Steel Wolf

Bound

The sun rose, it's light creeping down the mountains above the tower, driving back the shadows and filling the valley below the tower with its warm glow.

Exercising the horses began anew, the enormous mounts running almost full speed without their cumbersome battle armor. Imelda and a few others played wranglers on their own steeds, checking and rechecking the health of the animals. The monks had all gone outside for their daily rituals, afterward busying themselves tending the graves behind the tower, helping in the kitchen or stables, a couple even acting as extra eyes on the tower.

Serenna and Tanaya ate a leisurely breakfast and made small talk in the princess' chambers.

"Lover, what's troubling you?" asked Tanaya after a time, as she wiped her mouth with a linen napkin and turned those amazing eyes on the young royal, taking a sip of coffee.

Serenna's jaw dropped, then she broke into a grin. With those eyes, it was impossible to lie to Tanaya.

"I'm with Captain MacNaulty on this, how the hell do you do that?" she giggled. The blonde warrioress flipped her long curly hair behind her, smiling and winking over the rim of her cup.

"As I told him, Dear Highness, I watch and learn. I read body language, facial expressions, and in cases such as yours, can watch a person's pulse in their neck. I had you figured out within ten minutes of officially meeting you back at the castle. Now, tell me what's wrong, please."

Serenna heaved a great sigh, unusual for so small a body. She dropped her fork into her plate with a clank and stood to move around the table to Tanaya's side, their faces at the same level. The young woman's gaze dropped to the floor.

"I...I...was unfaithful to you last night..." she whispered, then straightened, squaring her shoulders and meeting Tanaya's steady gaze. Great Deity, those eyes. Tanaya set down her cup, scooted back from the table and turned to pull the small beauty into her lap. Serenna leaned close to the warrioress, laying her head on the big woman's chest, feeling the hard muscles beneath her shirt. "I'm sorry...it just happened."

Tanya tipped the royal's chin upwards to look at her. Her own eyes were serious, her face stone.

"Serenna, you and I are not bonded. Before you speak, let me have my say, please." Tanaya kissed the princess' forehead. "The rest may think that we're 'a thing,' but it really isn't their concern, is it? It concerns only you and I. We've known each other barely two weeks. We each still have a lot to learn about the other. If we were bonded, I might be upset with you. Since we're not, I have no say in the matter of whom you bed. What you and I have is one of the most marvelous things I can think of, but I have a job to do. Protecting you and keeping you alive is foremost in my mind at all times. The facts that we sleep together and that I love you make that job a whole lot easier. It means that I can keep a constant eye on you. If you were to tell me that we are no longer to sleep together, I would accept it, but that would not lessen my strength or fierceness in seeing that you remain in one piece, and it certainly wouldn't lessen my love for you which grows with each passing moment. Am I making sense, Highness?"

Serenna brushed an errant strand of shiny black hair from her face, nodding. Her feelings for this woman were growing by the moment, also.

"As to whom you were with," Tanaya went on, "that is none of my concern. That is strictly between you and my sister."

Serenna sat up suddenly,

"How did you know it was your sister?" she asked, looking at the commander in shock.

"She told me right before they all went outside for their rituals this morning. And before you accuse me of letting you twist in the wind, please understand that I was merely waiting. There was no malice intended. I wasn't trying to make you feel guilty. If you had decided against telling me, that would be your decision. It's not my place to pry into the affairs of royalty, even if we are sleeping together."