Princess Triumvirate (Pirate Princess, # 2)

by Catherine Banks

  “Answer, please.”

  “We would not have put you three through such pain just as a ruse,” he told us.

  “Why won’t you give us any additional information about the enemy we will be fighting?” I asked him. “If we knew more about them we would know what to focus on in our training.”

  “I don’t have any information to give you. What I know is that the enemy you will face will be stronger than any you have encountered before, magic and fighting are their strong suits, and if you do not defeat them, they will destroy civilization as we know it.”

  “Where do they come from?” Marin asked.

  “We’re unsure,” he replied.

  “Maybe they aren’t from this world,” I told Marin with a smirk.

  “Wonderful,” she muttered. “Should we practice holding our breaths under water in case they are from the trenches in the sea?”

  “Your attitudes are simply delightful,” he teased us.

  “Do you know what type of magic they have? If it’s a certain element we could focus on a counter to it. Or, if it’s summoning or curses, we can work on protections for those.”

  He sighed. “I wish I knew, children. I really do.”

  “It’s almost impossible to prepare for an unknown enemy of extreme magical power,” I told him. “There are so many specialties and specific counters to them that we would have to be Faxon to know them all.”

  “If only we could access his memories like you can after a binding,” Marin said. “Then we would have all of his knowledge and we would know the counters and how to use them.”

  “You can’t be bound to more than one person,” he said.

  “I wonder if there’s a spell that would allow us to access his memories,” I whispered mostly to myself.

  “By the time we accessed the memory and went to use it, it could be too late,” she commented.

  “But if we could practice enough with various things, it wouldn’t be hard. It would be like your own memories and how you recall them quickly and use the same defense or counter against a specific technique or ability,” I countered.

  “Do you swear that our lifespans were extended and are equal to Favian’s now?” Marin asked him.

  “I would not lie to you,” he told her. “You are the last child I will have and I intend to keep you alive as long as possible. Aquinn feels the same and he would not see his son live for a decade or more without Tilia.”

  “If only this enemy would wait a few decades, we could be able to fully prepare,” I said wistfully.

  “Enemies are never accommodating,” Marin agreed.

  “I’ll take my leave now,” her father said. “Stop fretting about your lifespans and focus on the present. You two have a wedding to plan after all.”

  Marin and I groaned and turned the horses around to head back.

  “We should make a training plan,” I told her. “To ensure we cover every topic and at least have basic knowledge of them.”

  “Agreed.”

  “We also need to make a plan for our weapons training.”

  “Yes, someone needs to learn to use spears,” she teased.

  “And bows and arrows,” I added.

  “Finn said something about axes too,” she commented.

  “Yeah.”

  “You think they’ll let us get out of wedding planning to plan our training?” she asked me with a smirk.

  “A girl can dream,” I said with a longing sigh.

  We took the horses back to the stables and Alex greeted us. “How was the ride?”

  “Traveler was perfect and you’re right, his gait is incredibly smooth,” I praised as I dismounted.

  Alex took the reins and smiled at me. “I’m glad that you enjoyed it. You can take him out any time that you wish while you are here.”

  “Thank you,” I said in shock at such generosity.

  I walked with him into the stable and despite his protests, I helped him unsaddle and brush down Traveler.

  “Have you seen my brush?” Marin asked Alex.

  “It’s in your tack box in the back corner,” he told her as he picked out Traveler’s hooves.

  I brushed his tail and was so distracted with the task that I didn’t see when one of the horse’s in a nearby stall leaned out and nipped Traveler. He backed up and I stumbled backwards to avoid being stepped on.

  I started to fall, but Alex caught me.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Tilia,” Finn called angrily.

  I looked down the aisle and saw him and Favian standing at the end glaring in our direction. I realized when I looked back at Alex why Finn was mad. I was still in Alex’ arms and it looked like he was dipping me for a kiss.

  I promptly stood up and brushed my clothes off. “Thank you for saving me,” I told him. “I lost myself to the task and didn’t pay attention.”

  “It’s my fault,” Alex said. “That filly should know better than to bite.” I guessed that he meant the horse that had bitten Traveler.

  “Time to go,” Marin whispered to me.

  “Thank you again for allowing me to ride, Traveler,” I said and hurried along beside Marin.

  “He’s pissed,” she commented softly to me as we approached the guys with wide smiles.

  “What was that about?” Finn asked me.

  “Alex saved me from falling,” I told him truthfully. “That’s all.”

  “That’s all?” he asked. “That didn’t seem like that was all.”

  “Come on,” Marin said and grabbed my hand. “You haven’t seen the best spot yet.”

  I let her pull me into a run, away from the boys, and around the stables towards a large sand arena. “Thank you,” I whispered.

  “I don’t know what it is with them, but for some reason Alex makes them jealous.”

  “Maybe it’s because he’s the opposite of them,” I suggested.

  “How so?” she asked and slowed to a walk.

  “They’re tough and mostly violent men. They are loud and commanding. Alex is kind, quiet, and non-confrontational, or at least I assume he is for being a Horse Master.”

  “I guess that’s true,” she said softly. “I never looked at it like that.”

  She stopped at the arena fence and said, “This is the infamous Elven fighting arena. It’s been here for hundreds of years and I’ve been the only female allowed to fight in it.”

  “Impressive,” I said as I looked at the arena. As odd as it was to admit, it felt old. Something about it made you think of battles waged long ago and fighters from eons ago.

  “Good evening, ladies,” King Cesar greeted us.

  “Hello Father,” Marin said.

  “Hello,” I greeted.

  “Have you come to spar?” he asked us.

  I looked at him in shock. “I didn’t think I was allowed in.”

  He smiled. “We have made an exception for Marin and I will make an exception for you as well. Fighters of your caliber deserve to be in this arena.”

  “Thank you,” I said. I wouldn’t admit it to them, but I had planned to sneak out here when they were sleeping just to stand in it.

  “Tomorrow morning is the normal practice,” King Cesar told me. “You are welcome to join us.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You as well Finn,” King Cesar said over our heads.

  “They caught up,” I whispered to Marin.

  “You think they’re over it?” she asked me.

  We glanced back and both were still scowling.

  “Nope,” we said at the same time.

  “Are you ready for dinner?” King Cesar asked. “It should be ready. I actually came out here looking for you two.”

  “Yes,” I said enthusiastically.

  “Great, let’s head on in,” King Cesar said and led the way.

  Finn grabbed my hand and pulled me to a stop. “What the hell was that back there?” he asked angrily.

  “Finn, you have got to stop being jealous. Nothing happene
d. I was brushing the horse’s tail and another horse bit him which made him back up into me. I was falling and Alex caught me. That’s it.”

  “I don’t care if they’re Elves or not,” he whispered. “If they don’t keep their hands off of you…”

  “Yes, I know,” I interrupted him. “You’re so jealous.” I walked away from him before he could say more and caught up to Marin who was being talked to by a stern-faced Favian. I linked arms with her and tugged her away. “I’m hungry!”

  “Me too,” she said and squeezed my arm.

  We entered the room and the King’s chief, Kato, pulled out chairs for Marin and I. “Good evening, Princesses,” he greeted us.

  “Good evening, Kato,” I replied.

  “How are you today, old badger?” Marin asked him.

  “Growing older every day,” he teased her.

  “After lunch tomorrow, the seamstress will be here to take your measurements,” Queen Amadis told us.

  “Have you decided on a style?” Kato asked.

  Marin and I glanced at each other and then at Kato. “We’re still discussing it,” Marin told him.

  “You’re running out of time,” King Cesar reminded us.

  “We know,” she assured them. “It’s just difficult making a final decision.”

  “You could show me your favorite sketches and I could help you decide,” Queen Amadis offered.

  “No, thank you, but we will make our choice. We’ve almost got it finished,” Marin told them.

  “How many weapons do you think they’re trying to hide in their dress?” Favian asked Finn.

  “At least three,” Finn replied. “Not counting the one they’ll hide in their hair.”

  “What have you two been up to today?” I asked the boys.

  “Comparing various things between our Kingdoms,” Finn said.

  “Where were you two today?” Queen Amadis asked.

  “Marin took me on a tour and then we went for a ride,” I answered.

  “Oh, who did you ride?” King Cesar asked.

  “Traveler.”

  “Traveler is a wonderful horse. Alex trained him very well,” he replied.

  “Sebastian should take some lessons from him,” Favian muttered.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Sebastian’s horse broke my foot when he first came here,” Marin told me. “Favian still hasn’t gotten over it.”

  “Have you started preparations on the island?” Kato asked.

  “No, we will start them in a couple days. Faxon and I surveyed the island and found the best place for our houses and began sketching out floor plans, but nothing else has been discussed or planned yet,” I said.

  “Well, let’s focus on one thing at a time,” Queen Amadis said. “Once your wedding is over, have you decided where you will travel to?”

  The four of us looked around at each other and then we shrugged in unison.

  Queen Amadis sighed heavily. “Decisions must be made.”

  “We will discuss it tonight,” Marin assured her.

  As soon as we finished dinner Marin and I raced to her room and finished our sketch of our dresses and our separate sketch which showed where we would be hiding our weapons. The one thing that we were keeping completely secret, even from the boys, was that we would be wearing our swords across our backs.

  “You think your mother will try to take your sword off when she sees it as we go to head down the aisle?” I asked.

  “No, I told her already that I’m going to wear my sword.”

  “Any idea where you’ll be taking your wedding trip?” I asked.

  She sighed loudly. “None. You?”

  I shook my head. “There are some really nice islands that are pretty uninhabited, but part of me just wants to find someplace in the middle of nowhere that will be quiet and that we won’t be bothered.”

  “Yeah, that’s our issue as well. I own a house that no one knows its location, but that’s also the place that I died, so Favian isn’t too fond of it.”

  “You died?” I asked loudly.

  “Oh, right, you guys don’t know about that. Yes, I died, but my father brought me back to life and that’s why I was dying again when Favian contacted you about the decision to extend my lifespan.”

  “Wow, that’s rough,” I said softly.

  “Favian’s the one who has taken it the hardest. I don’t know how to help him get over the pain it caused.”

  “I imagine it’s not easy to get over,” I whispered.

  “What is that look about?” she asked me.

  “I almost died not too long ago,” I admitted. “Finn’s been very jealous of any guy being near me since.”

  “Because almost dying means you might have changed your mind about who you want to marry?” she asked with a laugh.

  “I don’t know what to do about him.”

  “It can’t be easy to get over,” she said, repeating what I had told her.

  “Perhaps if you ladies would stop trying to die on us, we wouldn’t be so worried,” Finn said from the doorway.

  We quickly hid the dress sketches and turned to glare at him and Favian. “You should have knocked,” Marin accused them.

  “You were talking about us, so we thought it was only fair that we be included in the conversation,” Favian told her.

  “Sometimes we need to talk without you being present,” she told him.

  “If you want to fight in the arena tomorrow, you need to get some sleep,” Finn told me.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I told Favian and Marin.

  I let Finn lead the way to our rooms and into his room where he shut the door behind us. He was upset about something, so I sat on the edge of his bed and waited.

  “I’m sorry,” he said a moment later, which caught me completely by surprise since I expected him to tell me why he was angry.

  “About?”

  He sat down next to me and let out a loud breath. “About being a jerk today. We have so much going on with this impending threat that I’ve been on edge. Plus, we had that fight not that long ago that we never really talked about. And all of these Elves are…”

  “Gorgeous?” I offered.

  He growled in frustration and stood up. “Yes!”

  I laughed and he spun around to glare at me. “Finley, have you been having doubts about wanting to marry me after seeing all of these beautiful female Elves?” I asked.

  “No!” he gaped. “Of course not.”

  “So, then why would you think that I might be doing that exact thing?”

  He looked at the floor and said, “Because I haven’t been the best fiancé to you this past month.”

  I walked to him and took his hands in mine. “Would you have left me to go become King of the Pirates?” I asked softly.

  “No. I would have taken you with me,” he told me.

  “Do you want out of this relationship and all of the obligations it gives you for the future?” I asked.

  “No.”

  “Do you love me?”

  He looked up into my eyes and rested his hand on my cheek. “More than anything.”

  “Are you going to leave me if things become too tough?”

  “No.”

  “Do you want to be with me and only me until we both die?”

  He nodded.

  “Then we have nothing else to discuss,” I whispered and leaned forward to kiss him.

  “I’ll be better,” he whispered and rested his forehead against mine.

  “As will I.”

  “Tilia,” he whispered. “Stay with me tonight.”

  “Finn, what else is bothering you?” I asked and placed butterfly soft kisses all over his face.

  “I’ve almost lost you too many times in the short time that we’ve been together. Favian told me about Marin dying in his arms and I could see the pain that he still felt even though she was alive and he could feel her through their bond. I can’t lose you.”

  I kicked off my boots and led
him to the bed where I curled up with my head on his chest. With my Dad’s death still so fresh, the thought of losing Finn hurt immediately. “I can’t lose you either.”

  He tilted my chin up and kissed me deeply. I kissed him back and dug my fingers into the muscles of his back. It felt good to know that we were alive. To feel his warm skin and muscles as they flexed and relaxed beneath my touch.

  “Tilia,” he whispered breathlessly.

  “Yes,” I told him.

  It was the last words we would speak until the next morning.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Favian pounded on the door to wake us up for the fights and then went to wake Marin.

  “How do you feel?” Finn asked me as he traced random patterns along my arm with his fingertips.

  “Happy,” I told him and kissed the tip of his nose. “How do you feel?”

  He smiled brighter than I had seen him smile in months. “Perfect.”

  “We have to get dressed,” I reminded him.

  He kissed my neck and whispered, “We can be a few minutes late.”

  We ended up being more than a few minutes late, but it turned out, so did Favian and Marin.

  Marin and I scarfed down some fruit on the way to the arena, which was surrounded by a huge gathering of Elves.

  “Is it always this popular?” I asked quietly.

  She nodded. “Word spreads fast here though, I’m sure they heard that you were going to be allowed to fight and wanted to see why.”

  “Wonderful,” I mumbled.

  “Marin,” King Cesar called when he saw us. “I was wondering if you had changed your mind about sparring today.”

  “Sorry, we had a late start to the morning,” she told him.

  “Who are you sparring with?” I asked.

  “My Dad.”

  “Who am I going to spar with?” I asked.

  “Me,” Favian said with a smirk.

  “You?” I asked in shock. I hadn’t expected to spar against him. He and Finn were better rivals.

  “Perhaps the Princess would prefer to spar against Marin,” Kato suggested.

  King Cesar nodded. “I think that would be a good idea. It would give us a chance to see what her abilities are for future matches.”

  “Okay,” Marin said. “I’ll just beat you another day,” she teased King Cesar.

  He stepped out of the arena and leaned his arms on the fence. “In time, I am certain that you will surpass me.”