The man outside the commander's tent had broad shoulders, thin lips, a thick mustache, and everything else that defined masculinity. His golden-brown hair glinted in the sunlight. If I wasn't already mated with Leo, I might have fallen for every man here. Each one seemed better than the last, and I knew Leo was nearby; my necklace had shown me, though I couldn't feel it now, buried under layers of my disguise.
The guard pointed me toward the biggest tent, dark in color with Red Crescent similar to my necklace hanging at its entrance, then followed me inside.
The interior was dimly lit, with only two windows letting in thin streams of thick moonlight. The central table was cluttered with maps and papers, while one corner was stacked with an arsenal of swords.
Two huge guards stood watchfully to the side. In front of the table stood a tall man but with lean stature radiating some kind of reliable strength, his presence commanding and fierce. His eyes scanning me with something innocent. Some kindness or maybe empathy for the sacrifice before it's slaughtered.
But I was expecting the commander to be bit more fierce as his men had sketched him but this man seemed polite.
The man who had escorted me stood beside him—could that be Leo? How would I find him among so many? It had been 13 Years since he left, it was harder for me to recognize an adult who left me when he was a mere kid.
I opened my mouth to explain my presence, "I am..." but a mellow trumpet sounded outside, making everyone stiffen. The guards lined up, motioning for me to step aside.
A taller man entered the tent, broad torso, thick skin under his armored arms probably some kind of biceps. Dressed entirely in black, from his deep black hair to his hazel eyes, narrow jawline, and thin lips.
His broad shoulders and lean physique were cloaked in a black mantle, chains hanging from his bodice, seemed as if he was coming from some kind of prior dirty task.
If beautiful poison had another name it would have been called whatever this person was called.
He moved with a fast predatory grace, exposing an inner chain he wore. His cold, deadly eyes scanned the room, making the air turn icy. The men in his room who were already double the size of an any average capable warrior were scared. I could feel their hushed breaths and hearts in their throats. Not a single man was making any movement, not even the breathing ones.
This was the general commander, the most feared man I had ever encountered, the shift in energy was telling me that I messed up and this is not going to be so easy anymore.
The men saluted him as he took his place beside the man at the table.
His eyes focused on me, with intense gaze of someone who drinks blood for breakfast.
"I'll ask you only one question. Who are you?" His voice was like thunder, powerful enough to summon earthquakes. Deep, rich like thick velvety chocolate dripping down my ears. Why was he so attractive in every way? How can a man be ever so beautiful?
I am a princess, I thought, summoning my courage. A princess of your kingdom, born to rule it. Your queen to be exact. A daughter who wants to give her mother justice she was robbed off.
Words only started to leave my lips "Sir! I am a traveler and a warrior. I spen—" He cut me off, his eyes filled with black poison tracing my face.
What did I do wrong? In that moment I knew something was very much vile with this man. The way he exuded darkness from his presence alone was scary enough to get a heart attack. Suddenly I understood why his men were acting so, because I was feeling the same way now.
"Okay, let's try again... shall we?" His gaze was piercing, almost as if he could see through my disguise. "Who are you?" He turned to one of his men and asked, "Merip, what do I hate the most and can never forgive?" His fingers traced the blade of his dagger, small with a carving of a white lily at its handle.
"Uh... lies!... my lord," the man's voice trembled under the commander's glare.
"Thank you." His eyes locked onto me, demanding an answer. Before I could speak, he flicked his hand and, with a single blow, threw it bluntly at me. I shielded my face with my both hands.
And heard a silent cry, behind me. Bronze blood pooled on the floor under my feet, the screams of the dying man echoing in the tent. I dared not look back but knew I had to be brave.
"You should be grateful to me, I didn't make it painful for you" he eyed the dying man and pointed at some men to clean the aftermath of what he had done.
Leo's words echoed in my head: A warrior must never forget his purpose. My purpose was to kill the king. I had to be stronger than ever. Weird and cruel things had happened and will happen, this was the law of the world.
The commander cleaned his hands that had dried blood on them with a cloth handed to him probably from some previous similar encounters. Bile reached my mouth just by the thought of that and then he turned his attention back to me. "You trespassed."
"I did not. I came to warn you of an attack that's soon to happen here." My voice was strong and resolute.
"Why?" he asked, his voice filled with skepticism, his gaze still harsher.
"So that you can save the lives of your men."
"Who are you? Why do you care?"
I never thought I would have to go through rigorous interview session just to save some lives.
"I am a traveler... they call me Zamanth."
"So, Zamanth, tell me what you wanted to say to me." His fingers tracing another dagger, Was I next? Even if I was, the moment he would work his dagger on me. My bleeding would give me away. He would be killed for murder of the princess.
His eyes, now hazel with a grin, seemed almost familiar. For a moment, he reminded me of Leo, but Leo could never be this cruel. He was the kindest man I knew.
"Rebels are planning to burn this area before noon. You must plan accordingly and there is someone among your men helping them. No wonder you have traitors in your clan" I looked down at the blood stained carpet, faint smell of iron made my mouth bitter.
"How do you know all this?" His mouth lifted in a slight smile, making him dangerously attractive.
"It doesn't matter how I know. What matters is that I told you." My voice, still affected by the herb, carried a cold, masculine tone that surprised even me.
"Okay, then tell me how you can assure me that you are not part of their plan?"
"Listen, I don't care what you think of me. It's not about you and me. I overheard their conversation on my way and thought I could do a good deed. But it seems you lunatics don't understand gratitude." His smile widened, burning me inside. I hated him for being so infuriatingly gorgeous. Asshole.
"That still doesn't prove your innocence, beautiful boy" he said, but was interrupted by the man beside him, who whispered something in his ear. His lips widened in a bigger smile, it was painfully beautiful and suspicious. It didn't look good.
"If you are interested in men, then I apologize I don't share similar interests" I replied at his comment of calling me beautiful.
"nope, just naive boys" his face was serious with light of mischief in his eyes.
"You wish" I scoffed with anger now. I was angry because I felt scared, scared that maybe he can see through me. As if he already knew. In a blink of moment, I sliced my dagger towards him and it landed just a cm away from his ear to the back wall.
"Not a boy" I smirked at him
and within the other moment the room echoed with his laughter. OOOF I hated him so much already.
"Exactly what a boy would do to prove that" and I knew I can never Win here.
But maybe I had won this, he was wrong. I wasn't a boy just a pretty princess.
My eyebrows and tensed jaw calmed, 0 asshole, 1 zamaanth.
Another man came and gave him a pile of pages, he took them from him without taking away his gaze from me.
"Who were the men you overheard?" his tone normal now.
"I don't remember, but they called each other Frites."
"oh, well that's brilliant. You have an amazing opportunity to prove yourself right now that you are not one of them"
My twisted and confused expression must have surprised him when he continued:
"If they were Frites, then you need to assure us with your sign."
Oh no, this is never going to happen. Every caste had a blood sign on their left lower abdomen. I had no sign because I was royalty. But I couldn't reveal my body, not even slightly. Maybe I could claim I refused to be stamped or make up some story. As if he would buy that, he would kill me if he sensed any lies.
"I don't choose to prove my innocence because it means I am guilty in first place. It's a shame that you didn't learn basic human respect. I won't shame myself in front of men I came to save. Nice to meet you. I'll be leaving now." I turned to walk away.
"This is my place and no one leaves without my permission," his mighty voice echoed.
I stopped, my heart racing. This was far from over.