Warnings: I'm not a big fan of family…

17.

Lohengrin, being practical, trailed Mirian at a discreet distance, keeping her in his sight at all times. It wasn't that he didn't trust the Lamarans, or even Mirian's family, but he thought it to be good form to be ever watchful. Who know what might jump out from around the next corner?

He watched Mirian laughing and smiling and looking happier than he had since he had known her. She was beautiful, in her own way; though she didn't have the golden charm of her younger sister, Mirian was like a shadow, teasing the sunlight throughout the day. Cautiously, he followed the small party, sidestepping the inhabitants of the castle and their odd looks.

"Excuse me, sir!" Lohen turned, mildly irritated, to the young boy who had just stopped him.

"Yes?" Lohen smiled half-heartedly, not happy to be detained while he was trying to trail Mirian. "Be quick, about it, why don't you."

"Sir Caltrian wishes to see you, now, if you please."

Lohen groaned inwardly; Caltrian Ashwar was not one of the people that he was pleased to know personally. In fact, Lohen wished fervently that he really didn't know the man. "If it pleases Caltrian, I suppose so."

"Thank you, sir, please follow, sir." The squire made a quick bow and then led Lohen in the opposite direction that Mirian was taking. Lohengrin sighed mightily; family obligations always seemed to call at the worst of times.

Thayer stood at the window, feeling the draft seductively caressing his face. Spring days were warm, but the nights were cool, echoing the harsh winter which had just passed. Idly, he wondered how Lohengrin was faring in the northerly Lamar, but didn't give it more than a passing thought.

"So, Prince Corbin, you are here once more to beg for my help." Thayer turned from the window, setting pensiveness aside in favor of direct frankness. "What have you to say this time?"

Corbin, Crown Prince of Syrlan, stood stiffly in front of Thayer. "I do not beg." His lips barely touched upon a smile. "I come to hire."

"I see." Thayer settled into a hard chair. "What have you to offer?"

"Remuneration, naturally. Favors, perhaps. Obviously your assets will be greatly improved once you come to Syrlan's aid; though she is not a monetarily wealthy country, other things within her borders do have value. Trade agreements could possibly be arranged." Corbin's hands remained still, if tense, in an interlocking pattern, fingers crossing fingers.

"I see no profit in trade, dear Prince." The mercenary leaned forwards. "We are not a country, we are three men. We have no merchants, no ports or caravans. We do not need trade." His voice settled into a low timbre, rumbling into the stale are.

"But you do need money," Corbin pointed out, allowing a small flash of emotion to spark in his words. "No man can live without money."

"You'd be surprised." Thayer nodded. "But yes, we will need monies at some point in time. But perhaps this is not one of those times?"

Corbin smiled, for the first time seeming to enjoy himself. "Syrlan can provide food, shelter and any material thing that you may want. She is not dependent on other nations for trade; Syrlan is self-sufficient." It was obvious that the Prince took pride in his homeland.

"I see." Thayer nodded once more. "Perhaps you may want to expound upon some of these 'material things' that you have." He grinned. "What can you offer us that we don't already have?"

"Horses, fresh and good; they are found in the Aspeth province and are quite the animals. You would not be in want of a good mount. Or, perhaps, you might need a variegated food supply; Syrlan would be more than happy to provide you with items that you would not be able to grow and care for on your own, provided that you helped her with her wars." Corbin raised his chin defiantly. "The finest blacksmiths on the Continent live and work within Syrlan. You would not be in want of a good blade."

"Horses, we have, as do we blades. The food offer is tempting, I must admit, but Wythin is closer and readily supplies us with those things we need. I see no reason to suddenly switch our allegiance to you and risk some form of retaliation from the Wyth. What benefit would that have for us?" Thayer settled into his chair. "Please, tell me, Prince Corbin."

Corbin of Syrlan proceeded to do just that, extolling the products that his beloved homeland created. Thayer was thoroughly impressed by the time the young man was done, both with the bargain on the table and by the young man's faith in his country. He smiled at the defiant prince before him, genially extending a hand. "I do believe we have a deal, Prince Corbin of Syrlan."

Corbin crossed his arms. "There is one more thing."

"And what might that be?" Thayer let his hand fall to his knee.

"The Princess who was here." Corbin swallowed nervously.

"What about her?" Thayer was suddenly wary. "I do not traffic in people; I am not a slave trader."

Corbin's resolve visibly hardened. "Exactly, Thayer." His sensuous lips curved into a sly smile. "You must not hold her prisoner, else you seem to hold a slave yourself."

"She is a slave to naught but her father's promises." Thayer considered his words, "And she is not even slave to that, merely a token of good faith, much as her sister is to the King of Lamar."

The prince frowned. "I demand that she must be released at once. Where are you holding her captive?"

"And what would you do with her once you had her?" The mercenary smoothed his face into an emotionless visage.

"I would return her to her proper place, with her country and Queen." Corbin raised his chin haughtily. "I would make sure that she was protected from all evils and free her from this prison."

Thayer almost chuckled at the bravado of the younger man. "And what then? Would you enter into negotiations to marry the young lady in question?" He allowed the faintest of smiles to deepen the corners of his mouth. "She would foreswear her country if she did, you know. She would not do it." He added, as an afterthought, "I don't believe she would do it."

"I think otherwise, mercenary." Corbin flailed desperately in a sea of possible answers. "She would do it! For the sake of her country and her people, she would!"

"So you would declare war on Wythin and fight on two fronts, then, when you are already stretched as it is?"

"No." Corbin murmured softly. "I would not." He paused to think. "I am sorry, Thayer of the Kalid-Na'in. I did not mean to speak so rashly." He bowed his head. "I would appreciate it if the release of the lady Princess was appended to our agreement."

"No." Thayer held out his hand once more as an offering of good faith. "If you leave Wythin's eldest princess out of our agreement, I pledge the support of the Kalid-Na'in to your country, Syrlan, in return for the goods and material items that you see fit to supply us with, as mentioned before." He shrugged. "You may come at a later date to discuss the fate of Wythin's Princess. She must be present if we are to negotiate about her."

Corbin let a look of pure relief slide across his expression. "Thayer, mercenary of the Kalid-Na'in, you are kind beyond measure." He bowed from the waist, then placed his hand in Thayer's. "We come to an accord."

"Indeed we do." Thayer nodded and dropped the prince's hand. "Give us a week's notice anytime you need us, and we will be at your beck and call."

Corbin smiled. "Excellent."

Lohengrin glared at his eighth cousin thirteen times removed. Caltrian Ashwar, though only distantly related, had never let Lohen forget the tie. "Lohengrin! It is so good to see you again!" The sycophantic smile was smeared across the younger knight's face.

"Caltrian." Lohen nodded solemnly. "I hope this is important."

"Family is always important, Lohengrin!" Caltrian smiled beatifically. "I haven't see you in so long! You really should come to Lamar more often, instead of staying holed away in that little keep you call a garrison." Caltrian had the particular gift of making every word that came out of his mouth insulting. "I miss my favorite cousin!"

"Of course you do." He nodded. "What do you want?"

"Well, I need to introduce you, of course! The court is just dying to see my long lost cousin, you understand. They all wonder what you're like! I've told them so many things and yet, they don't feel as if they know you at all." Caltrian's eyes were bright, avariciously looking at Lohen. "And I'm offering you a place to sleep. The Lamarans don't think that you sleeping with Mirian is exactly the most proper arrangement, you see, so it would be just so much easier if you would merely consent to live with me, my dearest cousin!"

A quick headshake cut Caltrian short. "I was charged with protecting the Princess and I cannot do that if I am separated by so many stone walls. The quarters near her residence will be satisfactory, thank you."

The young noble looked crestfallen. "But Lohen! Your supreme obligation is to your family!" He gestured inclusively, "Blood speaks louder than any vow."

"Caltrian, cousin, your offer is kind, but I must decline." Lohen shrugged. "Duty is paramount."

Caltrian almost pouted. "I see, Lohengrin. I was merely trying to spare you the rumors that will no doubt circulate about the court."

Lohen refrained from making any overt gesture of disbelief. If you were trying spare me anything, Caltrian, Lohen thought to himself, pigs would certainly sprout wings and fly. "Now that you have presented me with your kind offers, I take my leave of you." Lohen sketched a quick bow. "Till next time, cousin."

As the door shut behind him, blocking out Caltrian's muted glare and his flunkey's shock, Lohen's heart eased. With his cousin out of the way for the time being, the rest of his day would be so much easier. He only hoped that the man would stay away for the next week, but somehow he doubted that would happen.

With a slightly happier outlook on the day, Lohen went in search of Mirian. Without a Princess to protect, he was nothing more than a strange man in a foreign court. But, he knew, he had a purpose.

Thayer had entrusted him with this, and he couldn't fail his friend.

Author's Note: Hooray! Another chapter! It's little on the short side, but other than that, I think we're good. I'm happy with the reappearance of Corbin especially; I missed him. )

I hope you all liked this chapter too—if you would be so kind, I would appreciate any feedback that you have. Thanks in advance!