Page 73 of A Touch of Royalty

“I’ve never seen the sea.” Emryn looked at Cas, at the man she loved. “I’ve seen sketches in books. Is it truly so large?”

Cas nodded, looking over at the door when there was a knock. “Your guards are here, Emryn.”

“Guards?”

“I don’t want you in danger, love.” He helped her off the bed, helped her shake her skirts straight. “You’ll carry a guard detail when I cannot be with you.”

“Alright.” Emryn nodded, some of the tension leaving her. She knew she was going to have nightmares about what had happened, but guards might make it better.

“I’d like to meet them.” Emryn told Cas. “If they’re to be with me, I should know them a little.”

Cas led her out to the sitting room, opening the door and letting two men into the room. One was massive, truly the largest man she’d ever seen, and the other was lithe, smaller, made for shadow, and had the deadliest aura she’d ever felt on a person.

She nearly quailed from that aura. But her husband trusted these men, and that meant she could trust them as well. Emryn stepped forward, looking at the smaller man. He was the one in charge of this pair, and she would address him first.

“Highness.” The man bowed to her. “My name is Sir Brighton. This is my partner, Sir Anthony. We are your guard detail, sworn to defend you in the eyes of the Mother.” He lifted the badge at his neck, the Mother’s crescent moon winking back at her.

These men had taken the Mother’s vow; that meant she could trust them above anything.

“Hello,” Emryn managed, eyes still locked on the little wooden crescent moon. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“It’s not,” Sir Anthony rumbled, his voice as large as he was. “But that’s alright. We’re here to guard you, Highness.”

Emryn could have protested, but he was right. She didn’t want guards, but this was safer, and Cas would worry less if she had them.

“Where do we go, Highness?” Sir Brighton asked.

“I must go to my tutors,” Emryn said. “If you would accompany me ?”

“Our duty, Highness.”

Emryn didn’t want to be a duty, but that was what she was to these men. She kissed Cas firmly and left the room, her guards falling into her wake.

It was odd, being followed, but as they walked through the halls of the palace, Emryn noticed her panic was at a startlingly low ebb. She wouldn’t have felt like this without guards. She would have been jumping every time she was approached by a courtier.

She did jump when the page emerged from a door in the wall and scampered off after bowing in her direction. Emryn made herself smile. The page wasn’t more than thirteen and was no threat to her in the least.

And then Asan was there in the hallway and Emryn had to swallow the sudden, screaming panic. The First Wizard looked in her direction and nodded, a small smile on his face as he looked at the men looming behind her.

“Highness,” he said in a low voice. “This is wise of you, but I swear it to the Mother that I will never harm you.”

“I know that,” Emryn replied. “I know Asan would never hurt me, or Cas, but-”

“I am First Wizard to Rodilla.” Asan said. “And I would never attempt to take you anywhere without His Highness.”

“Hello, Asan,” she gave him a shaky smile. “What brings you to the palace today?”

“I am having a conversation with the inside of your assailant’s head,” Asan said bluntly. “I will discover the why of this thing and present it to the queen and council this afternoon.”

“May the Mother bless your endeavors,” Emryn said as she forced her feet to move past the First Wizard, who, to his credit, pulled back to the walls to let her and her escort pass.

She spent the morning and the better part of her afternoon with Charles, learning governance and the laws that made the kingdom run. By the time the older man dismissed her for the day, her brain was stuffed full of laws and other ephemeral things.

Emryn was heading back to her rooms to dress for supper when another page popped out of the wall and bowed to her. “Highness, the Council awaits.”

“I will come immediately.” Emryn changed her steps, following the page to the council room. Her guards paused at the door, taking up a stance with their hands on their swords.

Emryn continued through the door, nearly stumbling into a two deep ring of guards who were surrounding a man she’d never seen. He was small, looked a bit like a weasel, and snarled at her when he turned and saw her.

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