treachery | t. holland

10. rushed feeling

The next day as you walked down the beaten road with your flock of geese in tow, Tony managed to catch up to you. After a few minutes with nothing but the erratic honking of ganders, he spoke up.

"I know you can do it."

You looked sideways at him. "Sorry?"

"The air thing. I know you can control it."

A small bubble of panic began to expand within you. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

You saw him roll his eyes. "You may think you can hide it from everyone else, but I know what you are. You're a freak and I'm going to get proof."

Before you could think of how to respond, he had jumped forward and was twenty feet ahead, too far to continue the conversation.

The day passed smoothly. You made sure to resist the urge to beckon for the wind, as Tony was clearly observing your every move, but the geese kept you more than occupied with their pestering and flapping.

It wasn't until after noon when the now familiar sound of a horse trotting through grass met your ears and you turned around.

Tom was here again, his broad chest and shoulders adorn with his usual bright uniform.

"Well hello," you smiled up at him as he neared the pond.

From across the water, you saw Tony's eyes narrow.

Tom dismounted and walked his horse over to where you sat with a goose in your lap and others nested in the folds of your dress and in the grass. "Are you busy?"

You glanced around as if looking for something. "I don't see anything on my schedule."

He grinned and held out a hand. "Come on then, you're going to love this."

With a half apologetic glance in Tony's direction, you let Tom help you up off the ground. However, as you mounted the horse and put your arms around Tom's torso, you saw Tony roll his eyes and glare at you. So much for feeling sorry.

As the two of you rode away, you sent a gust of wind rushing towards Tony, knocking his cap into the water.

Tom kicked the steed into action and you were whisked away into the rolling grassy fields.

"Where are we going?" You called into his ear.

"You'll see!" He yelled back.

The two of you raced towards the back of the palace and you felt your heart grow light. The speed of the horse was exhilarating and with your arms around the man you cared so deeply for, you couldn't remember a time you felt more giddy.

He took you to the outskirts of the forest again, where he'd shown you the secluded glade all those weeks ago. But instead of going all the way in, Tom turned left at the entrance and urged the horse a few steps more.

It was then that you saw his fellow guard Harrison in the trees, his hands holding the reins for two horses behind him.

You smiled as he waved up at you. "Good day," He nodded. "Might I interest you in a noble steed?"

You laughed, clearly thinking it was a joke, but when Tom turned his head to glance at you, you realized they were being serious.

"Wait, is that for me?"

Tom grinned lopsidedly and Harrison half rolled his eyes. "Of course it's for you. What, three horses for the two of us? That's just pointless."

You slid down from Tom's horse and approached the one Harrison was offering. He was a gleaming black stallion with wide nervous eyes. You sensed he was feeling skittish from all the enclosed foliage.