Arell may only get one chance at this, so he went over the questions in his mind. Pacing the floor of his chamber, he stopped to glance in the mirror and fasten the top button of his doublet. The princess might not reveal anything, so she had to feel comfortable and yet he shouldn’t give her the upper hand. Such a beautiful young woman! Still, the elders thought of her as an enemy. All he wanted were details of his father’s death. He toughened his look in front of the mirror, puffing his chest and practicing his frown—rehearsing his interrogation.

“Who shot the arrow that killed my father? Who commanded the attack? If he died accidentally, why hasn’t anyone apologized?” He stared at his image for a moment. She might know nothing. She’s a young daughter of a king. But why is she here? What are her father’s intentions?

He relaxed and looked away from the mirror, considering it better not to put on airs. He could just talk to her honestly. “Are Cho Nisi and King Tobias allies or not? If not, is your father planning an attack?” He shrugged. If her father were planning an attack, she wouldn’t warn him ahead of time.

He needed the answers to all these questions without drilling her. “Let her know you’re curious. Be cordial,” he whispered. And yet, if too cordial, Chief Silas will contest him. A balance. There needs to be a balance.

Arell adjusted his dress doublet, the one his father once wore as a young man. Black and sky blue with gold cording and emerald buttons, tailored artfully against his body. This fine piece of clothing complemented his healthy physique. He chose the black felt hat with the ostrich feather. Ready as he’d ever be, he opened his chamber door where Chief Silas waited. The chief nodded when Arell stepped into the hall.

“You would think you’re courting the princess rather than interrogating her, Arell.”

“Too much?”

Silas shrugged. “It depends on your tactics.”

“We’ll see if this succeeds.”

“She could be deceptive. Be alert, and careful that she doesn’t take you by the horns.”

“I enjoy a challenge.” Arell winked at the chief. He desired to know more about this beautiful girl, despite Silas’ warnings. The chief was his counselor for political matters, not personal ones. Perhaps Arell and the princess could negotiate on a more informal level and bring peace between their people. He didn’t mind pluck in a woman. The native girls were charming and enticing, but extremely passive. The Moaton girls kept to themselves, having parents that betrothed them to their own. Besides, Moatons looked down on the dark skin people of the island. He wondered if Potamians did as well.

Enough of that! The girl came for his throne. The warriors saw her as an enemy to his people because of it. He must heed the chief’s warning to be cautious and diplomatic.

They entered the dining hall and, according to his wishes, the servants hadn’t set the king’s table, but a small round table near a window. Intimate. Non-intrusive. A vase of flowers, enameled silver, all feminine. He thanked the servant as she set a flask next to the bouquet.

“Perfect! Please send for her.” The servant turned to leave. “But…we must have the sentries come with her.”

“Yes, Vasil.”

Arell paced nervously. Chief Silas stood against a pillar with his arms crossed, watching him. “Anxious?”

“Do I appear to be?”

“You appear as a young rooster caged next to a coop of hens.”

Arell stopped pacing and took a breath. “Am I that obvious?”

“Keep in mind you are a king. This woman has threatened your throne. She is a hazard, Arell. One does not court threats, but rather eradicates them.”

“You are correct. I will contain my natural instincts and ignore that she is stunning.”

“Many things are stunning. A rose is beautiful but for the thorns.”

“Keep me in check, Silas. I need all the help I can get. I’m not used to reigning as a king.”

Silas smiled and patted him on the arm. “Keep your eyes and ears open. You’ll know what to do.”

A page swung the doors wide. Arell expected the princess to have changed into a dress he instructed the servants to give her, so when Erika stormed through the door in her leather armor, shoulder guards, and riding skirt, he raised his brow. She puffed into the center of the room, her arms folded over her chest, her bow visibly strapped over her shoulder. The sentries waited for Arell to dismiss them.

Arell waited as well. He bowed cordially, his plume shimmering grandly.

“Dismiss these men,” the princess ordered.

“When I feel it is safe, I will,” Arell replied. “Disarm yourself.”

“I will not.”

Arell took a breath and fought the temptation to look at Silas for instruction. “Very well. Guards, disarm the woman.” Two of the guards stepped forward. Erika pushed one away with her elbow and, with the speed of an experienced archer, had her bow in hand and nocked, aiming an arrow at the other sentry. The warriors lowered their spears, pointing them at Erika. Had she shot one of them, they ‘d have killed her. They faced off. Arell waited with his arm raised.

“There is no necessity for violence,” He kept his voice gentle, controlled. “Relinquish your weapon, Princess. You will not survive if you don’t.”

“You won’t kill me. My father is King Tobias,” she sneered.

“And your father, King Tobias, may well have ordered the murder of my father,” Arell retorted angrily. She shot him a look he could not quite read and not one he expected. An answer perhaps to one of his most important questions, if only he could decipher what the look meant. “Relinquish your weapon and let’s talk. Otherwise, I’ll have you confined to your room.”

She squinted at him, her face red. If she’d been a dragon, she would have spat fire, which brought him a chuckle inside, but he covered his mouth and looked away, glimpsing at an amused Silas. The chief shook his head.

She pointed her bow at Arell. The warriors stepped forward and grabbed her arms.

“Princess Erika, come, let’s be reasonable. You can’t fight all those warriors, even if you are a perfect shot.” He ignored the arrow aimed at his heart and looked her in the eye. A frustrated and rebellious young woman, he almost pitied her. His voice softened. “Please. Let’s dine. And talk.”

She lowered her bow but refused to let anyone take it. Arell held out his hand. “Will you let me hold it for you? While we eat?”

“Where is my magician?”

“He’s in a room as comfortable as yours.”

“Bring him here.”

“What? Now?”

“I’ll let you hold my weapon.”

This time Arell looked at the chief. The elder shrugged. Any of the Cho Nisi natives were more powerful than Erika’s wizard. She should know that. She must be terrified!

“Very well.”

Chief Silas said something to one warrior in their native language and the man left the room. The others maintained their positions. Arell waved at the page. “Have Serena bring another plate and a bit more food, please.”

Erika did not move or soften until Kairos appeared among half a dozen warriors with a rather confused look on his face.

“What’s going on in here? Erika? What are you doing?” he asked, eyeing her bow. She ignored him.

“We’ve invited the princess to dinner and thought you might like to join us,” Arell said, ushering him to the table with an outstretched arm which he then held up to Erika. He walked over to her.

She hesitated before she handed him the bow and quiver, brushed her hands on her skirt, and strolled to the table as a servant pulled the chair back for her. Arell seated himself across from her and laid the bow and quiver against his chair while Chief Silas and Kairos took the opposite chairs.

A stiff silence followed as Serena entered with trays of food. Kairos helped himself with generous portions, as did Silas. As Serena set a plate of food next to Arell, he stroked her hand.

“Thank you, Serena,” he whispered. They exchanged a flirtatious smile. Seeing an affable face comforted him. When Serena left, both Erika and Arell spent more time eyeing each other than they did eating.

Arell took a drink of water and cleared his throat. “I’m curious. Why did you come to our island?”

“I had my reasons.”

“No doubt. And I and the Cho Nisi people would like to know them.”

“I told you.”

“You did. You said you came to claim the throne.”

“For my father.”

“And how would that work? To kill me and take it by force?” Arell glanced at Silas, who subtly shook his head.

“That wasn’t the original intent but the more I know of you the more I think it’s a good idea.”

“Fairest—” the wizard scolded.

She scowled and dropped her napkin on her plate. “Is this your idea of patronizing?” she asked Arell. “Silver etched with dainty flowers. Flowers? It’s almost winter. Where do you get flowers? My sisters do better than this. At least they have flasks that hold more than a swallow and set a table according to the seasons.”

“The food is simply scrumptious,” Kairos commented rather loudly, chewing and nodding. “I wouldn’t have suspected a little island like this could come up with such superb cookery.”

Erika glared at him.

“Flowers grow all year long on our island. We have a much warmer climate—” Arell said.

“Your niceties do not impress me, King. And I’ll not answer any more of your questions until you release me. Another comment about ‘being confined to my room’ and you’ll have waged war against my father’s kingdom.”

“Your father would be foolish to wage war with us, especially over something so remedial as sending a princess to her room.”

She glared at him. “You have no right to treat me in such a manner!”

Arell clenched his spoon. Any tighter and he’d break it. He had done his best to inhibit his rage. “Treat you how? My father went to your shores to help your father win a war, and he came back a corpse. Then you come here claiming my throne and refuse to satisfy my interrogation. Tell me who is treating whom unjustly.”

Erika sat back in her chair, hands folded on her lap, her lips closed tight as a clam. Kairos also stopped eating and took a special interest in Erika’s reaction.

“I did not want to conduct this dinner in such a manner!” Arell tossed his napkin on the table.

“Then conduct it however you see fit. I care not to have any part of your comely gathering nor of your interrogation.”

Arell rose. He’d had enough. The woman was incorrigible. Silas rose with him. Arell addressed the page. “Call the sentries and have this woman imprisoned.” He picked up the bow before Erika could reach for it and handed it to the guards as they entered and took the princess away. She fought but to no avail.

“Kairos, stop them!” Erika cried. “I command you!”

Kairos stood, a sandwich in his hand and food in his mouth.

“Do nothing,” Arell warned Kairos and nodded to Silas. The elder would know to counter any magic that might fly from the wizard.

When the sentries took Erika out of the room, Arell turned to the wizard. “Perhaps I could continue this dinner conversation with you?”

“Of course, of course,” Kairos agreed, returning to the table yet looking anxiously at the door.

“They won’t hurt her. They have orders not to. But I have questions that need answering and if she won’t be cooperative, perhaps you will.”

“Of course,” the wizard said again.