His intense eyes look back toward Siphonie, slightly smiling as he takes in her disheveled hair and sweat still glistening against her flushed skin. She readjusts the deep-v of her neckline. “I'm sure that's what you were both also doing, enjoying awalk.” He winks at Siphonie, and to her credit she doesn't falter. Siphonie’sreputation has apparently reached his ears. When Prince Ereon’s soldiers first arrived, she found her way into several of their beds. Despite my constant worry over the rumored, ruthless soldiers, she found their company thrilling.
Siphonie, my cousin, has been raised in Antalis. She worries not about the opinions of others and embraces our culture of free sexuality, which we have found some foreigners who travel to our kingdom do not understand. She smiles right back at him, “You wouldn't be on the same type ofwalk, would you? You are betrothed to our lovely Carnaxa after all.”
He smirks and crosses his arms in front of him. “I am going to visit the fishing markets to see about gaining a few new members to my guard. When Princess Carnaxa returns to Shaston with me, I want as much protection as possible for her. The way home can be treacherous at times.” My skin flushes beneath his gaze as he reaches out and tucks a piece of my cerulean wavy hair behind my ear, “Her safety and happiness will be my responsibility after all, not too many moons from now.”
My father, the King of Antalis, made this match. King Atlas of Shaston and my father have never been able to see eye to eye. The Great War was the biggest battle between the kingdoms and we’ve still had our skirmishes through the years. However, no matter how hard we work to keep the peace the tension is always near, the King of Shaston, constantly in a volatile state. The kingdom between us, Midaeliea, tries to keep the peace among our three kingdoms of Ashonera. The Kingdom of Midaeliea takes upon itself the role to call a summit of our three kingdoms every three lunar years.
Antalis is not the largest kingdom on our continent, but we have the sea. We have our ancestors, we have protection surrounding us and we have the blessings of the Goddess. Leaving my home to travel to Shaston is not something I want. I don’t want to leave Antalis with the possibility of our magicawakening. My father swears the magic of our land is long gone, but we've all heard the rumors and prophecies brought from the Southern Continent. People there talk of another war that approaches, one that will change the world. He remembers the stories his great-grandfather told him of magical creatures that lingered in this world and protected it, thew?ngeskthat came to the call of the Goddess during the Great War. None of the magic has been seen since the end of that war, but we continue to pray to Her, for Her protection, and hope that She will bring the magic and Her blessing back.
“Naxa, I'm sure, is excited to see the beautiful Kingdom of Shaston, Prince Ereon.” Siphonie digs her fingers into my side, pulling me back from my scattered thoughts, and I quickly smile and nod in agreement. My tutors used to have the same problem with me, I was always one to get distracted and lost in my thoughts, my dreams, and my worries.
“Yes, absolutely.” I glance at the Prince, the muscles in his neck are slicked with sweat from the summer heat. “Are you beginning to enjoy our climate here?”
He wipes at the sweat collecting along his strong brow and sighs, “No, I think I prefer ours at home. It's hot and cold to be sure, but whatever makes the air so thick here, making it harder to breathe, can stay in Antalis. However” – he leans in close enough I can feel his breath on my ear – “I will miss these gorgeous dresses that your kingdom is accustomed to.” He leans back and steps to the side to admire me; my cheeks heat.
As a people, we don't feel the need to cover up one's body. Our tunics and dresses are simple garments. Women are usually seen wearing two-piece dresses, our mid-drifts on display, and most of our items are made of gauze-like fabric. From what I have learned, this is not the way of the Shastonians. Their lands have sand but not water, and the sun is so hot it can burn skin within moments of exposure. The people of Shaston wear longdresses or tunics, cover their feet in layers of protection along with thick soles, in addition to special garments to protect their heads from the sun’s rays. The nights in contrast are so cold, it’s been said that hands would stick to iron if one isn’t careful.
“Well time is getting ahead of us, I must be returning. I am sure my guard is worried sick and will come find me shortly.” I lightly touch his bicep as I step past him. “I hope to see you soon.”
“Oh, you will. Your father invited me to dinner tonight.”
His words send a shiver of fear down my spine. We are betrothed sure, but the time Prince Ereon has spent here has not been centered around me and he is still very much a stranger. Dinner is one of the few moments I have with my father and I cherish our time together. Ereon attending a meal with just the two of us feels as though he is intruding on the precious, little time I have left, and I don't like it.
“How wonderful. I look forward to seeing you this evening,” I reply, pulling myself from my thoughts. Siphonie and I curtsy and quickly make our exit, she's barely holding in a giggle as we leave his sight.
“I'm almost jealous of you, Naxa! If it wasn't for his homeland, he would be perfect.” She starts jumping as she skips ahead of me, turning to look back at me. “I don't know why you aren't more excited about Ereon. Honestly, he is young, sexy, and probably amazing in bed. He has seen battle and his body is just something I could lick for days. What is there not to like?”
I roll my eyes. “Oh, many things. The fact that I have to leave you, leave Antalis just to name a few. Plus, Rhenor has seen battle.”
“And I love the scars on his body from it, makes me feel protected. You know, you can request who you want to come with you. Request me, I would love to go someplace new. I’velived here my entire life. Maybe we could travel to Cortave. Wouldn't that be fun?”
“And what of Rhenor, Siph?”
“He wouldn't care if I went, he would probably come along too. He's been to Shaston a few times. Either way, let's get you ready for tonight since you'll get to see two good-looking men at your dinner table, it's going to be a formal event, I'm sure ...” Siphonie grabs my hand as we walk through the castle doors.
“Do not start about …” I barely finish my sentence before I run into a golden breastplate and look up.
Thylas, my bodyguard and Captain of theKe Neye, stares down at me with his emerald green eyes, not happy that I slipped out during his watch this morning. His midnight hair, so dark that it turns blue at the edges, is tied up in a bun at the top of his head. His eyes flame with anger because I have left him once again as I scrambled out with Siphonie this morning.
“Where thekosæhave you two been?” he seethes, eyeing us both.
Siphonie only laughs and walks around him. “Doing the same thing you do in the taverns during your off time.” She turns around to face him and winks.
He rolls his eyes and I notice the vein along his neck pops out, a telltale sign he's irritated.
“I wasn't concerned about you Siph, I'm not your guard. You are your husband's problem, not mine.” He stares at her, but she just smiles.
“Oh, go shuck a shell!” She throws up her hands at him as if she is indeed shucking a shell before showcasing her middle finger in a crude gesture and walking past him.
Ignoring her, Thylas steps in front of me not letting me pass. “Where wereyou?” he asks as he places his hand around my bicep. Siphonie leans against the wall, waiting on me as a devious smile passes her lips.
I look up at him as he towers over me. His strong jaw, covered in scruff, and his pouty lips are the reason he has women falling at his feet. I jerk my arm out of his grasp. “She told you where we were. Now I'll be in my chambers getting ready for dinner.”
I don't miss the fury in his eyes at what I've suggested I was doing. He knows as well as I he shouldn't care, but I also know I shouldn't irritate him. It's hard for me not to toy with him, he used to be one of my best friends after all.
two
CARNAXA
