The Rose among Thorns

“Who are you?” Miambi’s accented tone yelled, as he pushed through the crowd. I scooped Brennon up in my arms and elbowed my way back to Suri.
“I’m called Liam,” a deep lilting voice answered in the sudden silence. My heart pounded against my breast at the sound of his declaration, and my steps faltered, the feeling bewildering. Suri spotted me coming near, her features questioning my halt. Heat rose to my face and I hurried toward her, Brennon clinging tightly about my neck.
“What’s amiss, Winnie? Is that the lad?” she asked when I reached her, putting her hands out to retrieve her son. Her gaze held concern. Arik placed a protective hand on her shoulder. I smiled lopsidedly and nodded.
“Worry not, my friend,” I whispered, turning on my heel, knowing if I didn’t step in the exchange and approve our guest, the lads would have him thrown in the dungeon until my parents arrived back from visiting with the people in the fields.
“Why are you ‘ere?” Miambi demanded. His voice was dangerously cold. I couldn’t see the confrontation beyond the heads in front of me, but I knew the dark man gazed down at Liam with an untrusting glare, thick arms crossed over broad chest. I could imagine the affrighted twitch of Liam’s eye as it wandered over the stark white tattoos marking the dark brown skin and up into Miambi’s threatening face. It almost brought a satisfied smirk to my lips.
“I‘ve come to speak with Lady White,” Liam replied. His voice was surprisingly calm and held an authoritative tone that usually none could muster when speaking to one who keeps Linolae. It appeared he was no coward. I felt a strange flutter in my stomach and shook my head, pushing romantic thoughts again from my mind. They shouldn’t be entertained in times as these, I knew, and so brought my attention back to the matter at hand, to his meeting with Lady White, the title chosen for my mother by the villagers for her snow white skin.
I ducked between the throng of people, pushing my way to the front.
“Wh—” Miambi began.
“Do you request my mother, the queen’s, presence, sir, or do you demand it?” I interrupted, coming to stand beside the tall, intimidating man. My voice echoed loud in the otherwise still chamber. Miambi glanced at me afore moving back a step, standing at the ready behind my left shoulder. Arik halted at my right. Some of the other guards formed a circle about our new arrivals. Liam gawked at me a moment, his eyes growing wide in realization. Color brightened his cheeks.
“I—uh,” he stuttered. With a satisfied smile, I looked over to the half dozen or so men that shifted warily behind him. Two were the same lads who stood guard with him that early afternoon. Their heads were bowed and they refused to meet my eyes. I put my attention back on Liam, catching his gaze roaming over me. A tingle of pleasure coursed down my spine. But then his eyes shot to my face and his own grew brighter in color. I raised my brow in amusement. He put a fist to his mouth and cleared his throat. “I request it, my lady,” he said quietly.
“Arik?” I beckoned, glancing to him. “Will you go find and tell my mother that her presence is needed, please?” He slowly moved his stare from Liam’s and turned to me. I dipped my head in assurance. Without a word, he shoved past Liam and his men, barreling out the door.
“Let the music play!” I called out. In an instant the instruments started up again and the people resumed the merriment, though tension still hovered in the air.
“Princess?” Miambi growled.
“It’s alright, Miambi,” I said, staring into Liam’s intent green eyes. “My mother and I were expecting this lad’s arrival.” Tearing my gaze from his, I looked to Miambi and placing a hand on his arm, whispered, “I can handle this. Truly.” He studied me a moment longer, glancing suspiciously over at Liam.
“I would be keeping a close eye on dis lad, my lady,” he muttered. I smiled sweetly.
“I wouldn’t ask you to do anything less.” He nodded, jerking his head at his brothers in arms.
“If the lot of you would be so kind as to going with Linolae’s guards?” I said to Liam’s men. “I would like a word with your leader alone.”
“Liam?” the lad with the scarred face called out in question. The rest of them looked charily at my men, seeming about ready to fight. I raised my brows to their leader, who stared at me as if gauging what I was made of. His scrutiny made me uncomfortable, though I would have died afore showing it. Liam finally waved his hand to go. The group of ragged looking lads followed his order, gingerly walking through the path my own men had made for them. I exhaled slowly, the tension weighing my shoulders lifted.
“Treat them well, Miambi,” I warned.
“Aye, my lady,” he said, following the others as they shuffled out the main door. I watched them leave.
“Princess, eh?” Liam muttered when Miambi was out of ear shot. It seemed his self assurance had returned.
“Aye,” I said, studying him as I took a few steps closer to him. He raked his hand through his hair in a nervous gesture, following me with his eyes.
“Had I known, I wouldn’t have said nor done the things in the forest, my lady,” he whispered, glancing at the few people who stood near us. I almost didn’t catch his words.
“I’m joyful you did, lad,” I replied, leaning in and tracing his jaw with my fingertip, much as he had done to me. He jerked and stood straighter. “It showed me so very much about your character. Now I know that you wouldn’t think twice about ravishing an innocent maiden.”