UNDER SIEGE |COMPLETED|

⚔️Chapter Four⚔️

Chpt. 4.)
TIMELESS

It wasn't long before night set and the sun rose, and they were on the move yet again.

Kyah frowned, his body ached from consistent riding. His shoulders were sore, his back was too stiff, his hips pinched, and his thighs felt raw. The joys of riding a horse.

The pain didn't bother him much, though, he was more worried about Astoria. Her pace had decreased considerably, and her usual steady gait fell to frequent stumbles or trips. Her body was just as sore as his if not more.

"Can we rest? Astoria needs a break."

November shook her head from the front, "no, we need to keep moving. I know a spot we can rest, but we have to keep going until then."

Kyah patted his mare's shoulder, wincing when she tripped yet again. He sighed and slid off of her back, the ache in his body now a distant throb.

The others stopped, looking back at him curiously. "I told you we cannot stop."

Kyah nodded, unfastening the mare's cinch to release the girth. He pulled the saddle and pad off of her, placing the front of it on his shoulder while he held onto the saddle's skirt.

He took her reins gently and flipped them over her head, leading her along the path. "You're going to walk the whole way? It's a five hour trip from here," November commented.

"I'll manage."

With that, the four continued their way, November riding in the front alongside Pennsworth with Ari riding beside Kyah.

An hour and a half in, Kyah began to feel the affects of his choices. His back burned with anguish, his left arm cried with wistful relief, and his feet pounded from miles and miles of bumpy terrain.

He kept at it, on the fourth hour, his leg gave out. He fell rapidly, colliding into the forest floor with a groan. His body caved in at the relief, but not a minute passed before he was on his feet again.

     He lifted the saddle back onto his shoulder, visibly struggling to do so.  He debated switching to the other arm, it would be slightly easier and give his left a break.

     He didn't have to make that choice, however, Ari took the saddle from him.  Kyah blinked, he hadn't even realized Ari jumped down from Lightning.

     "I got it.  You take the saddle pad, I don't want Astoria's sweat mixing with mine.  Lightning gets jealous."

     Kyah chuckled, taking the saddle pad fondly before the two began walking.  An hour later, they had finally arrived at their destination.

     "We're here." 

     The prince looked around, they had stopped near the edge of a cliff.  About a mile along the cliff side a jagged mountain perched, overlooking the three hundred foot drop the mouth of the cliff alluded to.

     Trees broke the wild wind the cliff created, offering a nice cool breeze to dry away the boys and the horses' perspiration soaked skin. 

     November leapt down from her roan, waving over Pennsworth to help put up a high line.  Ari carefully placed Astoria's saddle on the ground, while Kyah untacked the ever impatient Lightning. 

     Once the high line was up, Kyah took off his mare's bridle and replaced it with a loose halter.  She withdrew a deep breath, rubbing her damp head against his torso. 

     The prince smiled, scratching behind her ears- a place he knew she loved.  She nudged him affectionately with her nose before her old worn out body laid down in the fresh soft grass.