Knight for the Prince

Chapter 8 - Sabrina's vow

Marilyn is in the middle of her training session with Eguardo when the Queen's summons came from her handmaiden, Geyda. Eguardo is busy teaching her several techniques of how to disarm an opponent with a dagger at her throat and holding her from behind.

"Eguardo I am so sorry for interrupting your training session with Sameth here but Queen Evelyn has requested his presence," Geyda says as she comes to halt next to the dirt ring set aside for hand to hand combat training. Several other soldiers are also being trained by other officers. But the king insisted that Sameth must be trained by another knight that is the best in the kingdom.

"What did that Sabrina witch do this time? She is blaming you for humiliating her in public." Geyda starts the conversation as they walk through the hallways of the castle.

"She used the damsel in distress routine and it did not end in her favor. I arrested the man she hired for trying to assassinate the prince. We caught him with an open weapon in the vicinity of the crown prince. The law dictates that anyone caught with an unsheathed weapon in the vicinity of the prince can be arrested for attempting to assassinate the prince."

Geyda laughs. "Foolish girl. What will she come up with next? When will she finally realize the prince has no interest in her? Talking about the prince. He heard of Marilyn's existence and the rumor is that she is in Zealot city and running from Grimston because of a pre-arranged marriage. The prince is adamant to meet her. He has been pestering her father for over a week now to get the chance to meet her, but according to him, she has gone missing. Do you think lady Marilyn might be interested in the prince?" Geyda asks with a voice filled with mirth.

"Not a chance. If he really is interested in her, he is going to have to meet her at one of the usual social gatherings. But that does not mean she may be interested in him. From what she heard from me she thinks he is rude, arrogant, and self-centered." Marilyn tries to sidestep Geyda's fishing. The queen's handmaiden is extremely good at extracting information in a very friendly manner and the queen trusts her with a lot of things.

"She really isn't interested in him?"

"She might make friends because she feels he needs a good friend of the opposite gender, but other than that. No, thank you."

"Why not?"

"She is in no mood for a relationship when she is trying to run from a pre-arranged one in the first place."

Gayda giggles. "If she fights him. He is going to go after her. Men always like to hunt what they can't have."

"Marilyn isn't some animal or property. She is a woman with feelings." Geyda's roundabout pestering is starting to annoy Marilyn.

"Then you should tell Marilyn to make sure to make the prince understand what she wants."

Marilyn bites her lip. She isn't ready for his attentions and she prefers that he still treats her as though she is a squire, but she knows that won't be possible. She cringes at the thought of catching Arwin's attention. At this moment her disguise has also become her defense. She hopes that he won't figure out who she is. Especially not after today's conversation. She is only glad that if he had any suspicion that she is a woman she has crushed it for now.

Geyda opens the door to Evelyn's favorite place in the castle. Marilyn navigates her way through a narrow pathway as she follows Geyda in the castle's indoor greenhouse. Sunlight filters through lush and delicate green ferns and the moist warm air fill the room. The heavy scent of blooming flowers and fresh earth dominates the room.

In the center of the room, there is a single table with three people sitting around it. Geyda quickly walks over and takes her seat next to the queen.

A water fountain gurgle's peaceful to one side. Evelyn uses the fountain to water the plants in the room.