Lying on her bed in the dark, Eva stared unseeing at the support beams above her while rubbing a thumb over the handle of her new dagger. Her thoughts swam with the day's happenings, and visions of some of the events played before her mind's eye. She saw Marissa falling all over again, the horror of the sight turning her stomach even now. She watched as her power healed the worst of her friend's wound and then as William confronted her. Squeezing her eyes closed, Eva pushed the disturbing memories away and focused instead on the point in time when Cade had given her the dagger. She smiled again as she gripped it tighter to herself in remembrance. She hadn't shown it to anyone yet, not that she was trying to hide it from them. It had just slipped her mind.

          Once she had arrived at William and Marissa's house, she found their mother, Liliwen, still upset over her children's injuries. She had insisted on calling a healer to come and tend to them, even though none of their wounds were life threatening. Fortunately, Eva had arrived just after the healer left, and knowing a healer would have been able to see through a lie, she was glad she hadn't been there to answer any questions about Marissa and William's injuries. With all the commotion at the house, though, and everyone's emotions running high, Eva had forgotten all about the dagger.

          At least I managed to escape without having to be alone with William, Eva thought with a grimace. She felt slightly guilty about avoiding him and his questions, but she mainly felt relief at not having to deal with that issue yet. I'll have to face him sometime, though. He's not likely to forget what he saw.

          Blowing her breath out in a rush, Eva turned onto her side and tucked her dagger under her pillow. Her eyes then swept over her uniform that she had carefully lain across a chair in preparation for the next day. A rush of nerves brought butterflies to her stomach as she thought about what tomorrow would bring. She had been able to put off thinking about it so she wouldn't spend all weekend feeling nervous and anxious, but seeing as it was now only a few hours away, she could delay those thoughts no longer.

           I've never met the princess before. I wonder what she's like? She seemed sweet the few times I've seen her in public, but appearances can be misleading. Eva began chewing on her bottom lip. She's only seven, though. Surely she won't be too unpleasant. I should have thought to ask Mother about her. After all, she works in the Palace and has been around the princess at least a few times.

          With a tired sigh, Eva rolled over onto her other side and faced the wall. As she continued to ponder what tomorrow might bring, a new emotion began to take root—excitement. He handpicked me for this! No one has ever been chosen by the king like that.... Now, not only do I have the honor of protecting a member of the Royal family, but I am also the personal guardian of his daughter Nadia. I only hope I can get some sleep tonight; I don't want to look half dead on my first day...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

          The morning came early with the first rays of sunlight peeking over the horizon, and despite her concern the night before, Eva had slept soundly throughout the night, and after dressing and eating a quick breakfast, she and her mother were on their way to the palace before the sun had fully risen in the sky.

          "Are you nervous?" Eileen asked after they'd been walking a while.

          "Yes," Eva answered honestly, "but I'm excited too."

         "Both emotions are normal, but you have nothing to be nervous about. I know you will do fine," she encouraged as they passed through the palace gates. "I will take you to Officer Superior Willem's office before joining my own unit. He will give you further instructions for your new position and see you are properly introduced to the princess. Little Nadia is a very intelligent and friendly young lady; I have a feeling the two of you will get along quite well."

          "Thank you. That makes me feel a bit better," Eva admitted with a small smile while following her mother through the hallways. She did her best to keep track of the turns their path took and was successful to a fair degree, but so many of the grey stone corridors looked so much alike that she was certain the future would find her lost in this labyrinth more than once.

          "Here we are," Eileen announced at last, bringing them to a halt outside a large, wooden door. The initials "RG" had been carved in the center, and as she craned her neck to examine the other doors along the hallway, Eva noted that each had the corresponding division emblems carved in the center as well. Following her daughter's gaze, Eileen explained, "All the Officer Superiors have an office here so they are close at hand should the king need to consult with any of them or they with each other."

          "I can see how that would be convenient."

          After nodding in agreement, Eileen looked back at the door they were standing in front of and cleared her throat. "Well, this is where I leave you. Keep your chin up and eyes forward. Speak clearly and confidently. You've earned this; don't let yourself think any differently."

           "I will, Mother."

         "I'm very proud of you," she said with a smile before pulling her daughter in for a hug. "I'll be waiting for you by the front gate at the changing of the guards."

          "Alright." Eva squeezed her tightly before stepping back and smoothing out her tabard. "Have a good day, Mum."

          "You too, dear. Good bye."

          "Bye," Eva echoed then watched her mother's departing figure until she disappeared around a corner. Taking a deep breath and gathering all her courage, she raised her chin and knocked twice in rapid succession on the hard oak door.

          "Enter," a booming voice called.

         Without delay, Eva lifted the latch and swung the door open to a moderately sized office. With spine straight and shoulders back, Eva stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. A massive desk was situated across from the doorway with a middle-aged man sitting behind it. His head was lowered as he studied some documents before him, allowing her to glimpse a balding spot on the crown of his head.

        "Eva, daughter of Eileen, reporting for duty, sir." Her voice was sure and steady, never once giving an indication to the ball of nerves weighing heavily on her stomach.

          Pulling his eyes away from the piles of paperwork, Officer Superior Willem at last looked up at her and straightened in his seat. "Ah, Eva. I've been expecting you," he replied while pushing some papers away from him. "Please, be at ease. There are some things we need to go over." Eva did as instructed and relaxed her stance with her hands clasped behind her back as he continued. "After the Trials, the king discussed with me in more detail what he had in mind for your unique position and I'd like to relay that information to you now. As you are already aware, each member of the presiding Royal family has their own set of guards. You, of course, are to be part of the princess's contingent; however, the king wants you to act as tutor, companion, and possibly even friend to her young highness, instead of simply being a silent protector. Where her current guards simply maintain a safe perimeter around her, you are to remain by her side or at least close at hand at all times."

          "I understand, sir, but may I ask a question?"

         "Of course. That is the purpose of this discussion—to clear up any confusion and answer any questions you may have."

          Eva tipped her head in thanks. "Has her safety been a problem in the past? I'm not sure why such a position has been deemed necessary. Please don't misunderstand, I am very grateful and honored to be given this task; I am just trying to better understand my purpose."

          "It is a fair question, and to be honest, I had the same one at first. King Justian explained it to me by first reminding me of our own friendship. You see, I used to be a part of his personal guard. At first, I performed my duty just like the others in the group—with silent watchfulness. After a few weeks, however, his majesty, who is four years my junior, began drawing me into conversation, and we very quickly became good friends, brothers even. We learned a great many things from each other, and, as he himself said the night after your Trial, he believes having a friend in whom he could confide without worrying about politics or propriety made him a better person because with me he could forget about the stress of becoming a ruler and just enjoy life. Being able to drop his guard and simply take pleasure in being a teenager like that has become one of his most cherished memories. It is his hope and strong desire, then, to provide that same kind of friendship for his daughter. In fact, he intends to make your position a permanent one for all future members of the presiding Royal family.

          Slightly surprised at his candor, Eva was quiet for a moment while she processed the new information. "I had no idea you and the king were so close. Thank you for sharing that with me, but there are thirteen years between the princess and I. Won't that make a friendship between us a bit difficult?"

          "Perhaps," he conceded. "She is very intelligent and mature for her age, though, so I don't believe that will be much of an issue. If anything, it may make her look up to you as more of an older sister than anything."

          The word "sister" caused a strange excitement to stir in her gut. With the exception of Marissa, Eva had no siblings, and since she and her eccentric friend were only a few months apart, their relationship felt more like that of twins. The idea of having someone look up to her as the heroic older sibling, then, was quite novel and thrilling.

          Noticing Eva's quiet contemplation and growing smile, Officer Superior Willem gave a satisfied chuckle. "Yes, I think everything will work out just fine. Come, let's go and introduce you to your new charge. Their majesties should just be finishing their morning meal."

          The young Warrior followed obediently through yet more corridors and hallways until he finally brought her to a stop at the entrance to a large patio on the northern side of the palace. Several guards stood around the far edge of the space, and a small, rectangular table sat in the center surrounded by four chairs, three of which were occupied by the king, his wife, and their daughter. Flowers and shrubbery of all kinds enclosed the area, leaving only a small path on the other side that, if desired, allowed for a secluded stroll through the lovely garden. The early morning sunlight bathed everything in a golden glow and immediately eased Eva's worries. Taking a deep breath, she relished in the peaceful atmosphere for the span of a few heartbeats before returning her attention to the family now looking in her direction.

          Officer Superior Willem gave a bow with a fist over his heart and Eva mirrored his gesture before he spoke, "Excuse us, your majesties, but you requested that the princess's new guardian be brought as soon as she was fully briefed."

          "Indeed I did," King Justian spoke as he adjusted himself in his chair to give the newcomers his full attention. Grabbing a napkin, he quickly wiped his mouth and beard to rid any remains of his meal.

          "Welcome, young Eva," Queen Linarra greeted with a kind smile and a friendly warmth in her eyes. Her honey-blond hair was pinned in an elegant bun at the nape of her neck, and she wore a pale green dress that flattered her fair complexion perfectly. "Would you like to join us for breakfast, or have you already eaten?"

          "Thank you, your highness, but I have already broken the fast with my mother," she replied with a gracious incline of her head.

          "I understand. Perhaps in the future you would consider sharing the morning meal with us? We would love the opportunity to get to know you better."

          "If that would please you, I would be happy to oblige."

          "Good, it's settled then," the king interjected as he flashed a smile that turned up one side of his lips. Opening his mouth to comment further, he was interrupted by the shy voice of his daughter.

      "Father?" she asked in a low voice that carried further than she intended in the quiet atmosphere.

          "Yes?" he responded while turning his attention to her round, cherub face.

         Bright with curiosity, her green eyes, so much like her mother's, traveled to the Warrior standing near their table. "Is that the one you told me about? Is she to protect me like the others?"

          "That's right." His blue-green eyes studied her with affection as she continued to stare at the strange woman across from her.

          "Your name is Eva?" the young princess questioned.

          "Correct, your highness."

          "I am Nadia," she informed simply.

          "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Princess Nadia," Eva replied giving another bow.

          "No," she corrected. "I mean I want you to call me Nadia, not princess."

          "Nadia," Justian warned sternly, "you are the princess. As such, it is only proper that she call you by your title."

          "But, Father, you said that she was to be my friend," the little girl countered in confusion.

          "Yes. What of it?"

          "I don't want my friend to call me 'princess' all the time. That's not what friends do. Willem simply calls you Justian at times, does he not?"

          The corner of his mouth twitched in amusement. "You make a good point. Please, forgive my interruption."

          "I forgive you, Father," she answered with all sincerity.

          From the corner of her eye, Eva watched as Officer Superior Willem turned his head away to cough into his fist, but she had seen the laughter building before he had a chance to cover it. A smile had formed on her own lips during their interaction, but she managed to hold her humor in check throughout the exchange. "If you would prefer I call you Nadia," she began, "then that is what I shall call you."

          The young princess clapped her hands together and nearly danced in her seat, her light-brown curls bouncing along with her. "Excellent! May I be excused, Mother?" she asked rather suddenly.

          "You may, but where are you going?"

         Hopping down from her chair, the young princess scurried as gracefully as possible around the table to take Eva by the hand. "I want to show her my room," she announced excitedly, all notions of shyness completely abandoned by this point.

           "Oh. Very well then," Linarra responded with a light chuckle.

          "Just a moment," Justian called before the two could turn away. "Eva, I've given Nadia the day off from her lessons so you can have the opportunity to get to know each other better, but tomorrow she will have to resume her studies."

          "Of course," she replied with an incline of her head. "I understand."

          "Also, I'd like to introduce you to the unit leader for Nadia's guards, Allister." Eva followed his gesture to a sturdy Warrior with black hair and a thick mustache standing behind her. He stepped forward when she was fully facing him and saluted her with a fist to his heart.

          "Greetings, young one."

          Eva returned the gesture. "Good morning, sir."

          "You will serve in conjunction with Allister to ensure Nadia's safety but will not be directly under his command," the king continued to her back. "You will act as equals, more or less, in your duties; however, I expect you take full advantage of the unit leader's experience and skill should any threat develop."

          "Certainly, your majesty," Eva agreed with firm conviction. "I will not hesitate to follow his instructions should the need arise."

          "Very good. That is all, then. Eva, Willem, you are both dismissed, and, Nadia, you may show her your room now."

          "Thank you," the two Warriors said in unison with a final bow. Eva, though, was quickly pulled upright and away from the others by a strong tug on her hand.

          "Thank you, Father," the little kidnapper called over her shoulder before dragging Eva back into the palace. "Come on, Eva. Wait until you see my room. It's beautiful!"

          Letting out a soft giggle, Eva managed to get her feet back under her and hurried her pace to keep up with that of the young lady still holding her hand. She noticed with some relief that the other six Warriors of Nadia's guard were struggling to catch up as well. Two of them managed to get in front of the group and one fell in on either side, leaving two to take up the rear. The Warrior to Eva's right was the only other female of the unit, and when she caught Eva looking at her, she gave a friendly wink. Eva offered her a small smile before focusing on the path ahead.

          Nadia lead them almost to the top of the northeast tower before she finally paused at a door with two Palace Guards standing watch over it. "This is my bedroom," Nadia explained. "Mother and Father's room is on the next level. They get to sleep at the very top of the tower, but I don't mind. I like my room just the way it is. Are you ready to see it?" she asked while staring up at her in excitement.

          "Absolutely," Eva answered with a wide grin. "Lead the way."

          The lively little lady dropped Eva's hand to step forward and open the door. She ran ahead into the room then turned to see the Warrior's expression when she entered. Looking to the other guards that had accompanied them, Eva noted that they had spread out along the hallway to keep watch and wouldn't be following her inside. Not sure what to expect, she stepped cautiously into the room and allowed her eyes to roam freely. What she saw left her feeling a bit overwhelmed and in awe.

          This space is as big as my entire house! she observed in surprise. Drapes hung along the walls and had been dyed a light shade of turquoise and a large, white rug lay in the center. Off to one side sat an enormous canopy bed with curtains and covers done in a sapphire blue with white detailing. Various other pieces of furniture were spread around the room, all some sort of honey-colored wood, but the main thing that caught Eva's attention was the floor-to-ceiling glass doors leading to a balcony overlooking the sea. Light from the sun glimmered off the surface of the water far below and reflected all around the room, making the whole room feel as if it were in motion with the ocean waves. The effect was at once dizzying and soothing.

          In her perusal of the room, Eva had nearly forgotten about her charge until a soft snicker reached her ears, breaking her out of her reverie. "You can close your mouth now," the young princess teased.

          Somewhat embarrassed, Eva snapped her jaw shut and turned apologetic eyes to her companion. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to gape; I was just admiring your room."

          "Don't apologize. I knew you would like it; that's why I wanted to show it to you. I love being in here. Do you want to go out onto the balcony?"

          "Yes, that would be nice."

          Eyes sparkling with life, Nadia flung open the glass doors dramatically and was immediately surrounded by a salty breeze that swirled around her playfully and tugged at her knee-length, dark green dress before rushing around the room. Eva stepped to her side on the small balcony and took in the view with obvious appreciation. "It's beautiful," she whispered.

          Her young charge nodded in agreement. "When I stand here, I almost feel as if I can fly," she admitted quietly.

          Eva smiled but didn't respond as she readjusted her focus to checking for possible security threats. Leaning over the edge of the railing, she judged them to be around ten stories high, not counting the drop from the cliff to the rocks below, and saw no other balconies besides the one they were standing on and a much larger one above for the king and queen. I don't think it's likely anyone could reach her from this way, she mused. Satisfied that this was not a possible entry point for an enemy, Eva moved back into the bedroom and did a better sweep of the layout.

          "What are you looking for?" Nadia asked from behind her with her head cocked to one side in question.

          "Oh, I was just making sure there was no other way into the room besides the door."

          Her curiosity satisfied, the miniature woman walked over to her bookshelf and ran her fingers lightly over the books. "No, the door is the only way in. We don't have any secret passages or anything like that here," she added with a touch of laughter.

          "Good to know," Eva replied with another smile. "You have quite a large collection of books. I assume you like to read?"

          "Sometimes, but I don't want to read today. I was thinking that we should go riding. If I don't have lessons today, I want to go outside and enjoy the day. Would you like to go?"

          "You mean with horses?" Eva asked skeptically.

          "Yes. Have you ever ridden a horse before?"

          "Actually, no. I haven't," she confessed.

         "What? Never?" Nadia asked in disbelief. "Then that is exactly what we are going to do," she said while nodding with finality.

         "We are?"

          "Mhmm," the princess confirmed with beaming with enthusiasm. "It's going to be so much fun! I'll teach you how, don't worry. Let me just change clothes." Without allowing Eva to respond, Nadia made her way to a golden cord hanging beside her bed and gave it a couple of tugs. Eva furrowed her brow in confusion, but the princess chose not to explain her action. Instead, she hurried to her wardrobe in the corner and began pulling out her riding clothes. "Will you help me change?"

          "Of course," Eva replied. By the time she was finished unbuttoning all the little buttons down the back of the dress, a knock sounded at the door.

          "Come in," the princess called.

          Eva straightened as the door opened and a petite young woman slipped through and gave a curtsey. "You rang, princess?"

          "Yes. Thank you for coming so quickly, Tristan. Could you have the cook prepare a picnic lunch. Tell her to pack enough for eight people. Oh, and we'll need the carriage as well."

          "Right away, miss." After giving another curtsey, the lady-in-waiting slipped back out the door to do as requested.

          "That's what the cord was for," Eva remarked aloud.

          "Exactly," Nadia confirmed while slipping out of her dress and tossing it on the bed. Next, she pulled on her riding breeches and a white tunic then laced up a pair of leather boots.

          "Would you like for me to braid your hair?" Eva offered.

          "That would be great. Thank you."

          Feeling more and more at ease around the young Royal, Eva followed Nadia to her vanity where she brushed out her hair and expertly weaved her soft tresses into a small braid. "There. Now we match!"

          "We do!" Nadia agreed with a broad smile. "I think everything should be ready now. Let's go. The carriage will be out front."

          "Why are we taking the carriage? I thought we were going to ride the horses?"

          "We are, but the stables where my horse is kept is located outside the city. There's really no place to ride inside the walls."

          "Good point."

          Sliding off of her seat at the vanity, Nadia skipped over to the door and out into the corridor with Eva close behind. The princess quickly informed the unit leader of their plans for the day, and then they set off in formation down the stairs and through the halls until they reached the front steps of the palace. As predicted, the carriage was ready and waiting with a picnic basket inside and six spare horses for the guards.

          The ride to the stables wasn't long; Eva only had time to answer a few basic questions about her life and where she lived before they were pulling to a stop at their destination. After climbing out of the carriage and helping Nadia down, Eva grabbed the picnic basket and looked around while the princess spoke with the stable master. The structure that stood before them and housed the magnificent creatures was of respectable size and very well-built with enough stalls for upwards of twenty horses. A sudden breeze carried with it the smells of hay and manure, which brought an image of riding full speed through open fields to Eva's mind and filled her with a new exhilaration she hadn't anticipated. Soon, a stable hand was leading two beautiful mares out to meet them. One was a cream color with a black mane and tail and the other a chestnut brown with a blonde mane and tail.

          "Oh, they're gorgeous!" Eva exclaimed in quiet wonder. "What are their names?"

          "This one is named Willow," Nadia answered while stepping towards the cream mare and rubbing her soft nose. "She's mine."

          "So this one is for me?" she asked, running a hand along the chestnut's neck.

          "Yes, miss," the stable boy replied. "Her name is Dawnstar. See the star on her forehead?"

          "Oh, I do now."

          "She's our gentlest horse," the stable master explained as he came up beside them. "The princess requested her since you've never ridden before."

          "I appreciate that." She gave Nadia a grateful smile.

          "You're welcome. Ready to go?"

          "I guess we're about to find out."

          Moving closer to offer her assistance, Nadia came to stand beside her. "Don't worry. It's not so hard. First of all, hand that basket to one of the other Warriors. You'll never be able to get on while holding that big thing." Eva turned and handed it off to a young man not much older than herself who had brought his mount forward to take the load from her. "Right, now just slip your left foot into the stirrup here. Grab the horn with your left hand and the back of the saddle with your other. Perfect. Next, hop up and swing your right leg over the saddle."

          Taking a deep breath, Eva pushed off forcefully from the ground and swung herself up into position. The leather saddle creaked under her weight and the mare shifted slightly, but after a moment of struggling, she was upright and grinning proudly. "I did it!"

          "Good job!" Nadia cheered from below her. "That was the hard part. Now all you have to do is stay there."

          Eva let out a genuine laugh. "You make it sound so easy."

          Giggling, Nadia climbed onto her own horse and took the reigns from the stable boy. "It is. Just feel the horse beneath you. Let her movements become yours." Urging Willow forward, the princess began moving her hips in rhythm with the mare's steps. "See?" she called over her shoulder.

          After watching for a few seconds, Eva closed her eyes and let herself "feel" the creature beneath her. Okay. This shouldn't be too hard. It's almost like merging... I just have to connect with her. Within a few moments, Eva felt it—the mare's life-force. It pulsed with the beating of its heart and flowed throughout its body like ripples in water. It was a very calm and relaxed energy. Eva worked to match her energy with the horse's, and before long, the connection was complete.

          Opening her eyes, Eva willed the mare forward with just a thought; Dawnstar complied instantly. She took off at a walk at first, but when Eva saw they had fallen behind, she urged them on faster. In a short time, they were at a trot and drawing up beside Nadia and Willow. "Care for a race, Nadia?"

          "Are you sure?" she replied with some concern.

          "Yes, I'll be fine. I just had to connect with her like you said."

          "Alright, then. Go!"

          With that, they spurred their mounts onward eagerly. Being the more experienced rider, Nadia shot out ahead first, but Eva quickly started gaining on her. The other members of the guard kept up well, and the only sound that could be heard above the rumble of hooves was the combined laughter of the two competitors. The surrounding fields zipped by in a blur as they continued, passing a couple of small farms and weaving in between a few trees. By the time they called it a draw and brought the race to an end, both the horses and the riders were exhausted and ready for a break. Coming up to a small spring, they drew their mounts to a halt and allowed them to quench their thirst while they slipped from the saddle to begin preparing for lunch.

          After spreading out the blanket and food provided by the cook, Eva helped Nadia put together the sandwiches and watched with some amazement as the young princess took a sandwich to each Warrior standing guard before even touching her own. She stopped to talk with each one before moving on to the next, and while Eva was observing this, unit leader Allister, after receiving his sandwich, came and sat down beside Eva on the blanket.

          "She's a very generous soul," he commented quietly, following her gaze. "She has a kind heart like her parents."

          "So I see," Eva replied with a pleased smile. "She seems very special, indeed."

          "You won't find an argument with me." He chuckled softly before raising his voice to include the others in their group. "I figured since we have a moment to rest I'd familiarize you with the rest of the unit. The young lad over there is Felix." Eva recognized him as the one who had taken the basket from her. "He is quiet but very fast and nimble. He can slice someone to shreds with those short swords of his before they even know he's there. That mountain of a man with the claymore is Bryce. His best attribute, obviously, is his strength. The woman with the bow is Kara. She has the keenest sight of anyone I've ever met, and then those two over there are Tannin and Keaton. They're brothers, but they look nothing alike. Tannin is very fierce and prefers using that spear over a sword. Keaton usually sees any battle as a sort of game and will toy with his opponent with some fancy swordplay before finally ending it once the other has gotten good and mad."

          "Well, what's the point really if you can't have any fun with it?" Keaton said with a laugh.

          After sharing a small laugh with him, Eva smiled at each one in turn. "It's good to know you all. As you probably already guessed, I prefer the double-edged blade," she gestured to the sword strapped to her back, "and knives for close quarter combat." She lifted one of the small blades free momentarily for them to see.

          Allister nodded at her words before indicating the weapons secured to either hip. "I use a single-edged sword and a crossbow." He paused in the conversation as the princess rejoined them and waited until she was settled before continuing. "Up until now, our main defense strategy against an attack has been for Kara to stay by Princess Nadia's side while the rest of us maintained a tight circle around them. She could fire her arrows from her central position while we worked with our blades. Now that we have you, however, I believe we need to make some changes to the plan."

          "I'm listening," Eva said with eyebrows pulled together in concentration. "What did you have in mind?"

          "I think that during a conflict Kara can still remain within the circle since she is a distance fighter, but you should also stay beside the princess and use your magic to aid in the battle. Together, you will be able to help keep an enemy at bay while also making sure her highness is kept safe from harm."

          "That sounds like a good idea," Eva remarked before taking a drink from a water skin. "Is their a backup plan?"

          Allister swallowed the last of his sandwich before answering. "Yes. You and Kara get the princess out while the rest of us hold them off."

          "But that won't happen," Nadia commented as she twirled a piece of grass between her fingers.

          "What do you mean?" the unit leader asked politely.

          "Well first of all, no one is going to attack us; we don't have any enemies. But even if someone does decide to attack us, the seven of you will be able to handle them. You're the best!"

          "That's right, your highness," Keaton called to her. "We can take care of anyone foolish enough to try and get to you."

          "You know they'd have to get through me first before they even came close to you, Princess," Bryce added with a flex of his arm, which caused the muscles and veins there to bulge beneath the skin.

          "I hope you are correct, little one," Allister said softly.

          "Enough talk of danger and fighting," Nadia announced as she tossed the piece of grass away and stood to her feet. Placing her little fists on her hips, she gave each Warrior a glare in turn. "We're supposed to be having fun. So let's pack up and get back to enjoying the day."

          While bursting out a loud chuckle, Allister rose to his feet and gave a playful salute. "As you wish, my Princess. You will hear no more discussions of doom and gloom from me today."

          "Good. Now, let's get going. I want to ride back through the Faerie Woods, and that will take longer because we'll have to ride with more caution over the fallen branches and such."

          With stomachs full and horses rested then, the company gathered up the remains of the picnic and mounted up. They headed north until they entered the forest then turned east toward Elysia. The rest of the trip was spent commenting on different types of animal life they saw and which plants were edible and which were poisonous. Surprisingly, the normally quiet Felix was the most knowledgeable of them all in that category and was able to answer most of Nadia's questions about what certain things were called.

          By the time the small band returned to the palace, the day had waxed long, and the sun was beginning its decent in the sky. Eva, with the others, escorted Nadia to her room to change and freshen up before then seeing her to the dining hall. There, they were met by their replacement guards for the night shift and dismissed from the day's duties. Once they had exchanged farewells and salutes of respect, Eva and her new friends disbanded and went their separate ways.

          After only making a couple of wrong turns and having to backtrack once or twice, Eva managed to find her way to the front gate once again, and as promised, her mother was there waiting for her. Eva greeted her happily and drew her in for a quick hug. They spent the entire walk home talking about everything that had happened during the day and sharing funny stories with each other, and when Eva at last went to bed that night, all she could think about was waking in the morning and returning to duty.

          I wonder what her little highness will have in store for us tomorrow? she thought as she drifted off into the black abyss of a dreamless sleep.