Shasta grinned. "You'll see. Come on, I have to change."

Ithyrian women of class wore special split skirts for riding. These possessed the same fullness as regular skirts, but had separation for the legs that made it much easier to mount and sit astride a horse. Shasta chose a dark blue riding skirt and a white bodice with light boning, wanting as much freedom of movement as possible.

After changing as quickly as she could in her privy chamber, she emerged and gave her guardian an enormous grin. "Let's go."

She led Talon across the palace gardens and into the castle grounds, across the hard-packed earth trampled smooth by horse's hooves and the boots of countless men. The servants' stables were on the far south end of the castle grounds, near the south gate. It had been several moons since her last visit, and her excitement and trepidation grew with every step.

This had been their special place, a secret between twins, and for the first time she would share it with someone else. Part of her couldn't wait to take up the sword in earnest again, to feel the rush of adrenaline in her veins. She'd missed it terribly. But another part of her felt guilty. Was this a betrayal of Daric's memory, of their secret time together? Shasta stopped walking, her stomach queasy.

"Princess?"

She looked up at the face of her guardian, realizing again just how tall he was. He could easily rest his chin on her head, and probably have to duck a little to do it.

Scuffing her foot in the dirt, she said, "Daric and I, we were really close. We spent a lot of time together." Talon was watching her with those fathomless dark eyes, waiting for her to go on. "If I show you something, will you promise me not to..." She struggled for the right words.

It wasn't that she was worried that Talon might tell someone else. She could order his silence easily and knew he would obey. What she wanted was to ensure, somehow, that the tradition she'd shared with her brother would remain special.

Talon seemed to understand her ambivalence. "You want to make sure he is not forgotten."

The gentle rumble of his voice was comforting and Shasta nodded. "I just...I need someone else for this, and Daric's gone. It was our secret, together. I don't want to give it up forever, but..."

"Perhaps you are not ready to share it. You don't have to."

"I know. But Daric wouldn't want me to give it up."

As she said the words, she realized they were true, and with renewed determination she took Talon's hand and tugged him to the door of the servants' stables. Once inside, she stood for a moment to allow her eyes to become adjusted to the cool darkness.

"Daric and I used to come out here almost every day," she explained as Talon came up behind her. "When we were kids, Daric started taking fencing lessons. I begged Father to let me join in, but he wouldn't. So Daric brought me out here one day and started teaching me himself."

When her vision had cleared and she was no longer seeing spots, she moved to the haystack at the far corner and began to dig through the straw. "Now that Father's finally agreed to let me study fencing for myself, I need someone to spar with. Especially since it will be a while before I can really show Captain Vaughn what I can do with a sword. If Father ever found out that I'd been secretly practicing since I was six, he'd probably take the lessons away out of spite."

With a triumphant squeak she pulled two silver fencing foils from the hay. "Good, they're still here." She dropped one and flicked the other through the air a few times, taking a few practice lunges in her riding skirts to make sure she'd have a full range of motion. "Wow, that feels good." She turned to see Talon surveying her with amusement in his dark eyes and folded her arms defensively. "What?"

"It's just that..." Talon chuckled. "I remember the first time we met, you seemed so little and fragile. Yet to hear Nurse talk, a person would think you were made of fire and thunderbolts. Until the last few days I thought she was making it up."

"I may be little, but I'm not as fragile as you'd think."

"Evidently."

"Here." She tossed her guardian one of the fencing foils. "I've had to let you trounce me in all our lessons with the captain so far, but out here nothing can stop me from giving you a good clobbering."

"Why do I have the feeling," Talon asked as he stepped into an opening position, "that you are just full of surprises, Princess?"

Shasta matched the stance with a wicked grin. "You have no idea."

In her chambers later that evening, Shasta sat at her window as usual, reading from a thick leather-bound book as she waited for her chambermaids to finish filling her bathing tub. Periodically she looked up at Talon, who was sitting in a chair across the room, sharpening his sword with smooth, methodical strokes. When their eyes met they would exchange grins, and Shasta would return to her reading. But it was difficult to concentrate on the pages. She was edgy with an irrational excitement, something she hadn't felt in a long time.

Talon had turned out to be quite a good fencing partner. His movements weren't as polished and elegant as Daric's had been, but he shared her affinity for creatively bending the rules in ways they couldn't in formal lessons, and his acrobatic skills made him an interesting opponent. It had been a while since Shasta had felt the breathless, contented exhaustion of real physical exercise. And it was fun to have a secret once more.

Nurse came bustling into the room and eyed them suspiciously. "Just what are the two of you grinning about, then?"

Talon gave an innocent shrug and Shasta replied sweetly, "Nothing, Nurse."

"Humph." The old woman continued to glare as she announced, "Well, your bath is prepared, Highness."

"Thank you, Nurse."

After Talon had inspected the privy chamber to be sure it was empty, Shasta closed her book and crossed the room. As she passed Talon, her nose twitched at the pungent aroma of horses, hay, and sweat.

"Talon," she asked. "When did you bathe last?"

Her guardian blinked. "I'm not sure, Highness. It couldn't be more than a half-moon ago."

Shasta wrinkled her nose. "Ugh! How can you stand it?"

A look of consternation crossed his face, and he opened and closed his mouth as if searching for a way to reply.

Shasta waved her hand. "Never mind, I don't want to know. It's got to be hard to find the time, since you have to follow me around every minute of the day." He nodded, seeming relieved. "When I'm done bathing it will be your turn. From now on you will use the privy chamber bath at least twice a quarter-moon." Her nose twitched again. "And any other time you've been sweating. Or near horses." She looked him up and down. "Or doing anything...involving dirt."

"Talon's duty is to watch over you at all times, young lady," Nurse interrupted with a clucking of her tongue. "He can hardly watch over you and bathe at the same time."

"I don't want him anywhere near me smelling like that," Shasta replied indignantly. "I'll be just fine for the few minutes it will take him to de-putrefy himself."

A funny look crossed Talon's face, as though he were trying to decide whether he was offended or amused. "Your Highness, the King gave strict orders-"

"What my father doesn't know won't hurt him," Shasta retorted.

Nurse sighed and she, too, eyed Talon critically. "I suppose there's no harm in it," she conceded after a moment. "But if His Majesty ever gets wind of it, I will deny all knowledge." She marched into her own quarters, closing the door that separated her little room from the Princess's chambers with a decisive bang that indicated her duties were over for the evening.

"Of course you will." Shasta rolled her eyes and winked at her guardian.

Talon grinned back and closed the door as the Princess entered the privy chamber. In truth, she was relieved. She had a hard time trying to arrange for a bath. Usually, Captain Vaughn found a way for her to use the soldiers' bathing rooms, but he had to stand guard outside to ensure that no one interrupted her and at the same time arrange for the Princess to be occupied safely in his sight. This new bathing routine would be much easier, and it meant she could remain close to Shasta in case she was needed.

A slow grin crossed her face as she went to retrieve her sword and sharpening stone from the chair where she'd left them. Shasta had turned out to be nothing like she'd originally thought, which was a pleasant surprise. Though even if the Princess were as mean-spirited and selfish as Talon had supposed, this was still the best thing that had ever happened to Talon and her sisters, and she was determined to make the most of it.

Her position as Shasta's guardian granted her the opportunity to study under the captain of Ithyria's elite royal guard, and Talon eagerly absorbed everything he could teach her. But it wasn't only for the Princess's sake. As a child, she had sworn to avenge herself on those who had murdered her family and sold her and her sisters into a life of brutality and terror. Now her revenge was closer than ever before. Once her sisters were safely established in a new life, Talon would seek out those who had destroyed their village and haunted her dreams ever since. She would make them pay for what they'd done, for the tortured childhood they had inflicted on her and her sisters.

It may have been nearly ten winters ago, but those memories were forever burned into her mind. Talon could still hear the screaming of the villagers and see the panic on her mother's face when her father failed to return. She could smell the stench of the raiders as they burst into her home, hear their guttural language and their cruel laughter as they ransacked the house and raped her mother over and over...

"Talon. Talon! Are you all right?" A small hand on her shoulder made her jump, and she turned to see the Princess, wrapped in her dressing robe, staring at her with anxious golden eyes. "You're...you're bleeding."

Talon realized she'd been gripping the blade of her sword, and it had cut right into the palm of her hand. She dropped the weapon immediately, rose to her feet, and gazed at the scarlet line dripping thickly down her wrist. Shasta still seemed bewildered, and Talon cursed inwardly. But she couldn't explain.

"I didn't mean to scare you, Princess," she said. "I'll go clean up." Without waiting for a reply, she crossed to the privy chamber and closed the door behind her.

A few moments later, at the washstand, Talon winced as she poured cool water over her hand, staining the liquid in the bowl a brilliant red. She looked up and met her own eyes in the looking glass. What a strange person stared back at her, she thought: this androgynous dark face with its delicate elfin features and high cheekbones. Her lips were too full for a boy but not quite dainty enough to be feminine. Thick black brows jutted out over eyes the color of coal. She'd been living as a man for so long, at times it was a shock to remember that she wasn't one.

With a heavy sigh, Talon took one of the small towels from the stand, wrapped it firmly around her injured hand, and sat down to remove her boots. She shrugged out of her vest and unbuttoned the front of her white linen shirt, making a face as she caught a whiff of the fabric. No wonder the Princess had complained. Dropping the shirt in a pile next to her boots, she made a mental note to ask Erinda to add her clothes to the laundry the next morning. Then she began the painful process of removing the wrappings that held down her chest, carefully rolling the strips of fabric as she went.

She didn't have much in the way of a womanly figure, for which she was extremely grateful, but she did have breasts noticeable enough that they required strapping down in order to be indistinguishable beneath her shirts. She gave an involuntary gasp as the last binding strip came free, suddenly releasing her chest so that she could breathe fully. For a moment she sat doubled over, inhaling and exhaling a few times to try and accustom her brain to the sudden rush of oxygen.

It was a strange feeling, not being wrapped tightly in layers of fabric. Oddly self-conscious, Talon stood and unbuckled her belt, quickly removed her trousers and undergarments, and stepped into the tub of fragrant water. It was still very warm, and she mused absentmindedly that the Princess must like her bathwater near scalding.

She sank down in the tub so that the soap suds covered her shoulders, careful of her injured hand. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply, enjoying both the feel of the warm water enveloping her body and the scent of lemongrass and chamomile. A wry smile touched her lips. The captain would surely tease her tomorrow about her sweet-smelling skin and hair. At the moment, however, she didn't really care. Few luxuries in her life could equal this.

Talon had never regretted the decision to maintain her male disguise, in spite of numerous resulting inconveniences. Nothing in the world was as important as the safety and well-being of her sisters. It had been her last promise to their dying mother, and every day that she saw Lyris and Bria wearing the fine clothes of court attendants, taking tea with the Princess, and studying ballroom dance as if they were as nobly born as the Princess herself, it filled her with indescribable pride. No sacrifice was too great to bear for such a reward. She'd do it all again, spend the rest of her life pretending, take a thousand more daggers to the stomach just to see her sisters remain this healthy and happy.

Remembering that she really shouldn't be leaving the Princess alone in the other room, she ducked her head beneath the water to wet her hair, and with her uninjured hand managed to rub soap into her scalp, then rinse out the lather. After making sure she'd thoroughly "de-putrefied" every other important area of her anatomy, she reluctantly left the tub and grabbed a towel.

She dried herself briskly, slicking her hair back with her fingers, then with expert movements she rewrapped herself, pulling the strips of fabric tight until she'd achieved a neat, flat silhouette with no sign of curves. Satisfied, she finished dressing but decided against the belt and boots, as she was going to bed soon.

When she opened the privy chamber door, Princess Shasta was in bed and was lying very still. Her lamp was out and the only remaining light was the one on the table by Talon's chest of belongings. Talon sighed and put it out, undressed and quickly pulled on a clean shirt, then felt her way through the dark to the edge of her cot. She lay down, and for several moments the Princess's soft breathing was the only sound in the room.

Finally Talon couldn't take the silence anymore. "Princess." She propped herself up on one elbow, looking over at the still form under the covers. Shasta didn't move. "Your Highness, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you." She made her voice as gentle as she could. "You have to know I would never hurt you."

Shasta rolled over then, her face pale in the moonlight, strands of her long hair falling over her eyes. In her hands was the necklace Talon had fashioned for her, and she was stroking the feather.

"Is that what you think? That I'm afraid of you?" She shook her head. "I'm not afraid of you, Talon. If you laid a hand on me my father would skin you alive." Even in the dark Talon could see her eyes twinkle a little. "I just wish I knew why you're so angry. What were you thinking about when I interrupted you?"

"I don't remember."

"That's a lie." She didn't sound upset, just matter-of-fact. "You were bleeding all over yourself but you didn't even notice. Talon, I'm afraid for you. The way you looked-like you were ready to kill someone-I've seen that look before. On criminals my father has sentenced to death." Her voice trembled. "I know you haven't been here long, but I like you. You're the only person around here who..." She paused, and Talon saw the shimmer of a tear as it dropped from her eyelashes. "With you around I don't miss Daric quite so much, and I'm afraid if you do something stupid they'll take you away from me."

Talon looked down at her blankets, picking imaginary specks of lint from the heavy wool. "I'm just your bodyguard. I don't see why-"

"You're my friend." Shasta's tone was firm, though she might have been blushing a little; it was hard to tell in the dim light. "I like Lyris and Bria, of course, but I grew up with a brother. I'm used to having a boy around, and," she lowered her head, "honestly, I don't know how I would have made it through these past moons without you."

Talon stared at her in disbelief. "Until recently, you barely even spoke to me."

"And yet you still treated me like a person instead of a princess. I could tell when you were frustrated with me, or when I'd annoyed you. No one else in the palace ever gets abrupt or cold with me, no matter how obnoxious I am. You treat me just like your sisters." Her voice caught a little. "I miss being a sister."

Talon was silent for a moment, touched in a way she wasn't sure she could describe. Finally she reached up and brushed the tear from the Princess's face. "Highness, I promise I won't do anything that would get me taken away. I do have my own demons to deal with, but they won't interfere with my duty to you. You have my word." Talon was surprised to find that she meant it.

Shasta reached up and caught her hand, which was still wrapped in the thin towel. She held it for a moment, then inspected it in the faint moonlight. "Tomorrow morning I'm taking you to the infirmary. I bet this is going to hurt like crazy until it heals."

"Well, it will give you the excuse to...how did you so carefully put it...give me a good 'clobbering' in public as well as in secret, now won't it?" Talon waggled her eyebrows at Shasta, making her laugh. "Now go to sleep, Highness."

"Good night, Talon." Shasta snuggled down into her pillows, closing her eyes.

"Good night, Princess."

Chapter Four.

"Stop fidgeting." Lyris pinched Talon sharply on the arm.

"I can't help it, the collar itches." Talon slid a finger between her neck and the offending fabric.

"You'd better get used to it, my boy," Captain Vaughn commented with gruff amusement, "because after tonight you'll be expected to appear in uniform every day. An officer in His Majesty's royal guard has a certain appearance to uphold."

Talon made a face at her instructor, who seemed to greatly enjoy the irony of referring to her as "my boy" and "young man" at every opportunity. She turned slowly before the tall glass, tugging at the bottom of her jacket. It was the more formal version of a royal guard's uniform, a crisp bloodred jacket with a high collar and gold braid across the chest, and white trousers with red trim running down the outer leg seams. Gold-fringed epaulettes topped both shoulders, and a white sash banded in gold ran from one shoulder down to the opposite hip. A hat completed the uniform, a squarish black thing with red and white ostrich plumes blossoming from a gold decorative facet above the forehead.

Nurse, also a party to Talon's secret, had altered the jacket for her, adding padding to the shoulders to give the illusion of a more masculine frame. Talon had broad shoulders anyway, but she had to admit that the extra bulk was more convincing.

"You look very handsome," Shasta said, coming up from behind to peek into the mirror. "Here, turn around."

Talon obeyed, and the Princess carefully pinned a small red rosebud to Talon's sash. "There. Now you will wear your Princess's favor when you accept your commission." She smoothed the sash with her hands and shook her head. "I can't believe you managed it in only six moons."

"Earning an officer's commission in half a winter is quite an accomplishment," Captain Vaughn agreed. "You've worked hard, Talon, and you deserve this."

"Thank you, sir."

"Before I forget," The captain reached into his bag on the table and pulled out a small pouch. "I have spoken with the King, and he also considers that your work here in the past few moons has been exemplary. Your duties are intensive. Even the lowest-ranking servants in the palace have a day off for their own rest, yet your position does not allow you so much as an hour to yourself. So this evening, I will assume personal responsibility for the Princess at the Harvest Benediction. You, my boy, have the evening off." He handed the pouch to Talon. "And this is for you, to celebrate with."

Talon took the pouch. It was quite heavy, stuffed with coins. "Captain, I'm most grateful, but I couldn't. My duty to the Princess-"

To Talon's surprise, Shasta waved a hand. "Don't be silly," she said lightly. "The captain's right, you haven't had so much as a moment to yourself since the day you came to the palace. I'll be standing by Father all evening, and Captain Vaughn will be watching over me. I'll be perfectly safe. You should go, have a good time at the ball."

"But, Highness, it's dangerous."

"Are you implying that I can't protect the Princess as well as you?" Vaughn inquired sternly.

"Of course not, Captain, but," Talon held the pouch out to return it to him, "honestly, I wouldn't know what to do with myself, on my own. And I want to be there. Just in case."

Vaughn grinned and gently pushed the pouch of coins back into her hand. "Take the money, young man, it's yours. And my offer stands if you change your mind."

Talon accepted the gesture with a little smile. "I'll think about it."

The great hall was lined along every wall with members of the royal guard in their blazing scarlet coats. The musicians at the entrance struck up a fanfare as Talon reached the doors. This was it. She made sure her ridiculous hat was tucked securely under her arm and took a deep breath. Shoulders back and head held high, she marched into the vast room, approached the thrones at its far end, and dropped to one knee, bowing deeply before the King.

She avoided the Princess's eyes during this formality, knowing Shasta would probably make silly faces over her father's shoulder. Talon wasn't sure she could keep a straight face if her charge set out to break her composure.

King Soltran rose to his feet and held up his hands for silence. The musicians stopped playing, and he addressed the room of soldiers.

"We have gathered today to bear witness to the commission of Talon, faithful servant to the crown of Ithyria, to the rank of officer among the Ithyrian royal guard. Rise, Talon, and swear an oath of fealty to the Goddess and your King."

Talon rose and made a fist with her free hand, holding it over her heart.

Captain Vaughn stepped forward from the King's side and mirrored the salute. "Repeat after me. 'I, Talon, having been commissioned to serve the Ithyrian royal guard by His Majesty, King Soltran Novaris...'"