Chapter 2: The Bodyguard Is Born

"You live in a palace made of glass?"

Violet stared up at the grand building, piercing through the clouds ensconcing Basharr's Blackwood Mountain. The rest of the city sprawled out below the palace, tucked safely behind great walls of black stone.

"It's perfectly safe. That glass is stronger than iron or stone and has housed my family for generations," Eden replied.

"At least my ancestors knew about privacy," Violet muttered, urging her horse forward.

They made it to the gates. The black metal swung silently open, and Violet saw the courtyard for the first time.

Colors burst from every corner. Wisteria trees draped the paths, offering a pastel canopy to the courtiers wandering about. Wild roses sprung from the edge of a small stream. A golden eagle perched in a cottonwood tree.

"Nothing is pruned or controlled," Violet noticed, dismounting to brush the painted face of a pansy flower.

"I control the rain, not what my land does with it. This way," Eden replied.

The horses were taken to the stables while Eden guided her to five sets of double doors opening onto the courtyard.

"Brother!"

A white-haired girl collided with Eden, barely coming up to his chest. Violet guessed she was around sixteen years old. Her soft pink dress hung to her knees, shreds of fabric trailing behind her covered with bits of dirt and leaves. A gold circlet was on her head. A whole squad of attendants followed her, eager to get to work on their king.

The girl's joy faded. She pushed Eden away. "I can't believe you left me behind again! I was stuck in lessons with Munro for ages and—"

She stopped, catching sight of Violet.

"Hello, princess," Violet greeted.

The girl looked up at Eden. "Did you bring her here?"

He nodded.

"She's pretty."

Eden kept his silence.

"Finally!" she exclaimed, taking Violet's arm to walk her down a hallway. "Someone to talk to! You have no idea how long I've been cooped up here. There are boys everywhere! I really need another woman to talk to. I mean, have you met boys? They're gross. My name is Raegan. What's your name? How do you know my brother?"

She finally took a breath and Violet extracted herself from the girl's grip. "Violet Bellerose, and we sort of stumbled into each other."

"Eden doesn't really like people," Raegan said. "He definitely doesn't bring them home. Are you special, Violet?"

Violet's throat went dry. She was so stupid! The entire royal family would have magical abilities. What if this girl could read minds? Or smell secrets?

"Umm, well, I…"

Raegan smiled, her brown eyes nearly disappearing. "I'm kidding, Violet. Breathe."

"Munro is looking for you, Rae," Eden said, catching up to them, suddenly smelling like a citrus orchard. The attendants had done some work before he escaped. "And I have some questions for Violet."

Raegan sighed. "Fine. But you better take me with you the next time you leave the city."

"We'll see."

Raegan left them, humming a song as she bounded down the hall.

"She's sweet, but even I can see she's lonely. Why do you keep her hidden in this place?" Violet asked.

Eden's face lost expression. "That's not the business of a stranger. Now, tell me, what village are you from?"

They continued walking through the glass corridors. Light flowed from panel to panel, crashing like ocean waves, leaving some shrouded in darkness while it moved to the next wall. A statue of carved obsidian loomed at the corner, a gentle song coming from the harp it held. Its stone fingers plucked the strings.

"Eloy."

"That's a very small piece of the world."

"Yes."

"Why were you on the river instead of your hometown?"

"Hunting."

"You're a hunter?" Eden's disbelief was evident.

"Is that hard to believe, my king?"

"It is."

"Give me a bow and a quiver. I'll make it easier for you," Violet replied, eager to take his mind off her past.

"I don't take orders, Violet Bellerose," he said.

He had stepped closer to her. She wasn't sure if he realized it or not, but she did. They were so close her head swam in the citrus scent his attendants doused him with. She looked up into his amber eyes, lost for just a moment.

She stepped back. "Think of it as a suggestion."

He nodded. "I can do that."

***

The palace grounds included practice areas for the King's Guard. The archery range stretched toward the heart of the mountain, lush with stuffed targets. Eden's best soldiers gathered, bows in hand.

"I wish to see your skills, Violet, as do my guards," Eden said. "The targets are set at thirty paces. Unless that's too far for you?"

Laughter filtered through the ranks.

Violet picked a bow for herself from the offered arsenal. She felt its weight; ran her fingers over the string. "I see I'm the only woman participating in this competition, my king. Do you not employ women unless they are kept indoors?"

A collective intake of breath. The guards knew waited to see how their master would respond. As did Violet, but Eden's royal mask remained intact. "I employ those who are best for the job." He chose a bow for himself. "Best me and my men and there could be a spot for you."

"The competition is reward enough for me," Violet replied, strapping a quiver to her thigh.

Eden shot first. He hit the fourth ring from the center. Next was his captain, Dana. He hit a bullseye. The next two soldiers hit the second ring.

It was Violet's turn. She nocked an arrow to the string. She drew back, touching her fingers to her mouth. Her breath would not still, though. She hated to admit it, but she was nervous. She only shot in the forest, taking down game to feed her family. And the last time she used a bow, she'd been with her best friend, Florian. He'd been in the middle of a proposal at the time which threw her aim off a bit.

"Worried, girl?" Captain Dana hissed.

Violet lowered her bow, pushing her black curls out of her face. "King Eden, could you turn my target into a moving one? I want your men to know it's you directing the wind and not an accident."

"Now it's getting interesting," Eden replied, his amber eyes flaring gold as he caught her target in a gust of wind, turning it into a kite across the field.

It waved wildly—just like a squirrel racing from tree to tree. Violet knew how to hunt those.

"No one could hit that," announced one guard.

"Crazy woman," muttered another.

Violet tracked the colored rings. She sang gently to herself—a song of rhythmic vowel sounds—to still her breathing. She loosed the arrow.

It sunk into the stuffed target. Eden let it drop to the earth. The silence of the men around her sent chills of pleasure down her spine.

It was broken by genuine laughter coming from the king. Violet couldn't stop watching the joy play across his face. "You don't lie, Violet. I stand corrected in the face of such an archer."

"You have to teach me that shot," one of the younger soldiers said.

A chorus of agreement came from the rest. Even the captain grudgingly shook her hand.

Violet grinned, enjoying her victory far more than she anticipated.

But it was short-lived.

An arrow, bone white and coated in cobalt blue powder, sunk into Captain Dana's shoulder. He fell to the ground. His men immediately formed ranks around him and the king.

"Where did it come from?"

"Who's got an eye on the shooter?"

"There!" Violet shouted, pointing to a balcony of the palace. A figure was running, flitting from precipice to precipice and from shadow to light. The palace seemed to anticipate their movements, sending all it's light to the would-be assassin but never fast enough.

The entire guard squad drew their bows. Arrows rained down on the figure, but nothing slowed them. They ducked inside.

"After him! Protect Princess Raegan!" Eden commanded.

Half the squad broke off while the rest gathered around their fallen captain. Violet knelt next to Eden. Dana shook. Eden pulled the arrow from his shoulder.

"He's sweating. His eyes are pure white."

"What's happening to him?" Violet asked.

Eden shook his head, white hair falling over his shoulders. "I've never seen this before. Dana, can you hear me? Wake up!"

The captain's milky eyes shot open. He grabbed Eden's tunic and pulled out a knife. Eden pushed him back, sending him colliding with the other guards. The cobalt powder was all over the captain like a spreading infection.

"It's Eden! It's your king, Dana!" he cried, trying to get through to his friend.

The men pulled the captain to his feet getting the powder all over them too. As soon as it got into their eyes, they all turned manic. Eyes white as the arrow; their hands coated blue.

They all turned on Eden.

Violet grabbed his hand. "We need to go. Now."