Twelve Curses

II

Facing each other on horseback, sisters Enid and Wanda held the reigns of their horses carefully as they trotted quickly under the shady trees.

"Is it not clear?"

"No...?"

"You're going to have a little fun." She grinned mischievously.

"Yes, but how so?" Wanda pressed her for details.

"You're going to do something you've never done before," she paused for dramatic effect, "explore."

Wanda was already excited.

Explore what?

The forest?

The town?

Beyond the walls?

"You stand out like a stallion among cattle so you must hide your dress with that cape."

"What if I cannot?" She worried.

"Borrow some rags from a clothesline."

"Steal?"

"I explicitly said, borrow." She restated.

"But they will not know I am only borrowing, do I tell them I am the princess, they will let me then-"

She cut Wanda off, "absolutely not or it will surely become a rumor father will hear of. Really, sister, I thought you more adventurous, what happened to the Wanda who would climb out the window and walk on the stones jetted out of the towers?"

"She nearly died if you recall." Wanda quipped sarcastically.

Enid smiled fondly remembering one of Wanda's most terrifying moments. It had been at that point she became less reckless and tended more to her studies.

"Yes, but you did not."

"That's certainly not the point-"

What Enid said next shut Wanda up and got her to finally agree, "do not go sounding like Chrysta."

Wanda looked shocked, offended even. She would never be so uptight as Chrysta was.

But she thought to herself that maybe one day she would have to be. Whichever marriage she went through with to her own will or not, she would be the feminine authority, the example for her kids and the women of the court.

Enid was right. May caution die and courage be reborn for one last day at least.

Enid pulled back on the reigns and her horse stopped abruptly whinnying.

Enid hopped to the ground with ease and caught Wanda as she too jumped down.

"Careful, you're too short to make that land, even I'm not tall enough to do that safely."

"Did you not just tell me not to be so careful?"

"I told you to be more adventurous, do not do something that could cause you injury especially before tomorrow. All twenty-three other kingdoms will be in attendance."

"You need not remind me of the attention," Wanda said sadly.

"Forget that now and follow me." She smirked.

Enid pushed past the bushes and avoided the thorns that had yet to be cleared.

Wanda wrapped herself in her hood to avoid getting pricked. Several small branches hit her face as she tried to quickly duck under them.

Enid moves with ease through the thick brush and Wanda suspected this was not the Fuster time Enid has been here, perhaps she came here often. Enid's bedchambers had access to hidden tunnels, secret passageways and dusty, forgotten rooms all throughout the castle, it was plausible some lead her to the forest without catching the guards' attention.