Reasons for Silence

Not My Plan

Chapter Ten ~ Amador

            I didn’t know who to be most upset with; the scum who captured Serefina, the filthy man who sold her, the bastard who bought her and then thought that he could get away with putting a ring on her finger, or my parents for not letting me go after her in the first place.

            I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. The important thing was that I had her now. Which, in itself, was an extraordinary thing seeing as how this is the first time that she’s even seen me.

            I had an arm wrapped tightly around her and I appreciated the opportunity to be so close. I took my eyes off the road for a moment to look at her. She kept her face downcast toward my chest. She clung to the arm that I had around her with desperation. I tilted my head.

            “Have you never ridden a horse before?” I asked.

            She shook her head no.

            “I have,” she said and gasped as we jumped over a pile of branches, “just not quite at this velocity.”

            I raised my eyebrows and smiled.

            “I’m sorry,” I said, slowing to a canter, “I didn’t mean to scare you,”

            She let out a breath.

            “Thank you,”

            “When have you ridden a horse before?” I asked, suddenly curious.

            “After I met,” she cleared her throat, “Sir Kobe.”

            I made a face and rolled my eyes in annoyance. Thankfully she didn’t see.

            We were silent for a while after that. I was surprised when Serefina was the one to break the silence.

            “Am I in trouble?” she looked up at me through squinted eyes.

            “Why would you be in trouble?” I asked her furrowing my eyebrows.

            “Isn’t that why you and the other guards came?” she said sitting up straighter.

            “Other guards?”

            She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

            “Why did you take me?”

            I slowed my horse to a stop, taking in Serefina’s face. It suddenly occurred to me that she had no clue who I was – and why would she? She thought that I was a Royal Guard.

            After considering her face for a few moments I spoke finally.

            “Now’s not the time for that particular explanation,” I said.

            She bit her lip and fiddled with the ring on her finger. I made a face just looking at the thing.

            “Is it that bad?” she asked, looking out ahead of her.

            I sighed. I didn’t want her thinking that she was in danger of being arrested, but this also wasn’t the time or the place to tell her that I was going to marry her.

            “Just, don’t worry about it,” I said and started the horse up again and she held on to me once more.

            I tried not to think about the man who took Serefina as we rode back to the Palace, but the subject never left my mind. What had he done to her? Why was she wearing a ring? A thought occurred to me; what if she wanted to be with him? I shook my head – I could not entertain the idea. If that were the case I would change her mind.