"I'm called Isi."

"Isi. That suits you better than goose girl, doesn't it?"

Isi smiled, and a gust of wind blew away her hat, revealing her long, yellow locks and the diadem on her brow…

Geric became aware of a dull, throbbing pain in his right side. Wincing, he felt a cool compress be placed on his forehead. The sounds of a crowded infirmary filled his ears.

"Your highness?" asked a voice.

Geric groaned.

"Geric," said his father's voice.

Geric slowly opened his eyes. His father was standing over him, hands behind his back, his lips pursed, assessing Geric's wounds. Geric realized that he was shirtless; bandages swathed his right side.

"The wound was not too deep. No internal bleeding. He should heal well and quickly," said the voice – a court physician.

"Good, good," responded the king.

The physician held out a cup to Geric who took it. "For the pain," he said. Geric drank; it was bitter. The physician took back the cup and, bowing, left.

"How does it feel?" asked the king.

"Where's Isi? Did you capture Selia?" Geric interjected anxiously.

"The princess is well," answered the king. "The traitor has been caught. She had attempted escape through the passageway behind the throne." The king paced thoughtfully to the end of Geric's cot. "It was her undoing twice," he added grimly.

Geric looked down at his hands. It is staggering, he thought, that earlier today I was steeling myself to marry that woman. He shuddered internally.

"I still can hardly believe it all," said the king. "I don't want to believe it all." He sighed and glanced around at those within hearing, but he was quite drowned out by the noise. He sighed again, his shoulders sagging. "I am sorry, Geric."

Geric looked up, surprised.

"Ever since we learned of the treachery," said the king, "I have sorely regretted betrothing you. I have had doubts before, but never so severe as I did in knowing that I would have made you marry a fraud, traitor, and murderess. I feel sick to my core that such a marriage almost came to pass. I will never forgive myself."

"Father, I – "

"No, Geric," the king continued. "I am at fault. Therefore, I am changing my decision." He looked tenderly at his son. "Your betrothal was made without your consent. No longer. Marry who you choose to marry."

Geric gazed at his father, the words slowly sinking in. Marry who I love… I love Isi. But… now we are no longer betrothed…

"What will happen to Isi?" Geric asked.

"The princess is welcome to remain here forever as far as I am concerned," said the king. "We are very much in her debt."

"Hmm," Geric responded, ruminating. "And the war?"

The king pursed his lips. "I will convene a war council tomorrow, when you are well enough to attend. The gods know we have had more than enough to have dealt with today." The king grimaced, but looked thoughtful. "I had hoped that the traitors would reveal more tidings about the war as we eavesdropped, but it was not to be. Now we must figure our way out of this mess and soon."

The king sighed heavily and laid a hand on Geric's shoulder. "I am proud of you, son. You did well. You fought a trying first battle against an undeniable enemy, and you have proven your honor. I could not have more faith in my successor."

Geric's heart rose.

The king smiled and squeezed Geric's shoulder before beginning to walk toward the infirmary doors, but he turned around, a bit of a twinkle in his eye.

"If you love her," said the king – and there was no mistaking this 'her' – "as I suspect you might, there is only one option."

Geric's brow crinkled as he watched his father, confused.

"You will just have to ask her to marry you," his father stated, smiling. He left the room.

Geric could not help thinking that his father had only needlessly complicated matters – more so than they already were. With a sigh of exasperation that caused him to wince slightly at his dagger wound, Geric lay back against the cot, his mind churning.

As night fell, the man on the cot nearest to Geric shakily raised a hand, and the covers fell back revealing a heavily bandaged shoulder. It was the good Kildenrean man who had saved Isi by fighting Ungolad. A servant hurriedly covered him with another blanket, and the man's trembling subsided. He closed his eyes.

Geric motioned for the servant to come to him. "What is the name of that Kildenrean man?" he asked him.

"His name is Talone, sire. He came with the true yellow lady."

Talone! Is this the Talone Isi spoke of? "Are his wounds grave? Will he recover?" Geric asked anxiously.

"Oh, yes, my lord. He should recover. His wound is only taxing as he has suffered many more serious wounds before today. He has many scars."

"Oh," said Geric blinking. "Good, thank you. Please make sure that this man receives every possible comfort and attention. He is a true warrior and hero."

He bowed and hurried away.

Geric gazed at the man. So this is the escort Isi spoke of, to vouch for her tale, he thought. I am an utter fool not to put the two together! Of course this is the man she spoke of.

Not long after this revelation, Geric overheard a small commotion at the infirmary's doors, and he heard Isi's voice. His heart leapt. She has come to see me! Geric thought.

As he was hastily pulling more covers over his chest, he heard her ask to see someone else…

"Please, sir, I wish to see my countryman, Talone."

Oh, Geric thought, his heart deflating. He glanced over at Talone. The man was deeply asleep.

"No, my lady," a guard at the door told Isi. "You cannot enter. I am sorry."

"Please," she pleaded. "I need to know that he is well. Please, sir, let me through to him."

A court physician joined them at the doorway. "What is going on?"

"Please, can you allow me to see Talone? How does he fare?"

"No, Princess," answered the court physician kindly. "He is resting, and he doesn't need overconcerned friends awakening him."

"Oh," she said. "And he is alright? He will recover?"

"Yes," the court physician replied. "He is fine. He will recover in good time."

"Oh, thank you," she breathed. "Thank you."

She must have left, because the guard closed the doors, and the court physician returned to his task.

Geric felt alone… and rejected. Heartsick, he turned to the man on the cot beside him with new eyes. Does Isi favor Talone? The man was much older than she, but such a love was not unheard of, and marriages less so. Talone was a noble warrior and a hero, as well as someone she had long known.

The night passed slowly. Geric slept little. When he did sleep, he dreamed of what troubled him.

"I cannot love you as a man loves a woman. I am so sorry if I have presumed what is not true or have taken liberties with your sentiments…" Isi stared at him, then blinked. She lowered her eyes and faded into the crowd. Gone…

Selia, gowned in bridal splendor. The rubies of her diadem cried tears of blood.

Geric, in equal measure, sought and dreaded the coming day, and he chided himself for it. You daft, clumsy brute, he told himself sarcastically, almost cheerily. If you weren't so charming, how would you ever get by?

When awake, Geric distracted himself from the throbbing pain by observing the unconscious Talone. His hair was the Kildenrean yellow, but it was of a darker shade than Isi's or Selia's; his hardened face was lined, but it showed a strength and determination apparent in experienced warriors. Watching him, Geric wondered sadly, Do I no longer have a chance to be with Isi?

Author's note: I was always confused why Geric had to propose to Isi in the book, and this is my explanation - the king withdrew the betrothal. I also wondered why Geric would appear jealous of Talone. Since Isi did try to visit Talone and not Geric, I had Geric witness that to develop that jealousy and worry. The book raised some good questions, and it has been so fun to explain them through another character's perspective.