Carana left her chamber to seek out the kitchens. Many of the castle regulars eyed her in disgust. She wished they knew who she really was and why she was here. Maybe the could tell her because she didn’t know.

She walked past a sitting room and heard clearly, “I don’t care how you do it…just kill her.”

Carana immediately recognized the queen’s voice as the speaker and no doubt knew who was being killed or, at least, ordered to be killed.

“Yes, your highness,” a man replied.

Carana looked in through a crack in the door and found Cally picking up bits of china.

Two people also stood to walk out of the room.

“I trust you’ll take care of it,” Queen Neta said.

“Yes, milady.”

Carana dove into the nearest hallway and the next door feeling her heart beat faster than when she fought the Nagular.

Inside she found mountain of books that hadn’t been dealt with in years. Her hands itched to touch the dusty tombs. It made her happy to be among them.  

She selected one and opened it to a random page where the bold words

BATTLE TACTICS

jumped out at her. It was a war book. She sighed, returning it to the shelf. She stumbled across a green leather bound book embossed in gold next. She opened it and began to read the tale of Selemcra and Berensama.

One was a warrior, Selemcra, and the other a lover, Berensama. Both found themselves in the midst of an epic battle between the love they shared for one another and honor to those whom they were supposed to marry.

Before Carana knew it all the sunlight had drained from the room, leaving a pale glow against the walls. She had read over 300 pages in the five hours she knew she had been in there. She sighed and unknowingly slipped the book under her arm.

Prince Sarenic was waiting for her when she returned. A dinner had been placed on a table in her room, where the dishes from her lunch had been stored.

“You seem to be preoccupied,” he said, helping her into a chair.

“Yes, well, I took a walk today,”

“Where?”

“Near a room your mother was in telling a man to kill me,” she answered.

“Really?” he asked slightly intrigued.

“Yes, well I got scared and dove into a room in an adjoining hallway.

“What was in the room?” he asked, beginning to eat.

“Something you don’t see much of, where I’m from.”

“Like what?”

“Books, milord. There were many books there.”

“Ah! Yes, I know where you were now, yes, hasn’t been used in a long time.”

“Why not milord?” she asked.

“Well, school was over for me and I had to finish training in sword, horseback riding, and the bow and arrow,” he answered.

“You mean, training for those battles you fight because your mother is secretly training another to take your place?”

“How did you figure that out?”

“Cally,” she lied, when really she had only thought of it because he had to leave again.

“So, it’s true I am leaving again and I am afraid what will happen to you when I do.”

“Then take me with you!” Carana begged.

“I can’t.”

She got up and dropped to her knees before him, taking his calloused hands in hers. “Please my Lord! I will die if you leave me here.” Tears fell from her eyes onto his hands, where she had bowed her head.

“I cannot take you with me. It is against my mother’s laws,” he said as kindly as he could.

Her head dropped in his lap where she cried. Death would be her doom here.

“Listen, Cally will care for you.” He tried his best in soothing her.

Tentatively he touched her head and she looked up at him with a tear stained face.

“I cannot take you with me.” He swallowed at the look she gave him, because it begged to live. His heart beat fast inside his chest. He wished she wouldn’t do this to him. He had already lied to her and his mother and as much as his father wouldn’t want him to admit it he was beginning to love her.  He sighed. “Those books are your hope. My mother has wanted them organized for sometime now. I can tell her you’ll do it.”

“You’ll be gone more than a year this time.”

“Then help in the kitchens,” he answered.

She thought about it, “Fine, but if your mother throws me into the dungeons again I won’t be happy with you,” she said boldly.

He smiled, “Do not worry.”

“It’s hard not to,” she answered, getting up off her knees.

“I won’t be leaving for a week. You will have me till then.”

“Do not bother with me. You will have enough to do with this next battle.”  

Sarenic got up and pulled her to him, drying the tears that still wet her cheeks and suddenly making up his mind about what he was going to do about marrying her. “Do not tell me not to worry about you, Carana. I haven’t gotten to your bride price yet, but I will. As soon as this next battle is over, I will gather it and send it to your father; asking for your hand…”

“No, don’t do that! You cannot marry me. We cannot…I am not….I am no good for you!” she interrupted in desperation. She did not want him to ruin his life with this.

He laughed, “You’re no good for me ‘eh?” Darling you are the perfect woman for me. I have always wanted someone because they love me for who I am, not the title I carry.”

She felt her heart pounding inside and the jolt of electricity when he said those words to her.

“Who says I love you?”

“If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be her right now, letting me hold you.”

She smiled up at him. “Fine, then I guess I do love you, but I am really no good for you.”

He kissed her forehead gently. “I’ve got to go. One of the maids will be in to tend to you. I will make the proposal to mother tomorrow. I might send for you to come to my court. You might have to come see my mother when I make that proposal.”

“I will be waiting for you then,” she whispered.

He kissed her again and set her back. “See you tomorrow,” he said, feeling happy about his choice, but guilty because he had forgotten her when he had gone to war.

“Bye,” she said as he walked out the door.

She sighed, climbing into bed. The book she’d been reading lay beside her on it. The candles gave off very little light, so there wouldn’t be any reading instead she blew the candles out and snuggled into the sheets.