"I, Talon, having been commissioned to serve the Ithyrian royal guard by His Majesty, King Soltran Novaris...do hereby swear my allegiance to the crown of Ithyria, to protect and uphold my sovereign in all things..."

Talon had heard the oath many times before, having been present for the commissioning of many other officers during her training, though this was the first time that she had not experienced the ceremony from behind the Princess's small throne. Although she had every word memorized, their true meaning struck her deeply as she made her own solemn pledge.

"To defend, with my life and honor, the authority and security of the royal family chosen by the Goddess Ithyris to rule Her holy land. I enter into this pledge of my own volition, under no adverse influence and without personal reservation, to serve my king and country with all my strength and with all my heart from this day forward. May the Goddess guide and protect His Majesty and those who serve his will."

When she had finished the oath, the King took a sword from Captain Vaughn's hands as Talon knelt again. "I, Soltran Novaris of the royal house of Ithyria, as King Regent of the twelve Ithyrian provinces and chief commander of her military, do hereby confer upon Talon the rank and title of corporal in His Majesty's royal guard." The King tapped her lightly on each shoulder with the flat edge of the sword. "Rise, soldier, and serve me well."

Talon stood, and meeting the King's eyes, responded with a firm salute. King Soltran saluted back, as did the captain and all other members of the guard present.

"Will the officer's sisters please come forward and pin his new rank," Captain Vaughn commanded.

Lyris and Bria both stepped up, beaming as Lyris carefully pinned a single gold bar to the collar of Talon's uniform.

"Congratulations, Corporal," King Soltran declared, which was cue for the entire audience to begin clapping and whooping.

Talon bowed once more, then turned and bowed to the Princess. This gesture was not required, but the crowd noticed it and increased their applause and cheers. Shasta's lips parted with delight and Talon winked at her mischievously before she spun neatly on one heel and marched into the assembly of soldiers, who began clapping her on the back in raucous approval. She turned back, grinning, to face the King as he gestured for silence once more.

"As you all know, this is the night of the Harvest Benediction when we will thank Ithyris for Her generous provision for the winter. You are all invited to attend the entertainment and ceremonies this evening, and we will hold a dance in the palace gardens afterward." More cheers went up, and the King waved his arms. "Now all of you get out of here so the servants can do their work."

The soldiers began to disperse and several tried to encourage Talon to join them for drinks before the festivities began, but she casually refused, insisting she had duties to attend to.

"You could go, you know," a voice softly chided, and Talon turned to find her young charge standing at her elbow.

"Trying to get rid of me, Princess?" Talon teased with an uplifted eyebrow. "Planning some sort of trouble for our poor, unsuspecting captain the minute I turn my back?"

"Maybe." Shasta poked her in the arm but quickly became serious again. "I mean it, you really don't have to stay with me. It's your first chance to do something for yourself for a change."

Talon shrugged. "I'd rather stay near you. The other fellows mean well enough, but they get loud and obnoxious when they have a few drinks in them. Besides, I have to protect Captain Vaughn from whatever it is you've got up your sleeve."

Shasta made a face of mock disappointment. "Damn you, interfering with my evil scheme."

"Language, Highness," Talon admonished, and Shasta stuck her tongue out.

Soltran observed the exchange between his daughter and her bodyguard, and was inwardly pleased at how fondly Talon gazed down at the Princess. As if she were the boy's own sister, the King thought, then mentally corrected himself. It was difficult to remember at times that Talon was not a boy at all. Six moons ago, had someone suggested that he would one day commission a woman to serve in the royal guard, Soltran would have laughed aloud. But Talon had worked just as hard, or harder, than most of the young men who were hoping for that same honor.

Soltran was certain that putting his daughter in Talon's care was the wisest decision he'd ever made. The flowering friendship between the two exceeded his highest expectations. Soltran had thought at first that the only way to ensure Talon's full dedication would be to threaten those she loved, but the young guardian seemed to be developing a true attachment to the Princess, all on her own.

It was a good sign, he decided, watching Shasta lead Talon and her two sisters out of the hall to prepare for the night's banquet. Soltran hoped it meant he would never have to call on the harsher terms of their bargain.

Talon shifted uncomfortably in her chair and, for the hundredth time, craned her neck to peer around the Princess. Shasta gave her a light smack on the shoulder.

"Stop that. No one's going to sneak up on me, you worry wart, so just sit still and have fun."

Talon sighed and nodded, but didn't feel reassured. This was entirely new for her, sitting beside Shasta at a table rather than standing behind her chair. She found herself scanning the tables along the sides of the hall with an anxiety that almost amounted to obsession, searching for any sign of the black-cloaked assassin she remembered from the birthday banquet.

Shasta sighed. "Relax, Talon. Have some wine." She slid Talon's goblet toward her, but Talon shook her head. Shasta sighed again. "You're going to drink this, right now," she insisted imperiously. "That's an order."

Talon snickered, but one glance at the Princess's face told her that her young charge was not teasing. "Highness, I really don't-"

"Your first few hours as a corporal and you're already refusing an order from your Princess?"

Talon could not think of an appropriate reply, and Shasta took the opportunity to put the goblet in her hand. "Drink."

Captain Vaughn, who was sitting at Talon's other elbow, leaned over with a wicked grin. "You'd better do it, boy. I think she's serious."

Talon shot him a glare but obediently took a sip, albeit a tiny one.

"Good. Now keep drinking. I want that glass empty before the night is over." The Princess's warm amber eyes snapped, and Talon reluctantly surrendered. Shasta watched her take a long draught from the cup, and gave a satisfied smile. "Much better. Look, they're about to start."

Talon felt an odd twinge as she saw a group of brightly clad performers enter the far end of the hall and take up positions against the wall. She didn't recognize any of the individuals; neither did she know the burly, well-dressed man who followed them and stood near the door. But she could tell this troupe was not much different than her own, and the man in the expensive clothes with eyes as predatory and cruel as a hawk's was the showmaster. At the end of the table she heard a small gasp and knew her sisters had also noticed the performers.

The musicians suddenly changed their tune and tempo, and several dancers twirled out into the center of the hall, waving long ribbons and expertly weaving their bodies in and out between one another. Talon knew the Harvest celebration well. First a few brightly dressed performers would warm up the crowds, followed by an acrobat or jester. Then would come some sort of sultry dance with plenty of hip jiggling, more acrobatics, and a singer or bard to deliver a poetic tribute to Ithyris. Finally a group of Ithyrian priestesses would scatter rice on the floor and chant prayers of thanks to the Goddess for the winter's provision.

She had been a part of such celebrations every Seventhmoon since she was ten and was so familiar with the routine that it was disconcerting to be the audience rather than the entertainment.

As she had predicted, when the dancers were finished a dwarflike man wearing a ridiculous multipointed hat and oversized slippers waddled into the center of the room and performed a few sleight-of-hand magic tricks, then began to tell jokes while he juggled random food items he chose from the serving platters. Talon knew most of the punch lines, but couldn't help laughing as the diminutive man made faces and chattered on in a voice that seemed entirely too big to be coming from such a tiny person.

Then came the dancing girls, with their silken scarves and bare bellies, jingling bracelets and chains of coins shimmering at their hips. There were six of them, of various sizes and shapes, all so thin Talon could see their ribs as they bent and swayed. The musicians played an incessant, sensual drum beat and the girls moved their bare feet in time to the rhythm, the sheer fabric of their skirts affording everyone in the room a generous view of their calves and thighs.

After swirling through the center of the room, they scattered, each one going to a different table and choosing a guest to favor with special attention. One of them, a redhead, approached the head table and flicked a scarf seductively at the King. He smiled but lifted a hand, politely rejecting her invitation, and so her eyes scanned the rest of the guests and suddenly locked onto Talon.

Talon's eyes widened as the girl came toward her, sashaying her hips and tilting forward to allow a full view of her ample cleavage. She moved Talon's plate aside and lifted herself onto the table, caressing Talon's cheek with a handful of silk. Talon tried not to let her discomfort show; if she didn't appear to be satisfied with the girl's performance, she knew the redhead would pay for it dearly.

Reluctantly she forced a smile, and the girl seemed to take that as a sign she was succeeding. She leaned forward, over Talon's goblet. Talon raised a hand to move it, and the dancer, thinking Talon was reaching for her, moved to allow Talon access. In the process, they ended up bumping one another's hands awkwardly and the goblet tipped over into Talon's lap.

Without thinking, Talon jumped to her feet. She met the redhead's terrified gaze and realized everyone was staring. Her heart sank as she glimpsed the showmaster's enraged face. He snapped his fingers, and quickly the musicians started playing again as a couple of acrobats took to the floor.

The dancer slid off the table, bowing over and over, and Talon watched helplessly as she returned to her position by the wall. Her master would not beat her in the middle of a performance, but Talon could guess what sort of pain he would inflict the moment the troupe left the palace.

Moving closer to her mentor, she asked, "Captain, I may have to take you up on your offer after all."

"Sure. Go clean yourself up, kid. I'll keep an eye on things here."

Avoiding Shasta's curious gaze, Talon bowed and left the hall to change.

Back in the Princess's chambers, she berated herself as she stripped off the ruined trousers and reached for a clean pair. If she'd stayed in her seat and inconspicuously righted the goblet, no one would have noticed the accident. As it was, the poor girl was probably going to be beaten within an inch of her life. As she rebuckled her belt, she noticed the pouch of coins Vaughn had given her before the commission ceremony, and before she could change her mind, she grabbed the pouch and returned to the great hall.

Talon waited outside the double doors for the troupe to finish their performance. She could tell by the beating drums that the priestesses were probably finishing with the Harvest prayers, and a few minutes later the hall doors opened so that the Ithyrian women could file out, grains of rice still clinging to their veils. Talon stepped back so they could pass, inclining her head respectfully. The hall erupted in applause as the performers took their last bows and collected the shower of coins that were thrown into the center of the floor. They exited soon after, passing Talon on their way to the gardens. Last came the showmaster, his pockets jingling with the evening's profits.

Talon put a hand on his shoulder as he passed. "Excuse me, sir. A word, if you please."

The showmaster recognized Talon immediately and bowed. "My lord, please accept my deepest apologies for my stupid girl's inexcusable behavior." His manner was repulsively ingratiating. "I can assure you she will be dealt with."

"Actually, I would prefer to have her services this evening." Talon drew her hand from the shadows, allowing the showmaster to catch a glimpse of the bulging coin pouch. As she expected, his eyes immediately gleamed.

"My lord, if you desire company this evening, perhaps you would allow me to recommend one of the other girls. Several of them are quite...skilled."

"Worthy of thought, but you see," Talon lowered her voice conspiratorially and leaned toward his ear, "I have a particular fondness for redheads." She shook the bag in her hand for added emphasis.

"Ah, I understand perfectly, my lord." The showmaster gave a sharp whistle and beckoned to the flame-haired dancer. When she recognized Talon she looked as though she might be sick, but she approached nonetheless and fell to her knees, bowing her head to the floor.

"This gentleman requires your company this evening, girl. I expect you to serve him well."

The girl on the floor did not look up, but she nodded. "My lord."

Talon dropped the entire pouch into the man's greedy hands and watched his eyes grow big as dinner plates as he gauged the weight. "Enjoy your evening, my lord," he simpered with a bow. "You are welcome to keep her all night long, if that is your wish."

Talon lifted an eyebrow, then turned her attention to the girl on the floor. "Follow me," she ordered, trying to sound authoritative, as if she did such things all the time.

The redhead stood, eyes downcast, and followed Talon as she strode down the corridor. As soon as they'd rounded the corner, out of the showmaster's sight, Talon let out a breath. She knew she'd given the burly man enough money to assuage his anger. The girl would not be beaten and Talon would see to it that she received a solid meal, probably the first she'd had in a long time if her sunken cheeks and protruding ribs were any indication.

They walked in silence to the Princess's chambers, where Talon held the door and ushered the girl in. Closing the door behind them, she said, "Make yourself comfortable, I'll only be a moment."

She unbuttoned her uniform jacket, eager to shed the stiff, heavy coat with its itchy collar. The loose white shirt she wore beneath was much more comfortable, and considerably cooler. Shaking the jacket out to remove any creases, she said, "The servants are all waiting on the guests, so we will be left to our own devices, I'm afraid. But we're lucky-everyone was so excited about the Benediction tonight that they forgot to clear away the afternoon luncheon. The Princess eats like a bird, so there should be plenty left."

She unbuckled her sword belt and propped the weapon against the wall. When she turned around she was startled to find the redhead less than an handbreadth away, and before Talon realized what was happening the girl was pressed up against her, little fingers working quickly at the buttons of her linen shirt. She succeeded in unfastening the first three and pressed her lips to Talon's throat.

Talon reached up and gently prevented the questing fingers from straying any farther. Backing away, she looked into a pair of gray-blue eyes the color of the sky during a summer storm. "You don't have to do that," she said.

"My lord, you paid a great deal of money for my company this evening," the girl replied, her voice silky. "I wish you to fully enjoy what you have paid for." She pressed her hips into Talon's, and Talon was so startled that she let go to catch her balance against the wall behind her. The redhead's hands traveled lightly downward, brushing over the muscles of her abdomen.

Talon could guess where they were headed next, and with a gasp she slid out of reach and said, "You don't understand."

"Perhaps it is you who does not understand." The girl advanced. "You may not realize it, my lord, but my mistake tonight was certain to cost me a terrible beating. Your generous gift to the showmaster has saved me, and for that," she reached up and locked her arms around Talon's neck, "I want to show my gratitude." She rose on tiptoe, pulling Talon's head down to meet her lips in a kiss.

An electric shock went through Talon's body at the soft, sensual contact of the dancer's lips against her own. For a moment she was frozen with a paralyzing combination of surprise, curiosity, and something else...something she'd never felt before, a heat that started low in her abdomen and spread into her arms and thighs, making them strangely weak. Instinctively she cupped the girl's shoulders and drew her in.

Talon had been kissed before, but always by dirty, drunken older men whose advances she was attempting to avoid without seeming openly uncooperative. It had never felt like this, so soft and warm and pliant, and she had never before found herself desiring more, wanting deeper, stronger contact. Her body shouldn't react this way to the touch of another woman. Should it?

Disturbed, she pushed the redhead away and backed up several steps, finding it hard to catch her breath. The girl's face immediately contorted with fear and she fell to her knees on the floor.

"Forgive me, my lord, if I have displeased you." She sounded close to tears, apparently mistaking Talon's confusion for anger. "I truly desire only to give you pleasure."

Regardless of the thousand warring thoughts screaming through her head at the moment, Talon had a more immediate problem. The girl on the floor was terrified.

Bending down, she said, "The only pleasure I desire of you is the pleasure of your company while we eat. I have no other expectations, I promise." She offered her hand. "Come. Sit with me."

The redhead looked up with wondering eyes and took the offered hand, allowing Talon to lead her into the Princess's sitting rooms. A low table before the plush upholstered couch was laden with covered dishes, and Talon seated the redhead on the couch before lifting the silver cover of one of the platters to reveal an assortment of sliced cheeses and meats and a colorful arrangement of fruits.

"What's your name?" she asked her startled companion.

"Elsi, my lord."

Talon lifted another cover to find several rolls of crusty golden bread and reached for a bottle of wine, still over half full, resting in a silver tub of melted ice. "Well, Elsi," she said with a grin as she filled a glass with the wine and held it out, "I want you to eat and drink until you can't hold any more."

Wide-eyed, Elsi accepted the glass. "It will be my pleasure, my lord, I can assure you."

Talon filled a glass for herself. The lamplight glinted through the red liquid. "To pleasure, then."

Elsi clinked Talon's glass with her own and brought it to her lips, but before drinking she added quite seriously, "And to the kindest, most honorable man I've met in all my life."

Talon wasn't sure what to say, so she simply broke off a hunk of bread and handed it to Elsi with a flourish. The dancer ate ravenously, and with a twinge, Talon recalled feeling such hunger herself. She made a mental note to wrap up whatever was left for the girl to take with her later. Elsi's last words echoed in her mind. Kind she might be, but after that kiss, Talon wasn't sure that she was so honorable; and contrary to popular belief-and evidently her own rebellious body-she was most definitely not a man.

Chapter Five.

"And the King has agreed to this?" Talon gaped at Chancellor Kumire.

The chancellor nodded. "He said it would be a wonderful experience."

"A trip to the Ardrenn markets? It sounds lovely." Bria batted her eyes at Kumire and clung to his arm.

"It sounds dangerous," Talon retorted, annoyed at the way Bria hung on Kumire's every word and amazed that the chancellor would even suggest such a reckless outing. "Chancellor, you can't parade the Princess through the streets of the city with her brother's assassin still at large."

"Nonsense, boy, that was nearly a full winter ago."

Talon gritted her teeth. "It's hardly nonsense, Chancellor. Princess Shasta's life could be at stake."

"Relax, Talon." Shasta poked her in the ribs. "No one will know it's me, I'm going in disguise so I can get a real look at the lives of Ithyrians without my title getting in the way."

Talon shook her head. "Princess, please, think about the risk you'd be taking."

Shasta shrugged. "Risk comes with the birthright. And besides, it's what makes life interesting." Her eyes twinkled wickedly.

In frustration Talon called to Vaughn. "Captain, can you talk some sense into her? Maybe she'll listen to you."

Vaughn rose from his seat at the far end of the lesson hall and approached with a sigh. "Your Highness, surely you realize how unwise it would be to venture into the open with so little protection. Talon is a capable soldier," he nodded in his young student's direction, "but even he can't hope to offer the kind of comprehensive protection you would need in such a situation. If you insist on going, at the very least let me assign you a guard escort."

Kumire snorted. "That would defeat the entire purpose."

"Which is?" Talon challenged.

"To walk among my people," Shasta declared. "To gain an understanding of their lives. To be one of them, even if it's just for an afternoon. If I'm to rule one day I should have real knowledge of what the world out there is like. That's something I'll never get if I'm locked up in the palace my entire life."

Talon stared at her charge suspiciously. This had nothing to do with Shasta's lessons, and they both knew it. The Princess wanted a chance for adventure, something she was carefully sheltered from on a daily basis. "This is a very bad idea," she said.

Shasta folded her arms. "I don't have to explain myself to you, Talon. I have my father's permission and that's all I need. We're going. That's final."

Vaughn cleared his throat. "Then the extra guard-"