The guard stood in the shadows of the eastern palace tower, hidden safely from the rays of the two moons that were dancing a brilliant path over the ocean towards the beach of Dalenia. When the wind blew in his direction, he could hear the waves cresting onto the shore and the soft scent of the flowers wafted from across the other side of the bay. The stars were plentiful, and off in the distance, far out to sea, lightning could be seen from a storm that would pass him straight by.

A sole figure climbed the stairs to the tower, the person's identity hidden by the cloak that obscured their body and face. Their steps were muffled, and it was intuition rather than sight that the guard became aware of their presence.

The guard turned towards his visitor. "It's a lovely evening to come to the tower," he said.

"Yes," the person replied, the cloak still over their shoulders. Their profile was now visible from under the hood, the whites of their eyes shining vibrantly in the night. "It is indeed. One of the best posts of the palace, actually."

"Agreed." The guard shifted on his feet and returned to looking out at the ocean.

"I heard that you might be interested in some information," the guard’s visitor murmured.

The guard swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. He knew this individual. He knew their position. Oh, the stories they could tell him!

But they could also lead to mortal danger. "How do I know you're not setting me up?"

"I could ask you the same question," the hooded-figure replied. "How do I know you won't go straight to the Emperor and tell him I gave you this information?"

The guard didn't answer, contemplating their words.

"But I will let you know," they continued, "the information I have is quite significant."

"I'll give you fifty rouls for whatever you have," the guard replied quickly.

"Two hundred rouls," the person bargained.

The guard coughed in surprise. "Who do you think I am?" he scoffed. "I'm merely a guard."

"But you can sell my information for a much higher price, and since you know who I am, you know the kind of information I have access to."

The guard met the hooded-figure's gaze and rubbed his chin, greed twinkling in his eyes.

"Fine," he decided.

He dug into his pocket and pulled out several coins before stepping out into the light to count.

"Really did not expect you," he said, shaking his head as he held out four bronze coins in his palm.

The hooded-figure ignored his words. They stepped up into his space, and the guard stiffened, suddenly questioning their true motives. The person only leaned up to his ear and started to whisper words that made the guard's eyes grow wide and his heart pound. Once they were finished, they stepped back and pulled their hood down low covering their features.

"I trust you will let this information fall into the best hands," they stated.

Not waiting for a reply, the hooded figure turned away and headed for the stairs.

Stunned, the guard stood, breathing fast, alone once again at his post. He turned back to the scenery, but he was unable to take in the sights and sounds that surrounded him as his mind raced with the information he had just been told.

<<<>>>

Over a thousand miles away, deep in the Keglar Kingdom, three people on horseback separated from their retinue. Princess Estina, poised elegantly in her saddle, watched for movement in the forest’s undergrowth and surrounding tree branches. She was beautiful with high cheek bones, full lips and long black hair that cascaded down her back. Her large dark eyes darted eagerly, not out of fear but with determined purpose as she tried to find the two people she had spied earlier.

Her twin brother, Prince Alain, followed closely. In stark contrast, he was not pleasant to the eye with pock marks larger than his beady eyes and a crooked nose that took up most of his face. His thin frame caused his head to be out of proportion with the rest of his body, only emphasizing his disjointed position on the saddle. He had never learnt a graceful seat.

They were accompanied by Sir Glone, an old fool of a man who was fifty years their senior.

“When I was younger,” Sir Glone began scornfully, “we would never take these imbecile mountain men and put them in our army! We’d have hunted them down and cut off their heads to put on display for everyone to see. The kingdom is getting too soft.”

Princess Estina sighed. The fact that the old man wouldn't even be able to find his sword let alone wield it made his comments even more ludicrous. A mountain man would kill him in an instant.

“I’m glad that I have you to protect us,” Princess Estina said. She turned to catch her brother’s gaze and raised her eyebrows. “It’s so wonderful to know that the royal family has placed us in such good care.”

Prince Alain snorted and quickly looked the other way.

“I’ll have you know that I was once as formidable…”

A ripple of blue material caught Princess Estina’s eyes through the shrubs. She tugged on her reins to stop her horse, but sighed when Sir Glone continued on his way.

If she had been by herself, she would have readied her horse to bolt. It was her decision to ride this way, but a person could never be too careful. Who knew who was lurking in the forest? Her brother however, was stifling a yawn while rubbing his eyes, completely unaware to the possible danger as well. It was because of this that she squeezed her heels into her horse's sides and attempted to catch up with Sir Glone.

"Sir Glone! Take heed!" Princess Estina hissed as their horses cut through the shrubs and into an open clearing. She sat back sharply on her saddle, and gasped.

"Cover your eyes, Princess!" Sir Glone ordered.

Princess Estina didn't close her eyes. Instinct took over, and instead, she ducked, dipping her entire body down so it was in line with her horse's neck. And even if she had closed her eyes, the image of the two naked men intimately enjoying each other would have still been vibrant in her mind’s eye.

A loud thud sounded behind her. One of the soldiers, the man being held from behind she believed, had grabbed his axe lying on the ground beside him and flung it blindly through the air straight at where Princess Estina's head had been. She looked over her shoulder with difficulty in her uncomfortable position. The blade sat several inches deep into the bark of the tree from the force of the man’s throw. She sat back up in her saddle and glared at Sir Glone. He was responsible for this. If he had only allowed them to assess the situation first.

Stolen novel; please report.

She glanced back at the two men as they covered their modesty with their hands and saw the realisation set in on their faces. Not that these men would know her face personally, but the large royal signet on her finger and the royal emblem on their saddle rugs was identification enough.

With a quick glance at each other, the two men reluctantly sank to their knees.

Sir Glone snickered. "Quite a predicament you've suddenly found yourself in Menelt, isn't it? An attempt on Princess Estina's life, leaving your post to behave so indecently, and the best part of all? Who am I going to tell first that Menelt, former leader of the Dratlin Clan, likes to take it in the ass from his former First Advising Chief?"

"I'm still clan leader of the mountain men," Menelt fumed, lifting his head sharply, his eyes dark. "Maybe you should try and enjoy yourself, Sir Glone. There's some of my men who enjoy older meat. I'm sure they wouldn't mind..."

"Preposterous!" Sir Glone spat, aghast at the suggestion.

Princess Estina lifted her hand, silencing Sir Glone. She turned her horse's head, to get a better view of the men. The stories of their stature and physical strength lived up to her expectations.

"Clan Leader Menelt," she spoke firmly, the use of his old title causing a stir between all in her presence. "Put some clothes on before we continue this conversation."

Menelt looked up as she scanned his naked body with a young woman's curious examination. When she realized his eyes were upon her, she turned her head away to glare at Sir Glone again, her cheeks pink. "That would have been the appropriate way to begin, Sir Glone."

He scoffed and waved her off, an act that was not new to her.

Sir Glone started talking again. "I know an appropriate way to end this conversation. I will send for my men to execute them on the spot for the attempt on your life, Princess Estina, and for the vile display you just witnessed.”

The Princess shook her head. "Sir Glone, stop talking and leave us."

Sir Glone spluttered, "Your Highness! I can't leave you alone in the presence of these two men! They've been in your brother's army barely a quarter. They are lower ranks and were just caught being most obscene. They are wild and dangerous. They can't be trusted!"

"I asked you to leave us, and I won't be alone." She pointed to her brother. It was a common occurrence that most people forgot he existed.

"That doesn't mean I won't be telling your older brother or their captain."

"You won't tell anyone otherwise I'll be forced to acknowledge that it was your old fumbling that caused us to lose our way and stumble onto this scene." She gave a fake, dramatic gasp and whimper. "And Sir Glone, it was such a terrible sight to see all down to your negligence."

Sir Glone went to rebuke, but Princess Estina silenced him with one last glare. Looking deeply offended, he tugged on his horse's reins and left, leaving only the Princess and her brother before the two clan men. Forever quiet in company, the Prince would let her do all the talking although she noted his curious glance at what her motives were.

The Princess allowed herself to take an appropriate assessment of Menelt now that he was suitably attired in his soldier clothing. Rough looking, wild around the eyes with warrior attention, broad shoulders and muscled arms to match, dirt and grime entrenched into his skin; he was a typical depiction of a mountain clan leader.

"Clan Leader Menelt," Princess Estina spoke again, and Menelt dared to lift his eyes. "I am not one to care who you are intimate with, but an attempt on my life cannot be forgotten."

"I did not know that princesses could be so bold," Menelt returned. He was quickly elbowed in the ribs by his former First Advising Chief. "I …I did not know it was you, Your Highness," Menelt corrected himself. "We were not expecting company."

Princess Estina smirked. His apology came out stilted as if he had trouble producing the words, as if they were unfamiliar to his vocabulary. It might have been the first apology he had ever given knowing that his life depended on it.

The silence hung in the air after his statement.

"You are stationed at Lake Meer Castle?" she asked.

"Yes," came the reply.

Princess Estina smiled, pleased with the news. "I will be inclined to forget everything I have seen if the pair of you meet us tomorrow night at the west soldier training ground. We will be residing at Lake Meer Castle in the valley as it is much warmer there in winter.” She did not explain that it was because of Prince Alain, who feared the winter more than anything else with its sickness and ills it could bring.

The two men shared a quick look of confusion, and Princess Estina observed they were not the only ones; Prince Alain's eyes narrowed and a crease formed on his forehead.

"Do we have an agreement?" she asked, short and clipped.

"Yes, Your Highness," Menelt answered with reluctance.

Princess Estina nodded, pleased with his acquiescence. He did not look like a man who was accustomed to taking orders from other men, let alone a young woman. She had heard his journey in Prince Yernal's army had been a turbulent one at best.

"Good. Sir Glone is senile," Princess Estina continued. "He will forget what he saw by the time he returns to the palace, so he will not speak to my brother, Prince Yernal. But I can assure you, we won't forget if you do not show."

Menelt glared, but his First Advising Chief continued to have better manners. "Thank you, Your Highness," he said.

Without further acknowledgement, Princess Estina turned her horse and Prince Alain followed.

"You're going to ask him to do it, aren't you?" Prince Alain spoke now that it was only the two of them.

Princess Estina nodded. "I feel like we stumbled into that clearing for a reason today." She kept her gaze focused on what lay ahead and hoped he wouldn’t pick up on her lie, for meeting these two men had been her plan all along.

<<<>>>

Lake Meer Castle was nestled in a large lush, green valley. It was on sea level which meant that the winter snows rarely fell on its surrounding fields. It was still cold. Cold and wet meaning winter would seep into a person's bones and leave them damp from the inside.

Fortunately, there was still a month until the dreary weather would set in, and it was for this reason that Prince Alain still accompanied his sister down to the west training grounds. It was a small training area, a courtyard at best, within the castle's bailey, but it was away from the soldier barracks and the main keep. At night, at this time of year, it would be empty.

They were accompanied by Princess Estina's lady-in-waiting, Ardena, and Clagen, her closest personal guard. They weren't a formidable group, a group of misfit teenagers at best, but they were a unity and Princess Estina had no doubt they would do anything to try to protect her brother and herself.

The evening was dark, the two moons hidden in the sky by thick clouds. They didn't use lanterns to guide their way, not wanting to draw attention. There was just enough light to make the outlines of the buildings and the foreboding group of men that came out of the shadows to greet them when they approached.

"He's brought extra men," Ardena said, and Princess Estina looked back to the clearing.

Clagen and Ardena stepped protectively in front of her. Prince Alain would have to take his chances it seemed. Their actions were met with chuckles of amusement from the men standing behind Menelt. The Princess frowned and stepped around Ardena and Clagen.

"An attack on my life wouldn't be wise," she said authoritatively to the group.

Menelt glanced out behind her in the direction they had come from. "And who would know who did it? My men are still loyal to me."

Princess Estina tensed at the sound of feet jogging over the dirt in their direction. The person stopped beside Menelt.

"They weren't followed," she heard a gruff voice tell the clan leader.

"It's not worth it. He's not the one to ask," Clagen said quickly from behind her. "Let's leave now while we still can."

Menelt's body took a relaxed pose. "I brought my men with me in case I needed the backup. In case your brother..."

"My brother is not a threat," Princess Estina said.

"That's not the brother I was referring to,” Menelt replied, flicking his head in Prince Alain’s direction.

Princess Estina nodded in understanding. "Prince Yernal does not know that I'm here."

Menelt took a step closer, and Princess Estina edged backwards.

"So, Princess, what is it that you wanted to talk about now that your entourage is no longer present?"

She paused for only a fraction of a second. "I want you to train me how to fight and defend myself, in private," she said firmly. "Not just with swords, but fight with the axes and the bows."

Princess Estina squared her shoulders as she saw Menelt's eyes sweep over her.

"And why would I do that when I would rather bend you over?" Menelt asked, taking another step closer. "Why would you need to be trained to fight? Who are you but a sixteen-year-old child, fourth in line to the throne and destined to be sent away to Old Tehlea Lake to be promised to a man forty years your senior?"

Anger flickered over Princess Estina's face at his crude questions.

"He's definitely not the man to ask," Ardena said urgently, and her hand landed protectively on Princess Estina’s shoulder.

The Princess deliberated quickly. It was a miscalculation on her behalf, her virtue was at stake after all.

Ignoring Ardena's words, the Princess' face remained calm, and her next words came out firm and bitter determined to match Menelt's with just as much vigor.

"I make my own destiny, Clan Leader Menelt. The only thing I offer you is gold and my word that if it had been my choice, I would not have given you the ultimatum to give up your villages and your clan. My brother has weakened the border against the desert mobs, and he is too arrogant to acknowledge it."

Menelt began to circle her.

"You dare plan to oust your brother?" he asked.

Princess Estina looked around nervously to ensure no one had heard. "Of course not!" she spat. "The desert mobs are now focused on our weakened borders when they used to be more interested in the Talbecan Empire, are they not?"

She continued before he could respond. "If my brother carries on with such haphazard decisions, I won't need to oust him. My plan is to build alliances so when he does fail and threaten to wreak havoc on this kingdom, I'll have the people behind me to stop it from happening."

"That's going to be a bit hard when you're going to be having a fifty-year-old cock..."

"I would prefer you to keep your language in check around the Princess," Clagen interrupted.

Prince Alain threw a small coin bag through the air in front of Menelt, and he caught it with a quick hand before it hit the dirt.

"You're not much to look at, are you?" Menelt sneered.

"No. But I have the brains," Prince Alain retorted.

"For the gold we get your training and your men's silence, all of your men," Princess Estina added.

Menelt opened the bag and put his hand inside.

"The first bag is for goodwill," the Princess continued. "For each training session, we will pay you four gold coins as we are not the wealthiest in our family, and we plan for our training sessions to run for some time."

Menelt tossed the bag to his First Advising Chief and they shared a look. "Meet me here tomorrow night," Menelt said, turning his gaze back to her.

The Princess tried to stop the smile of victory from coming across her lips.

"Tomorrow," she replied and turned, tugging on her brother's arm.

"I can't believe you pulled that off," Ardena said as they hurried away.

"Neither do I!" She turned and held up her hand, revealing a sweaty palm.