Happy Little Accidents

  Of all the things that unsettle our minds, why must our elders lead the list?

  — from the journal of Elor At’aie, druid apprentice of the Order of Faune

  Talose Ozewrath was many things, but at this moment, above all else, he was nervous.

  The gladiatorial contest would begin soon, and it was his first time participating in prize fighting.

  As if that weren’t pressure enough, the prince had learned—through Captain-of-Arms Ogrebane—that Biaun Greyblood himself would be observing the matches, assessing Talose for potential apprenticeship.

  For four years, Talose had served as squire to Captain Ogrebane. The captain was a battle-hardened veteran, one of the finest soldiers in the Empire. But Lord Greyblood… he was something else entirely. The undisputed master of combat. A living legend.

  Talose thought back to the tournaments he had watched as a boy. Year after year, seasoned warriors had drawn Biaun’s name in the brackets, only to curse their luck before stepping into the ring. They fought bravely, valiantly even, but none had ever so much as scratched the mythic knight.

  Shaking his head and muttering something about feeling like a courtyard girl, Talose chastised himself and set his jaw with new resolve. He would compete today with everything he had. He would impress the Master Bladesmaster. And by nightfall, he would receive word that Biaun Greyblood had deemed him worthy of training.

  Glancing at the massive water clock that dominated one wall of his room, Talose’s confidence faltered. With a small yelp, he scrambled to strap on his scabbard and practically sprinted out the door.

  Behind him, the heavy door slammed shut, only for a growl to echo from within. Talose skidded to a halt, doubled back, and slammed into the door, flinging it open again.

  A feline hiss followed, and the royal cat stalked out, tail high and eyes full of disdain.

  “Sorry, Seltzer,” Talose muttered, giving the cat a quick pat of apology before dashing off again, Seltzer thudding along at his heels.

  Earlier that morning, a message had arrived from his father. Unexpected guests had come in the night, and the prince was expected at breakfast. He didn’t know who these visitors were, but he did know his father had no patience for tardiness. And Talose was already late.

  The water clock itself had been a gift-slash-punishment from his father, a none-too-subtle hint after Talose had returned from a night of gambling and missed his younger brother Waewulf’s birthday luncheon by over an hour. The punishment? A full week mucking stables under Captain Ogrebane’s watchful eye.

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  Weaving through the palace’s vast, winding halls, Talose raced toward the royal dining room. He ran for several minutes before ducking into a narrow, dimly lit servant’s corridor, one he knew would lead directly to the meal chamber.

  Servants scattered like startled geese, trying and mostly failing to avoid him. In the space of thirty heartbeats, he’d bowled over half a dozen of them, breathlessly apologizing as he charged onward.

  Rounding the final corner without slowing, Talose slammed into something large, warm, and furry. With a heavy grunt and a startled roar, the massive creature reared on its hind legs.

  Before Talose could react, Seltzer lunged between them, growling thunderously, fur bristling. The hallway thundered with tension as the prince stumbled backward, landing flat on his back.

  The beast—a cave bear, easily the size of a small cart—snarled and pawed at the air.

  Then a high, scolding voice sliced through the air like a whip. “Draefus! If you so much as think about hurting that kitten, I’ll brain you!”

  The bear instantly dropped to all fours, whining like a chastised hound, and lumbered toward a young elf glaring daggers in his direction.

  Her sharp gaze turned to Talose, who was still on the floor, trying to remember how to breathe.

  She frowned.

  He was handsome, for a human, though there was something in his lean frame and graceful features that reminded her of her own people. His fair complexion, long golden hair, and flowing bone structure whispered of elven blood, even if his bright, mischievous blue eyes betrayed a human’s fire.

  She shook her head. Irrelevant. She was annoyed. And she had no patience for clumsy oafs, royal or not.

  “And you—” she snapped, stepping forward. “Did it never occur to you that running blind through the halls might get someone hurt? If I weren’t a guest of the emperor, I’d brain you, too.”

  Her eyes dropped to the emblem on his chest, the royal stag stitched in gold over his simple but fine tunic, and widened with horror.

  “Oh… by the Mistress of the Forest… what have I done?” Her tone shifted instantly. “I—I apologize, Your Grace. I didn’t know who you were—I mean, I still don’t know who you are, but—”

  Raising his hands to silence her, Talose straightened his tunic, adjusted his scabbard, and tried—utterly in vain—to will the heat from his cheeks. His face must look like a boiled turnip.

  “I am very sorry, milady,” he said, bowing with theatrical formality. “I am Prince Talose Ozewrath, and I am at your service.”

  As he rose, still flustered, he realized Seltzer was growling deeply behind him, ears flattened like a scolded child’s.

  “Seltzer!” he barked. “How would you like a braining to match your master and the bear? These are guests of my father, you will treat them with respect!”

  The huge tiger in front of him let the hair on the back of his neck settle. Sniffing once, he shot Draefus one final, disdainful look before padding back to the prince’s side with exaggerated dignity.

  Before Talose could speak, the diminutive elf stepped forward and gently took his arm.

  “I am Aehyl, good prince, and it seems we are both in the same predicament. I am late in getting to the meal, as I assume are you. Therefore, I have a suggestion.”

  She waited, eyebrow arched, until Talose returned her words with a curious glance.

  “Why don’t we enter together, letting the others assume we met and chose to come together, just... slowly. That might at least save us from a scolding, even if it doesn’t spare us from being teased about it later.”

  Talose returned her smile with a sly grin. “A clever plan, milady. I like it.”

  And with that, the two set off arm in arm down the corridor, prince and druid, while a massive cave bear and a glowering tiger stalked behind them, exchanging dark looks every few steps.