Of Steel and Blood

Chapter Two

In half an hour, Vassa found herself leading Echo out of the stables to the front door. Goren had shown her how to care for her horse, and given her the tools to do it. And, just before she left, he threw a heavy cloak at her.

"Thank me later," was all he said before leaving her. And now, she was moving away from the closest thing to a home she had ever known. She was leaving Eral Alora, maybe forever. And for as much as she would hate to ever admit it, fear spiked in her stomach.

Alec was waiting outside for her when she arrived, a thin blue cloak thrown over his shoulders. He was mounted on a great black horse, at least eighteen hands high, gleaming in the sunlight. Most likely Ryo, then. Alec took one look at her and sighed, then reached for a pack hanging from his saddle.

"Here," he said, throwing her a cloak similar to the one he was wearing, only shorter. It was made of the same material... silk, she believed, the same shade of dark blue. "I'll ensure you get your own when we arrive in Enlin."

"How far is Enlin, exactly?" she asked, tying the strings of the cloak around her neck, then swinging onto Echo. She had ridden many times before, just not on a horse so beautiful or strong.

"Twenty-five leagues west of here," Alec told her, nudging his horse into a walk. She did the same so she was riding on his right side. "If all goes well, we should arrive there by tomorrow around midmorning."

"Riding straight through the night?" Vassa asked with a scoff. "For if we do that, we'll be there much sooner than tomorrow morning."

"Oh, trust me Vassa, I know. We'll stop and make camp tonight and continue tomorrow. I have absolutely no intention of riding through the night, not in this area of the world. There is too much that appears at night."

"So it's still perfectly safe to camp at night around here?" She asked, her voice cynical. Alec eyed her sideways, smiling faintly.

"Are you worried about your safety or are you just trying to make me seem stupid?"

"Both," she said simply, shifting so she was more comfortable in her saddle. Distantly, in the back of her mind, she could hear Echo laughing. She reached down to stroke her neck. "I have no reason to feel safe around you, nor do I have reason to praise you. So I'll freely question your motives and trustworthiness all I want."

"You have quite a temper, Vassa. It's amusing," Alec said, pressing his lips together to keep from smiling.

"Of course it is," Vassa snapped. Her pride stung. Badly. "To you."

"Vassa, do not think that I seek to make fun of you," Alec told her, finally turning his head in her direction for a moment. As he did, Vassa could see the quiet understanding on his face. It was calming, easing her temper. "I know all too well what it is to be made fun of, to have people laugh at you for being who you are."

"I suspect there is a long story behind your words," Vassa said, looking back to the road. They were in the upper town now, and she was getting curious glances. But every one of them was kept swift and subtle as if no one wanted to question her. And every now and again, someone would bow in their direction, which Alec would respond to with a small wave.

"Indeed there is," Alec said softly. "But that story is not for now, nor for here. Maybe you shall hear it someday." He said nothing more as he urged his mount to a trot and began to weave his way out of the city, Vassa following close behind him.

They were a league out of the city gates when Alec spoke again.

"Vassa..." He looked over at her, then sighed. "Tell me about yourself."

"What do you want to know?" she said, hesitating slightly before answering. This man, Alec, had just appeared out of an alley wall, and now they were here, outside the city. Outside the only place in the world she knew.