Free Too Many Princes by Deby Fredericks

away from her. Perhaps, in truth, Therula didn't mind so much if her brothers were late.
    A light mist from the bay mingled with fumes from the castle ovens to form a tinny haze. The cool air was ripe with scents of the sea and oiled metal. All around them came the muted rustle of men in armor, the thump of horses' hooves, and the creak of leather. Pikarus's squad had gathered just outside the stables. A small group of women mingled with the men, wives and lovers who gave hugs and small parcels of food. A few sleepy-eyed children, too, took kisses from fathers who were leaving. Therula saw one woman, heavy with child, clinging to the arm of a doting soldier. Soft voices, here and there, urged the men to do their best, to be careful. One or two couples embraced passionately, speaking no words at all.
    Therula was dressed simply, as one of them, in a long-sleeved gown fitted close through the body and flowing down to a full skirt. Her golden hair was braided and pinned in a circle around her head. Over her shoulders, a hooded cloak kept the damp air out of her hair. Only the elaborate stitchery set her apart. That was as she wished. This was no time for her to flaunt her rank. For the moment, she was merely a woman like the rest of them, sending her loved one off to places unknown.
    Some shadow must have shown on Therula's face, for Pikarus said, “ Try not to worry. ”
    “ I'm not worried, ” Therula said, though it was only partly true.
    She envied the soldiers' wives their simple farewells, for she was too much a princess to give any public displays. Yet neither would she send her beloved off with nothing. Therula reached under her cloak and drew out a pair of fine leather gloves. Embroidered lilies and roses surrounded her own initial, T, on the cuffs.
    “ This is for you, ” she said. “ You shall keep one, and I shall have the other. I won't wear them until you have come back to me. ”
    Pikarus made a solemn bow. “ I will keep it near me always. ” He stood quite still as she tucked the glove into his sword belt, making sure the initial hung on the outside, for all to see.
    Softly, Therula said, “ When you meet those other girls on your journey, I want them to know... ” She couldn't finish. It was hard to even think that her beloved might betray her, but considering her father's example, she had to be realistic.
    “ There are no other women for me, ” Pikarus answered quietly. “ This I swear. ”
    Therula wanted desperately to believe him. She leaned against his shoulder, searching for warmth through the stiff mail hauberk.
    “ I will miss you, ” Pikarus said. From his voice, she could tell he understood how small a comfort he offered.
    “ It is what we must do, ” Therula answered. She didn't look at him, now. “ It will be worthwhile, when it is over. ”
    “ For you, I would do a thousand times more, ” Pikarus said.
    Before Therula could answer, a new voice among the many caught at her ear. It was Lottres, out of breath.
    “ Hurry up! ” he panted.
    “ Why? ” came Brastigan's lazy retort. “ They won't leave without us. ”
    Reluctantly, Therula stepped a little away from Pikarus. Her two brothers emerged from the mist, wearing full harnesses and swords. Like all the soldiers, they wore black surcoats with yellow badges bearing the black tower of Crutham. Lottres stopped near the horses, turning in a circle as he searched for someone. Despite his frequent protests at being called bookish, Therula noted Lottres clutched a roll of parchment in his hand.
    Brastigan was fussing with his hair under the heavy leather aventail behind his helm. On top of his surcoat, Therula saw the dark disc of Leithan's pendant. Despite his many annoying habits, Therula had always felt sympathy for Brastigan, separated from his mother so young. She wondered, sometimes, what kind of man he would have been if Leithan had lived longer. Would he still show off and take foolish chances? Would someone still want