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nonsense. I’ll will sit next to you, I’ll make sure of it.
    She began marching purposefully towards the hallway that would take her to the kitchen, then stopped, reconsidering what she was about to do.
    If I order my place be next to his, then I’ll only make him angry at me again because it’s not what he wants. I don’t want that. This is very difficult. Hmmm, it’s just one dinner. I’ll have a lifetime of dinners to sit next to him. Better I remain compliant, at least for now. Yes, that’s what I must do, be compliant. I can do that.
    Feeling very pleased with herself she returned to her apartment to select the dress she would wear for the banquet, determined she would be the most beautiful of them all, and make him sorry he was not beside her.

CHAPTER FIVE
    K ing Handerah had scheduled Larian’s audience to be the last of the day. He needed to spend some time with the young warrior and he certainly wouldn’t have the opportunity at the banquet that evening.
    Having finished with his last visitor he needed to gather his thoughts, and gestured to the page to wait before opening the door to allow Larian to enter, then rising from his dark wood, heavily carved throne he began to slowly pace around the room.
    Larian was not just a Warrior Of The First Order, he had been made a Commander, and the achievement at such a young age assured him a future of wealth and prestige. The thought that this brilliant young man would wed his daughter was the answer to a fervent prayer; not only would she finally be married to an eminently suitable candidate, the union would cement relations between Verdana and Zanderone.
    The Zanderone forces, though small in number, were highly skilled, and had been instrumental in Handerah’s many victories; his alliance with the realm was of distinct importance, but he had a major concern.
    Just as the marriage would solidify relations between the two realms, a breakup of the marriage could do irreparable harm, and he knew all to well that Lizbett was very difficult. If he gave his blessing and all was well, it would be a triumph, but if he gave his blessing and things did not work out…
    He shook his head as he paced; it was a dilemma. He needed the young warrior to understand how willful Lizbett could be, that he would have to either tolerate her whims and fancies, or take a very hard line, and Lizbett did not do well under a hard line; he knew, he’d tried, oh, how he’d tried.
    When he’d locked her in her room she’d climbed out the window, and risking life and limb she’d made her way across the slippery castle roof to one of the turrets. The guards were so shocked to see her they didn’t know what to do, and when she told them she’d have them thrown in the dungeon if they breathed a word, it made their plight even more problematic. The King did not take kindly to having his troops put in such an untenable position.
    There was his futile attempt to make her ride as a Princess should; he’d told Tholl to hide away the saddles except for the one she was supposed to use, but to Tholl’s shock and horror she had simply jumped on her mare bareback with only a rope around the horse’s neck, and had galloped away.
    The alarm was raised, and Handerah was forced to send out his mounted guard to look for her, fearful that she’d come to harm riding in such a dangerous manner. After several hours and no success he realized she’d only be found if she chose to be, and it was a short time after the soldiers had been called back that she came trotting up the lane, as if she’d not a care in the world.
    It seemed to Handerah, every time he attempted to clip her wings, the Princess would take flight regardless, and in a way that put her safety in jeopardy. It had become easier…and almost less of a worry…to leave her to her willful ways.
    The King was fully aware that Lizbett had grown close to Larian during the summer of his training in the stables, and when he’d received