Unlikely Places
"You're an Anduthian."
He paused, and turned to her, a half smile on his face.
"Oh? And how did you deduce that, may I ask?"
She gestured to his bare torso. "Your tattoos. The one one your left shoulder is your clan mark. The Rolkasa. The one on your right was your clade, the Wind Brotherhood. The small one on the inside of your wrist was your rank. You were shimava, a commander."
He raised an eyebrow, impressed. "How do you know all that?"
She blushed and looked away. "I...ah, I read it in...the...uh, Royal Library."
He stared. Then he started to laugh.
"Ooooooh, Lady Fate, you are a cruel, fickle bitch," he murmured, almost to himself. "The Princess Ludicia Vacorum. Well met, mi'lady." He bowed to her, almost mocking in the over exaggerated courtliness of it. "You come to me, one of the last of my kind, and one of the greatest foes your ancestors ever had, and ask me for help?"
She looked him square in the eyes now, head held high, unafraid. For the first time, he realized how young she really was. Only just into adulthood, if he was any judge.
"Yes," she said firmly. "I cannot undo the crimes of my lineage, but I can atone for them. I am asking for your help. I need your help, if I am to retake my throne."
Jastinius chuckled again, shaking his head in wonder. "Very well, little princess. Let us see about reclaiming your kingdom."
((This is a potential story idea that came to me in the middle of the night, and I wanted to put it down somewhere before it escaped.))