As a princess of the Vestan, and heir to the kingdom, it wasn't often I was able to find myself alone. My rooms were my sanctuary, my small oasis where I could strip away the political mask I was forced to maintain. It was the one place I might be found vulnerable, safe behind heavy doors and armed guards.
I was enjoying a bath when they came for me. The tall stranger had the dark skin of a southerner, with bright amber eyes and copper curls piled on top of a smooth head with shaved sides. A warrior's cut. I couldn't tell their gender, only that their body was lithe and they carried many weapons. I knew an assassin when I saw one.
They were on me before I could shout. Their hand wrapped around my throat, cutting off my air as I was hauled out of the bath. I kicked and thrashed, but combat had not been part of my training. It didn't take long for my world to go black. All those weapons, and I was to die by strangulation? That seemed odd.
****
I woke to a crackling fire. It was dark out and I was no longer inside the warm walls of the castle. Trees loomed all around the small clearing of our camp, casting dappled shadows in the moonlight. My limbs were tied. My captor was nowhere to be found. Panic clawed at my chest, but I suppressed a whimper. I couldn't fight, but I was a master of my own emotions.
"Ah, you're awake." The voice was androgynous, and I knew it belonged to the mysterious southerner. I forced my body to still. They were behind me, and I couldn't maneuver myself to see them. What were they after? A ransom?
Leaves crunched under heavy boots as they moved around to my front. Crouching before me, they sighed. "You should know your father paid me well to kill you. Your body will be found in the woods. It will look like a boar attack." The confusion must have shown on my face, because the stranger grimaced and continued. "I packed a bag. It'll look like you ran away."
No, that wasn't the answer I was looking for. The stranger knew it. I could see the discomfort written all over them.
My father did this? But why? He...he loved me. I know he did. No. This couldn't be. My chest heaved as panic started to claw its way up my chest. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I couldn't-
Click.
The panic vanished. I've always had this odd little switch in my mind. My tutors taught me to manipulate emotions for the good of the realm, but the ability to turn them off entirely? That was innate.
My captor looked surprised. Those amber eyes looked me over. "Are you...in shock?"
"You seem awfully caring for someone who just announced their plan to kill me."
There was an awkward silence before the southerner cleared their throat. "I will make it painless. You needn't fear."
"I fear nothing." At that moment, it was true. "Why did you not kill me already? While I was unconscious?"
The stranger frowned. "There's no honor in killing a sleeping enemy."