CROWN JEWELS An Ellora’s Cave Publication, April 2004 Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc. PO Box 787 Hudson, OH 44236-0787 ISBN MS Reader (LIT) ISBN # 1-84360-823-5 Other available formats (no ISBNs are assigned): Adobe (PDF), Rocketbook (RB), Mobipocket (PRC) & HTML THE PRINCESS BRAT © 2004 KATHERINE KINGSTON THE MAN WHO SHOULD BE KING © 2004 MLYN HURN WHAT A QUEEN WANTS © 2004 BELLA ANDRE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. They are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously. THE PRINCESS BRAT edited by Briana St. James. THE MAN WHO SHOULD BE KING edited by Kari Berton. WHAT A QUEEN WANTS edited by Raelene Gorlinsky. Cover art by Syneca. CROWN JEWELS The Princess Brat By Katherine Kingston The Man Who Should Be King By Mlyn Hurn What a Queen Wants By Bella Andre THE PRINCESS BRAT Katherine Kingston Prologue The tavern was crowded and noisy, but the two men in the corner paid no attention to the chaos. They’d discussed the usual mundane things over an excellent dinner of stew and fresh bread: women, the stingy pay from the lords who hired them, which champions would participate in the tournament next week, women, which tavern had the best ale, women, and what their next jobs would be. Both were young, single, attractive, and scions of noble families. Baxter had the greater looks, but little money. Ryal had sufficient money for his needs, and looks usually adequate for drawing female attention. Both had dreams, ideas, and schemes, though Baxter’s always seemed more practical than Ryal’s. He was at an impasse at the time, however. Once they’d finished dinner and were deep into their mugs of ale, Ryal got down to his purpose in asking his friend to meet him. “I heard the king is looking for a tutor for his younger daughter. It’s the opportunity you’ve been seeking.” Ryal looked up and signaled the tavern wench to bring another round of ale. “It’s a way to get into the Grimmerson Court.” “It’s an invitation to hell.” Baxter smacked his tankard down on the table. “I’ve heard the stories about Princess Fanny. Spoiled brat was the kindest description anyone’s given her.” “All the better an opportunity. You get her sorted out, and the king will grant you anything you want.” Ryal looked at Baxter. “He might even make you a knight.” “I don’t want to be a knight. You have to practice with swords and lances. I’ve done all of that I ever want to do in this lifetime. And armor…armor’s hot and heavy and it clanks when you move. I don’t want to clank. I want gold. I’ve an idea for a business to bring merchandise to the country.” “I know. And you want to find the scurvy bastard who killed your papa,” Ryal pointed out. “And kill him,” Baxter added. “And kill him. How will you do that if you don’t want to practice with a sword or lance?” “My dagger.” Baxter pulled out the weapon in question and laid it on the table. The tavern wench delivering the ale saw it and pulled back for a moment. Baxter smiled at her. She blushed and put Ryal’s fresh tankard in front of Baxter instead. “Dagger’s no match for a sword.” Ryal grabbed the ale and frowned at the girl. “From behind. Same way the bastard killed Papa. I’m not stupid.” “Not very honorable, though.” “Honor’s worth naught to you if you’re dead,” Baxter answered. “I prefer to stay alive.” “That’s a lower-class attitude for a baron’s son,” Ryal commented. “A baron’s sixth son. Papa was a randy old rooster, but he didn’t deserve to die with a knife in his back. And he raised hearty sons. Many of them. With five living older brothers, I’m looking to secure my own future. I need gold to invest in my merchant plan.” “But being a baron’s son, even if it is a sixth son, you have a nobleman’s education. You would qualify for the job of making the princess presentable to the suitors the king’s rounded up for her.” “I can’t produce miracles, so I am not qualified,” Baxter insisted. “And I’ve no wish to do other than tup the bratty princess, perhaps after I’ve thoroughly tanned her bottom. This is not the job for me. I’ll find another way to get into the court and the king’s good graces.” Ryal studied his old friend with a thoughtfulness born partly of copious quantities of ale and partly of a natural cunning. “I do believe this is exactly the job for you. The king wants a strong man to take her in hand as she’s apparently run off every female and elder he’s had work with her. You’re strong enough for it, and that ridiculously pretty face of yours seems to have every woman you come across swooning to do whatever you will. Why should she be any different? At least go and speak with the king about it. Perhaps you’ll see another way while you’re doing so.” “Perhaps.” Baxter drained another tankard of ale. “It might serve, at least to get me into the court. I’ll talk to him.” Baxter would later conclude he must truly have been in his cups to agree to do even that much. He would certainly have time and occasion to rue his concession. Chapter 1 He really never had a chance. The gatekeeper at the main entrance and the guard at the door of the keep asked only for his name and place of origin. They admitted him with no hesitation when he provided the information. The doorkeeper to the main chamber asked the same thing. Baxter identified himself by name, and as the son of the late Lord Marko of Denzwig and brother to the current lord. The man followed up with, “Your business with the king?” “I understand the king seeks someone to assist him in certain personal matters.” “Ah.” A huge grin spread across the doorkeeper’s face. “You’ve come to take charge of the princess. Do you think you’ll have more success than the others?” “I didn’t necessarily come…” The doorkeeper ignored him and called to a woman he spied down the hall. “Lady Syndal, come anon. This lord’s son has come to take Princess Fanny in hand.” “But I didn’t—” “I believe he might be more effective than some of the others,” the man continued. Lady Syndal laughed heartily and bustled up. “Aye.” She studied him, running her eyes up and down his form in a way that made him blush. “Lord… Baxter,” she added when the doorkeeper repeated his name. “You’ve a rare face and form. Perhaps that will find favor with the princess. She’s had enough sour- faced harridans, old and young, and a few fierce gentlemen. None so winsome as you, though,” she said. “Mayhap it will be just the combination to win her cooperation. But can you be strong enough and stern enough to take her in hand? It’s a powerful will she has, and it has defeated all who’ve tried to tame her thus far. A pity she’s not more like her sister, as sweet and pretty and biddable a girl as anyone could want to see.” “My will is equal to any woman’s,” Baxter said. “But that is not really—” “Ah well, I hope it is so,” Lady Syndal said. “Come, let’s go to the king.” She took his arm as the doorkeeper opened the portal to allow them entrance to the main hall. He had no choice but to proceed down the aisle to the dais at the far end in her company. Most of the gathered throng took no notice of them, continuing their conversations in small groups scattered around the huge hall. The king sat on an enormous throne on the dais, consulting with a group of three men who stood around him. Nearby another group huddled around a very pretty young woman who wore rich robes and a silver coronet on her smooth, dark, glossy hair. She laughed with her admirers, encouraging their flirtations, showing charming dimples in her cheeks and sparkling lights in her blue eyes. Baxter couldn’t help but stare at her for a few minutes. The glowing vision was no doubt the elder princess. “Your Majesty,” Lady Syndal said to draw the king’s attention, at once curtseying and elbowing Baxter in the side to remind him to bow. “I have here the Lord Baxter, son of the late Lord Marko, who has come to take charge of Princess Fanny. He believes he can take her in hand.” Baxter coughed and said, “Well, in truth, I’m merely—” “My Lord Baxter! Son of my old friend, Marko!” The king stood up, stepped down from the dais, and came forward to envelop Baxter in a huge bear hug. The fur on the royal robe tickled his nose, and he feared the king would smother him in his enthusiasm. Breathing was touch and go for a few minutes until the king finally released him and stepped back. Baxter sucked in a good lungful of air, trying not to be too obvious about it. “You’ve heard of my difficulties with my younger daughter?” “Aye, Your Majesty, but I know not—” “She’s a wild one is Fanny.” The king bore on, ignoring his incipient protest. “Try as we might, everyone has failed to make her behave as suits a princess. If you can manage the task, I’ll be in your debt. The rewards will be considerable.” “But Your Majesty, I’m not sure if—” “You may have a free hand in her training. Use whatever methods you deem necessary. Short of taking her life, I give you free rein to do as you will with her.” The king sighed and turned away for a moment to stare at the lovely young woman Baxter had noticed earlier. “My elder daughter, Merry.” The king nodded toward the girl. The princess turned and inclined her head in his direction, giving him a brilliant smile.