Part 17 (2/2)

”I don't get it. The island has one city. Their families are a teleport away.”

Silence followed.

They don't want their families to see them like this, Princess, Ruby telepathed.

Tears rushed to my eyes. How could Father let his people be treated like animals? I blinked to stop the tears from falling. The defeated minion watched me with one bloodied eye. The other was swollen shut and I felt every throbbing pulse of his pain. My anger shot up.

I squatted and he cringed. ”I'm not going to hurt you. Give me your hand, please.” I offered him mine, but he didn't take it.

His eyes went to Sir Kellion.

”Your princess gave you an order!” Sir Kellion barked.

It wasn't an order, I wanted to snap. My eyes stayed on the wounded man. ”Can you stand?”

He shook his head. He must have broken a leg. I didn't recall hearing a snap.

”Will you let me heal you, please?” I asked, keeping my voice calm.

Surprise and then relief poured from him. He nodded.

”Princess Lilith, you shouldn't,” Sir Kellion said.

I glared at Sir Kellion, wanting to kick his arrogant b.u.t.t from here to yesterday. ”Are you ordering me not to heal this man, Sir Kellion?”

”No, Princess. But minions-”

”...are Hermonites, subjects of my father's kingdom, and deserve to be treated with the same courtesy as you and me.”

Sir Kellion's jaw clenched. ”Perhaps the princess is unaware of how we run things around here. Minions have their own healers.”

Perhaps the princess is aware but she doesn't give a d.a.m.n, I wanted to snap, but I remembered Lady Nemea's teachings. ”My father said it was okay. If you don't believe me, ask him.”

Anger flashed in Sir Kellion's eyes. Yeah, he wouldn't dare ask my father.

”I'm very much aware of how things are done on the island, Sir Kellion. Most methods are great, but a few are outdated. Just because I was born with powers doesn't make me better than him and others like him. Maybe we who have special abilities should prove ourselves worthy of their trust before we can lead them.”

Silence followed.

I looked around and dared anyone to contradict me. The crowd had gathered around us, and from the emotions pouring from them, they were shocked by what I'd said. Telepathic whispers followed as they repeated my words. I didn't care.

I focused on the injured minion. It hurt to feel his emotions-grat.i.tude, hope. The same emotions poured from the minions behind him.

I placed a hand on his cheek and another on his arm. Writings appeared on my arms, and then they started to glow. The cut above his eyebrow closed and the swelling on his eyes went down, until only smears of blood were left. A gentle swipe along his cheek, and the smear floated away. I offered him my hand, and this time he accepted it. I pulled him up.

”How come you don't wear a s.h.i.+rt with my father's crest?”

”I'm a minion, Princess. Minions are not issued uniforms,” he said hesitantly, his glance going to Sir Kellion.

”Hmm, interesting.” I noticed something else about the ones with the raven crest. They were buff and bigger, while the minions were skinny as though they were malnourished. ”Thank you for allowing me to watch, Sir Kellion.”

Sir Kellion bowed and pressed a fisted hand to chest. ”Princess.”

”Would the princess want to put her words to the test?” a voice called out as I turned.

I searched faces, trying to locate Green Eyes. ”Test?”

”You said that those born with powers-”

”Know your place, minion,” Sir Kellion bellowed and grabbed him by his s.h.i.+rt. Green Eyes didn't seem scared of the knight. Everything about him confused me. Drove me crazy. He was the last person I wanted to talk to, yet I couldn't ignore him after defending the other minions.

”No, let him speak,” I said.

Sir Kellion didn't look happy, especially when Green Eyes yanked his s.h.i.+rt from his grasp and said c.o.c.kily, ”Excuse me, Sir Kellion.”

Green Eyes sauntered to where I stood, my heart pounding with every step he took. For a minion, he was in great shape. I'd tried to ask the castle workers about him, but no one seemed to know him or remember seeing anyone with his description.

”What test?” I asked.

”Prove that you are not better than us,” Green Eyes said.

Gasps and murmurs buzzed around, but my eyes didn't leave his. Heat crept up my face at the challenge. I wanted to kick him. Why did he insist on complicating my life? On the other hand, I had started this mess by interfering in the way Sir Kellion trained the guards.

”Prove that you are worthy to be our future leader,” Green Eyes added.

Silence followed, and varied emotions pouring from the guards and the minions-shock, amazement, fear, anger. My anger was directed at Green Eyes. Once again, I regretted coming to the training field. I really wanted to smack him.

”What did you have in mind?” I asked calmly, Lady Nemea's teachings coming to my rescue.

”You should train with us once a week.”

Whispers followed. Unease filled the air. Sir Kellion looked ready to snap off Green Eyes's head. The challenge was strange, but for some reason, it didn't bother me. I was open to anything to escape lessons with Master Kenta.

”Deal,” I said.

Chuckles greeted my response, but Sir Kellion was practically foaming at the mouth.

”What is the problem, Sir Kellion?” I asked.

He bowed again. ”Pardon me, but maybe the princess is better off training with the women.”

”Where do the women train?” I asked.

”From nine to eleven, when you are in the middle of your session with Master Kenta,” Callum said from behind me. ”The men practice from seven to nine. You can join them before your lessons.”

”Look here, Callum. I make decisions that affect the guards,” Sir Kellion bellowed.

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