Stolen Princess

4. Looking Lovely

I was awake before the sun, the next morning. The day the tournament would begin.

I'd told my maid I was too ill from yesterday's run through the rain to be seen today until the opening celebrations that evening. She'd left me with a pot of tea and hot water bottle in my bed to forestall a cold. Having a red nose with my complexion was more than a little unfortunate, especially when being presented as the prize goat at tonight's feast.

I'd waited only as long as it took her to shut the door and hear her echoing footsteps down the hall before I'd bolted out of bed and headed for the forest.

The morning dew was still heavy in the field between the castle and the Shadow Forest as I nearly skipped through the tall grass and the wetness clung to my skirt and legs. But somehow I felt freer already.

My bravery wavered just a little as I stepped across the border once more. Usually, this was a place of solitude, of respite. Never before had I met another creature here, and now I was about to face a troop of Orcs that I'd bound to me by a blood vow.

It was a simple one, meant to guarantee a man's loyalty from his servants, not so much in the mind control kind of way, but more in the way, you could drink from your cup without wondering if it had been poisoned. If the knight were killed by nefarious means by one of his own - all of them would die. But should the knight die in competition or eat a bad clam... well the vow still held and the Orcs would be free from any guilt in his death, proven by this vow. I didn't know much about Drayce, but I knew it held up iron clad in our court system...some even did it as a sort of protection for their servants in the case of their mysterious death.

But as I crossed through the trees, I could sense our connection already. Talon had hurriedly committed the vow last night in the light of the small campfire, and not a single one of the others had been pleased about it, as proven by their low growls and refusal to speak to me afterward. It was a bit discouraging... I guess it had meant something to me, some kind of hope for belonging when I'd met them. The only problem was, I was a half-breed to them as well. I didn't truly belong to either race and just like my human family never missed an opportunity to remind me of that deep flaw, it seemed these Orcs wouldn't be letting me forget it either.

"You make too much noise."

Talon's voice jolted me from my self-pitying and I jumped as I looked up to find him standing less than a foot from my face, frowning again. That was another thing that seemed out of my grasp now as well... he'd been friendly enough the day before but after my wheeling and dealing over his master's life the night before, it had been clear I'd lost the page's good opinion.

"G-good morning," I answered stupidly with a quick curtsy and an attempt at a bright smile. A movement over his shoulder drew my eye to where the others were busy packing up camp - today was the day the last of the knights would arrive for the tournament. The day I would arrive.

"Your skin - it changes color?" Talon asked, and before I even realized his intentions, a warmth brushed over one of my cheeks, still cold from my morning venturing.

"Ack!" I heard myself yelp in alarm as I jumped away from his touch. A shiver of terror shot down my spine, a warning. But I hurried to ignore it.

"Wasn't going to hurt you," was all Talon said, though I could tell I'd offended him. He pulled his hand back to cross against his leather jerkin, but he continued to study me... waiting for my answer.

"I - I - uh - I usually wear a powder," I answered in a shaky voice, feeling like a fool, "It makes me look less..."

"Orc," Talon finished for me, and now his sharp black eyebrows were pulled into a disapproving frown over those large yellow eyes. I nodded silently, wondering just how that must sound to him. But I'd learned years ago to hide anything I could about my heritage for my own protection at Court.