"She wouldn't have kicked you out over nothing. You must have said something to make her angry."

"I told her she looked like a harlot."

Erinda clapped a hand over her mouth. "You didn't."

"I did. You should see the gown she's planning on wearing tonight."

"I've seen it." Erinda laughed. "I just can't believe you'd say something like that. It's a wonder she didn't order you thrown in prison."

"I wouldn't care if she did," Talon responded hotly, flicking a chip of wood with her knife. "She looks ridiculous."

"You mean she looks like a ripe, sensual, mature young woman and you don't like it." Erinda gave a knowing grin. "Maybe you're jealous."

"I most certainly am not."

"Lyris is wearing the same style tonight. You've already seen her gown and I don't recall you getting this upset about it."

"That's different. Lyris-"

"Lyris is the same age as the Princess, and she has an even more developed figure."

"But Lyris isn't..." Talon ran a hand through her hair, the knife recklessly dangling from her fingers. "Lyris knows what she's doing. She carries herself differently than the Princess. Even in a dress like that no one will dare to touch her. You know what I'm talking about. She gives off that unapproachable aura. But Shasta is too naive for her own good." Talon gave a grunt of irritation. "Every man in the palace is going to be chasing after her tonight. Chancellor Kumire...everyone."

"Sounds like jealousy to me."

"It's not." Talon scuffed the toe of her boot in the dirt.

"Whatever you say." With her index finger, Erinda delicately flicked Talon's earlobe and leaned forward, her warm breath tickling Talon's neck. "Just remember, if you need someone to help you relieve the tension, I'll be waiting for you."

Talon stared at her, too startled to speak, and the buxom girl winked and stood up. "I have to get back to the kitchens. It's going to be chaos around here all day with last-minute preparations. Enjoy your day off." She sashayed away down the garden path, her shapely behind swaying from side to side.

Talon felt her cheeks burning and hacked at the stick in her hand with renewed vigor. "Jealous. Ha. Not a chance."

But the garden was empty, and there was no one to hear her stubborn assertion but the cool spring wind and the little birds flitting through the trees above.

That evening at the celebration banquet, with her father on one side and Captain Vaughn on the other, Shasta reflected that Talon had been right, in his way. Attention had been lavished on her all evening. Every man she passed, from the provincial viceroys to the serving boy who poured her wine, had made a show of admiring her beauty. She couldn't understand why Talon had been so worried, though. No one had treated her with anything less than complete respect and politeness. She was having a wonderful time and was almost sorry her guardian wasn't there to see it. The serving boy kept refilling her wineglass, and although Shasta didn't enjoy the light-headed, dizzy feeling of tipsiness, she'd lost track of how much she was drinking. It was not until the banquet had ended and the guests were dismissed to wander about the gardens for the reception that she rose to her feet and realized just how much the wine had gone to her head.

"Whoa, careful now, Highness." Captain Vaughn caught her arm as she swayed. "Perhaps you should retire to your room for the night?"

Shasta shook her head, unwilling to give up the adoration and fun of the evening so soon. "Thank you, Captain, but I'm fine."

"Your Highness, may I escort you to the reception?" Chancellor Kumire stood at her side, offering his elbow. Shasta hesitated, but in her compromised state, she could not think of an appropriate refusal. Reluctantly she took his arm and allowed him to lead her toward the garden entrance, Captain Vaughn following behind.

In the gardens, Shasta found herself clinging to the chancellor's arm more for balance than because she wanted to. He smiled down at her as they made their way to the garden square, a large area covered by close-set paving stones with an enormous fountain shaped in the likeness of a shapely, nearly nude peasant girl pouring water from a jar into the basin below. The court musicians were positioned around the base of the fountain, and the soft sounds of water splashing mingled with the music of their stringed instruments and the chatter of a hundred subdued voices until all the sounds blurred together in Shasta's head.

Kumire led her to one of the stone benches, where she could watch the musicians play, and offered a low bow. "May I get Your Highness something to drink?"

Shasta requested some juice, hoping it might help clear her head. "I've had enough wine for one night."

A smile spread across his face. "Of course, Highness. I will be right back."

Standing at her shoulder, Captain Vaughn murmured, "Princess, you don't seem well. Are you sure you don't want to-"

She cut him off. "I'm fine, Captain. I want to enjoy my party."

She heard his resigned sigh as the chancellor returned with a glass filled with red liquid. Ignoring the Captain's consternation, she took the glass and inhaled the fruity aroma of its contents.

"It smells delicious," she remarked. "What is it?"

"A blend of juices, I believe, that the cook created especially for the reception. She said it's mostly apple juice, with some other berry flavors."

Something about the chancellor's smile and fawning attentions made Captain Vaughn suspicious, but just as he was about to ask Kumire for a sample of the juice, he was interrupted by a young lieutenant who came up to exchange pleasantries. As tedious as these social functions were, they mattered to the junior officers, providing an opportunity to make a good impression.

When the lieutenant offered a final salute and excused himself, Captain Vaughn turned and discovered to his dismay that the Princess and the chancellor were nowhere to be seen. Cursing, he made his way through the crowd to look for them. He was supposed to fulfill Talon's duties that night and he'd already managed to compromise the guardian's primary rule: never let Shasta out of sight.

"Chancellor, where are we going?" Shasta giggled as she tripped a little over her own feet. She gripped Kumire's arm to avoid falling over. "I feel...so strange..."

"It's just the wine, Highness," Kumire assured her with a silky smile. Taking the empty glass from her, he tossed it away into the bushes behind them. "You look so beautiful tonight. Truly a vision." He grasped both of her hands, bringing them to his lips.

Shasta withdrew from him. "Thank you, Chancellor. Don't you think we should go back to the party?"

"Not yet. I've been waiting all night for the chance to steal you away from that annoying captain of the guard."

His tone made Shasta uneasy and she turned to go, but in the dark, with her impaired senses, she wasn't sure which way the party was. Kumire came up behind her, put his hands at her waist, and pressed his lips to her neck. Shasta shuddered with disgust, but before she could catch her balance to walk away, he spun her around to face him.

"Such a pretty girl," he said, placing one hand against her cheek and leaning forward.

Shasta pushed against his chest and turned her face away, though she was not strong enough to break his grasp. "Chancellor, please."

He took her chin in his fingers and compelled her to face him once more. "You should relax, Princess. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want you to give me a kiss."

"No, I don't want-"

"You'll like it, you'll see." He lowered his head, and she put a hand up, this time forcibly pushing his face away. His expression darkened. "What's the matter? You think you're too good for me?"

"No, I just..." Shasta's head was spinning, and as he again attempted to duck toward her lips, she struggled more violently in his arms. "I mean it, I don't want this. Stop it!"

She couldn't get away from him, and her struggling was to no avail. Kumire was much stronger than she was and the wine had overwhelmed her senses so that she could not think of how to defend herself. His lips were only a hairbreadth from hers when suddenly his head snapped back and his grip on her was abruptly torn away.

Shasta stumbled back a few steps and put a hand to her aching head. When she looked up, she could just make out with her wine-blurred vision the tall, dark form of her guardian holding the chancellor by his hair and with one arm twisted behind his back.

"Talon," she hiccupped with relief. Her legs would not hold her up anymore and she dropped in a heap of silks to the ground. She moaned as a wave of nausea threatened to empty her stomach into the nearby bushes.

Captain Vaughn came charging toward them, alarmed by the commotion. He took one look at Shasta retching on the ground and tapped Talon on the shoulder.

"I can take over from here. Get Princess Shasta back to her rooms. There's no need to make a scene."

For a moment it seemed as if Talon was going to break the chancellor's arm, he looked so angry. But he lowered his eyes to Shasta and said, "Of course."

Captain Vaughn immediately seized the chancellor firmly by the shoulder and Talon released his hold. But he was not quite done. Loudly enough for Shasta to hear, he snarled in Kumire's ear, "You touch her again, and I will kill you."

Vaughn gave Kumire a shake and added, "The King will hear all about this."

For a moment Talon gleefully envisioned shoving her sword into Kumire's belly, but this was not the time. Instead, she bent down and put Shasta's arms around her neck, scooping her up and marveling at how light she was. It was so easy to forget what a small girl the Princess actually was.

Shasta buried her face in the front of Talon's jacket. "Mmm. You smell nice," she mumbled, nuzzling Talon's neck.

Talon stiffened a little as the Princess's lips brushed her skin, sending a strange shiver down her spine. She patted Shasta awkwardly on the back. "Let's get you into bed," she said quietly, deliberately choosing a path through the garden that would keep them out of sight of the party.

"Not tired," the Princess protested, but Talon paid no attention and carried her back into the palace and up to her rooms.

There, she helped her young charge directly into the privy chamber and held her voluminous skirts out of the way as the Princess threw up into a chamber pot. The maids were all working at the party and Nurse had long since gone to bed, so without waiting for help Talon unbuttoned the back of Shasta's dress, lifting it over her shoulders. Shasta gave a weak murmur of protest.

"I'm sorry, Princess, but we need to get you out of these clothes. I promise to be quick." Talon lifted the Princess's arms up, tugging the gown over her head and dropping it on the floor. Shasta was left wearing only her linen shift, and Talon took the dressing robe from a hook nearby. She wrapped the robe around Shasta's shoulders and guided the Princess to the bed, helping her beneath the covers.

Tucked in, Shasta looked up at Talon with apologetic, bleary eyes. "I feel awful," she groaned.

"I'm going to make you some tea to help calm your stomach." Talon moved briskly around the room, filling the teakettle from the pitcher on the table and swinging it out on an iron hook over the fireplace to boil.

"Talon, I'm sorry..."

"Shh, Princess. Just rest."

"No, I mean it." Shasta struggled onto one elbow. "I shouldn't have yelled at you the way I did this morning. You were right. And now I'm sick and you're being so nice..."

"It's my job to be nice," Talon replied lightly, but seeing the hurt in Shasta's face she sighed. "I'm just glad you're all right."

"Me too."

Shasta was quiet as Talon measured the tea leaves into a silver strainer and chose one of the china teacups from the sitting-room cabinet. After pouring steaming water into the cup, she carried it to Shasta's bed, swirling the strainer to darken the tea.

"Here you go. This should help."

Murmuring her thanks, Shasta took the cup from her hands and sipped at it. She still looked as pale as milk.

Talon smiled down at her, then moved a few paces away from the bed to remove her sword and uniform jacket. Faint music drifted up through the window. It would still be several hours before the celebration below would wind down, but the Princess was in no shape to return to the party. It was past their usual bedtime anyway. They might as well get undressed and go to sleep.

Talon shed her boots and laid them neatly against the wall, then blew out the two sitting-room lamps. This left only the lamp on the Princess's bedside table, which Shasta always extinguished herself when she was ready.

Talon slid her legs under the blankets of her cot and lay down. She tucked one arm behind her head and closed her eyes. But Shasta was evidently not ready to sleep yet, and her voice piped up from the bed.

"Have you ever kissed anyone?"

Talon's eyes flew open again. "What?"

Shasta peered down at her over the edge of the bed. "Have you ever kissed a girl before?"

Talon sat up. "Why?"

"Just wondering."

"Well...yeah, I guess." Technically the girls had kissed her, but she was pretty sure it didn't matter.

"How many?"

"How many what?"

"How many girls have you kissed?"

Talon's breath seemed trapped in her chest. "It's really none of your business."

"Oh, come on." The Princess puffed out her lower lip childishly. "You have to tell me. Please? You know I'll just keep asking until you do."

Talon rolled her eyes, and gave in. "Two."

Shasta frowned. She was still tipsy; Talon could tell by the way her eyes were just slightly unfocused. "That's all?"

"It isn't enough?" Talon gave a slight chuckle.

"It's just that...well, I see how all the girls around here look at you. I bet you could kiss as many of them as you want. Some of the noblewomen, too."

Talon made a show of lying back down. "Go to sleep, Highness."

"What's it like?"

"What's what like?"

"Kissing. What's it like?"

Talon sighed. "If you wanted to know so badly, why didn't you just let Chancellor Kumire kiss you tonight?"

"Ugh." Shasta made a face. "I can't stand him. He's so...well, if you were a girl would you want him kissing you?"

This gave Talon pause. "I suppose if I were a girl," she said slowly, the irony of the words making her want to laugh, "I wouldn't want his lips anywhere near me."

"See." Shasta waved an arm in the air, for no particular reason that Talon could tell. "I don't want my first kiss to be from someone like him. It's going to be something I'll remember the rest of my life. Can you imagine?" The Princess shuddered visibly. "I want my first kiss to be with somebody I like. Somebody who I feel safe with. Like you." Talon gave a sharp intake of breath as Shasta's eyes suddenly widened with an idea. "You should kiss me."

"Princess, you're still very drunk."

"No, I mean it. You should give me my first kiss. I can't think of any other man in the entire palace I like as much as you."

"It's not going to happen, Highness."

"But what if you hadn't gotten there in time tonight? Kumire would have ruined my first kiss forever."