Chapter 2: Surrender

“Name and age,” growls the Briniates sergeant, looking through a long list of names on a scroll.

“Annalisa Monti,” I reply. “I’m twentythree years old.”

“Says here that your occupation is Princess of Cambris,” mutters the sergeant, once he’s found my name on his scroll.

“Yes, sergeant,” I sigh, really wishing I wasn’t in anyway connected to the Cambris royal house.

“Fetch the general!” cries the sergeant to one of his soldiers. “We’ve found a live one.”

Minutes later a battle scarred warrior with two swords strapped to his back arrives. He’s wearing what passes for a uniform among the Briniates. There’s no insignia of his rank, but the way every soldier around him reacts, he’s clearly their commanding general. The sergeant stands to attention so quickly that his scroll falls onto the floor. He’s obviously torn between retrieving it or holding his position.

“She’s a girl,” sneers the general after looking briefly at me. “Can’t you find anyone better suited to negotiate a surrender?”

“No, sir,” replies the sergeant. “The only other survivors from the palace are stable boys, kitchen maids, gardeners and the like. This girl ... woman ... is the only survivor on your list who is of royal blood.”

“Hmmph!” grumbles the general. “Is there anybody on the list who has still to be found?”

“Only a handful of servants and children, sir. The bodies of the king and his sons have been located and identified.”

“Shit. Well I suppose she’ll have to do. Bring her to the main square ... in chains.”

The general won’t be the only one who regards me as unsuitable to be the new ruler of Cambris. I think I’m unsuitable. But what choice do I have? According to ancient custom, it is now my duty and burden to protect the lives of the citizens of Cambris. My uncle and cousins have all died trying to do so, leaving me as the last surviving member of the Cambris royal family. Which is a bizarre twist of fate and one of life’s cruel jokes. My uncle has spent the last three years trying to disown me, and have the Cambris courts declare me an imposter. Another few weeks and he might have succeeded, but all that’s now irrelevant.

The Cambris army is defeated. A hundred brave men lie dead on the battlefield with my kin. But the invading Briniates are merciful. By order of their king, the Briniates general has offered terms for our surrender. Apparently the Briniates have little interest in occupying Cambris, providing their king controls Cambris’s rightful ruler. Which has been me for the last few hours. I suspect King Alejo’s sudden generosity has more to do with his personal vendetta against the Cambris royal family. We are distantly related, and his son, Philippe and I were once childhood friends. But Philippe’s close association with the brutal overseer, Drax, drove us apart. Philippe regards slavery as a part of the natural order of things, whereas I see it as an unsavoury evil. Since ascending to the Briniates throne, Alejo has embarked on a journey of war and conquest; a journey which now adds Cambris to its collection of vassal states.

I’m not even allowed to change my clothing. As soon as the outcome of today’s battle became obvious, my loyal maid had me bind my breasts tight and disguise myself as a gardener. She tried to smuggle me to safety. A failed attempt that has left her among the many casualties of this war. My shirt and trousers are torn from rough handling by the Briniates soldiers who captured me. Fortunately for me they mistook me for a man.