Brotherhood

Chapter 8

Part of her wondered that if she snuck away again that night if Geric would be waiting for her. But he had better things to do than spend his time with a betrothed woman, right?

She sighed loudly as she brushed down her new horse named Fox, getting it ready for an afternoon ride with Charles. After all, she had to spend at least a little time with him, otherwise her mother would certainly have a fit. Perhaps even her father too.

"Good afternoon, Princess," Charles said as he took off his hat and bowed low to her. "You look beautiful today."

Amy glanced over at the entrance of the stables and sighed in relief when she saw two guards standing just outside. It was one of the few times that she actually appreciated having her guards around.

"Good afternoon, Charles. You ready to go?"

"Which horse will I be riding?"

Gesturing to the tan horse across the stables that was already saddled, she replied, "Sable is one of the strongest. I picked her out for you myself."

Charles clucked his tongue in distaste as he stared the horse down, and the way that he looked at the horse irked Amy to no end.

"I'd actually rather ride a horse fit for a king. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," Amy replied through grit teeth. She couldn't believe she had to marry this man. He was so distasteful that it made her tongue burn.

"Guards," Charles said as he snapped his fingers at them. "I need you to saddle a different horse."

"Of course," the guards murmured in unison and bowing hastily before they quickly got to work on saddling the tallest horse which also happened to be a warhorse. Charles would be towering over her by at least a foot. Why she might ask?

This told her two things about Charles. First, he would always have the final say in their marriage and would never take her advice. And second, he was an ungrateful toad.

Before the horse was finished getting saddled, Amy hopped on Fox and trotted out of there, refusing to give Charles the satisfaction of winning. She hated him. She hated him so much. And the thought of spending the rest of her life as his wife made her feel really sick.

After another minute, Charles finally caught up easily, but he had to since he rode the most humongous horse in the stables and he did indeed tower above her. Charles opened his mouth, most likely to tell her that he would not tolerate a rebellious wife, but she cut across him.

"Charles, what are your plans for the kingdom once you are king? What do you hope to accomplish in your reign?"

"I hope for a lot of things," he replied as he leaned forward in his saddle. "First item on my list is that I want to give you a beautiful summer home that you deserve."

Amy rose her eyebrows at him. That did not sound like a good idea at all. That sounded like a tax rebellion waiting to happen. "And how do you propose to do that?"

"I'll hire only the most skilled and fastest workers, that we can can enjoy the summer home in as little time as next year."

"And where would you get the money to do that?"

Charles snorted and waved away the notion with his hand. "Finances are a trivial thing to women. Don't concern your pretty little self with such matters. That's my job, Princess."