Horse Charmer

Horse Charmer - Chapter Three - Part Three

Cassia slipped by her guards and made her way to the stable. So much had happened over the last couple of hours, she couldn't wrap her mind around the gravity of everything. She needed to escape and not think about it. Torches flickered against the castle walls as she stepped out the side door, and made her way across the yard to the stables.

Her mare would most likely be in a stall. Luki had been training her. Cassia regretted not being able to train the mare herself, but she didn't have the time to do anything but visit nightly when her duties were done.

As if expecting her, the mare nickered as she entered the barn and she quickened her step until she reached her. The mare's warm breath washed over her and she sighed in relief.

She rubbed the mare behind her ears just as she liked. Cassia thought briefly of letting herself into the stall, but reluctantly dismissed the idea with the huge dress she was wearing. Ula would scold her until winter came if she ruined it.

The mare huffed lightly warning her someone else had entered the barn. Cassia looked over her shoulder more in curiosity than alarm and smiled when she saw it was Luki.

"Princess," he said with a small bow before walking over to them. "You're out late."

She shrugged. "I needed some air."

"The Vesperans take up too much?" Luki said with a smirk.

His comment immediately brought the thought of her impending marriage back to the front of her mind and she frowned in irritation. She didn't want to talk about it.

"How's she doing?" Cassia asked.

He looked over the mare. "Well, incredibly well, actually. I've never known a horse to learn so quickly. It's like she knows what I want her to do without actually training her."

Cassia smiled. "She's very smart."

"Yes." He gave her a sideways glance. "Are you going to tell me why you're so upset?"

"I have no cause to be more upset then usual. Karah is in turmoil and needs someone to take command."

"When's your coronation?"

"That isn't why Vespera came." She really didn't want to voice the reason the Vesperans were here. It would make everything much too real, but maybe if she got used to the idea she wouldn't feel so appalled. "They brought the treaty my father signed before his…anyway, they brought the treaty."

"And?"

"And the final clause of the treaty cements my marriage to Prince Torr of Vespera." Cassia focused on the braid she started to weave through the mare's forelock. "King Erich recommends the marriage ceremony occur as soon as possible to fortify the ties between Karah and Vespera. Queen Sarahann agrees with him." She shot a look at Luki's surprised face. "I'll be married by the end of the month if not sooner."

For once she'd actually struck him speechless as he just stared at her. She went back to braiding the mare's mane.

"Will you remain in Karah?" Luki asked in a strained voice.

"What do you mean?"

"After you marry, will you become a Princess of Vespera or the Queen of Karah?"

She turned fully to him. "I don't know." She hadn't considered that possibility. "Yes, I do. I'll remain here. I'm Karahan and the next in line for the throne."

"Not the next. You are the throne of Karah now."

"Not until the coronation."

"To the people you're the ruler of Karah," he said with a small smile, "with or without the coronation."

Cassia frowned and crossed her arms in defense. "You're romanticizing me."

Luki laughed. "No, Princess, if I were, I would never have the nerve to speak with you in such a casual manner. I'd have more respect."

She felt a fluttering in her stomach at the thought of losing him. "You're my only friend, Luki. If you stopped talking to me who would I speak with?"

He relaxed in his shoulders and turned back to the mare. "You know she needs a name. I can't keep calling her 'your mare'."

Cassia jumped gratefully to the new topic and turned back to the dark mare. "I wish I could say I've been pondering a name, but in truth I haven't given it much thought."

"You've had other things on your mind."

"Yes, but she does need a name." Cassia thought about what would suit the mare. She was so different from the other horses. She wasn't sure what name would fit her.

Kali.

Cassia blinked in surprise as the name came to her, but as she rolled it around her mind she knew it suited the mare. "Kali."

Luki cocked his head as he considered. "Unusual."

"She's unusual."