as she tried to comfort the trembling lad. He glanced upwards, his face a mask of terror. Elurra didn’t know what to do. She’d expected that the marks hinted at a painful past, but the intense emotions roiling in his eyes left her at a loss for words.

“I am sorry, Tristen. I should not have pried. But if you would like to talk to me about it, I would be happy to listen,” she said softly.

He held onto his guarded pose for another moment before the tension left his shoulders, and he slowly lowered his tightly crossed arms. “I…I’m sorry. I have just never told anyone before. Or had anyone to tell that I was…was…”

One of the castle staff walked by and gave them a strange look. Elurra knew if they wanted to talk, they should do it without prying eyes.

“Come with me,” she said gently. She offered the younger boy her hand, and he took it after a moment’s hesitation. Her room was right across the hall, so she led him inside and closed the door. He sat down on her bed and studied the floor gloomily. After a moment, she sat down beside him.

“It was my father. My mother and sister tried to protect me, but we were all targets.” He paused for a moment, his fingers twitching in agitation. “I used to hide under my blankets when my parents fought. I can still remember the day he wouldn’t stop hitting her. She was so covered in blood… I wasn’t sure she would make it.”

Elurra stared at him in dismay, but he didn’t look at her. She tentatively reached out to him, and he surprised her by resting his head on her shoulder. Elurra rocked him softly and rested her head on his. Her fingertips brushed over a scar on his arm, and he bristled. She pulled her hand away immediately, but he seemed to want to talk about it now that he’d started.

“He threw me into a pile of scrap metal. He was a blacksmith, so he had lots of it lying around. He always had an excuse. We hadn’t made enough money, or I wasn’t enough help around the shop. When he got started, he just wouldn't stop. I lost consciousness, and hen I woke up, I felt like I had fallen off a cliff and survived. I was covered in my own blood. If my sister hadn’t come looking for me, I would have died that night.” Silent tears ran down his cheeks, but his voice was hollow and empty.

“My sister was lucky. She got engaged to a man who saved up enough to pay for her dowry and free her from my father. As soon as they got married, they moved away. I haven’t heard from her since, but I can’t blame her. Once my father realized I was useless to him because I’m weak and would need a dowry to marry, he sold me to the slavers. In retrospect, it was probably the nicest thing he’s ever done for me. I hate him.” His tears were gone, but his voice rang with bitterness and resentment. “The slave trade alone was an improvement to home, but I was lucky to be liberated by the dwarfs. Now I have a purpose and a place. I’m honored to be in Your Majesty’s personal guard.”

“Tristen, you do not have to thank me. I give you my solemn word that no matter what happens, you will always have a place by my side. As the rightful ruler of Lur Alava, I hereby declare you officially a ward of the court, and the crown will always take care of you and your mother, whom you may bring to live in Lur Alava if you so please. You will always have a position in my royal guard. We can be your new family,” Elurra said fondly as she tousled his hair. Tristen gave her a hesitant grin and stunned her with a firm hug.

“Thank you,” he whispered, tears brimming in his eyes again. He let go quickly and hurried out of her room in embarrassment. He didn’t have much time to get dressed before the ball.

Elurra realized what she said about being part of a family was true for her as much as it was for him. A knock sounded on her door, startling her out of her thoughts.

“Who is it?” she called.

“Kai.”

“Come in,” she said as she stood and brushed off her dress. The door swung open, and Kai stepped in with Aleah behind him.

“It is almost time to make our entrance. Have you seen the other dwarfs?”

“Tristen left a few minutes ago to get dressed. Snore is most likely still sleeping, and Plague is probably in the infirmary. I am not sure where Terrin or Rowan are.”

“Wonderful! I will send someone to find them and bring them to the grand entrance. Would you care to join me, Princess Elurra?” Kai asked as he extended his arm. She could see the royal guard behind him, flanking the door.

“It would be my honor, Prince Kai.”