Born to unite (Born to be a slave; Book III)

27

RICHARD's POV

Her man gently placed his hand over her shoulder while holding the reins in the other. His expression had become relaxed. Reina gazed at him with dreamy eyes. I couldn't help but feel strange pain invade my heart. How could she allow him – the mere guardsman – to behave so casually as if his highness stood on the same level as him? The princess should put him in his place. I would do it myself, but ... I was no fool to command her subordinates nor confront Arian in that matter. He was a much bigger man than I have grown into. If I was not born noble and with privileges that shaped my mind, I would cower just in his presence alone. His aura was formidable.

The princess's maid seemed to be the most affected by it. I don't know what relationship they had, what had caused her to fear him more than others, but it was evident in her expressions, how she carried herself when he was nearby or observed her surroundings all the time as if being hunted.

Aye stood calmly as ever. He was a fine horse. My father had bred his predecessors with care, but not in a sense to acquire the best animal for show or work. He wanted to treasure and keep with himself the little part of his childhood companion, the 'wild' horse he had grown up with. He told me the animal was fierce, wild in his character, no person could tame him fully the way my father talked to him without words. It was like his other half, harboring all frustrations for the world. It was black, with mane and tail taking the same color, with eyes murky as the night. He called him Storm. The only other person who understood him was my mother, she had the gentle power over the Storm and my father too. Aye had turned out to be the opposite of his old stallion. Soft and obedient that a child could ride him alone, calm and observant, and with a strong mind that no situation could take him off the tracks. His physique could compare with the build of a warhorse, but his gentle nature had saved him from that occupation. Only his eyes were a miracle to my father as if the horse truly had inherited the blood of our family.

Father wouldn't want to part with him in normal circumstances, but the arrival of the royals from faraway lands had changed his mind – that maybe he should leave the old remnants of his companion in the past.

I couldn't take my eyes away from Arian. He was too close to Reina and too often treated her with disrespect - that behavior which should be acquainted to her closest ones not the lower classes as him. I felt like it was my duty to guard her from his advances.

He examined the horse with eyes at first, stepping a few strides before the animal, staying for a moment behind and then walking around it. Then his hand reached up to examine the horse's muzzle. He further slid his palm firmly over the Aye's withers, continuously gliding over the mid part of the back, pressing his fingers in some points making the horse curve sideways, while taking the same action on the lower back, Aye's back arched just slightly. Being done with that, Arian proceeded to lift each leg, feeling every muscle and joint as well as examining the front limbs and hooves. It seemed he knew what he was doing. I had seen only on rare occasions when the groom did something similar. I was no expert on horse matters. Arian seemed to have some deep knowledge.

Their eyes almost matched in shade, only Aye's gaze still held the dark pupil. It seemed the horse was truly meant for him.

Would he take good care of Aye?

"You better treasure him." I couldn't help but express my concern.

"You don't need to tell me that." Arian's response almost sounded like a bark. I wondered what he meant by it.

"Don't worry about your animal, Prince Richard. There couldn't be anyone better for the job. Arian's skill and knowledge are far above my own. I only know the art of riding not the job of an experienced groom." Reina said, still holding her gaze on Aye and her guard.

"The same with me."

A light smile grew on my face, realizing we had something in common. Her skin was bright under the daylight. Her hair surpassed the quality of silky strands of mine and the shade matched the raven's shine. I wanted to skim my fingers through them, but I told myself not to invade her space. She might not like it. Further down Reina was not gifted with voluptuous curves like some of my favorite ladies in the city, but for some reason, it didn't bother me as much as I would have thought. Today she wore a pink dress, which covered her chest tightly. The resemblance to airy cranberry mousse gave me the hunger for the well-made dessert. Would she like it?

Her guard's hard stare broke me out of daydreams. His focused eyes scrutinized me as if he knew my deepest thoughts. I disliked his boldness, the way he treated everyone around him as if holding the status of a higher being.

"The horse has been well taken care of. I will take him." Arian informed the princess.

Reina smiled with her eyes. Could I ever get away from him, so she might gift that expression for me at some point? Maybe to take her far away? To our house in the countryside? Ride the fields as she liked?

"You mentioned riding, my princess. Would you enjoy some time away from the city? No hungry eyes would peer at us, no jealous smiles would take my time away from you." I sensed Arian still eyeing me. "I mean, all those intruding citizens are a hustle to deal, with such a beauty behind the gate.

Reina giggled, but she tried to contain her excitement. "That would be a delight. Would my guardian be able to try out the strength and skill of the horse?"

Her words somehow upset me. She wanted him everywhere. Did she keep him in her room too?

"Don't worry, Prince Richard. I will try to keep him distant throughout our activities. Though... the man still has my life as a priority." Reina raised herself on her toes and whispered in my ear. A pleasant shiver run down my neck. Her compromise satisfied me and eased my worries a bit more. Also, was I showing my displeasure so clearly that she knew my concern?

"Shall we go and have something to eat in the garden?" I couldn't stop thinking about the cranberry mousse, especially if Violet was the one making it. The taste of childhood... The times I sat in that fragrant garden and listened to my mom's stories of her past.