Horse Charmer

Horse Charmer - Chapter Four - Part One

One Week Later…

Cassia tried to stretch as unobtrusively as she could after Captain Maconahay helped her out of the covered carriage. She'd been reprimanded by both her mother and Ula on the first night of their trip to Castle Vespera for being unprincessly by stretching where others could see. Now, she peeked at Maconhay and he bowed his head, but didn't quite hide the small smile on his face. He immediately turned to help out Sarahann, and Cassia stepped aside. He'd noticed her stretching, but she hoped her mother hadn't. Two straight days in a carriage had to be the worst punishment she could think of for anyone.

Because the carriage carried the last of the royal family, everyone but Gordain, it had been moving at a sedate pace for the entire journey, making the trip even longer. Knowing not to stray too far from the carriage, she stepped to the back where another guard would be and looked around.

They were in Vesperan territory now. She'd only gotten a few peeks out of the window as they'd traveled. They'd stopped for lunch in a small meadow surrounded by massive trees. This place was much the same, another small flat clearing along the road, probably cleared for overnight parties. The terrain was getting worse for the carriages. The road was smooth, but they had been going up hills and down hills since the morning. Cassia petted the horses hauling the wagon behind them. It held her handmaidens, Mistress Witen, and her mother's handmaidens. The women gathered stuff together to take care of their charges and directed various lower guards where to place the trunks.

There camp didn't take long to be set up, under an hour, and before she knew it she was sitting in front of her tent next to a raging bonfire. She glanced at her two younger brothers who were about to drift off to sleep. She was surprised they were so tired. It wasn't that she wasn't tired also, but she'd figured that being cooped up they'd create all sorts of trouble whenever they made camp. Which they did as they "helped" the guards set up camp, but by the time the meal was served they seemed to be falling asleep on their feet. Cassia wished she could sleep so easily. Her dreams haunted her. When she woke in the morning she couldn't remember them, but they bothered her.

Witen signaled two of the senior guards and Cassia smiled slightly as they scooped her brothers up and followed Witen to her tent. She waited outside as they took her charges in and nodded in thanks as they headed back to the fire. Witen looked past them to Cassia with an expression of concern on her face. When she saw Cassia watching, she quickly smiled and saluted. Cassia bowed her head in response before looking to her mother. Sarahann had moved off to talk to the Captain of the Guard about the rest of the journey and the plans for when they got to Castle Vespera.

Cassia stared at the towering trees. She knew theoretically the Vesperans mined, which meant mountains, but she'd never been on a mountain before and had never seen trees as tall and massive as this one or the other hundreds that surrounded them.

"Your Highness?" Maconhay stood a respectful distance behind her.

"Yes, Captain?"

"You requested an escort to check on the horses?"

Cassia smiled in relief. She'd been sure she wouldn't be allowed to spend any real time with the horses. The royal guards had gotten progressively more nervous the farther they had gotten into Vesperan territory.

The horses were strung just outside of the circle of wagons, tents, and guards. She wasn't nervous about being with the horses, but the guards and her mother were.

"Thank you." Cassia followed him outside the firelight to where the herd milled. She'd been surprised at the number of horses with them at first: the royal guard's horses, the carriage horses, and the small herd of fifteen horses which were her wedding gift to Torr.

What had shocked her even more was when she'd spotted Luki keeping the herd together behind the Royal Caravan. They'd spoken briefly the day before they'd set out and he hadn't mentioned he would be a part of the royal party. He'd been polite but distant last night when she'd checked on the herd.

Maconhay stopped just outside the rope strung as a makeshift corral and held it for Cassia to slip under. She immediately felt more at ease. She would always prefer the company of horses to people. Cassia buried her face in the first horse she found and breathed in deep. Only one more day and they'd be there. She would marry Torr within three days of arriving. Life as she knew it was over. She was still trying to come to terms with that fact.

"Princess," Luki said.

Cassia glanced up from the horse and stepped back, trying to get back some royal decorum. "Are they journeying well?"

"Yes, Your Highness." He looked out over the sleeping horses. "Kali's on the other end of the herd."

She glanced back at Maconahay. He nodded, signaling he'd heard Luki. She hesitated, regretting the distance she'd put between Luki and herself after telling him of her impending marriage. Not sure what to say to make it up to him, she waded through the herd to where she found the petite dark mare.

Their connection grew stronger with each passing day. Kali nickered and turned so they were facing. A wave of warmth flowed from the mare to her. She gratefully stepped up and wrapped her arms around the mare's neck. They stood still for several minutes and for once Cassia was able to just be, without any thoughts.

Kali raised her head as Luki stepped up. She snuffed his hand in approval.

"Captain Maconahay says you need to return to camp," he said.

Not wanting to leave the herd, she sighed in resignation. If she could have bedded down with the horses she would have. Cassia gave the mare a final pat.

"Cassia," Luki said with hesitation.

She turned to him in surprise. He hadn't said her name since she'd told him she was to be married.

"We'll be arriving in Castle Vespera tomorrow." He shuffled his feet.

"Yes." She prompted him to continue.

"I'm unsure if I'll be able to see you once we arrive." He looked at the camp and then back to her. "I probably won't."

"Are you going back to Karah?"

"No, I'll be there, but I doubt you'll have much time for old friends."

She stepped closer and grabbed his hand. "I always have time for my friends."

"I know." He smiled. "I meant you'd be busy with preparations for your…wedding. I-I wanted to wish you long life and happiness."

She smiled at the old blessing. "Thank you, Luki, I wish you the same."

"I know." He huffed out a breath. "Look, I'm probably stepping over the line here, but I couldn't not tell you --"

"Your Highness," Maconahay said from behind them.

Cassia glanced over Luki's shoulder to where Maconahay had moved around the makeshift corral.

"I'm sorry, but the Queen has requested your presence," Maconahay said.

"In a moment, Captain." Cassia looked back to Luki expectantly.

But his face had closed up and he bowed his head. "I won't keep you, Your Highness. Safe journey."

Luki retreated back into the herd to where he'd laid his bedroll and small campfire just outside the corral.

Frustrated, Cassia followed Maconahay into the main camp. Sarahann beckoned her over to her tent as soon as she stepped into the firelight. Cassia headed over obediently, but her thoughts were focused on what Luki hadn't told her.