Book 2 Season's Change Spring's Revenge

Part 21 Duty Bound

It was time again for the end of winter fest in Sentartabuul, a fortnight-long celebration that culminated with a grand ball in the castle's palisade. Every noble family in the kingdom and their sons would be in attendance with many of those families staying in the castle. For the princess, this was a wonderful time. For the castle staff, it was a burden. For the royal guard, it was a logistical nightmare. In key areas of the castle, the guard had been doubled, even tripled. Access to the royal suites had been restricted to the guard and the royal family only and security greatly tightened everywhere, especially around the princess. Everything was seen to and appeared to be going according to plan. Dannikas oversaw the princess's security detail personally during the celebration as he always did. It was his responsibility. He was her personal guard. He assigned three other guards to the team to ensure that she was protected at all times. They worked in teams of two. His partner stood on the opposite side of the doorway. That soldier was a very good warrior and a loyal guard. Only the best of the best was good enough for the future queen. Dannikas always saw to that. That was his job. He was devoted to the princess, had been for as long as he could remember.

He stood outside the princess's door as he had every night before, protecting the princess from an unseen danger that might be lurking around the corner. Rosie and another servant were in the princess's quarters. Every year, once winter passed as nobles of the kingdom gathered at the palace to celebrate a grand ball was held in Spring's honor. Every year the ball was given a name that fit a theme that the princess had chosen. That year she chose to have a masked ball and call it a Night Parade.

With the annual ball came an influx of visitors and guests at the castle. That meant that all the castle guards would be on high alert for the duration of the visitors stays at the castle. Though he was familiar with a good number of the families that were staying in the castle, Dannikas was not familiar with all of them. He was already more diligent in his duties as the princess's guardsman than most other guards, that was one reason he was her guard. With the additional unknown people in the castle, he was not taking any chances. He was responsible for the princess's safety and wellbeing. That was not a duty he ever took lightly.

Dannikas did not take his duty to his future queen casually either. He dared not close his eyes even for one second. He dared not look away. His sword and ax were ever at the ready at all times; prepared to defend her to his dying breath. Dannikas, the most diligent, resolute, skilled and devoted soldier in the kingdom stood guard outside Princess ArorahBeth's chambers as her attendant and Rosie tended to her. They were preparing the princess for the ball for which he was to guard her the night through. There would be dancing and music and food. And everyone would be wearing a mask. He despised the challenge that would present to ensuring the princess's safety, but he and his guard were up to the challenge.

His armor was polished and clean. His weapons were honed and sharpened, their pummels clean and polished. He had bathed, shaved and been given a haircut. He looked every bit the part of the proud, superior soldier that he was.

The princess and Dannikas had known each other for what felt like forever to him. He had watched her grow and blossom into a beautiful young woman and a wonderful friend. They used to run and play throughout the castle and all over its grounds. They laughed and danced everywhere when they were younger. They shared stories and talked shamelessly through the nights. He missed the days of snowball fights, long nights in the garden and carefree, open, honest friendship. It seemed as they grew older and she moved more into her role as the future queen and a wife to someone else and that someone else's lover their relationship had to change. It transitioned to clandestine meetings in the gardens, stolen moments of bliss and lonely nights with his friend by his side attending to her own business. He despised it but it was his job. His lot in life. His princess was promised to another. A prince from the largest kingdom in the north. A man, or boy rather, that neither of them had ever met. Dannikas's duty was to his princess. Was he to go with her when she left to become this prince's wife or was, he to trust her care to him? He doubted that he could.