Kingdom of Shadows

Chapter Two

~Chapter 2~

Standing in the palace stables, the horse nuzzled Daemon\'s hand as he checked its tack, tugging his sleeve playfully. He released the leather of its bridle and smoothed the fur on its nose, untangling its mane from the reigns

\"Do you intend to leave some time tonight, or are you just going to make friends with the horses?\" asked an unpleasant voice, and he turned to look at one of the princess\' ladies-in-waiting, glaring.

\"I can\'t very well leave without the princess, can I?\" he responded. \'Though it\'d be easier if I did.\'

\"Don\'t be rude, Saria. Horses have souls, too.\"

Followed by a small fox-like creature called an othrin, Princess Adrielle came and affectionately hugged the neck of her small horse, a snow white mare appropriate for her own tiny height. Five-foot-three, she was a full foot smaller than him, and she had to look up to see him properly.

Her face really was breathtaking, he had to admit. It was so finely shaped, and pale as a white rose petal, her well-shaped lips a natural blossom pink. On either side of her face was a marking - a black line that ran from the far corner of her eye to her jawline, a small curl in the middle of each which faced the ear closest to it. Her large eyes were mismatching. Her left was pale, ghostly white and her right was a clear crystalline blue with black hues near the centre.

\"I suppose you\'re Daemon?\" she said, her left hand lying on her horse\'s flank in a friendly way.

\"I am,\" he replied simply, \"If you\'re ready, your highness, we should be going now.\"

\"Very well.\" She sighed. Grasping the pommel of the saddle, she pulled herself onto her horse with surprising agility. \"Saria, may I have Ansia?\"

The lady-in-waiting picked up the othrin and passed her to Adrielle, and Ansia settled her white furred body on her lap, wrapping her long bushy tail over her nose. Daemon swung onto his horse and nudged its sides gently, sending it into a quick trot out into the chilled night air of the courtyard. The rhythmic music of the horses\' hooves sounded against the flagstoned courtyard as they cantered from the stables, a million stars twinkling around the moon in the deep indigo sky.

They left the intimidating walls of the stoney grey palace grounds and galloped along a well-used dusty road, turning quickly into a dark, tangled forest, where they slowed to a trot. He was surprised she managed to keep pace. She was competent in the saddle, he had to give her that.

\"You ride well,\" he said as she fell into stride beside him.

\"I\'m not permitted to do much else,\" she replied, raising a hand to brush her hair from her face. She cast him a sideways glance, appraising his face with a curious expression, as if trying to figure something out.

\"I take it you are a Dark Elf?\" she said casually as she took in the dark, circular shadow that surrounded each of his eyes and his shoulder-length black hair.

\"Shadow Elf, on my father\'s side.\" \'Why am I telling you this?\'

\"I guessed, by your eyes and hair. You don\'t look... fully Dark, though.\" Her gaze flashed to his face again. She really was very chatty...

\"If you must know, I am a Mixed Blood,\" he replied. Mention of his eyes always irritated him.

\"I\'ve always thought Mixed Bloods were fascinating,\" she said, rather tactlessly, \"The idea of Light and Dark combining, it seems so... romantic.\" Adrielle sighed, a dreamy smile flitting across her features. When she recieved no reply, she changed the subject.