[ act iii - the healed heart ] CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE ( for her protection )
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
ALTHEA WAS ONCE AGAIN SAT ON HER THRONE, POURRN AND Maximus sitting on either side of her as they ate breakfast. Revna sat off by herself at the end of the table. The past week had flown by and the city seemed to be back to normal. Althea took small sips of her ale as she ate. Her mind seemed to be somewhere else entirely. Maximus and Porunn were whispering behind Althea's chair finally ready to bring up the topic they wanted most.
Maximus cleared his throat as he and Porunn leaned back in their chairs. "Princess," Maximus spoke drawing Althea out of her trance.
"Yes?" Althea asked softly as she took a bite of some bread.
"Porunn and I think it would be best for you to have a personal bodyguard." Maximus began, "Now, I know what you are going to say, that you do not need one, but in this state you do." Maximus once again cleared his throat, "We know you are not due for a little while longer, but we all know you can not swing a sword as you once did. So this is the next best choice."
Althea hummed to herself, her brows raised, "You are right, I was going to say that. But again I do not need protection in my own city."
"Princess, you do. There have been more people coming and going nowadays and Maximus nor Revna or I can not be around to protect you all the time while we are readying more defenses." Porunn spoke up.
Althea sighed and leaned back on her throne. "Fine. So be it." She waved her hand as she took another sip of ale. "Where is this personal bodyguard then?"
Porunn motioned for a man to come forward. He was tall with short dark brown hair that was shaved on both sides. Althea could see the tattoos on the side of his skull as he approached. From what it looked like the tattoos seemed to travel down his neck toward his back before they disappeared below the collar of his black cloak. Something about him seemed similar to Althea, as if she had seen him before, maybe even spoken to him.
The hilt of his sword could be seen as he walked, he stopped in front of the table the three of them were sat at. He bowed slightly once he stood in front of Althea. When he rose Althea tilted her head slightly in thought. Revna made what sounded like a scoff when she looked up at him, before rolling her eyes.
Porunn stood as she held her hand out to introduce the man, "This is Torsten the Terror, Princess." Porunn breathed in deeply as Torsten eyed their Princess curiously. "I knew him a long time ago when I was still in Kattegat. He came to find me many months ago. He owes me a favor as I saved his life in England." Porunn spoke as she sat back down.
"A favor? Or is it his life he owes you since you saved it once before?" Althea spoke. The name rang no bells, so where had she seen him before.
"I owe her my life, Princess." Torsten spoke, his voice was surprisingly husky for a man of his build. "And I will repay it by serving you."
