Touran examined what remained of the wound in Kaden's chest, feeling the edges and tickling the boy's innards with his fingers. "It healed well," the Royal Physician commented, discarding the old wrappings once covering the gash. "Not completely, but well."

"Can you still see my heart?" Kaden asked from where he sat on the edge of the bed, flexing his left arm and fingers.

"Yes, but just barely."

He wondered. "Can you give me another application of that stuff to finish the job?"

"I don't think another dose will make a difference at this point." He checked Kaden's back, which was solid once more. Although it had a nice scar. "The edges look to have healed, and the wound is about a third the size it was before. You'll just have to be very careful. I would suggest you always wear something to protect that." His pointing to the wound was emphasis for his words.

Then Touran checked the girth of Kaden's arms with a caliper he had readied nearby.

"My body feels stronger," Kaden said.

"It should." Touran examined the results of his measurement. "I'd say you developed about ten percent muscle growth from the treatment. Not bad."

"Is that normal?"

"For a typical man, it is about two percent. Maybe five in exceptional cases. But you're so lean that I think ten percent is about right."

"Great. Wouldn't happen to be permanent, would it?"

"Permanent?" Prince Relastin's Chief Physician laughed. "No, nothing is ever permanent, my boy. If you do not exercise, you'll lose that muscle mass just like anyone else would. So I suggest you train hard under the prince's care. I can give you something though that will help you gain muscle faster. A scrawny Karo Shar simply won't do. Either for effectiveness, or for appearances."

"Probably a good idea that I take you up on that offer then."

"Yes. I agree. I will whip you up a few batches for treatment." Touran returned the calipers to a table. "Just remember what I said about exercising."

"Thank you. And maybe you could show me the methods for making these mixtures sometime?"

"Perhaps." Touran rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "If you survive long enough, I will share some secrets with you regarding how I make them. Although the Karo Shar should not be dabbling in such menial arts. He should be focused on learning the blade."

The princess clearing her throat interrupted them. She stood in the doorway, her silks flat in the breezeless air. "If you don't mind, Touran, I would like to speak to the Karo Shar." She then added, thinking it necessary to clarify, "Alone."

The old man stammered a few false starts at a reply and then said, "The Karo Shar is under my care, princess."

"Is he going to die?" she asked with a bemused and playful tone. "He looks rather healthy, if not feeble, to me."

Kaden blushed even though he was being insulted.

"I assure you," Touran replied, "the Karo Shar is as healthy and virile as Hordarian Bull."

The princess's face twisted. "Did I ask about the latter? As though his sexual desires play any thought in my mind. I will request again that I wish to speak with him, alone."

Touran conceded and apologized all at once. "I understand, my princess." He patted Kaden on the shoulder. "Good luck to you," he muttered under his breath. "You're going to need it with that one."

"You act like I'm going to ravage him," the princess snarked. "And then devour him like a Black Rohs. Or perhaps a Suhrji. I assure you, Touran, that both are the furthest things from my mind."

Touran bowed to her and left the room without saying another word.

Kaden pushed up off the side of the bed and was immediately met with a shove to the still sorest part of his chest. One that the princess used to force him not only down, but onto his back. The princess reached up under his black urk and grabbed him angrily by his manhood. She squeezed and twisted. It hurt, but was also slightly stimulating and forced a minor stiffening as Kaden screamed silently.

That seemed to set the princess slightly aback as she continued to hold on. "That," she said, "is an interesting response consider what I'm doing is not meant to arouse you." She added more force that caused Kaden to cry out in agony and silenced his manhood's attempts at dominance over her. "Now you listen to me, you little shit. I'm not about to marry a whelp like you. Or any man my brother chooses. Am I clear? I make my own choices."

Kaden tried to throw up his hands to display a willingness to surrender, feeling the force this woman was able to muster. Her silks were just sheer enough along her arms that he could see the tight definition in her lean muscles as they tensed.

"In case you haven't gotten the hint," Kaden grunted his response and winced, "I'm not exactly thrilled about the idea either."

"Really?" Again her grip tightened with a bit of added rotation. "Why? Do I disgust you? Am I not pretty?"

Kaden could now barely form words. And those he did manage came out between grunts that made it sound like he was dying. "Honestly, my princess, you're quite attractive." His mind then started to ramble and his mouth follow suit. "Like a Shardard Rose that blooms only in the King's private gardens in Imeron. I've only heard of their beauty, but I can only image you rival it, if not far surpass it."

"Then why don't you want me?" she asked.

"Honestly," Kaden took a moment to gain enough of his senses to reply. "It's because from the moment I saw you, I could tell you weren't exactly thrilled--" His words cut off, but continued. "Thrilled about the concept of an arranged marriage with me. That's not exactly a basis for a healthy relationship, if you ask me."

Lyla released him. "Now that's interesting. I'm not sure whether you're chivalrous, or a coward."

Kaden grabbed his privates with both hands to protect them from further assault. He imagined them to be the darkest shade of blues and purples after the force that had been applied to them. "Could it be perhaps a little of both?" he said, trying to add a bit of humor and disarm the situation.

The princess did not laugh. She didn't even crack a smile. She did however climb on top of him and pressed herself down on him, hers silks and his urk the only things between them.

Kaden felt the force of her legs as they clamped around his hips and thighs and as she pinned his hands to where they were on his groin with only the force of her pelvis. She leaned forward, bringing her covered breasts close to his face. "I will not marry a weakling. A boy who cannot even defend himself against a woman is pathetic. And, as I said before, I am not something to be bartered."

"Of course not, my princess." Kaden continued to try and show he meant no harm to her, but couldn't free himself.

Lyla reached for his wrists, pulled his hands out from under her, and pinned them to the bed. The princess then rocked against his crotch. The sensual motion reawakened his still sore manhood. But even so, it yearned for her.

She looked down and back at what was covered but obvious, and that could only be felt growing between their clothing. She pondered it. "You do have, it seems, at least one redeeming feature. That's quite a demon got hiding under that urk." Then she returned her look to Kaden's eyes with all seriousness. "But that is not what I am primarily after. My plans go far beyond being a common sow to bear children."

"Oh, I don't think you'll have to worry about that fate," Kaden said, still trying to be witty.

"Good. Thank you for understanding." Suddenly, the princess was off of him, leaving Kaden with his distinct and visible problem. Lyla smoothed and straightened her silks. "You probably should take care of that, Kaden, Son Orl, Traitor of Ison."

"Wait." Kaden sat up. "You know my name?"

"I know more about what is going on in this palace, this city, and this kingdom than even my brother." Princess Lyla moved to leave, but she stopped before the doorway. And she smiled. "A Shardard Rose you say? Interesting. That is perhaps the first time any man, or boy, has ever compared me to something so magnificent. And I have been compared to many beautiful things."

She left, leaving Kaden to ponder exactly what the entire encounter he'd just had with the princess truly meant. And what exactly he should do with the problem she'd left him with.