Dearly Devoted

Chapter 1

From her seat on the cushioned sofa in front of the hearth, barely able to fit comfortably due to her unusual height, Yuna looked up at the sound of steady footsteps. A familiar gait, and someone they'd both been anticipating since the alert that a hostile ship had been approaching their eastern coast only hours previously. She looked to her father expectantly, whose eyes held a deep worry that she'd come to expect in the past several months. They closed briefly, as if preparing himself for terrible news.

Captain of the Seiiki Kingdom's Navy, Daigon, appeared from the hallway outside. The older seaman was still dressed in his leather armor, sweat- and blood-stained, carrying the signature smell of salt that seemed to follow him wherever he went, no matter how much time he spent away from his ship. Upon seeing the father and daughter in the room, his arm rose in a salute. But it looked stiff. Forced, even. His weathered face took on a grim expression, but he tried his best to keep his composure. Yuna's eyes honed in on the bandage wrapped around his arm, and frowned severely.

"You're injured."

His eyes widened, but he shifted his arm closer to his body so as to hide the evidence. "It is nothing serious-"

She held out her hand, beckoning him closer with her long arm. "Then you should have no issue allowing me to heal you from it."

"Princess-"

"I'll order you if I must."

His pinched expression became even tighter, and he dutifully stepped forward when the king input no disagreement, unwrapping the crude cloth that covered the wound where the leather did not protect. The 12-foot tall young woman leaned down and took a closer look at the cut on his arm. It was small, as he'd said, but still bled evenly. With a gentle touch, she placed her hand against his exposed skin and watched as the tips of her fingers began to glow a gentle white.

The mark slowly closed, before fading entirely, and the Captain's skin was once again unblemished. Yuna sat back against the couch, careful to keep her face schooled in a neutral expression, ignoring the stinging sensation of pain that accompanied the use of her power.

"You are too kind, Princess." He said in a mutter, guilt still evident in his expression. The King cleared his throat, drawing attention away from his daughter.

"I can see it in your face, Captain, that you wish you had better news to give me." Yuna's wearied father gestured patiently, already lowering his shoulders for whatever the man may have to say. "Spare this old man the pleasantries, and tell me your report."

"The slavers were successfully repelled, however, we lost...Hanto and Botan, 2 of my veterans." The navy captain said with a regretful bow of his head.

"My deepest condolences to you, Daigon." Came her father's rumbled reply, aware that Daigon took every lost life in his command as a burden on his shoulders, a wound to the heart that even Yuna could not help heal. "Please see to it that the families are notified, and should they require anything, they may see me directly."

"Of course." He replied, but still did not move. He dared to raise his head and face his monarch directly. "Your Majesty...I should apologize for being blunt but it needs to be said. We can't continue on at the rate we are. The past week alone has seen a loss of 6 men, with 17 more sustaining serious injuries. The raids are coming more frequently, and their arsenals increase each time. I'm afraid we'll be outmanned and outgunned in a matter of weeks."

"So many? And you didn't come to me? Let me see to your injured." Yuna said immediately, but Daigon turned to her with a serious expression.

"Please understand...My men have refused to see you, as they would feel shame relying on the Princess in such a way."