7. SEVEN
SEVEN
Darius
When one of my commanders insisted on an emergency audience, I never predicted his complaint would be so amusing. A royal princess, seductive curves draped in blue fit for another ball, stands in the middle of the training arena.
Most of the noblewomen I grew up around cried if their gowns got even a speck of dirt, yet she doesn’t seem bothered in the slightest that the light blue has turned brown at the hem.
The Princess of Kalisham cocks her hip and waves at the men around her. “I was instructing our soldiers on a more efficient way to shoot.”
I don’t miss the way she says our as a challenge, asserting her position as my queen. “Flaunting a misguided sense of authority,” Commander Carol had whined.
Nice to see her confidence hasn’t dimmed since last night.
This group failed to pass their monthly training tests.
I designed the program to keep my men in top shape, never slacking in their skills and ability to defend and protect.
The number dropping below satisfactory marks since the war ended is a cause for concern.
Commander Carol personally volunteered to whip them into shape.
“You should be planning your wedding, not interfering with the affairs of men.” Commander Carol nearly spits. “I’ll have to spend the whole afternoon breaking them of whatever bad habits you introduced.”
His tone chips away at my patience, but I’m curious to see how the princess will handle herself.
“If the ability to hit their target now is a bad habit, perhaps I should take over any other areas you’re in charge of. Bad habits seem to be working.” She places a hand on her hip, calm and collected as if she’s explaining the color of the sky to a child.
“Bitch! Learn your place.” Commander Carol storms forward with his palm raised, ready to strike. His foolish pride and rage are distracting him from the consequences of laying a hand on any woman, let alone my future queen.
I grip my sword, ready to strike him down the moment he gets close enough to touch her. I should cut him down anyway for using such an ugly word. The princess may be overstepping, but she doesn’t deserve to be addressed that way.
I zero in on the red-faced fool, and my blood hums as I picture the clean cut I’ll make to his legs. Before I can unsheathe my sword, an arrow strikes the ground in front of him. Commander Carol stumbles backward with a yelp, catching himself before falling to the ground.
Princess Mina nocks a second arrow and aims at his chest. Her teasing confidence replaced by the stillness of a deadly archer ready to strike again. Her strange hold doesn’t waver, toned muscles an oddity on the arms of a spoiled princess.
She glances to me once, a challenge in her icy glare. The men who joined the commander in his complaint shout, rushing forward to steady their leader.
“I have a proposal for you, Emperor Gilchrist,” Princess Mina says, dropping the bow when I hold up my hand to steady the angry fools.
“I’m curious.”
“Your Majesty!” Commander Carol shouts at me, enraged that I’m even entertaining the thoughts of a woman, no doubt.
“You forget your place, Commander.” The metal of my sword finds his throat before the next complaint can fall from his tongue. “She’s your future queen. I will hear what she has to say.”
Once I’m certain fear has sufficiently replaced his broken pride and anger, I sheathe my blade and nod for Princess Mina to continue.
“Since the commander seems to be under the impression that my teachings here today are inadequate, how about a test? The soldiers that followed their commander out earlier versus the ones who stayed to grow their skills.”
“Would it not be easier to simply have you go up against the commander directly? Teacher versus teacher?”
I expect Commander Carol to jump at the chance to shoot against a woman he thinks is an inferior archer, yet he shakes his head violently.
Guilt and panic are poorly hidden in his wide eyes.
“With respect, Your Majesty, I accept the original proposal. A teacher is only as skilled as a student, after all.”
Interesting. Is Commander Carol afraid to shoot against the princess directly?
I bite back a smile. “Alright. If the commander wins, then Princess Mina will promise never to interfere in training again.” She nods, and I continue, “If Princess Mina wins, then you, Commander, will apologize for the disrespect you’ve shown her. ”
I almost include that he’ll need to listen to her future feedback, but the second he raised a hand at her, his life was over. I may allow him to leave with his limbs intact, but his demotion and transfer to our most difficult territory will be official by dinnertime.
The sneer he flashes the princess makes me question the allowing him to keep his limbs part of my plan.
“Choose your archers,” I command.
Commander Carol turns to speak with his entourage while Princess Mina compliments the men on their improvement today, unbothered by the turn of events.
“Hamlin,” she calls, searching the faces until a mess of blond hair steps forward through the crowd. “Would my first student be willing to shoot for my sake?”
She unleashes a warm smile that casts a spell on them all. Hamlin blushes, bowing to hide it before he speaks. “If you think I’m ready, Your Highness.”
“I have no doubt. Just remember what I showed you and let your aim be true.”
Hamlin steps up to the shooting lane as a few other soldiers run forward to clear the targets. Commander Carol’s choice, a confident soldier named Proold, steps up to the line, ready to shoot.
“Three arrows each. Two to the center of the torso and one to the head.” I raise my hand for both archers to begin, and they each nock an arrow. I study Hamlin’s form as he brings the bow above his head before anchoring his fingers to his mouth, palm facing out.
The same odd stance the princess uses. I’ve never seen anything like it, but clearly the draw style offers added stability.
Proold places his first arrow low and to the left, while Hamlin’s pierces slightly to the right. Both shots are a vast improvement compared to a few days ago.
The next arrows aren't as close. Hamlin adjusts his fingers on the string, and his next arrow pierces the target dead center.
An excited whisper filters through the group behind the princess. Proold hits the same lower-left quadrant of the torso but gets closer to the center at least.
The true testament will be the shot to the head, a difficult shot even for seasoned archers. I’m not surprised in the least when Proold misses the target completely. His shot sinks into the wood of the back wall.
Mina flashes the commander a demure smile, completely at ease.
Hamlin takes aim. His arrow echoes through the room as it hits the back wall as well.
Commander Carol barks out a hearty laugh. “As you can see, her technique is hardly an improvement.”
How can one of my commanders be so unobservant? “Take a closer look at the head, Commander. Princess Mina is the clear winner.”
“Impossible.” He storms off toward the target, mouth gaping once he gets close enough to see the small hole in the target’s head. Not only did Hamlin hit his mark, but the added force to his draw sent the arrow clean through.
The princess pats Hamlin on the back and praises his shots. The rest of the room is in stunned silence, eyes bouncing between us as the princess walks over to me. I offer her my elbow.
She arches a brow before looping her arm through mine, settling closer. Everywhere she touches me is warm, like tinder catching until it spreads through my chest.
My body needs to get a grip.
Commander Carol’s head hangs as he approaches. He opens his mouth and closes it, struggling to form the words. “Princess Mina, I sincerely apologize for my actions toward you this morning,” he says with a notable lack of sincerity.
Before I can demand he try his apology again, Princess Mina squeezes my arm. A subtle pressure no one notices but me. “And?” she asks.
He struggles to rein in his temper, the vein in his forehead throbbing.
She tilts her head to the side, voice dripping with honey. “And surely you meant to thank me as well for taking the time to train these men.”
Commander Carol’s eyes bulge as he looks to me for help. I school my features, suppressing my amusement. I enjoy watching her put the fool in his place far too much to interfere. She outmatches everyone here with her wit alone, me included.
I nod for him to continue, and he grinds his jaw so hard I think it might break. “Thank. You. Your Highness,” he chokes out.
She releases my arm to clap her hands together. “You’re most welcome. Now let’s put this ugly business behind us.” She turns to the men. “You’re all dismissed. Great job today, and please enjoy breakfast.”
The men look to me and wait. I nod for them to disperse with the exception of one. “Commander, a word.”
I walk over to his side and lower my voice until only he can hear me. “Show such disrespect toward any woman again, and you won’t be able to speak at all. Am I understood?”
He swallows a few times, unable to meet my gaze. “Yes, sir.”
“Dismissed.”
His rage is palpable as he throws open the double doors in the back. Once they swing shut, I turn to my troublesome bride. The smile I fought to keep at bay breaks free. “I’m starting to think you like ruffling feathers.”
She glances up at me through thick lashes, mischief sparkling in her jade eyes. “Perhaps if your empire wasn’t so lacking in regards to women, then there would be no feathers to ruffle. How did you win a war without any female soldiers?” she challenges.
Kalisham may be well versed in warriors of all genders, but the people of Veloria are grossly stuck in their ways.
“Perhaps our victory would’ve come sooner if we had them.
Though you’ll be hard-pressed to find another woman willing to be a soldier.
Traditions run deep here. I’ve fought tooth and nail for what little advancements I’ve implemented so far. ”