War of Faeries

Chapter 8

The familiar scent of horse manure and hay is like an old friend welcoming me back to the life I once had, when we walk into the stables. There are several rows of horse stalls full of horses, another sign of this kingdom's wealth. He leads me down a row of stalls before stopping in front of a stall with a Gypsy Vanner.

"This is Crystal, you'll be riding her today." He says feeding her and apple from the bag next to her stall. "She is my horse actually." He whispers, petting her gently. I do the same thing; she really is a beautiful creature. Dark brown hair with white spots covering her back and bottom of her legs. She even has a diamond shaped spot on her nose.

"Here." He says handing me an apple. I bring it up to Crystal's mouth and she eats it out of my hand. She whines her appreciation and I smile at her, there is something accomplishing about gaining the approval of an animal that is special. "She likes you." He comments taking a small step closer to me.

I lean my hip on the stall and lean into Crystal's mane. I breathe her in and forget all about what I am going to be doing today. I have always admired Henry's horse and have always wanted a chance to rife her. I have always imagined stealing her and showing Henry that even his horse trusts me, but this will have to do.

Henry pulls the saddle down from the wall next to Crystal's stall, and I move out of his way before he says anything. "We use Crystal as a training horse for the kids." He says while tightening the strap on the saddle. "Most of the time." He adds as an afterthought.

"When you aren't using her for training purposes, what is she used for?" I ask leaning on the stall door.

"I use her for trips into other parts of the kingdom."

"Is that all?"

"No-but I don't want to worry you about things you have no need to worry about." He says standing up.

"Oh..." I trail off as he leads Crystal into the courtyard out of the stables.

"You should have an easy time riding her, she really is a good horse." He says helping me mount his horse. He strokes Crystal while he is talking to me, and the admiration in his eyes for his horse can't be faked- and with everything he has been through with her it would be hard not to admire her.

"Are you ready to go?" he asks taking a step back.

"Yeah, I should be able to wait here with her until you get your horse." I say bringing attention to the fact that he only prepared one horse, and I am currently on top of her.

"Don't worry about that, Crystal knows where she is going." Is his reply, as he slaps Crystal's flank which cause her to bolt out of the courtyard and she doesn't slow down until we are in the thick of the forest.

I urge her to go faster again, just so I can feel the wind whipping through my hair once more. I didn't realize how much I have been craving the feeling of freedom. I went from one cage to another one and didn't even fight for an ounce of freedom in the process. But here I am, and I am taking this as my fight, as my wake-up call.

When she finally does slow down to a stop once more, we are just deeper in the forest not that I mind. The forest is my home, this is where I belong. We are in the middle of a small clearing, and I can hear a brook bubbling nearby, and wildflowers are scattered everywhere around us. It looks and sounds like something one would imagine in a fairytale. As I am about to dismount an arrow whizzes past my head. I take a deep breath and spur Crystal into movement. I head deeper into the forest.

Henry wasn't behind me; he was hoping that he knew where Crystal was going and now, I have to deal with this problem before he gets to wherever we are. I am sure he wasn't counting on assassins to be here, but that doesn't change the fact that they are. The farther I head into the forest the less the arrows fly past us and sink into the tree trunks. Once I am sure the person shooting at us is far enough away, I dismount and send Crystal back to the palace.