The Reformation Wars: Conflicts Rekindled

Chapter 9

Innutukian horsemen had resisted Kate and her comrades advancing to the stables, but they ultimately prevailed and retrieved their horses. Kate also snatched up her bow and a quiver of arrows, but she left much behind, including her carriage and the supply wagons. Instead, Manfred and Andre had crammed as much foodstuffs as they could in the saddlebags and draped saddles over the draft horses designated for pulling the carriage. Kate and the Monteraynian veteran opted to ride on horseback rather than have the burden of the wheeled box of wood slowing them down.

With the extra mobilization, the quartet had galloped off the Innutukian palace grounds, and a stressful three days of travel followed. Bands of the bearded warriors had tailed them, often startling the Monteraynians with a volley of arrows the moment they stopped for a break. Nightfall hardly brought any more rest than the day with the pursuers so close behind.

But by the fourth morning, the tension tapered off, and the Innutukians eventually gave up on their pursuit. The travelers' heightened nerves persisted, but with little justification. Passing over the border into Aroria eased their minds greatly.

In the early evening fifteen days after they'd galloped off from the Innutukian palace, Princess Kate's much diminished entourage trotted through the outer gates of the Monteraynian royal castle. Eager servants seemingly materialized out of thin air to tend to their needs. One man assisted Kate in dismounting, and then some of his fellows took it upon themselves to bear the spare weapons while others led the horses back to the stables.

Only a pair of servants accompanied Princess Kate and her party in their tired trudge to a side entrance to the castle, the one she'd always taken whenever she would be in a bad mood and wanted as few eyes on her downturned face as possible. Besides, a shorter route to the throne room lay beyond the less-used doors on this side of the structure.

Kate glanced up from the ground to eye Andre beside her. He met her with tired eyes and managed a grim smile. "At long last, you are home, your highness." he remarked pleasantly.

"And I am glad to be here." she replied, "But you still have three days to get back to the academy."

He shrugged. "Then again, the academy is hardly my home. Though I cannot be present there as often as I used to, my father's manor is still the place I would consider home, and that is only a few minutes' ride from here."

"Ah, I had not considered that. Is that where you intend to lodge tonight?"

"Likely so. Seeing my father's kind face would be quite a pleasant change of pace from the trial we just survived."

Kate grinned. "I could say the exact same thing about my own father."

Andre nodded. "With my father being the chief advisor to yours, I wouldn't be surprised if we are bound to see them both at once in a few minutes' time."

"Likely so." Kate took in a breath and glanced behind herself to view Manfred. He acknowledged her attention with a nod. "Where do you plan to settle in for the night?"

"Probably some inn around here, I guess." Manfred replied with a shrug.

"I think I can arrange something for you inside the castle. You deserve it after your grueling service." Kate remarked with a wink.

"Well, thanks. I appreciate that."

Kate's smile widened. "Of course!" Then she glanced at the Monteraynian veteran beside Manfred, and she nodded at him. "The same goes for you as well."

"To be fair, I only helped you break out after being freed myself, your highness, but—"

"You still contributed, and for that, I am grateful."