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Chap 3: Making arrangements

Cinnamon was blushing, a very interesting thing for the prince. Even through all his travels in China and Japan, he'd never seen a woman blush before. She looked almost ashamed with her head bowed and he wondered why. "I truly didn't mean to upset-I mean, I didn't wish to speak of your mother until later." She looked back up to his eyes. "Would you like to hear more of her, Master Herb?"

'So that was it,' he thought. She actually thought that she'd offended him, and it upset her. He filed that away for further analysis later. Herb considered the question of his mother, and made his decision. "At a later time." He looked her over once more, and once over the shock of seeing a woman, he noticed just how tired she seemed. Since she'd brought no horse and wore traveling clothes, it was safe to assume that she'd come in on foot. If she was to train him, (he almost smiled at the mental image that brought), then she would need to rest and at least bathe.

He frowned. 'Hmmm.' This could be problem. So many of his men had never laid eyes on a woman before in their memory. Their natural curiosity would cause them to want to look at her, preferably without clothing. Though she had claimed herself a fighter, he sincerely doubted she could handle the entire Musk army breathing down her neck.

Cinnamon resisted the urge to shift under the prince's intense red gaze. He was studying her like some scientists watch bugs. So she decided to look at something else. But there wasn't much else to look at. Except the men.

Rows on rows of men.

There had to be at least sixty in the hall and, she turned slightly to get a better look, more were trying to get in from outside. 'Oh, no!' this was exactly what she'd been afraid of. She was the only drop of estrogen in a sea of testosterone. The only woman most of these men had ever seen.

Cinnamon was a warrior, trained by the best. But she knew that she wasn't up to fighting an entire army! She was in deep, deep trouble if they got rowdy.

Herb noticed her slight lack of composure. It looked like she'd just realized how bad her predicament could be and was doing her best not to show that she was very close to panic. He frowned. He did not want her to be afraid while she was here. "Mint, Lime," he called. The two fighters shoved their way through the crowd and knelt before their prince. Lime was a young tiger warrior, maybe 18 yrs old, trained in the art of tiger mimicry, with cat eyes of green and stripes in his black and maroon hair to show it. He was huge and possessed incredible strength, shunning weapons in favor of his powerful fists. Mint was a wolf warrior of 12, and his speed was beyond amazing. He could use his daggers or sword to make his, ahem, point around other, older warriors. Herb chose them above all others because they were the only ones besides himself to have ever seen a woman before.

Lime spoke, "Yes, Master Herb?"

"You are to take Lady Cinnamon's bags to the room adjacent to mine. Make sure she is comfortable in her new quarters."

Cinnamon looked up at that, and so did Lord Sage. They quickly exchanged looks. Did Prince Herb understand what that would have implied? Had they been training at the capitol, it would have implied to everyone that Cinnamon was his mistress. Both doubted he realized it, but Cinnamon knew she'd have to tell him later.

"Lady Cinnamon, Mint and Lime will be your escorts for the time you're here. If you need anything, or protection from someone," he positively glared at all the men still trying to shove into the hall, "they will do as you ask."

She smiled brightly at him, momentarily dazzling him. She was quite pretty when she smiled. "Thank you, Master Herb, for your generosity." She looked the two boys over. Unlike 98% of the people in the hall, they weren't drooling over her. They looked rather composed. "They seem very collected, and I think we shall do well together." She walked over to them and smiled slightly. "Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it."

The smile proved to be too much and they both grinned up at her. "I-its our p-p-pleasure, Lady---Cinnamon," Lime managed to stutter out.

"We'll do our best." It took some effort, but Cinnamon didn't laugh at just how badly Mint's voice had broke on the last word. They rose, picked up her bags, and began to shove their way through the crowd to make a path for her. Due to the crush of people, it took a good five minutes to reach the hallway. The moment the trio had departed, Herb turned back to his men.

He spoke with deadly sincerity. "You will not touch her, on pain of death. No one is to go near the bathing areas of the palace if they even suspect that she is bathing. Only the laundry servants may touch her clothes, and only for a short time. Is that understood?"

Many disappointed faces gave their acknowledgement of his orders.

He thought of one last thing. "You are to help her. She will not understand some of the laws of the training ground, so you must help her when you can. But do not touch her." The men nodded once again, and Master Herb walked from the dais to retire to his quarters.

He just knew that this was going to be a very long night.

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boy I hope I'm keeping him in character. Please review!