The Lost Princess

She quickly changed into her riding suit and made her way down the hall towards the stables. Upon reaching the entrance, she saw Soa and Samoir standing intimately.

Soa stood behind Samoir and holding her hand gently as he guided it through the air.

"That is the proper way to hold and swing the dagger once removed from its hiding spot," Soa Said.

Samoir's cheeks flushed a bright red as she nodded her head. Trying to focus on steadying her breathing while she listened to him correct her on her poor posture.

Loraz stepped forward and cleared her throat. She pushed a small strand of hair behind her ear and shifted her eyes from left to right trying not to look directly at them.

"I hope I'm not too late?" She said.

Quickly separating from each other, they looked at Loraz and let out a few nervous chuckles. Samoir played with her dress and looked down at the floor. While Soa tapped the tip of the dull blade he held in the palm of his hand.

"You're right on time, actually. Soa was just showing me how to perfect a skill that I learned a long time ago back at home," Samoir said.

She took her practice blade from Soa and nodded her head towards a table close to him that was used to store the horse brushes and combs.

"Yes, today we, uh, will be learning how to conceal weapons," Soa said as he walked over to the table and picked up a small decorative box and brought it to Loraz. "Because you don't own any of your own, Princess Loraz, we got you this one as a gift. We hope it is to your liking."

Taking the box in her hand she looked at Samoir then back him a bit surprised. She had first met them about two months ago and asked Soa to teach her some defense moves like he had taught Samoir. Soa was reluctant at first until Samoir ordered him to teach her. She had always thought she was a burden to him. An unwanted student he was forced to teach because his princess told him to. She wondered if it were okay to think differently now. Could she finally called them friends or were they just being nice to her now so they could use it to benefit later.

She licked her lips and looked down at the box and stared at the beautiful decorations. Gold thread and small gems lined the rim and in the center a blue gem in the shape of a tree. She ran her hand crossed the top of the box tracing the jeweled tree with her fingers.

"You didn't have to go to such lengths...um...do you mind if we speak informally with each other? The whole formality thing is a bit odd to me still," Loraz replied.

"We are all friends here; I see no need why we should have to speak in such a formal manner, right Soa?" Samoir said.

"Yes, prin-I mean, Samoir," Soa stuttered.

Samoir giggled and walked over to Loraz and grabbed her free hand.

"Do not worry about him. It will take some time before he can get used to calling us without a title. He is ever so stuck in his ways. Feel free to address me by my name alone, and I will do the same with you, okay Loraz," Samoir said.

Loraz smiled. Her heart raced as she heard the word 'friends' roll off of Samoir's tongue. She hadn't heard it in so long after becoming a royal she began to think that they didn't exist among them.

"Thank you. I will feel more at ease with you both from this point on." Loraz chuckled.

His face flushed red Soa stepped forward and cleared his throat then said,

"Anyway, let's begin with the proper way to hold a dagger. By the way, have you been practicing your shoulder throw? Last week you didn't seem to pin it down correctly."

Loraz stiffed up and replied,

"I practice it every night before bed. I use my pillow as my target for now."

Soa smiled and said "Good. Now,

if your grip is too loose, the dagger will not inflict much damage, and you can end up hurting yourself more than your opponent. Samoir would you care to demonstrate the proper way for us."

Samoir took her small blade in hand and held it firmly as she thrust forward towards the target.

A loud clapping was then heard coming from behind them, and they turned around to see Vestin walking up to them.

"That was very beautiful, princess. However, if you were to angle yourself just slightly and twist your wrist as your blade hits the target just a bit the damage you do to your opponent will be much greater," he said as he demonstrated to her a better way to wield her blade.

Loraz looked over at Samoir and saw the puzzled looked she held on her face. She then rushed over to Vestin and asked him,

"What are you doing here, Vestin?"

Vestin looked down at her and felt his heart about to leap out of his c.h.e.s.t from the shear join of seeing her right in front of him. He knew he could never be with her the way he thought of in the past, but finally, he was able to fulfill her mother's last wish. He would make sure to return her to her former self and protect her from anyone who would try to hurt her. A smile crossed his face as he thought of his plan to get her out of Ay Su and somewhere safe from her stepmother and the Hidden King.

"Well my escorts were just showing me around and we happened to stumble across the three of you, " Vestin replied then motioned his head back behind him.

Loraz leaned over a bit to her left to see behind him. Standing by the door stood two other gentlemen watching and waiting silently. One looked rather nervous and the other stared at Samoir with a pained look on his face.

Samoir eyes widened as she saw Juin and Cuza standing there like stiff statues. Running over to Juin she smiled and said,

" Juin, did you see me practicing just now."

"Um, yes I saw it, princess." He replied.

Samoir screwed her face as she placed her hands on her h.i.p.s, leaned in closer to him, and said,

"Why are you still referring to me as 'princess'. I asked you not to be so formal with me. Are we not childhood friends?"

Juin looked around the room then spotted Soa and sighed,

"Of course we are. I just thought because we were around others it would be better to address you properly."

Samoir then wrapped her arms around Juin's waist hugging him tightly then frowned.

"Really? Are you sure? You sound so cold and distant lately. Anyway, what brings you here?"

Juin, taken by surprise, held his hands up over his head as he prayed she didn't hear his heart racing.

Vestin saw the awkward tension filling the room and cleared his throat then said,

"Well as I was saying, these fine gentlemen have been giving me a tour of the school. It is actually quite charming. I wanted to see the stables seeing as my best horse will be staying here."

Samoir released Juin and turn to face Vestin with a smile.

"Oh, well then don't let us keep you. We are only learning a silly little game." She said.

Vestin paid Samoir no mind and took Loraz's hand.

"Lo, if you want to learn combat skills I can teach you, " He said.

"But why would princesses ever need combat skills if they are surrounded by guards."Juin Said.

"Even guards have to sleep, eat, and shit...they can't always be near and some enemies plan for little things like shift changes," Cuza replied.

"Exactly..." Samoir said.

Cuza looked over at Samoir and she looked back at him smiled softly then walked back over to Soa.

"Hey Vestin we should carry on this castle is rather big and we still have some training to get done before nightfall," Juin said.

Vestin looked back at Juin shook his head in agreement and looked back at Loraz. He picked a piece of straw from her hair and smiled as he held it up in front of her.

"Well, if you're okay with learning from this gentleman then I won't push you to choose me, but the offer is always on the table if ever you change your mind. Let us catch up some more after you've finished your training," He said then placed the grain in her hand.

Loraz's heart raced. She was happy that it wasn't a dream that he was really in front of her. She wanted to join him, but if she was to protect herself from any danger she needed the skills Soa was trying to teach her. Taking the straw she let out a small giggle and returned his smile with one of her own.

"Okay, how about you join me and Robert for lunch out in the east garden. I would like for the two of you to reintroduce yourselves seeing as the first encounter you had was a poor one," She replied.

"If that is what you wish then so be it, until then," Vestin said.

He took her hand gently in his and lifted it up to his lips and pressed them lightly upon the back of it. Looking up to meet her gaze he smiled slyly and released her hand then bowed his head and walked off.

Loraz face went bright red and she stiffened at the touch of his lips to her hand. Her heart raced uncontrollably as she tried to breathe normally. She could tell that her old feelings for him weren't gone, but she also knew that her heart reacted the same way to Robert.

"No, you decided to focus on one thing at a time...love will have to wait." She whispered to herself then took a deep breath and turned around to face Soa and Samoir, " So where were we?"

"How to hold a dagger properly," Soa replied.

"Ah, yes, Samoir please show me again. I didn't see it correctly when you did it." She said

She walked over to stand next to Soa and waited for Samoir to demonstrate her skills again and Samoir looked over at Soa with a puzzled stare.

Soa nodded his head at the target and Samoir showed off her talent again.