Battle Horse

Chapter Twenty Nine

The Celtica castle was larger than Redmont, but smaller than Castle Araluen. It was a bustle of activity as she rode through the square. Market day, perhaps. Several children stared at her in awe as she and Dancer rode past. She had changed into her nicest dress before entering the village, but it was still poor material. She simply looked like a little girl atop a beautiful battle horse...which she was.

Ena halted Dancer at the stables, passing him off to a stable boy. She gave Dancer a look, asking him to behave, which she hoped he understood.

"Ena! I knew it was you!" The curly red headed maid attacked her with an embrace.

"Evanlyn!" Ena beamed.

"I was walking through the corridors and saw you coming through the window. I figured it was you since Dancer is pretty noticeable." Evanlyn blabbed. She spoke a lot, but that was simply an admirable trait of the beautiful serving girl.

"Is Princess Cassandra here?" Ena asked. Evanlyn nodded vigorously, taking her hand and leading her into the large castle. They ran into Cassandra and Princess Madelydd in the corridors.

"Ena!" Cassandra said grinning. She pulled Ena into a large embrace. "It's great to see you!" Ena gave her an exhausted smile. She was just happy to have some familiar faces. "What are you doing here?" Ena glanced at Princess Madelydd.

"No disrespect, Milady, but I'd rather speak in private." Ena said as politely as possible. Madelydd smiled.

"No disrespect at all, I must find my father anyway." She said sweetly. She acknowledged Evanlyn and Cassandra with a nod of her head and continued down the corridor. Cassandra and Evanlyn then led Ena to Cassandra's chambers. Once the door was locked, Ena finally let it all out, in the form of tears.

"I've been banished from Araluen!" She sobbed. Cassandra and Evanlyn stared at her in shock. Evanlyn overcame her shock first, embracing Ena tightly.

"Tell us everything! Start from the beginning!" She insisted. Ena than launched her story from Alda in the stables, to stealing Dancer. Finally ending with Cassandra's father banishing her from Araluen, on penalty of death.

"Did you tell him it was for the horses life?" Cassandra asked, horrified by her father's actions.

"There was no argument. I am a thief of Kings property. Since Dancer went wild, no one wanted him. Bob fixed him up and gave him to me. He's all I have left now." Cassandra scoffed.

"This is ridiculous! We're in the middle of a war, and my father concerns himself more with his own subjects thefts than the true culprit. Morgarath is getting stronger!" Cassandra exclaimed. She began pacing her chambers. "He's up to something. King Swyddned has been receiving report from small villages. They have been mutilated. And guess who Morgarath is taking? Miners. He kills everyone else." Ena rose an eyebrow. What would Morgarath want with miners?

"I assumed your father would have taken you home sooner than if Morgarath is attacking Celts?" Ena questioned. Cassandra smirked.

"Well, my father would never let me help in the war, so I told him that Celtica is still stable. He thinks by keeping me here I'm safer." Cassandra explained. "I can help any of the villagers who come here to seek refuge." Evanlyn sat quiet on the bed while her Lady spoke. Something told Ena that Evanlyn didn't agree with the Princess putting herself in danger.

"Are you sure that's the best decision? Milady? You are Araluens heir. If something were to happen to you, the kingdThe Celtica castle was larger than Redmont, but smaller than Castle Araluen. It was a bustle of activity as she rode through the square. Market day, perhaps. Several children stared at her in awe as she and Dancer rode past. She had changed into her nicest dress before entering the village, but it was still poor material. She simply looked like a little girl atop a beautiful battle horse...which she was.