Fire And Ice (Book 1) by Wayne Krabbenhoft III

while.”
                  “You could be my knight,” she said happily and clapped her hands together.  “You could go around fighting people who tarnish my honor.”
                  “Very funny,” he answered.  “I do not fight someone because of honor.”
                  “But you faced down Torvilin, didn’t you?” she asked him sounding confused.
                  “I suppose, but that was different.”
                  “How?”
                  “He was forcing his attentions on you. That was wrong.  It was not really about honor.”
                  “Is that the only reason?” she asked him with a look of expectancy.             
                  He didn’t know what she wanted to hear and could only tell her the truth.  “Yes, but I do not want you to be unhappy either.”              
    “What about you?” she asked.  “Have you thought about who you might marry?  I know that your father feels the same way about letting you have a choice.”
                  “I haven’t given that much thought either.  I suppose I will find the right person someday.”
                  She was silent for a moment before speaking.  “I want to show this to Margery,” she told him hefting the sword in her hand and moving to stand. 
                  He rose from the ground as well, and gathered their mounts who had regained their strength during the mock battle.  The princess mounted quickly then gave him an impish look.  “I will race you back.”  She dug her heels into her horse’s flanks and had a good lead before he even reached his saddle.
                  Startled animals skittered out of his path and frightened birds took flight as he followed her across the landscape with a sense of oneness between horse and rider that can only be obtained with two years and a great many leagues of companionship.  He had never named his mount, for some reason nothing ever sounded right and the horse didn’t seem to mind.  He cut her lead in half by the time they reached the road that passed by newly plowed fields on either side.  He would have caught her on the bridge if an empty, mule-drawn cart hadn’t been blocking one side.  He had to slow down and follow her the rest of the way across.  On the far side they brought their mounts together and proceeded at a walk into the city.
                  “At least we didn’t bet,” he grumbled at her.
                  “Of course we did,” she said.  “It was implied.”
                  He had to smile.  “And what did we bet then?”  He was forced to raise his voice over the clamor of the city.     
                  She smiled at him wickedly.  “I will let you know.”               They had to move to one side of the street as Torvilin and ten purple caped guardsmen passed by.  The Prince almost stopped at the sight of Coran, but realized where he was and continued on by without a word.  Katelyn he all but ignored.  His hatred blinded him to anyone else.
                  Coran watched over his shoulder until the party had disappeared through the gates.  The last time he checked Voltia was in the other direction.  That road turned north towards Westland.  Of course it branched off about a mile away, the southern route leading to Arryvestra.  Torvilin could be going there or somewhere along the way, but Coran’s gut told him that was wishful thinking.  A simple trip to a friendly neighbor might become very interesting.  He would have to be watchful as Margery suggested.
                  “Are you coming?” Katelyn broke his pondering.  She was gazing back at him with curiosity.  “Something wrong?”
                  “No, of course not.”  He smiled back and heeled his