Total pages in book: 208
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
“Farah, meet Welbrix and Galbdor.”
He indicated each with his hand as he said their names. Welbrix was the one who came from behind the log. Galbdor was the one who came from the tree.
“Hello,” I said.
“If wedlock with this lummox doesn’t work,” Galbdor jerked a thumb to True, “I’m happy to carve a higher door into my tree so you can get through without bumping your head.”
“My tree already has a high door,” Welbrix said.
Galbdor looked to Welbrix. “Not high enough for this statuesque beauty.”
“The point is to make her bend over, stupid,” Welbrix retorted.
I started laughing.
Both males looked up, and I could see coming from under their hoods that they had long hair, Galbdor’s white, Welbrix’s gray, though, curiously, their faces appeared unlined with age.
And they were grinning at me.
“It is true what your handsome prince has told you,” I said. “I would be most grateful if you would honor me with showing me your home.”
“The honor would be all ours, princess,” Galbdor replied on a bow.
I was struck with the title, something True referred to often regarding me, but not anything anyone else had ever called me.
And it was then I realized this would be real. In a month’s time, I would be a princess.
I knew this, but it had not penetrated.
Two months ago, I lived in exile.
Now, I was to be princess. Then queen.
And I would live my life beside a handsome prince, who would become a gentle and benevolent king.
My mother had not lived to hear me called princess. She had not lived to see me spend even a day as wife at the side of a handsome prince.
And she would have loved that for me.
“Farah?” True called softly.
I looked up to him.
“No one has referred to me as princess before,” I whispered.
That tender smile of his returned. “I would get used to that, darling.”
I felt a tender smile of my own forming.
“Are we to endure you two staring, starry-eyed at each other for eternity, or can we go find some ale?” Welbrix asked.
True glanced at Welbrix before he looked to Alfie. “The horses?”
“We’ve got them,” Alfie assured.
This must have meant something to all for Welbrix and Galbdor immediately turned and started moving through the leaves and fallen boughs between the trees, and with a tug of my hand, True and I followed.
“Watch your step,” True murmured.
I often went barefoot in Firenze, and only if necessary, wore sandals.
Here, footwear was essential, as was warmer clothing.
Thus, Mars had had an extensive wardrobe crafted for me, and that day, I was wearing a gown made of the deepest green velvet with an overskirt at the back made stiff green taffeta embroidered in gold. It had a square neckline that showed the cleft of my breasts (but barely) that was edged in a thin ribbon of gold lace. And the overskirt was held in place by a crisscross of sage-green satin ribbons that started beneath my breasts and went down to my waist.
My feet were in slippers, something that True frowned upon, stating I needed boots, especially while riding.
However, as not many wore boots in Firenze, this was not thought of (in fact, I was grateful to Mars for even considering my need for a warmer wardrobe at all for that would not have crossed my mind), and by the time it was, it was too late.
True shared that in our wanderings, we would traverse through a village that had the finest cobbler in all of Wodell, and we would order several pairs while we were there.
We had not yet been to that village.
So I now wore sage satin slippers with gold embroidery around the rims and soles of supple but thick suede.
Even though I’d found the soles proved hearty protection against damp, dirt, twigs and even stones, the slippers were not warm.
And they were definitely not the footwear to traverse a forest floor.
True, as was his nature, held strong to my hand and walked slowly beside me with great patience.
Welbrix and Galbdor did not have the same patience.
“You should carry her on your back,” Welbrix suggested crabbily to True.
“I will help you ride the vines, my princess,” Galbdor offered.
“I would like to learn to ride the vines,” I told Galbdor.
His faced brightened.
“You are not swinging from vines,” True growled.
I liked my True. This was because he was likeable. Kind-hearted. Attentive. Solicitous. Chivalrous.
But it must be said, I liked he had that part in him—the growly, decisive, manly part.
It gave me such a lovely shiver every time that came out.
“Touchy, touchy,” Welbrix muttered.
I heard the men fall in behind us, signaling the horses had been secured.
And a little distance later, I jumped when I caught unusual movement out the periphery of my vision.
Another gnome was swinging vine to vine.
He alighted on a branch, stared down at us with hands on his hips, his cloak held out at his elbows, before he tipped his head back, cupped a hand around his mouth and shouted, “We have True!”