CHAPTER 5: A PRINCESS WITH A SWORD

The first mistake the assassin made was underestimating the princess, the second was choosing a crowded ballroom, the third—and possibly the last—was pointing a crossbow at Prince Kael Blackthorn while Seraphina Valemont was watching.

The royal ceremony which was held in darvaryn ,had been proceeding perfectly , Saraphina parents had pursueded her earlier to attend, since it was held in her future husband's palace, and also to celebrate the signing of the first formal agreement between the two kingdoms, naturally, Seraphina had made certain of it, the silver decorations had been inspected twice. The musicians had rehearsed for three days. Every guest had been assigned a seat according to rank, diplomatic importance, and the likelihood of causing trouble, especially the last category.

Seraphina stood beside the throne, wearing a magnificent dark-red gown embroidered with golden roses. A delicate crown rested upon her carefully styled hair, and a diamond necklace glittered against her throat, she looked every inch a future queen, unfortunately, her future husband was ruining her evening.

"You're standing on my dress," she whispered.

Kael didn't look at her.

"Am I?"

"Move your foot."

"Ask nicely."

She turned her head slowly.

"Prince Kael, I am going to count to three. If your foot is not removed from my dress by the time I finish, I shall personally ensure that you never wear those ridiculous boots again."

He glanced down, then, with exaggerated care, he moved his foot.

"Your gratitude is overwhelming," she murmured.

"Anything for my future bride."

"Don't call me that."

"What should I call you?"

"A regrettable political obligation would be appropriate."

Kael's mouth twitched.

"That's rather long. I'll stick with darling."

Seraphina turned toward him so quickly that her crown nearly shifted.

"Call me that again, and I'll—"

"Your Highnesses."

A royal attendant approached, bowing deeply.

"The king requests that you join him on the ceremonial platform."

Seraphina immediately composed herself.

"Of course."

She walked away without looking at Kael, he watched her go, shaking his head.

"Insufferable woman," he muttered.

But he followed her, because, unfortunately, she was rather difficult to ignore,  King Alaric stood beside King Darius on the raised platform, behind them, enormous banners bearing the symbols of both kingdoms hung from the marble walls, Aurelion's golden sun, and Darvaryn's black dragon, two ancient powers finally promising peace, atleast, that was what everyone believed, King Alaric raised his goblet.

"Today, we stand together not merely as allies, but as one family. May the union of our children bring peace to our lands for generations to come."

The crowd applauded, Kael stood beside Seraphina, looking bored, she elbowed him discreetly.

"Smile."

"I'm smiling."

"You look as though someone has informed you that your horse has been elected king."

"Perhaps my horse would make a better king."

"Undoubtedly. It has the advantage of remaining silent."

Kael turned toward her.

"You know, Princess, most women would consider themselves fortunate to marry me."

"Most women haven't had the misfortune of meeting you."

Before he could respond, King Darius stepped forward.

"My son, Prince Kael, has served our kingdom with courage and distinction. He has proven himself on the battlefield, and I have no doubt that he will serve his future queen with equal devotion."

Kael's expression became uncomfortable , Seraphina noticed, for once, she decided not to tease him, instead, she leaned slightly closer.

"Try not to look as though you're being sentenced to death."

He murmured, "I might be."

She almost smile, ten she noticed something, a man stood on the upper balcony overlooking the ballroom ,he wore the uniform of a palace guard, nothing unusual about that, except his hand wasn't resting on the railing like the others ,it was beneath his cloak, and he wasn't watching the kings, he was watching Kael.

Seraphina's smile vanished, her gaze moved to the man's shoulder, no royal insignia, she looked at the guards stationed near the balcony, one the guards was missing, her pulse quickened ,something was wrong she leaned toward Kael.

"Don't move."

He frowned.

"What?"

"I said, don't move."

"Are you giving me orders now?"

"Kael."

Something in her voice made him turn, it was the first time she had addressed him without irritation, her eyes were fixed on the balcony, Kael followed her gaze, the assassin moved, everything happened in a heartbeat, the man drew a compact crossbow from beneath his cloak, he aimed directly at Kael's chest, Seraphina saw the movement, she didn't scream , nor hesitate, she grabbed Kael by the front of his coat and yanked him sideways, the crossbow fired, the bolt tore through the fabric of his sleeve, a woman screamed, the ballroom erupted into chaos.

Before the assassin could reload, Seraphina seized the ceremonial dagger from the table beside her and ran toward the staircase.

"SERAPHINA!" Kael shouted.

She ignored him, the assassin turned and fled along the balcony, Seraphina gathered her skirts and sprinted after him, behind her, Kael stared in disbelief, then he swore.

"Someone get her out of there!"

But the princess was already halfway up the stairs, and she was moving far too quickly for someone who had supposedly spent her entire life arranging flowers, the assassin reached the upper corridor and pulled a second weapon from his belt , he turned just as Seraphina emerged from the staircase, for a moment, they stared at each other, then he laughed.

"Your Highness. You should have stayed downstairs."

Seraphina held the dagger in front of her.

"How disappointing. I was hoping you'd say something more intelligent."

His smile faded.

"You don't understand what's happening here."

"Then perhaps you would be kind enough to explain it before I have you arrested."

He lunged after her, Seraphina moved, she stepped aside, caught his wrist, and drove her elbow into his arm, the weapon clattered against the stone floor, the assassin cursed and swung at her, she ducked , his fist struck the wall, before he could recover, she swept her leg behind his knee, he stumbled , she drove her shoulder into his chest, sending him crashing against a pillar, he was stronger than she expected, much stronger.

He grabbed her wrist and twisted it, pain shot up her arm, the dagger fell.

"Stupid girl," he snarled.

Seraphina's jaw tightened.

"That," she gasped, "is the third mistake you've made tonight."

She drove her knee into his stomach, he doubled over, she wrenched her wrist free, seized his arm, and twisted it behind his back, he roared in pain, for one brief moment, she had him, then he slammed backward into her, her shoulder struck the pillar, white-hot pain exploded through her arm, she staggered, the assassin spun around and pulled a knife, Seraphina reached for the dagger, it lay several feet away, too far away from her, the assassin advanced towards her, she stepped backward, forcing herself to ignore the pain.

"Your Highness," he said mockingly, "perhaps you should have remained with your embroidery."

Seraphina's eyes flashed.

"You know, I was beginning to think you might be competent."

He lunged, she caught his wrist with both hands the knife stopped inches from her throat, her arms trembled under the pressure, he was stronger, and her shoulder was injured, she was rapidly losing ground, for the first time that evening, fear crept into her chest, not because she was about to die, but because she might fail ,then a voice thundered through the corridor.

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!"

It was Kael, the prince charged forward, the assassin released Seraphina and turned just as Kael struck him across the face, the man crashed against the wall, Kael attacked again, his fist connected with the assassin's jaw, the knife fell, within seconds, Kael had him pinned against the floor, one hand gripping his throat.

"Who sent you?" he demanded.

The assassin spat blood, Kael tightened his grip.

"I asked you a question."

"Kael!"

Seraphina's voice stopped him, he looked up, she stood several feet away, holding her injured shoulder.

"Don't kill him."

Kael's eyes remained fixed on the assassin.

"He tried to murder me."

"And killing him won't tell us who ordered it."

For a moment, Kael didn't move, then, slowly, he released the man's throat he seized the assassin's arms and forced them behind his back.

"GUARDS!"

Two soldiers rushed into the corridor.

"Take him to the dungeons. No visitors. No one speaks to him without my permission."

The guards dragged the struggling assassin away, Kael turned and saw the blood, a thin line ran down Seraphina's arm, staining the sleeve of her gown, his expression changed instantly.

"What happened to your shoulder?"

"Nothing."

"You're bleeding."

"I have eyes, Kael."

"Then use them to look at your arm!"

She stared at him.

"Excuse me?"

He stepped closer.

"You're injured."

"And you're shouting."

"Because you ran after an armed assassin!"

"Someone had to stop him!"

"YOU COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!"

His voice echoed through the corridor, Seraphina went silent, Kael seemed equally surprised by his own outburst, for a moment, they simply stared at each other, then Seraphina lifted her chin.

"But I wasn't."

His jaw tightened.

"No. You weren't."

He looked at the blood on her sleeve again, and for the first time in his life, Prince Kael Blackthorn discovered that winning a fight did not necessarily make him feel victorious, because he could still see the knife at her throat, and the thought of arriving one second too late made something inside his chest turn cold.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?"

The question came twenty minutes later, Seraphina sat in a private chamber while the royal physician examined her shoulder, Kael stood beside the window, his arms crossed, she glanced at him.

"Learn to fight like what?"

"Don't play games with me."

"Then ask a better question."

His jaw tightened, the physician carefully moved her arm, Seraphina winced, Kael immediately turned.

"Does that hurt?"

"No, Your Highness. I am simply screaming internally for the entertainment of the room."

The physician lowered his head, hiding a smile, Kael looked unimpressed.

"She needs rest," the physician announced. "The shoulder is bruised, and she has strained the surrounding muscles. It doesn't appear to be dislocated, but she must avoid strenuous activity until the pain improves."

Seraphina nodded.

"Thank you, Doctor."

When he left, Kael closed the door, then he turned toward her.

"Answer my question."

She sighed.

"I have been training with the royal guards since I was twelve."

He stared at her.

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to."

"Your father knows?"

"Of course."

"And he allowed it?"

Seraphina raised an eyebrow.

"Must I obtain permission from you as well?"

"That's not what I meant."

"Then perhaps you should learn to express yourself more clearly."

Kael dragged a hand over his face.

"God, you are impossible."

"And yet, here you are."

He looked at her injured shoulder.

"You could have been killed."

Her expression changed slightly.

"So could you."

"I'm trained to handle situations like that."

"And I am not?"

"Seraphina—"

"Do you know what your problem is, Prince Kael?"

He folded his arms.

"I'm sure you're about to tell me."

"You believe that because you're strong, everyone else must be weaker. You assume that because you can defeat most men in a fight, no woman could possibly stand beside you."

She leaned forward, despite the pain in her shoulder.

"I do not need you to believe I am strong. I need you to stop assuming I am weak."

Kael stared at her, for once, he had no sharp response, because she was right, he had seen her as a beautiful, irritating princess who cared too much about appearances, he had never considered that she might have spent years quietly preparing herself to survive a world that would always underestimate her, he looked at her hands, there were faint calluses across her palms, he had never noticed them before.

"Who trained you?" he asked more quietly.

"Captain Rowan. He commanded my father's personal guard for twenty years."

Kael nodded slowly.

"He's good."

"The best."

"And you?"

Seraphina blinked.

"What about me?"

"You're good, too."

Silence, she stared at him, then narrowed her eyes.

"Are you ill?"

He frowned.

"What?"

"You have just complimented me twice in a single evening. I am concerned about your health."

Kael let out a disbelieving laugh.

"I take it back."

"Too late. I'll have the physician record it."

"You're insufferable."

"And you're welcome."

He shook his head, but this time, he was smiling, only slightly, for a moment, Still, Seraphina noticed, and she hated that she wanted to see it again.