ans.
The prince jumps off, landing sloppily on his feet and nearly falling on his ass. He quickly rights himself and draws my sword.
Releasing my own reins, I dismount and stalk toward him. “You have no thoughts for anyone or anything other than yourself.” I wipe the dust from my mouth with the back of my hand, then unsheathe my dagger. “I’ll enjoy teaching you some respect.”
“You don’t understand,” he says, and spits the sand from his own mouth. “I can’t be here. I have to get back to my people. I refuse to be looked after as if I’m some child.” He takes a step toward me, advancing. “How will I ever rule them if they think of me as a coward?”
I scoff. “Again, you’re only thinking of yourself.” I sidestep him, slowly circling, wishing I had a sword.
“I’m thinking of my duty to rule my kingdom!” He lunges and swipes the air, missing me by a full foot. He keeps the blade extended and I move in, capturing his hand and turning into his unguarded stance.
“You should think harder if you actually want to live to see the day you rule.” I kick his legs from under him and follow him to the ground where I press my dagger to his neck.
His gaze latches on to mine, and he swallows, his Adam’s apple working. He truly believes I’m going to end his life. I give him credit; there’s no fear in his eyes—no regret. He must have lived a full and pampered life despite his age.
Still, I’m disgusted with the weak fight he’s barely put up. I remove my blade from his throat. But his eyes don’t convey relief as they linger on my face, wide and curious, and I’m suddenly wary of the mercury.
“Get up.” I turn my face away and climb to my feet, dust off the terrain from my uniform, and sheath my dagger. I take in calming breaths, count to three, then say, “Grab the horse. Let’s get back before the empress has cause to be alarmed.”
The prince doesn’t move. He’s still lying in the dirt, his eyes trained hard on me. “I was taken off guard. And I don’t usually fight girls.”
“The knot on my head states otherwise, Your Highness.”
“And besides,” he continues, ignoring my sarcasm and glare. “I knew you wouldn’t harm me.”
I laugh. “Yeah?” I eye his lower half, assuring he follows my gaze. “Tell that to your soiled pants.”
After very apparently checking my false claim, he scrambles to his feet. Dust billows off his garments as he pats himself down. “I’m getting my horse.”
Deciding to do the same, I head toward the white horse, but stop when my transmitter crackles. I pull it from its holder in my chest harness and hold it flat in my palm, waiting for an image of the contacting person to appear.
Static hisses. Nothing displays. Then a choppy, broken transmission comes through. “Protector Kaliope . . .” It’s Carina’s voice. A blue dome flickers over the device, streaked and fractured. “Get the prince out of Cavan. Otherworlders have invaded. Do you hear? Get the prince far away from—”
“I’m here,” I say, panicked—pacing. “The empress? Is she safe? When did this happen?”
Static. “There’s no time. You’re to do as instructed. When there’s more to report, I’ll contac—” Her communication cuts off.
Silence.
Frozen, I stare at my transmitter, waiting for Carina to reappear. Goddesses, protect her. Protect them all.
“Protector—?” the prince says, his voice low and strained.
I curl my fingers around the sleek silver and squeeze. Then I turn and stare directly into the prince’s narrowed blue eyes. “Mount up, Prince Caben. And you best know how to use that sword to some extent.” I look out over the barren landscape. “We’re going back.”
The prince sheaths my sword and heads toward the black horse.
“Wait—” I rub my fingers over my forehead, thinking.
He turns and looks at me, arms crossed. “What? We have to hurry if we’re going to help in this fight.”
Surprised by his willingness to go to battle, I gawk at him, mouth parted. Then I shake my head. “No. You have to stay here and hide.” I stalk toward him and hold out my hand. “Give me my sword.”
His brow furrows. “You’ll need every able body you can get. Trust me, I’ve seen these Otherworlders. I can help, and I’m going.” He turns his back to me and grabs the horse’s reins. I watch him mount in stunned silence. I thought he’d be relieved—that he’d cower behind a sand dune until the invasion was over. He eyes me from atop his horse. “Are you ready to ride?”
It’s my duty to guard him, to make sure he’s safe. Empress Iana ordered it herself. And Carina, who’s still my superior, has given me a direct order to take Prince Caben out of Cavan. But I can’t allow my Nactue to fight this battle without me. Though I’ve just been appointed their leader, these are the girls I’ve grown up with. These are my girls. They’re my family, and I have to be by their side.
If the Otherworlders make it past the sentries guarding the gatehouse and walls, then all of Cavan is in danger. My mother is in danger. How can I ride off and leave her there unaware and unprotected?