With a great creaking moan the tower door opened once more and the holy man was dragged inside by a lone guard dressed in head to toe armor. She couldn't see his face, and at this point she really didn't care. She was just happy it wasn't General Torunn. She felt like he wouldn't stop until he saw her in a great deal of pain. He seemed to enjoy that. He slammed the door shut behind him. She watched the soldiers every movement as he unlocked the shackles of the holy elder who now lay unconcious. Then he walked in her direction. She felt her heart lurch."Please, stop! I command you! Don't come any closer !"His stride increased in speed and when he was a few feet away from her he grabbed her gently by her arm and removed his helmet. She gasped when she saw it was him. It was Marlon. Without thinKing, she flung herse

"Years ago, I performed a ritual with you and your mother. Binding you to something very valuable. Your mother was a wonderful woman. Full of life and love for her people. She wants you to take her place. Save the Kingdom from this General and the addle-minded King. You have it inside of you. You are quite powerful." She knelt down beside him and surveyed the bleeding gash on his forehead. She ripped the front of her loin skirt and gently wrapped it around his head to help stop the bleeding. "Inside of me?""Yes, the jewel of humanity.""That isn't possible. My mother would have told me about that.""Would she? You were an infant. The Kingdom was on a shaky road to recovery, after a land ravished by war. She had l

She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the tops of her knees. The full moon illuminated the tower, and she said a silent prayer of protection for Marlon. She heard a loud thud and the tower door opened once again. She quickly stood up, dusting herself off as she walked over to the door. She hadn't expected Marlon to use this entrance again. She didn't care. She was happy she would be leaving this dreadful place. The door opened further and her heart was once again deflated. It was not Marlon. It was General Torunn. She quickly backed away. His eyes looked like cold glass as he stared at her. Two more guards materialised behind him in the poorly lit entranceway. He walked into the room and immediately started barKing orders."Shut the door and leave me! The Princess and I have much to discuss."

In all the confusion Flossina seized the opportunity and kneed him in his bare groin with all of her might. He let out a blood-curdling howl of pain and doubled over, all the while holding his crotch. All the fear, all the anger, and all of the hatred she felt for this man bubbled up within her and she gave him one final kick in his face. It knocked him out cold. She looked around and ran over to where she had left the holy man to rest."Our ride has arrived! We are safe," she informed him while she gently shook him.He was hunched over with the hood of his cloak covering his head. She knelt and touched his shoulder. His head lifelessly rolled around on his shoulders and she knew he was dead. She gently laid his body down on the ground."I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She whispered and placed a kiss on his forehead as a

Flossina felt the crisp, cool wind on her face and was so grateful he had covered her with his thick warm cloak. She thanked the gods for her new champion. She closed her eyes and sighed. It was a sigh of relief. She relaxed against him as they soared above the clouds. She felt her eyes growing heavy. She was bone tired. Tonight was the bravest she'd ever been or had to be. She had succeeded in keeping her virtue intact. She recalled knocKing the General unconscious on the floor, and she smiled at his misfortune. All her life she had been taught that a Princess was permitted to revel in her country's accomplishments, and not their own. She sighed again. Her eyelids were getting so heavy as if he had read her mind he put his lips to her ear and spoke. It sent tingles all over her body."You can rest. You're safe."