A Price for a Princess Read Online Free

me.
    "How long will I have to stay here?"  I asked, finally full.
    "We'll be stopping just outside of town for the night, princess."  Rysk said.
    "No, I mean, how long will I have to be in this realm?"
    They both stopped chewing and stared at me.  I waited for a response as my heart began to sink.  I had a feeling that I wasn't going anywhere outside of this realm, anytime soon.
    That was confirmed several seconds later when Rysk managed to swallow his food and clear his throat.  "You are here, princess, until the threat against your life and our kingdom is erased."
    I let them drop the conversation and waited for them to finish eating.  I think I’d known that before I asked, anyway.  After thanking the owners of the cafe for their delicious food and good service, we began our trek through town.  The short respite for my body disappeared quickly and I found myself limping slightly as I walked.  If they noticed, they didn't say anything, perhaps because they couldn't do anything about it.
    When we finally reached the end of the market area, I saw the Centaurs.  Women were with them, human looking ones, who worked with the male half-horsemen to sell food and clothing and other goods.  The men were huge, with full sized horse bodies of varying colors, and their human-like torsos atop the chest of the horse body.  Young Centaur children clopped around, their hooves making loud percussion noises on the cobblestone of the street.
    The Vehsi were easy to pick out.  They looked like trolls, with thick bodies and squished faces, and scraggly long hair.  I shuddered inwardly, and turned my attention to a stall that held clothing.  I gave Tyrant a nudge in that direction, motioning that I wanted to see the goods there.
    "Princess, we are in a hurry."  Rysk protested.  When I’d first met the two guards, I had found them good looking and exciting.  Now, they were acting more like overgrown brothers, and I had plenty of them back home in the den.
    I rolled my eyes as I stopped in front of the stall, fingering the hem of a pretty purple dress made of silky fabric.  "What's an hour when we're over a week out?"  I groused.  "You guys are no fun."
    "Hello, pretty lady," the woman said behind the stall, moving around from the back to the front.  Her body was round with child, and the Centaur male with her came up protectively at her back, resting a large hand on her shoulder and giving meaningful glares to Rysk and Tyrant.
    "Hello yourself," I smiled, happy to see a friendly human face.  "Your clothing is just beautiful."
    "Thank you," she blushed.
    I looked up at Rysk.  He could certainly make up for his slave-driver mentality by buying me something pretty.  I was a girl, after all.  And a teenager.  I had been pretty genial up to this point, I think, so pouting a little wasn't going to hurt.  "Buy this for me."
    "Princess," he said with a low tone, casting his eyes up at the Centaur.
    "What?  You said I stuck out like a sore thumb.  This is pretty and I want it."
    Tyrant argued, "You're the one who said you wouldn't change your clothes."
    "I changed my mind.  I'm a woman and we do that."
    The Centaur chuckled softly and so did the woman, and Rysk and Tyrant shot them annoyed glances.  I folded my arms and cocked my hip, ready to dig my heels in.  If I really was a princess in this land, then I could damn well have a pretty dress.
    Rysk sucked his teeth in annoyance and then reached into a pouch on his belt and asked how much the dress cost.  With a wink at the woman and a triumphant smirk to Rysk and Tyrant, I turned my attention back to the street and the colorful people there.  I could get used to this place, which is why it was unfortunate we were nearly out of the market and the main portion of the town.
    Centaurs milled about on either side of town amongst the Vehsi and other types of creatures.  I saw his legs first, sleek black with a solid black tail whipping gently.  My gaze traveled across the