45 parts Complete Mature- Prompt #4 for ONC 2022 -
18-year old Lady Tovecadia, or Tove to her friends, has trained her whole life to protect Prince Darrius of Legatium - preparing in secret since women aren't allowed to be soldiers. Even Prince Darrius doesn't know she exists. But finally the time has come to show how fabulously ruthless she is.
Legatium's old enemy, the country of Rachbar, is threatened by Darrius' imminent wedding to Princess Arra of Erudesh, a stalwart ally. Their wedding will unite the two countries but also make Legatium more powerful than ever. But then Tove discovers Rachbar has recruited a race of persecuted shape changers, the Animuto, who plan to take their revenge. She has until the prince's wedding to stop them.
It doesn't help the prince is one of them.
But Prince Darrius will not trust her. It has something to do with her best friends - renowned but exiled warriors the prince seems to despise - and a painful past he refuses to share. But Tove's best trait, apart from her vise-like chokeholds, is her determination.
From pub brawls to the Dead God's temple, from Animuto assassins to mutinous fugitives, Tove must prove she is the warrior he needs. But to do so, she will have to do something she hates more than anything - she will have to ask for help. Like Darrius, Tove must choose her allies and choose her kin, because war is only three weeks away.