Back to the capital. Guilting a princess

"What if she's killed? How do you think that would make me feel knowing someone died doing my duty!" Lethila argued, her mother had come to her personally to explain the plan. Mitri was sitting nearby, looking like she wanted to be anywhere but in the same room as her mother and sister. She understood her mother wanted them both to know her situation but the queen obviously hadn't expected for Lethila to be so opposed to the idea. She was literally being given a chance to go and have fun for a few weeks in the woods.

"She's a trained Ranger with a hundred years of experience. She stands a better chance of getting out alive if something goes wrong." The queen explained patiently.

"Mom how can people ever see me as anything other than just a princess if you don't let me go anywhere near danger! You went to the front lines and you came back just fine!" Lethila pointed out.

"That's only because of Broden." The queen pointed out, the orc was actually standing right outside of their bedchambers and unknown to those inside the door was cracked open enough for him to hear them. "I was almost **** and killed. I am not letting that happen to you. Especially if half of what we've been hearing about their prince is true."

Several new reports had come in about the Prince speaking of his brutality. A small Elf camp had been attacked and the only thing found afterward were several dead with their throats slashed and their bodies brutalized. The rest had been taken prisoner for whatever depravity he had planned for them. She had no doubt that at least half of them wouldn't even survive the march and the half that did would wish they hadn't.

"But-"

"No more arguments! I am the queen and your mother so you shall do as I say!" Ethimilee rarely raised her voice in such a manner but her love for her daughter overpowered her reason. The sullen look on Lethila's face made the queen regret the outburst but she knew that it was for her daughter's own good. The terror she had felt when those men had gathered around her had been the worst of her life. To even think such fear might befall one of those she had brought into the world was more than she could bear. Brooking no more argument she turned and exited the room.

Broden followed behind her, wisely holding his tongue while he waited for her to calm down. The anger on her face was unusual but to him, it only highlighted her beauty. He quickly shook away the thought before it could lead anywhere. He was finding it harder and harder to delegate her personal protection to his fellow orcs. He trusted each of them with his life but... trusting them with hers was something different.