"How do you feel?" Rena asked bluntly on the deck of the ship. "Heartbroken?"
"It was – thirteen years ago," Jakez answered, amused. "I won't let it happen again, not with the same woman."
"You mean she was with you? But she's older than you!"
"She was my first woman, Rena. She took my virginity. She's also the only woman who made me cry, thirteen years ago."
Rena stared at him incredulous. She and Jakez had lost their virginity the same year. Although he was very willing and she'd been raped, but he had cried too. So, men could be hurt – they had hearts and feelings too.
"It's been so long," he continued. "I was a spoiled prince. Won't happen again that I fall for a whore."
She was startled to hear him call his first love names. Although that was exactly what she'd thought of the noblewoman, hearing it from him felt weird.
"Isn't that what you call her?" he teased.
"You looked so in love," she grumbled.
"I know, I've become a good pretender."
"So you pretended to be in love?"
"Yes, it made me feel alive. It's been a long time since I had a requited love."
"How come?"
"I am currently unrequited," he informed her. "I am very unhappy." His eyes gleamed, though, so Rena didn't know what to think.
"Are you kidding me?" Her voice quivered.
"No." He shook his head, serious. "I'm not pretending now. I'm in love, and I'm unrequited."
Poor Jakez, she thought. Was he in love with Marlen? But he was staring at her.
Is he in love with me? She blushed, her heart beating faster. She averted her eyes and cleared her throat, dropping the subject.
***
And then she was captured by the Regent's men. She was taken to the palace while the Noavarian army protected the city from the combined forces of the Resistance and Jakez's mercenaries.
A short plump man with sparse hair and a red beard came into the room and stared at her, satisfied.
"My lord loves blondes," he said. "You have two alternatives, woman. Be a slave or a courtesan."
Rena shivered. Slaves were raped and abused, but courtesans and concubines were often wealthier than princesses. And probably telling him who she really was wouldn't spare her the alternatives – after what had happened with Gareth, she knew better than to give away her identity to enemies.
She humbly opted for "courtesan", brightening at the sight of the elegant silks and brocades she'd be allowed to wear. The man let her choose from a big wardrobe, pointing her to the baths if she wished to wash herself. A hairdresser would help her if she deemed it necessary.
"Tonight I shall introduce you to the great Milo Sannio," he promised.
Rena was locked with the other courtesans or concubines – she wasn't sure of their status – and decided to play along. She was inside the palace and the Regent had no idea she worked with the true heir.
Still, she shivered when she entered the bedroom of the former general of King Lachlan, now regent and ruler of the Kingdom of Noavaria, reinstated by Queen Julianna.
Milo Sannio was a bulky middle-aged man, obviously used to heavy weapons and armor from the muscles on his bare arms. He was good-looking and kept himself fit, but his graying hair reminded her of her rapist, so she gulped down her anguish. If she weren't sure the man was dead, if she hadn't drank his blood, she'd have thought he was back. It wasn't really the look, more the behavior, so slimy but seductive.
Rena gritted her teeth, pasting a smile on her face. He didn't seem to notice it was fake as he undressed her with his stare.
"What's your name?" he asked, stepping forward, obviously pleased by what he saw.
"Rena." She sounded shy, but she was trying to control herself. He looked just like the rapist on that awful day.
"Welcome, Rena." He took her in his arms and kissed her. His hands were everywhere.
It took her all her courage to gather herself and push him away. "Don't rush, my lord!" she pleaded coyly. "Don't you like some foreplay to seduce the women you take to your bed?"
"You're right, my dear, forgive me, but your beauty took my breath away," he said, letting her go. "Would you like some wine?"
"Yes, please, that would be very helpful!"
She watched him go to a decanter and noticed a portrait hung on the wall above the table where the wine was, along with some food. She stared impressed at the very realistic painting of Jakez in princely clothes, his long brown hair loose over his shoulders – he'd had to cut it for anonymity's sake, since only royalty and nobility wore long hair – and his clean-shaven face smiling with pride.
"You like him?" Milo asked, offering her a silver goblet. "Our vanished heir. To this day we don't know if he was killed by the Gyllymerians or the Amazons."
"And what makes you think he's dead, you found his corpse?" she asked.
"No, but he never came back from Gyllymer, although King Jonik said he released him. His room is actually the best of the palace, that's why I'm not using the royal bedroom."
"Politics give me a headache," she said, touching her forehead after sipping some wine. "You men are so complicated!"
"Well, don't worry your pretty head with that," he replied, taking her in his arms again.
I won't let you touch me, traitor! she thought. She must find a weapon.
***
"Have you found her yet?" Ylenia asked.
"No." Alexia looked worried. "Princess Rena has vanished."
"She was probably captured," Stuart said.
"Which means we have someone inside the palace," Marlen replied. "If we attack now, she'll let us in."
"Wait, we don't know if she was captured!" Jakez protested.
"Where else do you think she is?" Gareth asked.
"She's at the palace all right." Niko Karehen, Jakez's cousin, joined them. The Resistance had freed him from the Regent, and he'd been very happy when the heir had showed up. "Last night a gorgeous blonde was taken to our lord's apartment – your room. Give me a few of your men, and I'll take her out."
"Or we could attack now, maybe she incapacitated him," Marlen added. "Knowing her hatred for men..."
"The Regent was murdered last night!" The messenger was breathless, and both Jakez and Niko sprang into action, calling their men for a final assault on the capital.
Beheaded, the army didn't put up much resistance, especially when the soldiers recognized the prince heir leading the invading force. Jakez and Niko rushed to the great hall, where Rena was awaiting her fate.
During the night, before the Regent reopened the old wound, she'd found a knife and stabbed his throat. She hadn't tried to run away and once again she'd painted herself with the blood of the man who had tried to hurt her.
The slimy chamberlain had found her at dawn, half-naked and covered in blood. His attempt at having her arrested and hanged had failed, since the Resistance had infiltrated the palace and protected the Amazon princess.
Now she waited for a final judgment. They had washed her and given her new clothes, but she looked unusually subdued.
"Rena!" Jakez rushed to her and embraced her, relieved. "Oh, Rena!" He whispered before kissing her passionately.
"Glory to Jakez Karehen, our lord and king!" Niko exclaimed. Soldiers and servants echoed him, but Jakez didn't hear them. His eyes were lost in Rena's and both were far away from there.
***
They called it the wedding of the century. Again Noavaria and the Queendom of Maadre were united by the political alliance between Jakez Karehen and Rena Simona Julianna. But it wasn't just that – it was a union of love. Jakez had been crowned king, but since Rena was meant to be Queen as well, they decided the male children would inherit the Karehen throne, while the females would get the Queendom. Rena would live in Noavaria while her mother was alive, then the couple would have to split until their firstborn male and female were old enough to inherit their parents' respective thrones.
That night the newlyweds
retired in the royal bedroom after a long and cheerful banquet. The sudden quiet was almost deafening and Rena had her heart in her throat.
"Are you ready, my love?" Jakez asked tenderly.
"I'm scared," Rena admitted.
"Then you're ready," he said before kissing her.
For the first time in her life, Rena felt pleasure when a man made love to her.
"I love you, Jakez," she whispered, breathless. "Goddess, I never thought it could be like this!"
She closed her eyes, sighing in bliss.
"I love you too, Rena," he replied. "I'm a lucky king, I married the woman who stole my heart."
"When?" she asked, anxious. "When did you find out you loved me?"
"Immediately," he smiled. "Like Gareth and Marlen – it was love at first sight. But you hated men and I was only an exiled prince."
"Future queens don't marry," she scolded. "Just because a princess married the Varian Emperor..."
"And I thank Miria for opening the way. I heard you pronounce the vows today, my queen..."
"You thoroughly seduced me," she admitted with a giggle. She'd never been so happy in her life.
Author's note
This should have been part one of a novel called Amazons & Assassins, but since both stories are "recycled", I don't have the time or inclination to rewrite Assassins right now. So for now here's the further evolution of the Queendom of Maadre, with the first queen who marries willingly a foreign man (Queen Jessamine had been forced to marry King Keldar).
A special thanks to Markham Correct for the editing.
About the Author
Barbara G.Tarn had an intense life in the Middle Ages that stuck to her through the centuries. She prefers swords to guns, long gowns to mini-skirts, and even though she buried the warrior woman, she deplores the death of knights in shining chainmail. She likes to think her condo apartment is a medieval castle, unfortunately lacking a dungeon to throw noisy neighbors and naughty colleagues in. Also known as the Lady with the Unicorns, these days she prefers to add a touch of fantasy to all her stories, past and present – when she’s not wandering on her fantasy world of Silvery Earth or in her science fantasy Star Minds Universe. She dabbles into historical fantasy with her Vampires Through the Centuries series and has started post-apocalyptic/steampunk series called Future Earth Chronicles. She’s a writer, sometimes artist, mostly a world-creator and story-teller. Two of her stories received an Honorable Mention at the Writers of the Future contest and one was published in Pulphouse Magazine #5 (March 2019). She writes, draws, ignores her day job and blogs at: http://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com.
For more info on the series or other titles go to Unicorn Productions.
If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review on your retailer of choice, thank you.
Did you love Amazon Fall? Then you should read Amazon Summer by Barbara G.Tarn!
The second collection of stories set in the Queendom of Maadre a.k.a. Amazons Country.
"Amazons' Men" shows the men themselves – public men or slaves, but still human. "Uncommon Amazons" shows how men can be treated differently by two sisters. "The Queen's Son" is another uncommon man with a rebellious mind... An extract of "Books of the Immortals – Water" introduces the reader to Keira the Amazon.
Read more at Barbara G.Tarn’s site.
Also by Barbara G.Tarn
Future Earth Chronicles
Brainwaves (Future Earth Chronicles Book 1)
Wanderlust (Future Earth Chronicles Book 2)
Across Continents (Future Earth Chronicles Book 3)
Himalayas (Future Earth Chronicles Book 4)
Airships (Future Earth Chronicles Book 5)
Silvery Earth
Books of the Immortals - Air
Books of the Immortals - Earth
Books of the Immortals - Ether
Books of the Immortals - Fire
Books of the Immortals - Water
Chronicles of the Varian Empire - Volume 1
Chronicles of the Varian Empire - Volume 2
Chronicles of the Varian Empire - Volume 3
Male Lovers of Silvery Earth
Amazon Spring
Amazon Summer
Books of the Immortals
The Hooded Man
Kilig & Hakeem
Saif & Kilig
Kilig the Sword
The Young King
Firebird
Beautiful
Amazon Fall
The Path of Water (Quests Book 1)
The Path of Fire (Quests Book 2)
Tales of the Northern Kingdoms volume 1
Tales of the Northern Kingdoms volume 2
Male Lovers of Silvery Earth Volume 2
Fairy Tales Revisited on Silvery Earth
Tales of the Queendom of Maadre
More Tales of the Southern Kingdoms (One Volume Edition)
Tales of the Southern Kingdoms (One Volume Edition)
The Path of Air (Quests Book 3)
Quests Volume One: The Paths of Water and Air
The Path of Earth (Quests Book 4)
Quests Volume Two: The Paths of Fire and Earth
Talwar and Khanda - Assassins in Love
Saif's Story
Honorable Assassins
Axelle, Wanderer (Silvery Earth Heroines)
The Complete Chronicles of the Varian Empire Box Set
Assassins Guild of Silvery Earth Box Set
Fall of the Southern Kingdoms
Angelica, Scholar (Silvery Earth Heroines)
Two Stories of the Varian Empire
Male Lovers of Silvery Earth Volume 3
The Sun Sword (Legends of the Moren Empire Volume 1)
Quests Box Set
Star Minds Italiano
Angelo Tecnologico (Star Minds #1)
Mercanti di Schiavi (Star Minds #3)
Star Minds - la trilogia
Stella Cadente
Legame Mentale (Star Minds #2)
Star Minds Frammenti - Donne
Star Minds Frammenti
Star Minds Universe
Star Minds - The Trilogy
Star Minds Snippets
Star Minds Next Generation
Star Minds Next Generation Diaries
Star Minds Chasing Stardom
Star Minds Interregnum
Star Minds Third Generation Snippets
Star Minds Starter
Adventurer (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Pilot (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Hacker (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Thief (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Mercenary (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Freelance (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Star Minds Lone Wolves Shorts
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 1-5
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 6-10
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 11-15
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 16-20
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 21-25
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 26-29
Rogue (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Terra d'Argento in italiano
Amori Maschili a Terra d'Argento
L'eredità di Saif
Smeraldo e Kyrio
Il giovane re
Saif e Kilig
Vampires Through the Centuries
Charioteer of Buddha
Indestructible
Kaylyn the Sister-in-Darkness
Kristine the Youngest
Norman Blood
Rajveer the Vampire
Shashank the Fledgling
Vampires Through the Centuries Novellas
Standalone
Johnny & Marian
Six Months and Other Love Stories
Ciaran & Harith
Happiness is...
Choices, Changes and Other Stories
Pat & Babs
Body Switches
Yash and Ryo Lost in the Milky Way
Today People
Soul Thieves
The Fern and The Cross
Otherside
Joint Operations
Relationships (5 Short Stories of Love and Friendship)
Mumbai Dreams
Watch for more at Barbara G.Tarn’s site.
Amazon Fall Page 13