As throne rooms went, the room was average, functional. Other than the throne of Eleazar, the King of Greria the room contained little in the way of furnishing or decoration. A wide carpet led up to the raised dais, and was somewhat worn in places where various functionaries would kneel or stand as tradition dictated. Fenja Sterret’s father, the King of Greria, sat on the throne. Copious rays of sunlight filtered in through stained glass windows that lined one wall. Each window depicted a battle, a historical figure, or some other important event. Important enough her history tutor tried to explain them at least once every few weeks. Fenja retained none of that knowledge. Tapestries hung from support pillars. At the main door, and at the three other entrances pairs of guards in light armor were posted. They looked overly serious and were very still.

Fenja occupied a chair nearby. The chair itself was nice, well cushioned, and custom built for her. Papa assured her she’d get a fancier chair once she was an adult, and someday she might be the one sitting in his chair, if all went well.

Today the throne room had turned into the location of a boring meeting. The far away parts of the kingdom were in peril, or on fire, or something. Fenja fidgeted with her hands and stayed quiet. She knew she was supposed to go to her sword lesson soon, but figured that wouldn’t be happening so long as Kian was talking about whatever the problem was. At the foot of the dais a number of chairs had been placed, and in them sat most of the members of the King’s cabinet of advisors. Fenja knew some of them by name, because she was required to.

Archbishop Sponheim, old, his shoulders hunched. He seemed to melt into the thin cushion of his chair, his voice soft compared to the others who spoke. His hairline was receding and Fenja thought his nose was shaped funny. Kian sat in his chair with the same rigidness as though he were standing at attention. He was the captain of the guard, and sometimes Fenja’s sword instructor. She’d picked him, and challenged him until he agreed. He was tall and awesome and Fenja had never seen him lose in the practice yard. Fabian was there too. He did not sit. He stood somewhat behind her dad’s throne, and came forward occasionally to whisper something in his ear. Whenever he met Fenja’s eyes he frowned. There were about ten other people as well, all dressed in finery. They sat and whispered very quietly among themselves, but once others started to talk they fell silent.

“I do not care if you consider it a security risk, Fabian. I have already paid a handsome retainer for a bodyguard from the Academy. The best they have, they assured me. Every day that goes by without re-establishing control of my kingdom is a day that we appear weakened. And if the nation appears weak, it’s only a matter of time before the assassins start to come. Just like they did for my father.”, Eleazar Sterret said.

“The fact that you would arrange this without consulting either myself or the Captain of the Guard is concerning in and of itself, your Majesty. May I also remind you that the woman you’ve hired is considered the best because she is in fact horribly dangerous?”, Fabian said. He no longer whispered.

Fenja twirled a bit of her curly brown hair in her fingers and sighed. They’d been going around the same thing now two, three times? Daddy had hired a special bodyguard from outside the castle, and everyone was concerned. If she was coming to be a bodyguard, why would she be dangerous to Dad? He was King, and she was going to be on his side, right?

“Your concerns are noted, Spymaster Fabian. She will be here soon, and then you can grill her personally on her loyalty and abilities, if you feel you must.”, King Sterret said.

“I feel I must insist, if you’ll allow it.”, Fabian said. Sterret nodded. Kian, still seated, held up a hand. Sterret gestured with one hand, palm up.

“I realize I’m late to the discussion sire, but may I ask who exactly did you hire?”, Kian said. Fenja stifled a yawn and shifted a little in her seat, crossing her legs the other way, trying to prevent her legs from going numb.

“Ms. Hayes. A mage, duelist, and Academy alumni. She came highly recommended.”, King Sterret said.

“I am surprised the Academy would contract anyone to you, your highness. Is that not an open show of allegiance between them and the royal family? I assumed they would continue to hold to their neutrality.”, Archbishop Sponheim said.

King Sterret held up a hand. “I am aware that it must be handled tactfully.”, he glanced to the side and down at Fenja. “I am sure none of you will disagree that my safety and that of the crown princess is something on which no expense should be spared, yes?”, he said as he winked at Fenja. She smiled slightly and barely managed to stifle a giggle. She squeezed her hands tightly in her lap and willed herself to remain composed and elegant. Prim and proper, that was what she needed to be when she was in the throne room.

The large doors on the far end of the room opened enough to admit another guard into the room. The conversation fell silent as the King watched him approach. Fenja resisted the urge to reach up and keep twirling her hair. The advisors turned in their seats to glance back, though this was technically against protocol. It took him a couple seconds to cross the distance to the throne. He knelt down on one knee, about ten paces behind where Kian, the Archbishop and the other less important functionaries were seated. “Pardon the intrusion your highness, but another guest has arrived and insists that she is scheduled to see you at this time. A Ms. Hayes.”, the guardsman said.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“She may enter.”, King Sterret said. The guardsman stood, saluted, and walked back down the carpet. Fenja watched Kian, Sponheim, and the other advisors. Sponheim stifled a yawn. Kian still had not relaxed, he stared rigidly ahead, his eyes on the stones at the King’s feet. Fenja liked him better in the practice grounds, where he was allowed to have fun. The other advisors whispered and fidgeted. Very rarely one of them glanced up, either at the King, or at Fenja. She kept herself still but couldn’t help smiling smugly at them. She was better at composure than some of the adults.

The main doors opened wind and a young woman with straight, shoulder-length blonde hair entered. Fenja watched her with interest, because she was breaking the rules. She was dressed for the training ground, not for court, because the newcomer wore tight pants and a loose shirt instead of a proper dress. She had no weapons and wore no makeup. Fenja leaned over toward her father’s throne. “Daddy, isn’t that scandalous?”, she whispered.

King Sterret chuckled softly. Behind him Fabian glared down at Fenja disapprovingly. She did her best to pretend he didn’t exist. “Perhaps. But more normal than you might think, in the wider world.”, he whispered back, without looking over at her. “Mage Hayes, you’ve arrived somewhat earlier than scheduled. Not a problem. I was just discussing the role you were to play with some of my advisors here.”, King Sterret said as his eyes swept the room.

“My apologies, your highness, I tend to get places fast. Shall I come back at a later time?”, Hayes said with a shrug as she came to a stop near where the advisors were seated, and curtsied, hands out to her sides as though she were lifting an imaginary hem.

“Not at all, do stay. The Academy’s board personally recommended you, I hear. You are aware of what the Crown has hired you for?”, King Sterret said.

Hayes stood with her hands held together in front of her. In contrast to Kian and the Archbishop, she looked neither tired, nor particularly attentive. Relaxed. Relaxed was the word Fenja would describe her with. “To be your bodyguard, your highness? I hope this isn’t a trick question.”, Hayes said.

“It is not. My advisors have done nothing but doubt my choices this morning. Perhaps you can put them at ease?”, King Sterret said.

“A demonstration, your highness? Easy enough.”, Hayes said as she glanced over the ten or so people seated to her right. They looked at her, she looked at them. Even Fenja knew that the situation was slowly straying outside the boundaries of proper procedure and of what should be done in the throne room. She shifted forward in her chair and watched carefully. For the space of three seconds the room was silent.

Kian sighed. “May, your highness?”, he asked. King Sterret nodded. Kian stood up and moved to stand in front of Hayes. “I am Kian Cardon, Captain of the Guard. I’m sure it will be a pleasure to work with you.”, he said.

“Likewise. And you have doubts about me?”, Hayes said as she smiled more widely.

“Of course. What sort of bodyguard shows up to do their job, but carries no weapons? Surely you don’t fight barehanded, miss?”, Kian said confidently.

Hayes shrugged. “But Captain, I don’t expect I’ll need to fight very hard. Permission to cast?”, she said sweetly.

“Granted, so long as you don’t scorch the carpet, and so long as the King doesn’t disapprove.”, Kian said as he glanced to one side to look at the King.

King Sterret shrugged. “Continue. No hurting each other.”, he said.

“They’re going to fight?”, Fenja asked excitedly.

“By the Old God I hope not. Not in here. The rumors are going to be hellish.”, Fabian muttered.

“For my first trick, would you please pick a point in the room, dear Captain?”, Hayes said, still smiling as she swept her arms out wide, palm up.

“Over by the door then.”, Kian said as he pointed back to the main doors.

“Very well.”, Hayes said as she snapped her fingers. Then she was gone. Fenja blinked. Then Hayes was over by the doors. The guards on either side of the door tensed, and shifted slightly, both looking at her.

“She teleported!”, Fenja said. Fabian glared down at her. Some of the advisors stood up. Hayes snapped her fingers again and reappeared where she had been before, standing a short distance away from Kian.

“Impressive. If I recall correctly, there are almost no Mages who can do that. How, precisely, will that keep his Highness safe?”, Kian said as he crossed his arms.

Hayes shrugged. “I can move more than just myself, thus, I can keep the King out of danger.”, she said as stepped to her right, and was suddenly five steps further along than she should be. She reached out and touched the empty chair which Kian had sat in earlier. With her other hand she snapped her fingers. In the blink of an eye the chair was over by the door, right in front of one of the guards.

“You can move objects around a room. Impressive, perhaps, and doubly so that you can do it with barely a gesture and without an incantation. That alone would make you a valuable addition to the castle.”, Kian admitted.

“And a very dangerous one. Caution with this one, your highness. She might get into places you’d rather she didn’t.”, Fenja overheard Fabian whisper as he leaned down over her father’s throne.

“I can do far more than that of course, but I’d rather not dirty the throne room’s carpet. Perhaps I might do a proper demonstration later, somewhere out of doors?”, Hayes said as she once more faced toward the King.

King Sterret didn’t react to Fabian’s words. “I believe I am satisfied for now. Work out the details, all of you. I wish to retire for lunch. Ms. Hayes, take a few days to endure whatever testing my staff puts you through, and then I’ll expect you to be with me whenever I leave the bounds of the keep.”, he said firmly.

“Of course, sire.”, Hayes said as she curtsied again. Fenja giggled. The moment her father got up and off of his throne, she did too. He left the room through a side door, with a couple guardsman trailing behind him, along with the Archbishop. Fenja followed along behind them, an additional bit of spring in her step. The moment she was out of the throne room one of her handmaids that had been left to wait in the hall followed along behind her silently. Fenja wanted to see more magic from the new person, but first she’d have to endure the painful formality of lunch, along with whatever boring lessons her tutors had prepared.