Faramund, Guardian of Celeibra's prince Alcaeus, only cares about two things: keeping his prince safe and following the rules. With Alcaeus' rule in jeopardy, a bumbling mage failing at spying seems the least of his problems -- at least until the ma...
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His life was in her hands. Channary stared at the gold earrings in her palm, the only thing of value she had left. The metal was thin and cut with delicate precision. Several hearts were etched within one another and intertwined with a pattern of vines. A diamond lay in the center of each. A gift from her mother to honor her coming of age. That was near a decade ago now. She clasped her fist closed around them. If she sold them, captain Phirun would live.
Probably.
Maybe not.
The day Neluce had fallen to Celeibra, her future had crumbled to pieces with it. She wrapped a hand over her fist and raised both before her chin. What was a princess with no kingdom? No country? No power?
Not a princess at all.
And if Phirun lived? Her grip tightened. She'd never be princess again. It was he who'd taught her to use a sword, yet never let her wield it. Stay safe, majesty. The words were now a curse, used to trap her from her people. They lived in the woods and hunted like animals, all to spare her from being discovered. From being seen. They'll kill you if they find you, they'd said over and over again. After all these years, was it even true? Had anyone even cared at all? She turned her gaze up to the sky. The sun strained to to shine upon them among the trees, the leaves fighting off every beam of light.
Channary stood up and glanced back. Her Guardian Leilani remained at the captain's side. She dipped the cloth into the stream and placed it atop his forehead. He slept, shaking, and face scrunched in pain. She thought him invincible once, but even the strongest of men can fall. Leilani's eyes met hers, her mouth in a deep frown. Channary couldn't tell who she was more worried about. She swallowed. After all the soldiers had left them one by one, these two were the only ones left. The only ones who still called her "princess".
She couldn't let him die.
"Be safe," Leilani said as Channary turned away.
"I'll be back soon," she answered.
***
Channary's heart pounded with each step as she walked the road into the nearest village. There was familiarity to the sight. Entryways carved into the base of each towering tree, with more in the branches above. The tree's thick vines created natural paths to the levels above. Bridges were slung from tree to tree where crossing branches were unavailable. Children ran, laughing and shouting, while their parents mingled or worked. Farmers tended to circular gardens across the forest floor. The height of these trees were no match for that of their castle. She used to look down on towns like this from the highest room. Now, from below, she felt small. They paid her no mind as she approached.
She pulled her cloak tighter around herself. Beside native Nelucians - her own people - her heart ached and her cheeks burned. They laughed. They smiled. They were content. Same as she remembered from watching as a child. Channary clenched her fists tighter around the cloth. They had abandoned her family, their rulers. None had fought Celeibra when they'd marched in. None of them had looked for her when they won. Some had even joined the enemy.
