Hope In The Darkness

Chapter 17

I awoke to something poking my face and the smell of eggs nearly caused everything in my stomach to make an abrupt appearance.

As my eyes fluttered open I found Henry hovering over me with a bowl of warm eggs as he smiled.

"Well there you are. I was wondering if I would have to drag you out of bed." He mumbled as he shoved a spoon of eggs into his mouth.

"Where is Paige?" I asked, leaning forward, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

"The others are finishing eating and I was the lucky bastard to come wake you."

Henry replied as he left the bowl near the nightstand and began to make his way out of the large bed chamber.

"Get ready sunshine, we will be heading out in 20 minutes." Henry fished as he closed the door behind him.

Jumping to my feet I headed towards the Lady of the house closet.

After a few minutes I found some tight cotton pants and a man's white shirt.

Thankfully the women's closet I was in wore nearly the exact same size as I did.

However the shirt was a little baggy near the breast area making me think she must have massive boobs.

Once I had the tightly fitted clothes on, I used a ribbon I grabbed from the bathing chambers to tie back my hair as I made my way towards the stables.

The early morning chill felt damp against my neck as I turned towards the stables where the others waited.

"Why are there only three horses?" I questioned as Ralph helped Paige up onto his large pure white horse.

"We shall retrieve Blake and Finley on our mission to save Aunt Rose." Paige said once she adjusted herself in the saddle, leaving room for Ralph.

"You shall ride with me." Leo sat as he held his hand out for me to take.

Rolling my eyes I took a few steps towards where Henry sat at the top of his large hazel brown stead.

"I wouldn't mind you riding my horse." Henry said, causing bile to rise from my already not stable stomach.

"I believe I shall ride with Leo instead." I said as I glared at a smirking Leo.

Slowly I climbed up onto the large dark gray horse, feeling the saddle dig into my thighs as I grabbed a hold of the reins.

I could feel the horse shift its weight beneath me as I felt Leo move closer to my back.

He wrapped a dark cloak around my shoulders and without having to look I knew he tied a perfect knot around my neck.

Once it was on I felt his hand move against my back as he took the reins out of my hands.

I adjusted my position and sighed in relief once the saddle wasn't digging into my thighs.

Henry took the lead of our makeshift guild as Ralph and Paige followed behind Leo and I.

The horses took off as the crunch of fallen leaves under the horses' hooves created sound to fill the awkward silence in the air.

About an hour or two into our journey we slowed the horses due to the rocky terrain of the hill we had to travel up.

As the horse's weight shifted beneath me I could feel my heart pounding rapidly in my chest as I glanced behind me where we had begun our journey up the steep mountain.

"Even though this isn't my horse I chose this one for its strength." I heard Leo whisper into my ear.

"Well this large beast doesn't seem to have a good footing. As we lean side to side as if we are on a ship at sea."