Elurra made it to the end of the hall before realizing she had no idea where to find Garen. In all their tours so far, he hadn’t shown her where his room was. From what she gathered about the noble families, they each had an extensive property somewhere in Tipet where they lived during certain months of the year. For all she knew, all the noble families had houses in the outer town. A sudden idea came to her, and a wide smile spread over her face.

I do not know where to find Garen, but I know where to find someone who does.

She carefully tucked the cloth package under her arm and made her way to the servants’ quarters. She heard distant giggling as she approached the servants’ wing and followed the sound to the laundry room, where she found a group of young girls folding clothes. As soon as they spotted her, they stopped talking and hopped to their feet with hasty bows and mumbled acknowledgments.

“Is there anything we can do for you, Princess?” one of the girls asked.

“Do not look so alarmed,” Elurra told them soothingly. “I simply need a bit of information.” Despite her assurances, they all still looked stiff and uncomfortable.

“What kind of information?” The speaker seemed the bravest among them.

“I need to know where Lord Almasi is. From what I have heard, you all are experts in that category.” She could tell she’d gone to the right place. Half the faces in the room flushed with color. She noticed many began to fidget. No one spoke up.

“I know someone here has seen him today. I am not judging or condemning you. In fact,” Elurra lowered her voice and leaned in, saying, “if you can help me find him, then I will repay you.”

A brown-haired girl in the back of the room piped up timidly. “What kind of repayment?”

“Depends. Information about Lord Garen, possibly. His preferences and interests or anything else you would like. I will ask him anything at your request.”

All traces of trepidation vanished.

“Could you get us something of his?” one girl squealed.

“Like one of his tunics?”

“Or an undergarment?”

As soon as his undergarments were mentioned, a flurry of squeals and giggles filled the room.

“Settle down please! I still need to know where he is. Who has seen him today?” Elurra asked.

“I saw him this morning in the commons!”

“He was walking back from the outer wall at half past noon!”

“I saw him in the kitchen.”

“I passed him in the hall this afternoon!”

“One at a time, please. Who just spoke?” Four girls raised their hands. “Could you take turns repeating what you just said?”

They complied, and Elurra focused on the petite servant who said she’d seen him that afternoon.

“What time?” Elurra asked.

“Only a half hour ago, ma’am. He seemed to be heading toward his chambers.”

“What is your name?”

“Graciana, ma’am.”

“And what do you wish to receive as a reward?”

The dark-haired girl flushed. “Can we really have one of his undergarments?”

Elurra groaned inwardly. She wanted to get information from these girls again in the future but paying them in Lord Almasi’s underwear wasn’t the precedent she was hoping to set.

“If that is your choice, then I will try,” she consented with a sigh.

Graciana lit up, and disappointed moans escaped the other girls. Elurra was glad she hadn’t promised them all a reward.

“Can you take me to his chambers, Graciana?” Elurra asked. A chorus of volunteers bubbled up, but she hushed them with a wave of her hand.

“Yes, Princess.”

“Thank you, Graciana. Thank you, ladies. If ever I need assistance again, I will be sure to stop by.”

Excited murmurs followed Elurra and Graciana out of the room and down the hall. The girl led the princess through the huge castle and over two bridges around to the back of the inner circle. She pointed out the door to Garen’s chambers, and Elurra thanked her for her assistance.

“Wait here one moment, and I will get your…reward,” Elurra said.

Graciana grinned widely and bowed. Elurra sighed and knocked on Garen’s door.

“Enter!” he called from inside.

She opened the door and saw Garen sprawled on his bed, one arm over his eyes and one leg bent. She felt her cheeks growing warm when she noticed he was wearing nothing but a shendyt.

“Do you have a message or a summons?” he asked, not bothering to uncover his eyes.

Elurra realized he must have thought she was a servant. She cleared her throat, and he peeked out from under his arm.

“Oh!” he exclaimed as he sat up abruptly. “Excuse me, Princess Elurra. I did not expect you to visit me in my chambers, although I must say I am honored.”

“Do you always invite people in when you are indecent?” she asked, averting her eyes from his muscled chest. A small squeal issued from outside the door as he grinned and stood up.

“What is the matter, Princess? Have you never seen a shirtless man before?” Garen asked, taking a step toward her.

“I have on rare occasion,” she replied evenly. “But, they typically cover themselves in my presence.”

I think I have only seen two shirtless men, now that I think about it. The thought amused her as she remembered staring at Terrin after their transformation and finding Kai dangling from his cell door. Even the pirates had enough decency to know they should change discreetly or let her know to turn away when they camped outdoors.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Welcome to Tipet, the land of the unashamed,” Garen told her with a cocky smile when he stopped in front of her and placed his hands on his hips with a wink. “I would be happy to show you more if you would like to add anatomy to our lessons.”

Two can play the uncomfortable game. Elurra looked up and met his eyes.

“I believe I would like to keep our viewings to landscapes only. However, I do have a request, which does involve what hopefully lies beneath your shendyt,” said, keeping her face completely straight. Graciana’s giggles were audible from the hallway. He gaped at her, and his ears turned red when he realized they had an audience. He cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Are you insinuating that I am lacking in manliness?”

“Of course not, Lord Garen. Although I am sure you are well endowed, I am merely formally requesting a pair of your underwear,” she said with a smirk.

“Excuse me?” he asked, his confident smile gone for the moment. “Did you just demand one of my undergarments?”

“Yes, I did.”

“May I ask why?”

“As payment for acquiring your location, of course.”

“What?”

“Apparently your undergarments are considered acceptable currency, and I am afraid I have debts to pay.”

He broke into hearty laughter, and Elurra grinned broadly. Without a word, he turned and walked over to his chest, still chucking. He put on a shirt, and then retrieved the requested item. She wrinkled her nose and took it with two fingers.

“You do not have to be so dramatic. They are clean,” he said.

“So you claim,” she added.

She quickly walked over to the door and handed the clothing to Graciana, who was flushed bright red and grinning uncontrollably. She squealed and bowed profusely before rushing back down the hallway; undoubtedly, she was heading to tell all the other maids what she’d overheard. Elurra closed the door behind her, and Garen sighed, his cheeks slightly flushed.

“I am in disbelief that you would stoop to degrade my honor so thoroughly.”

“Consider it a compliment,” Elurra said with a smirk as she walked over to the nearest table and unwrapped her sword. It came with a sheath and belt. Garen came up beside her and gasped when he saw it.

“Where did you get that?”

“Queen Lira.”

“May I?”

“Be my guest.”

As soon as he touched it, the blade started to glow dimly. He jerked his hand back in bewilderment, and Elurra raised one eyebrow.

“You can use Magic,” she stated, looking for his reaction.

“All the noble families have a little magic in their blood, aside from the royal family. A few generations before the dark reign, the king died without an heir, and the queen remarried a noble from another kingdom. Since then, there has been no magic in the royal bloodline.”

Elurra had to catch herself before she contradicted him.

He has no idea how much Guardian resides in the royal bloodline, she thought, and that could be to Lira and Terrin’s advantage.

Garen continued. “Although we do have some Magical abilities, they are limited.”

He looked uneasy, and she realized he was afraid she didn’t approve of magic. She reached out and touched the sword. The patterns on the blade lit up much brighter than they had for him. For the second time in just a few minutes, she had the pleasure of seeing Garen completely speechless, opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water.

“The royalty in Lur Alava have magic in their blood?”

“Yes, the Isálte family has access to Magic,” she said grimly. Without Magic, my parents would still be alive.

Garen sensed the shift in her mood and changed the subject. “To what do I owe the honor of gaining your presence in my chambers?”

Elurra did her best to push aside thoughts of her parents.

“Queen Lira sent me here and told me I needed to see you this afternoon for my next class. I assume she meant you would train me with a blade,” Elurra reasoned.

A smile spread across Garen’s face.

“Sword fighting? That is my specialty,” he said as he wiggled his eyebrows and leaned forward suggestively, “but teaching a woman? I do not know if it can be done outside of the bedroom.”

She glared at him. “Try me. I am a quick study, and we are in your bedroom.”

“How good are you with a sword?”

“I have never fought before, so I do not know my level of expertise.”

His grin widened. “In that case, this should be fun. I must say, I shall enjoy being your first.”

Elurra flushed as he turned and walked over to the far wall near his bed, where numerous weapons were on display. He chose a sword and picked it up with practiced ease. His blade was longer than hers, and he was bigger and more athletic than she. Even though she knew nothing of sword fighting, she was willing to bet all those factors were in his favor. He didn’t seem to know much about Guardian weapons, though. Hopefully, that was all the advantage she would need.

Elurra pulled out her sword with one hand, and the translucent swirls on the blade ignited with color. A moment later, a flood of information filled her mind. Instruction on techniques, stances, counters, guards, cuts, and footing washed over her. It was so overwhelming she almost dropped her weapon.

“Never drop your weapon. Stay relaxed. Keep your feet shoulder-length apart to stay balanced.”

The voice in her head sounded like someone she knew whispering in her ear. Her body obeyed every command without question. Elurra raised her sword and corrected her posture to assume a proper position. Garen eyed her stance critically.

“I am glad you at least know how to hold a sword. That is a start. You look a bit shaky, though. I guess that is to be expected of someone of the fairer sex. Holding a sword is a bit much to ask,” he said, sneering. Elurra felt anger rising inside her. “I guess we can try a quick fight so I can gauge where you are. Do not worry about me hitting you. I will stop before injuring you.” He assumed a starting stance with his sword hilt touching his hip, so the point aimed toward her. “And you will not have to worry about cutting me,” he said with a superior smirk.

“Ignore his comments. He wishes to incite your anger and make you act irrationally. Be ready for the lunge. Watch his posture. He looks calm, but he is studying you for a weakness.”

Sure enough, Garen lunged at her.

“Counter! Keep elbows in.”

The sword moved of its own accord. A blue streak of light followed its movements, and the cry of metal meeting metal filled the air. They both pulled back, and Garen’s sword swung toward Elurra’s side. She dodged before launching an attack of her own.

“Do not swing wildly. Keep your movement smooth and controlled. Engage carefully. Assess his weaknesses. Your sword is shorter, so stay inside his guard.”

Garen dodged her attack and aimed for her stomach, but she avoided it with ease.

“Keep up a strong defense! Be quick and calculated. He is tall and confident. Aim for his torso and watch for openings.”

She listened to everything the voice said, and her body obeyed every command. She scanned each attack Garen made, looking for opportunities to strike. He had started the fight by underestimating her, but she could tell he was quickly growing concerned when the fight stretched longer than thirty seconds.

“Thrust! Counter!”

Abruptly, Elurra realized why the voice sounded so familiar. It was Terrin’s voice. “Stay focused!”

The realization only distracted her for a moment, but Garen noticed the opening. He swiped at her exposed side, and she barely countered.

“Regain your balance and launch a counterattack! Don’t give him an opportunity to take advantage of your momentary lapse.”

Because of her stumble, Garen’s confidence had returned. He took a step closer and lunged for her upper torso, but she unexpectedly ducked and aimed at his legs.

“Go for the kill!” Terrin’s voice yelled.

Adrenaline pumped through her veins, and her heartbeat roared in her ears. She was so carried away she almost forgot where she was and whose leg she was about to amputate. At the last second, she slowed her sword, but the edge still cut into his flesh. Garen yelled in agony and dropped his weapon. It clattered to the ground inches from her. She yanked back in dismay and dropped her blade. The lights died on the sword, and the presence inside her mind faded with them. Garen fell to the ground, clutching his lacerated limb.

“I am so sorry!” Elurra cried, rushing to his side.

Blood leaked between his fingers, but he managed to give her a weak smile.

“You lied to me, Princess.”

“What?”

“There is no way this is your first time.”

Despite the situation, she laughed. “I was not lying,” she insisted.

Garen gave her a look of complete disbelief.

“Sure, and my name is Susan. Who taught you?”

Elurra was about to deny it again, but she realized there was no way to explain it without revealing the properties of the sword.

“Prince Terrin taught me,” she said after a second’s pause. In a way, she wasn’t lying.

Garen raised one eyebrow.

“I will have to challenge him one day, then,” he said.

Elurra smiled. Terrin deserved to be challenged by a master swordsman after the way he ignored her before his departure.

“I am sure he would thoroughly enjoy that.”