The Princess' Pauper

Chapter One

The Vizier’s Proposal

Princess Zinnia, your father is in poor health and the healers have little hope for his future.

Is that right, Vizier? I must go see him immediately.

Cassia, her lady-in-waiting and best friend, followed the tall but unusually slender figure as he moved toward Zinnia. The princess found it fascinating how her friend reacted to the man’s mere presence. Disgust, fear, no that wasn’t it.

The princess lay in her late Mother’s daybed in an antechamber. Unsuccessfully, Zinnia had hoped the Vizier wouldn’t find her. Her open book clattered to her feet when she stood, though her long, loose brown braid didn’t move from her shoulder. Cassia, however, didn’t change her position to retrieve it.

It is unheard of for a princess to visit her father’s chambers, My Lady. The vizier picked up her book, closed it and looked at the binding before he handed it back to her.

Why, Vizier, because I’m a woman? Have you forgotten that, if my father dies, I will be at the head of our kingdom?

Zinnia’s temper was getting hotter by the moment and she hopefully gazed at the cold drinks Cassia held in her hands.

That is also unheard of, Princess. However, I may have a solution for you.

The loose skin on his face didn’t move with his effort to talk. He had been Vizier for many years. Zinnia had never liked him as he seemed too cold and calculating in his demands of their subjects.

Not now, Vizier. I must go to my father in case he needs me.

As propriety demanded, Cassia followed her, which helped ease her dislike of the man. The vizier made the hair of her neck stand on end, especially when he stood behind her.

As you wish. May I remind you that when the king dies it will be too late to have this conversation.

The princess stopped, turned to face the fifty-seven-year-old man dressed in his sumptuous red gown edged by gold thread.

What are you talking about? Too late for what?

If your father dies without a male heir, the chancellors may give the crown to your cousin, Kaffir.

Zinnia had turned eighteen just a few days before and knew much about the reign of her father. However, not too much about their subjects, on account of her being a woman and her father didn’t see a reason for her to get involved with such matters.

You are wrong Vizier; father won’t let that happen. He is aware that Kaffir would take us to war and kill our people on a whim.

Now, do you see why we need to talk?

Her curiosity got the best of her since she had asked her father about the subject many times before. He, however, had never answered her.

What is your solution to this dilemma, Vizier?

You must marry, Princess.

What? both girls exclaimed.

Since Zinnia is the princess, Vizier, she is free to choose any possible match that her father may suggest. Still, we have to consider that our king isn’t in a hurry for her to be married. Zinnia smiled at her friend’s supporting words.

Nevertheless, Lady Cassia, the chancellors will never take the crown away from her if she has a husband at her side. Surely you can see the wisdom of that.

Zinnia’s stomach twisted in two at the thought of a forced marriage. Her friend must have sensed it and covered for her.

And how do you propose for this to happen, Vizier?

Lady Cassia, I offer myself at the princess’ service.

You? Why, how dare you propose me with such…

Cassia stopped the princess by a simple touch of her hand, which reminded Zinnia not to say something she would be sorry about later.

I don’t see any other solution, Princess. You must marry me, that way our kingdom will be ruled by one of us. Not by a foreigner that knows nothing about our culture.

I appreciate your concern, Vizier. She modified her tone with the man so as to not look bad-tempered in his eyes. However, your proposal won’t be necessary. Father has arranged for my future and the family chosen has been approached.

That should stall the man until she could figure out what to do to prevent the old goat from making wedding plans.

I wasn’t aware of any such arrangement, Princess Zinnia. May I know the name of the man you will marry?

Zinnia looked at the man, and the thought of him touching her made her sick. No matter, she needed to be cool tempered and proper if she was going to get anywhere with him.

All at the right time, Vizier. Father will want to announce it when the family has sent their answer.

And is this man … of our culture, Princess?

As I said before, Vizier…, Father will let you know when he sees opportune. Now, if you will excuse me. I must go to him.

Chapter Two

The Attack

To the south of Asen and the princess’ problems, lay the realm of Khazaris. Their traditions and clothing were quite different from those in the princess’ home. Kirill’s happy life ended when his father, the king, summoned him to a meeting after fifteen years of silence between them. However, when he left his horse at the castle doors his only welcome came from men with drawn swords, which they didn’t mean as a salute. He moved swiftly behind a tapestry inside of the massive doors, until he could figure out how to get a weapon to defend himself. Was this his father’s idea of welcoming him back?

As he watched how the guards defended his father’s residence from strange soldiers, seemingly unsuccessfully, he wished he had brought his own sword. However, if his father’s guards were defending the castle, their aggression wasn’t meant for him. Why would a fight be occurring in the castle?

He eyed a dead man’s sword, lying close to him, to see if he could get to it before anyone noticed he was there. At that moment, his best friend’s, Jami’s, dark curly hair appeared from the other side of the room. He motioned for Kirill to wait and stay hidden. What was Jami doing there? He had left him in the manor, a couple of hours away, earlier that day.

Jami disappeared from the room and reappeared at his side to whisper, We need to leave, Kirill. The king has been killed and you will be next if I don’t take you away from here.

Screaming of the injured and metal clashing against metal surrounded them, though Kirill couldn’t make sense of what he saw or what Jami had just told him.

The king can’t be dead, Father, Father…

The prince tried to go find his father, but Jami stopped him with a strong hold on his arm and his lips to Kirill’s ear.

Silence. His hot breath assaulted him and stopped him from uttering anything else. You’ll bring all of the soldiers on us and I can’t protect you against so many.

Jami’s true, yet somber, words sank in deep at the realization that Kirill would have the death of his friend on his shoulders and that didn’t sit well with him.

Come, Kirill, let’s get away from here while we can.

He followed his young friend, as his mind played with images of his former life in the palace when he was a lad. After his mother died a year before, he expected his father to call for him, yet he never did. And when the king’s messenger showed up at the manor a couple of days before, it took him by surprise … enough to take two days to oblige.

Jami, shouldn’t we help somehow?

How, Kirill…? We aren’t prepared to defend ourselves from such power. They want blood…, your father’s and yours, if they figure out who you are. I vowed to your mother to keep you safe.

The enemy entered the front doors, so Jami walked Kirill to the back of the room and through the kitchen to a side door. The smell of fresh bread penetrated his senses, while the memory of his mother’s desperate words to his father years ago echoed in his mind. They came as clearly as if it had happened that very day.

I can’t and I won’t. You can have me killed if you want, otherwise my baby will grow up close to me.

The scene came from his mother and father’s quarrel the last day he saw them together.

Then the five-year-old Kirill had wondered why his father would want him to grow up without his mother. At the same time, his chest had puffed out a little to know his mother had refused the king’s command on his behalf.

He had followed his mother that morning, but had been distracted by the archers practicing behind the courtyard and missed part of their argument. When he caught up with her, his parents were squabbling with raised voices in such a scene as he had never witnessed before.

You are mad. If you leave this castle, you’ll never come back.