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I raise my sword to my face again, signifying I’m ready to start another round. Kes always calls me by my name when she either wants my attention or is about to dispense advice, much like the big sister I’ve never had. As our swords spark off each other, I can't help wondering what's coming next.

“Well?” she asks impatiently. “Did you or didn't you dine with the prince yesterday evening?”

I block her sword and jump out of her way as I answer, “Yes, I did.”

“And so? How did it go? Did you further discuss your plans for him?”

I twirl and back twirl as she makes a lunge for me. “Yes, I did.”

“Gah!” she exclaims, and I’m not sure if it’s because I managed to land a strike or because I’m not telling her what she wants to know.

“And?” she demands.

“And he's fine with it but on one condition.”

She steps off to the side, just out of my reach. “Oh? And what might that be?”

“I must be the one to harvest him.”

This time it's my turn to capitalise on her surprise and I lunge forward, making a deadly strike against her sword, and we both watch as it slides across the smooth stones of the courtyard.

It rattles to a stop at the far edge of the stones, but instead of going to pick it up she turns to me. “What?” she asks, a puzzled expression on her face, as if she hasn't heard me correctly.

“He insists I must be the one to harvest him,” I repeat.

She stands there. Frozen. Her eyes wide and mouth open. Finally she finds her voice. “What did you say to him?”

“I told him it’s out of the question.”

“And what was his response to that?”

“He made it quite clear, unless I agree to this one condition he will refuse to become my king.”

Her eyes widen in shock and she starts to slowly walk towards her sword. “By the gods,” she exclaims under her breath, “I didn't see this coming. What are you going to do?”

“I don't know,” I reply, as I stare at the grey stones under my feet. “On the one hand it's good he is prepared to become my king, but on the other, this condition he insists upon is unfeasible.”

Kes picks up her sword and starts to walk back towards me, a curious expression on her face. “Is it?” she asks.

“What?” I reply, not trying to hide the surprise in my voice.

She stands in front of me and in a low voice says, “Think about it, if you harvest him and his seed proves good, then you will be his wife and will go on to fully consummate your union. So the physical contact between the two of you prior to your marriage won't be a problem.”

“And if his seed doesn't prove good, and I am forced to submit to Greythorne, what then?”

“Then at least you won't be totally naive in the ways of men,” she replies, and I can tell by her expression there is more she wishes to say.

I quickly look away as I feel the first flush of embarrassment start to spread across my cheeks.

“Elinor,” Kes says softly, “your lack of experience is something we need to talk about. I feel I would be failing you as your commander and your friend if I didn't bring it up. You have neither mother nor sister to speak with on these things, and I refuse to let you go to your wedding bed without furnishing you with some idea of what to expect.”

“Kes, please,” I plead as my cheeks burn with mortification, “do we really need to speak of these things now?”

She looks over my shoulder and her expression changes. “It looks like it's a conversation we're going to have to have another time, but I'll tell you this, if I had to choose as to who to have for my first time – Greythorne or the prince – then I know who I would choose.”

I stare at her in shock, and I'm just about to try to formulate a reply when a deep voice sounds behind me. “Good evening, ladies, getting in a little sword practice, are we?”

I turn to find the prince standing there, head-to-toe in black, looking devastatingly handsome and smiling a wicked smile at me and Kes.