Chapter 39

Soren clenched his fist at King Nelan’s insult. Next to him, Annalise’s lips pressed into a thin line. He wondered if perhaps her years spent with the mask hiding her features had done her a disservice—she hadn’t needed to control her face then, but judging from the way Nelan’s eyes darkened when he saw her expression change, she would need to learn soon.

“As much as I appreciate Your Majesty’s concern about allowing my men and I to return home to Dovea, unfortunately it is out of the question for two reasons: first, we are tasked with her safety until she is married and second, the pass into Dovea is snowed in and unable to be accessed until after the spring thaws,” he said. 

“There are other ways to Dovea. Rhinnea has a port, and the crown will pay for your passage back to your home,” Nelan said through gritted teeth. 

Soren bowed, this time not quite so low as before. “King Everet is a fearsome taskmaster, and if we leave without ensuring the safety of his only daughter and the alliance between our countries, then I fear we risk his wrath.” He raised his voice so that both the Rhinnean and Dovean guards could hear him. “Princess Annalise is the crown jewel of Dovea. If we leave now and harm befalls her in whatever way, I fear the first thing you will hear in the spring is not the tweeting of birds, but the stomp of Dovean boots.” 

“You dare threaten me, in my kingdom, in front of my men and my betrothed, Captain Kierson?” King Nelan asked. 

Soren recognized the cold tone and made a note of it—some men had tempers that burned as hot as a bonfire. Those were easily enough dealt with. Others’ anger was a cold fury that sliced like a well-crafted blade of ice, or that came in the night and killed silently like a frost on unsuspecting travellers. If the Rhinnean king was of the second type, he would not be easily swayed or manipulated. 

“I would never threaten you, Your Majesty. I am simply informing you of an outcome that I would like to avoid. King Everet made me personally responsible for the princess’s safety and for the securance of the alliance between Rhinnea and Dovea. I am an honorable man and will not shirk my duty, especially when doing so places my people at risk,” Soren said as flatly as he dared. From the corner of his eye, he saw Annalise stiffen in her seat and just barely held back a quirk of his lips. He’d not meant to parrot her words from the night before, but there was something fitting about the phrase. If she insisted on doing her duty to the letter, so would he. 

 King Nelan appraised him for a long moment, and Soren held his gaze. He was not royalty, but he was the son of the best general Dovea had seen in generations, as well as a member of the nobility in his own right and he would not let a foreign king dismiss him as if he was a mangy dog on a leash. 

An older man with the face of someone who’d seen his fair share of battles rode forward, inserting a new player into their little standoff. “Your Majesty, is there any way that I may be of assistance?” His voice was deep and boomed like a clap of thunder. It was the same tone Soren’s father used when trying to intimidate troops, or King Everet used when intimidating his court. Unfortunately for the newcomer, Soren had heard that type of voice since he was in the womb, and it had roughly the same effect on him as the bleating of a goat. 

“The Doveans are refusing to quit the field and insist on remaining with Her Highness until the marriage ceremony as some form of misguided protection. They question my hospitality to my guest and my chivalrous nature, General Anar,” King Nelan said without looking away from Soren. 

“I see.” The man rubbed his beard. “We do have space in the barracks and plenty of rations in our storehouses. We are more than equipped to house them until the spring.” 

“And if they attempt treachery? What then?” King Nelan’s hand drifted to his side where an ornate sword hung. 

Soren nearly growled at the insult but just managed to regulate his tone at the last second. “We would never do such a thing and risk the princess. Her life is as dear to us as our own.”

“If they do try something, it would be the height of folly. Our soldiers will watch them like hawks. Please, Your Majesty, I counsel you to let them in. If the situation were reversed and you were sending your sister to the Dovean King, you would punish any soldier who came back before her role was made official,” the general said. 

Soren cut his eyes to the general’s, hoping that if he broke eye contact first, it would give the Rhinnean King a sense of victory and he would back down. General Anar’s eyes were deep brown, matching most his hair, although Soren could see the faintest grey at the man’s temples and sprinkled throughout his mustache and beard. He judged that the general was approximately the same age as his father. The knowledge didn’t give him any relief—he’d heard tales of the Rhinnean military command and wondered if the man in front of him was the same one his father liked to curse for the death of so many Dovean soldiers. 

“Fine, I will allow the Doveans into Rea, but they won’t be allowed free liberty of the city. A Rhinnean guard will shadow each of them at all times, and none of them must leave the barracks except by your express permission, General Anar,” King Nelan finally said. 

It was a concession, but not a good enough one for Soren. “You may give me a shadow, but I must be allowed access to the palace to guard the princess,” he said. 

“You dare to make demands of me?” King Nelan’s voice boomed on the final word, and his face twisted in his anger. The part of Soren dedicated to observing his opponent filed away the swift change in emotion for later review—if the Rhinnean King was hiding a hot temper under his icy mask, it could be something to exploit. 

“King Nelan, Captain Kierson is only seeking to do his duty,” Annalise’s cultured voice filtered through the air between them like a tender caress. “In my experience, many underestimate the effect of my curse. As much as I am looking forward to getting to know you and your people, I fear I may not always be on my guard enough to prevent any… incidents. With Captain Kierson as my shadow, it will enable me not to worry incessantly about men or women who wish to test their luck against my curse, or who wish to use it for their own gain. You called my men dogs earlier; if that’s truly what you believe of them, then let Captain Kierson be my guard dog to protect both myself and your subjects from anything that may cause harm.” 

Her words appeared to soothe King Nelan, and he relaxed, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “A leashed dog… yes, I think I like that imagery. Fine then, you may have your pet. A dog to go along with the horse that I have already gifted you.”

“I will ensure that he is still shadowed by at least one Rhinnean guard at all times to guarantee that everything remains within the bounds of propriety,” General Anar said. 

“Propriety? What are you insinuating, General?” Annalise’s voice turned biting at the slight.

“I mean no disrespect, Your Highness, but you are a foreigner, and the Rhinnean people may become suspicious if you have strange men hanging around your chambers unsupervised,” the general said. 

Soren put a hand on his sword, a growl lacing his words. “Princess Annalise is the epitome of ladylikeness, graciousness, and righteousness and does not deserve such foul things implied about her character.” 

General Anar raised an eyebrow even as his own guards drew their swords at the perceived threat. “As I said, I meant no disrespect, only to inform the princess that she will be under intense scrutiny from here on out and that her top priority should be to quash all appearances of impropriety.”

Annalise cut a sharp glance at Soren and he winced internally, already imagining the gentle and yet devastating way she would reprimand him later about not causing problems with their hosts, never mind the way they wielded insults like poison darts. He put both hands behind his back and stood up straight, although kept his weight shifted over his toes. He’d play nicely, but if anyone attempted any thing it would be the matter of less than a second to draw his sword and run them through. 

The princess folded her hands in front of her and nodded demurely, her blue eyes as wide and innocent as a child’s. “I see. Thank you, General Anar, for caring about my reputation so. I’m sure I will have much to learn in the coming days and I appreciate your foresight and care. It’s obvious that this Rhinnean court is a proper one, and I don’t wish to offend any sensibilities when I am so newly arrived. Now, may my men and I enter Rea?”