Wulfram let the door close on the excited squealing of Lady Isolde and Lady Rebecca, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. Her father wanted to call him a coward, and she wanted to claim she was ready for the attention of a queen? Very well, he’d see how she handled the attention that would be showered upon her now. Lady Rebecca was one of the biggest gossips he knew, and neither her nor her younger sister would miss the chance to talk about a ball, or a young lady who had caught the princes eye. It was perhaps a bit counterproductive to what he had come down here to do, but there was no harm in a little fun, now was there?

Ben followed him into the carriage, sitting across from him with a thoughtful frown. “Was that really necessary, your Highness?”

Wulfram looked up at Ben, his smile not faltering as the carriage started back towards the palace. “No, but you have to admit it was fun. Besides, I think she’ll learn a lesson this way. She thinks she can handle the attention afforded to a queen? We’ll see how she does with this taste.”

“There is something you might be overlooking.” Ben said.

“What? This will give her the attention without the responsibility. She’ll get a fancy dress, and a night to remember. And a month should give us time to meet with King Alastar and do some searching, then stop by the capital to show him some hospitality and negotiate a peace treaty. I know that Mother will complain about the short notice of course, but it isn’t anything she won’t be able to handle.” Wulfram ran over the points in his mind, trying to see what he had missed in his mad plan. The problem was he kept picturing her eyes. Kept imagining her dressed in the dark blue and silver of the royal family, perhaps with some lighter blues to compliment those beautiful eyes.

“You’re putting her in the position to receive the same type of attention as a noble lady, without the protection of one. You don’t even know where she lives other than in the Tangle, and that isn’t exactly a safe place.” There was a note of exasperation in Ben’s voice. “I swear you started talking to her and all sense left your head!”

Wulfram stared at Ben for a moment, an eyebrow raising. “You think her father isn’t enough protection? He’s not a weakling.”

“He’s not an armed guard either. What made you go from explaining the situation and how you were working to fix it, to throwing her a ball?”

Wulfram sat silently for a moment, frowning as he considered the chain of events. They had gone badly almost from the very start. He had been trained in negotiations, it should have gone better! But she had been so upset, angry and scared. He had needed to wash away that fear somehow. He touched the bracelet lightly, feeling the faint echo of her heartbeat through it. “I’m... not sure. She was angry, and being so uncooperative. I was trying to do what was best for her and she just wouldn’t have it.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Ben shook his head, staring at Wulfram as a smile started to creep onto his lips. “Trying to do what was best for her? You’re sweet on her!”

“What?” Wulfram let out a laugh, dismissing the idea. Certainly she was beautiful, but pursuing a relationship with her would be more trouble than it was worth! For starters he had been injured both times he had encountered her, and had been lucky this last time to get a healer that knew a little bit of bone mending. Those were incredibly rare, it tread too close to the realm of necromancy. For another thing, what would he say to the court? This whole mess was an attempt to hide the fact they were married.

“You’re sweet on her, you are!” Ben grinned and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

“I am not. I do find her attractive, but there are other women who are just as attractive and far less trouble.” Wulfram tugged the sleeve of his new shirt down over the bracelet and straightened against the heavily padded seat.

“Far less trouble but not as much fun. Maybe you’re just attracted to her, alright. Then why don’t you bed her and be done with it?” Ben said.

“Ben, I’m not going to bed her and be done with it. We’re not going to do anything except meet at the ball, perhaps have a couple of dances, and go our separate ways. That should be plenty of time for the mage to loosen the binding spell. In fact, I’m going to check on that as soon as we reach the palace.”

Ben leaned back in his own seat, the smile still on his face. “Of course, your Highness.”

Wulfram sighed and rolled his eyes. “You’re an asshole sometimes Ben.”

“You are too.” Ben laughed.

“You shouldn’t call your prince an asshole.”

“We aren’t friends because I pull punches, we’re friends because I’ll tell you when you’re being a dumbass. And right now? Right now you are. You put your little thief in danger just by going to visit her, and more danger by springing that ball nonsense in front of the biggest gossip of the court. Maybe you need to see if that bracelet is messing with your mind.”

“I doubt it is, but it won’t hurt to ask Archmage Balariz.” Wulfram frowned down at the bracelet, considering Bens words carefully He had put her in more danger? He supposed he could see some logic to that. But how was he going to make sure that she didn’t get hurt now? She needed to come to the palace, where he could make sure she was properly guarded.

Of course there was that galling accusation that he wouldn’t last even a night in the Tangle! Or as she called it, the Rats Nest. It was utter nonsense but it still pricked at his pride. He had never had to sleep in a crypt or on a rooftop, but he had spent his fair share of time under the stars and in the elements. When they were traveling in his unit they had camped under the stars many times, with nothing but a bedroll and a blanket. If he could do that, the Tangle should be nothing to worry about.

“A good idea your Highness.” Ben nodded in approval, and glanced up as the carriage rolled to a stop. They were just outside the main doors to the palace, guards and servants waiting to welcome them back. “Hopefully your mother doesn’t notice the change of shirt.”

“Once I mention the ball she won’t be worrying about anything else, trust me.”