The Princess and the Blade

[Soran Nightblade]

Havi glanced at Elias, irritated at having his attention divided while he was trying to keep an eye on this new stranger dancing with his Yurivis. His annoyance doubled when he realized who it was. "I enjoy guarding her," he spoke flatly.

Jim's dancing was accurate, but inelegant. "Rest assured, I am not here to woo you! I'm likely twice your age," the man chuckled. "Excuse my acquaintance if he said anything too forward. Laurius tends to eschew formalities and say whatever he likes! Perhaps you and your father might be open to a luncheon tomorrow? I have some business opportunities near the Border that I believe might benefit us both."

[Emora Deen]

Elias smirked. "I bet you do," he said, as if he understood what, exactly, Havitharon might enjoy about guarding Tenara. "I'm happy to see her home safe. There was a flurry of rumors about her floating around our little city. I heard some awful royal locked her in a brothel. Who knows what might have happened if she hadn’t escaped? Then, some strange, horned man tried to sell her on the Market. She's lucky she made it out of Arken at all.” His gaze lifted to Havitharon's horns, his smirk spreading into a grin.

Elias turned slightly toward Havitharon so their conversation felt more private. "You must have caught her after she escaped my room. You planned to put her on the block, because why not? Look at her. Even if you didn't know she was Hajara’s missing princess, she would have made you a very rich man. But you got seduced by those pretty blue eyes and her sweet voice. I don't blame you, I might have fallen victim myself. Then, you found out she was rich beyond your dreams—richer than anything the market could have gotten you, pretty face or not. So, you helped her escape Arken. All's forgiven, it seems. You get to live in a palace. You get to live near her. All you have to do is keep some animal from getting their claws in her again. Seems like a sweet deal." He leaned in an inch. "What if I sweetened it further? What if I tripled anything they pay you? What if I gave you a castle of your own? Your own little kingdom? Hell, I'll give you her, if you want. All I want to know is what happened to the sword she had in her possession. Where's the sword?"

———-

Tenara smiled at Jim. "He was a very pleasant dance partner, and I appreciate his conversation style. The sincerity is refreshing considering most men in this room are putting on a facade in the hopes of getting a throne." She glanced at Havitharon and Elias, hating the smug, knowing smile on the prince's face. "And I was going to actually see if I could arrange some time with Mr. Mar again. So, if it works out that your lunch proposal would provide such an opportunity, I look forward to dining with you."

[Soran Nightblade]

Jim beamed at her with a businesslike smile. "Well, Laurius insisted I would be glad I brought him along, and as usual I find that he's correct! Then it's agreed, we'll come by again tomorrow mid-day." He stepped back and gave her a polite bow. "I see there are many younger men than I waiting for your time. Thank you for the dance, Princess."

* * * * * * * * *

Havitharon stared at Elias like he was covered in manure. "Let me be clear about your offer," he spoke coldly. In the back of his thoughts, he silently opened his mental connection with Tenara. *"Three times my salary, for the location of the sword?"*

[Emora Deen]

Tenara, distracted by the voice suddenly filling her mind, was easily swept away by another man. She wasn’t even really focusing on who it was twirling her around the room. She glanced over her shoulder at Havitharon and Elias, her partner pulling her into the thick of swaying forms until she couldn’t see them.

Elias smiled with faux politeness. “Three times, a plot of land, and the princess to warm your bed, if you wish it. Oh, and protection from her family, of course.” His gaze darkened. “I want that sword, and I’ll pay or do anything to get it. Are we clear?”

[Soran Nightblade]

Havitharon's hands twitched at his sides. It was all he could do to keep them from curling into fists. Don't offend the guests, no matter what. "Why? What is so special about the sword?"

[Emora Deen]

“Family thing. It belonged to my brother, and she killed him and stole it. All’s forgiven on the murder aspect, considering he kidnapped her and tried to kill her. But the sword was important to him and thus, important to me. It belongs to my family.”

He grinned. “Look. You’re just someone who bumped into the right person at the right time in the wrong place. The sword doesn’t matter to you, and it doesn’t matter to her.”

[Soran Nightblade]

Havi set his expression carefully blank. Elias's words made him feel both better and worse. Not only did the man not know who he was, but he didn't understand his connection to the sword either. Did he even know what the sword could do? He tried to remember their time on the ship, when the man had been looking through his deceased brother's books. It had seemed like he understood something of the spell that was used, but now Havi wasn't sure. He leaned in and lowered his voice. "How can you guarantee me the woman?" he asked, hoping he looked skeptical and not furious. He lost contact with Tenara's mind. The disgust has broken his focus.

[Emora Deen]

Elias gave a genuine smile. “No need to worry yourself with those details. She was taken once and can easily be taken again, if you know the right sort of folk, which I do. Though, I’ll be sure they treat her better this time before handing her off to you.” Elias’s gaze turned on the crowd, searching for Tenara. “Do we have a deal?”

Tenara stumbled when her connection with Havi when silent. She couldn’t see him or hear him anymore.

The man leading her around didn’t seem to notice her torn attention, or perhaps he didn’t care. He was talking and hadn’t even noticed she wasn’t listening or paused to allow her a word in.

“Excuse me. I’m feeling dizzy,” she said, trying to give a plausible excuse to be released from his vice-like grip around her hand.

“When we’re married…”

Tenara stomped on his toe in the next step, and he howled, releasing her. “Beg your pardon,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry. I’m so clumsy. Let me get you something for the pain. A bit of brandy will do.” She disappeared into the crowd, back towards where she’s seen Havi and Elias.

[Soran Nightblade]

Something about Elias's words sent an icy chill up his spine. 'Treat her better this time'...

Did he know? Had he been involved in what happened to her on that voyage? His gold eyes iced over, betraying the careful control he'd maintained so far. He snatched Elias up by the throat and advanced, towering over him. "Were you part of it?" he asked, his cool voice at odds with his aggressive stance. The conversation around them ground to a halt as people noticed the altercation.

[Emora Deen]

Elias’s eyes widened in surprise. He grasped at the hand around his throat, struggling to claw Havitharon’s choking grip loose. The surprise slowly melted into realization, the prince suddenly aware that the guard was more loyal than he initially suspected.

He snarled. “Careful,” he struggled out. “The last thing… Hajara needs… is a war with Arken.”

“Havitharon,” Tenara said, pushing through the crowd. Her eyes widened when she found Havitharon with his hand around the Prince of Arken’s throat. Her gaze drifted to the startled, but intrigued guests gathering around them. She rushed forward.

“Release him,” she said, hating the authority in her voice, but she needed to be the princess and not the lover. She didn’t care that his hand was around Elias’s throat, but the others did.

[Soran Nightblade]

Havitharon flinched as Tenara's sharp command struck through him. His hand sprang free from the startled prince's neck and dropped to a fist at his side. The stares of the other guests, and of his Yurivis, suddenly got through to him. He glanced to the head table, where Vlad was glaring at him with fierce red eyes.

His stomach did a flip. He'd seriously messed up. He took two steps back from the prince and dropped to a knee, bowing his head to Tenara.

[Emora Deen]

Tenara resisted the urge to rest her hand on the top of Havitharon’s head or brush her hand along his horn gently, so he knew she wasn’t angry with him.

Her hands fisted in her skirts, and she curtsied deeply to Elias. “Forgive my guard,” she said, forcing her voice to be polite.

Elias rubbed his neck, his shocked expression turning smug. “No worries, Princess. It was a misunderstanding, I’m sure. I know I’m not exactly a face anyone had hoped to see. You can make it up to me with a dance, though.”

Tenara’s hand tightened in her skirts. “Of course. It’s the least I can do.”

“Fantastic,” he said, and clasped Havitharon on the shoulder. “Really, all is forgiven.” He bent, squeezing Havitharon’s shoulder as he spoke where only he could hear. “Desert rose and jasmine. She smells like desert rose and jasmine… or so they tell me.”

Elias clapped Havitharon once and extended his hand to Tenara to lead her away. The prince of Arken tipped his head to the kings and queen of Hajara, a gesture that he seemed to hope would ease everyone’s mind.

Tenara placed her hand in Elias’s grip and ground her teeth as his fingers closed over her and his touch drew her away from Havi. She glanced back at him, concern creasing her brow.

*It’s fine. You’re fine.*

[Soran Nightblade]

Havi glowered at Elias, fury smoldering under the pressure to be docile. Watching him lead her away felt like acid down his spine. He couldn't let him touch her. Not after what he'd just said. He sprang forward, long legs propelling him toward Elias, only to be clotheslined by an invisible force around his neck. The pressure tore him backward and slammed him hard on his back on the marble tile.

When his focus returned, Vladimir's scarlet eyes were glowering down at him. He met the gaze of the vampire that had, he believed, finally begun to trust him. Tenara wasn't safe with Elias. If he just explained, he believed her father would know what to do. He tried to sit up and explain, but a heavy foot pinned his chest to the floor. "Don't move."

"You don't understand, he-"

"I did not give permission to speak!" The vampire's anger was real. "You've just assaulted a guest under my protection. You endangered this kingdom's, and my daughter's, safety. You're relieved of duty." Then, to a team of guards who arrived behind him, "Four men, escort him to the basement. The rest of you, see to Tenara's safety."

Havi went silent as stern hands drew him up to his feet. He stared from Vlad's remorseless glare to the similarly damning expressions on Tenele and Atul's faces. Their scorn surprised him. The rapport he'd thought he'd been slowly building with Tenara's family suddenly felt like a distant, naive illusion. He'd overestimated his place. It stung, and it shouldn't have. He moved quickly from the room with his escorts, eager to be free of their collective stares.

[Emora Deen]

“A bit of a short fuse, that one,” Elias said as his hand smoothed along Tenara’s back. Her teeth ground painfully tight.

“He’s effective. What did you say to set him off?”

“I offered him the world in exchange for the sword,” he said, smug and smiling

Tenara stiffened, having not expected him to admit it. “What did he say?”

“Nothing of note. It all burned away in the hand around my throat.”

Tenara met his dark eyes. “You don’t have any idea who he is, do you?”

“Not the faintest, nor do I care.”

Tenara glowered at him as they danced, ruminating on whether it was a smart idea or not to just let it all out.

“He’s my ghost.” Elias blinked at her. “I mastered that sword and I brought him to life. You’re never getting it back, do you understand? I would have helped you. I was going to help you. Then, you locked me in that brothel—“

“I was coming back,” he said.

“Too late. You should have treated me like an ally rather than a prisoner.”

“But you are, Princess. You are a prisoner. Even now… you just don’t know it.” The dance ended and he rubbed his neck. “If it bruises, perhaps Arken will need to reconsider what delicate truce we’ve made. Perhaps your advisors will dust off the wedding agreement Mother sent your way a few weeks ago, and we’ll find ourselves at the altar, husband and wife. Then, the sword will be mine by some extension of it being yours. No?”

Tenara ground her teeth together.

“Your ghost seems to have bit off more than he can chew,” he said, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips. “I hope they don’t punish him too harshly.” He kissed her hand and she whirled away, back toward where she’d left Havi.

A set of guards folded along side of her, suffocating and close.

She made her way to the dais and her fathers. “Where’s Havi?”

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad was watching Elias like a hawk, even as Tenara finally reached his side. "Dismissed to the dungeons. I had to make a show of punishing him," he answered her, still frowning at the prince, who was now talking with his aids on the other side of the room. He shook his head. "Seriously, what was he thinking?"