(Completed) Seraphina [The Lost Queen Series: Book #1]

Chapter 10

"Only trust what is not tamed, Only true friendship will remain..."
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It felt odd for me to ride a horse with it knowing where to go. It's like Shade knew something that I didn't, which sounded crazy. Papa told me a story years ago about how animals have a better understanding of us than we think. They know what we feel deep down and some try to help us find our way when we are lost.

I'm not lost but it seems that Shade senses something if he insists on taking me home. I patted his mane as he trotted on as if he had no care in the world. "I wish to be as free as you are... You can escape to any place you wish... Maybe someday I will get that chance..." Snape has probably told Quincy what I said, now I must wait for the consequences... I'll be lucky to see the next dawn...

Shade jolted forward suddenly causing me to almost fall off his back. "Hey! What was that for!?" With a loud snort his ears flicked forward. Looking up I noticed that we've reached the village. That was impossible... It was a half day ride up to the castle wall, at least it was with a wagon... Looking at the sun through the thinning clouds I noticed it wasn't far past noon, two hours at most.

As we entered the village no one could be seen. It was silent enough for Shade's steps to echo in the mud. Looking down I noticed a lot of footprints going in the same direction. It was towards the burial grounds... They must be burying papa or someone else has passed on.

"Let's go check it out." Shade took off through the mud. Stray pieces flew onto my face and clothes but I wasn't concerned with it. I could see a lot of villagers standing with flowers as we reached the stone entrance. I quickly got off and marched towards the crowd. As people turned towards me they quickly moved out of the way.

Looking at flowers laying on the dirt made my heart ache. As I looked at the stone I noticed some type of flowers carved into it with an odd scribble under it. "Who did this stone work?" I didn't look behind me as silence followed my words.

"Papandreou had this made before he left to find you..." That's impossible... I slowly turned towards that familiar voice. Two hooded figures stood at the back of the crowd. Caspian removed his hood calmly and walked towards me. "Would you like me to read it?" I nodded uncertainly as I moved aside. Why was he here? Clearing his throat, Caspian raised his voice enough for everyone to hear. "Blooming flowers lay bare taking in fresh air"

What does that mean? I looked at Caspian who pulled out a rose and placed it on the grave. "Papandreou left a note for you as well..." After pulling out a folded note he held it out to me. Opening it slowly I saw that it was a page out of papa's forbidden book, "The Fallen Fates". I was never allowed to read this since it's about a revolt but papa must have known what would happen to him...

"Somber winds blowing through,
Change of old and change of new
Each one a wish to be found,
Secrets beneath the hidden crown
In the spring flowers lay bare,
Taking in the fresh air
Peace will follow like a dream,
Sounds of wind flowing free
Return the land of Barletta for all to see,
We are not enemies"

At the bottom was a name, Maria. Mother? After I read the letter aloud many people began to chatter. How is this meant to start a revolt? Looking at Caspian he was lost in thought. "It's clear to me that a storm is coming for us... Mainly because of me but this was going to happen for one reason or another. We can't keep living like this! Starving through winter, losing our crops during summer, and fall! We've lost so many because of this! It's time for us to act!"

"What do you have in mind?" An elder snorted his nose up. "I'm not fighting for any of ya! Too old for that. Plus I won't get nothin but trouble! I'd rather die in my sleep!"