From The Shadows: Book 2 in the Mortisalian Saga

by Stock, L. J.

  He laughed haughtily, his eyes flickering to the corner of the room and back. These stiff formalities were for Rasmus alone. Baron Sideris would have spoken much more candidly if he hadn't been watched over. I had learned my lesson long ago, and the only reason I was fully at ease with him now was because we weren't alone. I may have befriended him, but I had my limits.

  “Come now, Princess. You know I will not be included in anything for the occasion of your birthday, so I’ve brought your gift to you now.”

  “That's very kind of you, but unnecessary. I rarely celebrate my birthday.”

  The baron raised his eyebrows in amusement, but Rasmus' subtle movement in the corner seemed to stop whatever thought he had to continue along the path of degradation he had clearly turned down. Not that I needed another confirmation of the party I knew my friends, family and half the damn palace were hiding, but the baron’s reaction finally sealed the deal. There were definitive plans, and I was the last to know what they were, especially if the baron was aware of what they had planned. My eyes scanned to the corner of the room and found Rasmus, but the stoic indifference in his cool glance gave me nothing to work with.

  “Shall we head out then?” Baron Sideris asked, pleased with having stirred the pot. He offered me his arm, and it was then I realized he hadn't been informed about the growing size of our riding party.

  I gave him a passing look that held an apology I meant only for him. I was happy to have Damon and Aric ride out with us, but I knew the baron wouldn't feel the same way. Having my guard around was commonplace, but Damon coming along would cause tension.

  “Ah, we have company?” He sighed in resignation.

  “Yes. We still need to send for the horses to be saddled for the others. Let me take care of that and we'll make our way to the pavilion.”

  Baron Sideris bowed but said nothing else, which was wise on his part. Rather than complaining, he simply waited patiently for me to do what I needed in order to arrange the horses for the rest of our party. Rasmus accompanied us down the stairs, keeping his place five paces back and to the right of me as we moved. As much as I longed to one step forward two steps back him, I never played those games with him in front of anyone outside of our personal circle. The teasing would undermine his relevance, making him look incompetent when he was one of the most single-minded and driven guards I knew.

  When we eventually stepped from the great hall and into the pavilion, I was almost breathless at the sight that greeted me. The baron's buckskin mare was standing next to the most beautiful black stallion I had ever laid eyes on in my life. The blue-black coat that covered him shone like an opal, while his mane and tail—the same intense black—looked soft and well cared for, even in the braids it was sporting. What astounded me most, however, were his eyes. There was so much curiosity and power behind those black lashes that I found myself stepping toward him with my hand out in greeting.

  “What's his name?” I asked as the horse pressed its nose against my palm. His wide body expanded before he breathed out through his nose in approval. I ran my hand down his muscular neck and over one powerful shoulder in wonder at the strength that screamed from the muscles there.

  “Dunamis, milady. Roughly translated it means strength,” Baron Sideris answered, tending to his own horse. His hand dipped into one of his saddlebags and produced an apple for his mare, feeding it to her before rubbing the star on her forehead affectionately. “He’s one of my own. Sired by my most valuable stallion and mare. He is still young, but well trained, smart and willing to work.”

  “I am honored, baron. He's beautiful.”

  “There's no denying that,” Damon said quietly from behind me, his deep, possessive tone making my stomach flip. His arms came up at either side of me to run his hands down the horse’s neck. “I didn't think you were capable of breeding such beauty, Baron.”

  “Damon,” I whispered, attempting to chastise him without anyone else hearing me. Appreciating the gesture of keeping the admonishment quiet, he kissed my neck and nodded his acquiescence. He would behave—for now at least. I watched his strong hands move over the beautiful animal with reverence before he stepped away and checked that the saddle and tack Dunamis was already wearing were in position correctly.

  “I apologize, Baron. He is an impressive creature, and a perfect gift for the princess,” Damon offered by way of apology. Turning to me with a smile, he offered me his hand. “Would you like some help into your saddle, Vita Mea?”

  I stifled a small sigh of pleasure at the term of endearment he’d begun to use over the past couple of months and inclined my head in agreement and thanks, swallowing a chirp of joy when Damon's hand closed around my knee and pushed me up so I could straddle the horse’s back and seat myself properly. With the new weight on his back, the horse nodded and stomped a couple of times in acknowledgment.

  “Easy, boy,” I reassured him as I leaned forward, my right hand running up and down his neck in affection while my other gripped the reins. I smiled at Damon who watched me closely, his hands poised and ready to help me should it become necessary. Dunamis knew exactly what was expected of him, though.

  “He's well trained, Master Damon.” Baron Sideris laughed good-naturedly from his saddle. “He will take good care of her.”

  Damon nodded once, but I didn't miss the mumble from under his breath. Whether I could understand the words or not, I knew what the tenor of the statement was sure to be. I tried to ignore the rolling waves of testosterone around me and focused on the powerful animal I was riding, and there was no denying the beauty or strength of him. I walked him around the courtyard as the others retrieved their horses and mounted them, whispering encouragement and appreciation of him while his pricked ears swiveled and flicked. I was thankful that the weapons the guards were equipping their horses with really didn't bother Dunamis as they rang out with a metal keening.

  The baron rode toward me easily, obviously comfortable in the saddle. He was wearing his customary smirk while his mare nuzzled at Dunamis with familiarity.

  “Is the armory necessary, milady?”

  “They think so,” I mused, looking over at the men in my life messing with the horses and weapons they were preparing.

  “Yet, you don't?”

  I gave him a pointed look and turned the stallion away from him. I walked us in a circle so I was closer to the baron and able to face him and the three men loading down the horses with broadswords and crossbows.

  “What I think is not important. You should know that by now. When it comes to my safety...”

  “They stop at nothing, which is the way it should be.” The baron smiled, bowing his head. “Bringing weapons I understand, but how on earth are they supposed to move quickly with that much weight on their horses?”

  “Why, sir,” I teased. “This is the royal palace. We have the best horses in the kingdom, well, with one exception perhaps.”

  I leaned down to rest my head on Dunamis’ neck, thankful that Melody's design of my riding wear gave me such freedom. I had jodhpurs on, but they were covered with a tunic-style dress that had slits up the side to give my legs freedom. I was wearing the design for its first test run, and I already felt more comfortable than I did in the customary riding wear.

  “Come on, boys,” I called out as I sat up. “The light is fading.”

  Damon mounted his palomino gelding, Propero, with ease and led him toward us. Dunamis eyed the horse speculatively as he approached, nipping at him in agitation when he got too close.

  “So much for being well trained,” Damon muttered, patting Propero's neck to calm him down.

  He kept him at a distance from Dunamis, but I knew that eventually he'd have them trained enough to be happy companions. Damon was amazing with horses, something I hadn’t known until weeks after the attack on the palace when we’d been able to spend more time together. The quiet talent was yet another thing that made me love him all the more.

  When we finally set out and were free of
the courtyard, I could feel the power in the horse below me as the landscape opened up in front of him. His hooves trampled on the last of the stone with an eagerness that seemed to spread through to me. With a gentle nudge to his sides, Dunamis took off into the green fields that surrounded the palace.

  I leaned low and let Dunamis take the lead in the open space as the careful style Melody had placed my hair in slipped. My hair broke free from its confines and fanned out behind me as I lost myself in the quiet rhythm of the horse’s feet and breaths. I felt free as we pushed closer to the boundaries of the fields and headed toward the river.

  I wasn't oblivious to the shouts behind me, and even though I knew Damon and Propero would catch up with me eventually, I tugged on the reins gently and eased off with a smile of satisfaction. Dunamis was much faster than Solaris, my previous horse.

  Slowing us to a trot, I turned in the saddle amazed at how far behind me the others were. I rubbed Dunamis’ neck as we waited, knowing that I would be chastised for taking off the way I had. For me, it was worth it. For those few seconds of complete freedom, I would take the admonishment.

  Damon, of course, was the first to reach me. He slowed down and tried to hide the smile behind his feigned irritation at my irresponsibility.

  “That was...”

  “Impressive?” I asked, finishing his sentence.

  “No, it was irresponsible. You left your guard behind. You know what protocol is and how it works, so if you want to keep that horse, you have to start playing by the rules.”

  “A little harsh, don't you think?” Baron Sideris asked, arriving with the two guards. “She was letting him stretch his legs. We're in an open field.”

  “You can keep your opinions to yourself,” Damon growled. “Don't make me out to be the ogre in the equation.”

  “What's the matter, Damon? Are you jealous?”

  “Of what? You or the nag?” he spat as his horse circled restlessly. “Not that it matters. Your desperate attempts to garner her attention are ridiculous.”

  “Damon, stop it,” I sighed.

  “Desperate attempts?” the baron scoffed, rearranging his reins. “If they're so desperate, Master Damon, why do they get under your skin?”

  “You may be in love with her, baron, but...”

  This time I snorted, and stopped Dunamis completely. “Damon, the baron isn't in love with me.”

  “Cass...”

  “He's not. He doesn't want me. He's never wanted me. He wants the crown.”

  “I resent that statement,” the baron piped up, his eyes sparkling with his usual mischief.

  “No, you don't. You appreciate my brutal honesty. Admit it. It'll make life a lot easier for everyone involved. And while we're at it, for God and country to hear, you and I will never be anything other than friends, Baron Sideris.”

  I could hear Rasmus laughing behind me and I turned to give him a smile. He loved it when I did this to the baron. It was an ongoing joke that was rarely seen. The baron and I had reached an understanding that we would be nothing but friends a long time ago, but he liked to test the boundaries, and he also seemed to love pushing Damon's buttons. No matter how many times I called him on it, he applied the pressure so I was finally getting all of this out in the open.

  “This is true.” The baron smirked, crossing his arms. “The crown would look so much better with my bone structure than his.”

  “You're so vain. You don't have a royal jaw, Sideris. It's time you figured that out and started thinking about something other than the path from baron to crowned prince. It's just not going to happen.”

  “Duke?” he hinted, sitting back in the saddle with his spine rigid. He waved regally. “I can do fur and gold.”

  “You need to be careful how you word things. Trans-dimensional woman here,” I said, pointing to myself and grinning at him playfully. “That little display of yours was worthy of a queen.”

  “I don't know what you're implying, Highness.” His response was haughty, but I could see the smile in his purposely thinned lips. We’d spent hours discussing the dimension I’d come from and drag queens were something he often came back to.

  “That's the point.”

  “Is this how it always is?” Damon asked, his mouth open. His question was directed at Rasmus who was killing himself with laughter.

  “I tried to tell you. The guy is a fool and your lady hands him his rear every time.”

  “I come for the insults,” the baron said dryly.” It's the only time people aren't kissing my rear.”

  “And I've been missing out on this?”

  Rasmus started laughing harder behind us while the baron shrugged with disinterest. I highly doubted he came for the insults, but we did bicker constantly. He was more like a bratty brother than anything. I was under the very real impression that the baron was lonely. A lot of the people in the court had nothing good to say about him, mostly because of his own defensive and stupid actions, but it meant he was left alone in his stately home with nothing but his staff and his horses.

  “Okay, that's enough. Can we please ride down to the river now?” I asked, nudging the horse forward, making him huff his breath through his nose with a quick contemptuous glance at Propero.

  “I think we can get that done, but stay with the group this time. We haven't been out this way in a while. We don't know what's out there.”

  “Water?” Aric asked, finally joining in the conversation.

  “All of a sudden everyone is a court jester. Ras, take the lead. Aric, cover the rear. Sideris, do whatever the hell it is you usually do.”

  “And you?” I asked with amusement.

  He smirked and waved his hand for me to go on ahead of him. When I looked back, I rolled my eyes. He was perfectly happy with the view he now had.

  After the tension had depleted, the afternoon became more enjoyable. Baron Sideris was happy talking about the horses he was currently breeding and Damon was actually engaging him in civil conversation, asking about other foals from the pair that had produced my rambunctious stallion.

  I listened to the conversation while my eyes took in the beauty of the landscape surrounding us. Everything here was so green and natural in comparison to our dimension. Colors were deeper, darker, more intense, all of them reaching from their places in an attempt to outshine each other. Even the air seemed cleaner, crisper and beautifully fragrant. It sometimes made my chest ache with the purity of it.

  Our small riding group stayed out most of the day and parted from the baron at the point he was closest to his homestead. With a brief press of his lips against my ring, he waved to the rest of our party and galloped away, mud spraying behind him as they charged over the crest of the hill. As the sun started its final descent to the horizon, the mood in our group started to change. The protective men in my life wanted to get me home before it got dark, because they couldn't guarantee my safety in the fading light.

  It was in a very unsubtle attempt to get me moving that both Rasmus and Damon challenged me to a race back to the palace, leaving Aric no choice but to join in with the wager. Even aware of their motivation, I took the challenge, gave my stallion a gentle nudge in his sides to get him moving, and managed to leave my party in the dust with very little effort. I arrived almost a full three minutes ahead of them.

  Our evening evolved into much the same as any other. Though there were times I missed television, I still enjoyed my time here in the Palace, sitting in my father's study just talking to my family. Oliver had adapted quickly to this dimension and seeing as Sebastian had been born here, he didn't know any different. Liana missed her brothers terribly, but she seemed content here. We all tried to gather together at least once a week, and seeing as I would be traveling soon, they'd decided today was the perfect occasion. Mom would buzz around us, avoiding the need to look at my father as much as she could while he shamelessly watched her, his eyes still filled with the same longing that had been there when I'd mentioned that she was still in love with him.


  I relished these evenings together. I spent my time cuddling on the couch with Damon cradling Sebastian in my arms, or playing with Oliver, who I’d attempted to teach to read on occasion. Steven and my father had become close in the time they'd been here and both sat at the dining room table as Steven attempted to teach him how to play poker.

  We were like a bona fide family—the one I’d always dreamed about having when I was a child. There was so much mutual respect, and just spending time together created a loving atmosphere that kept the smiles on our faces. My father had fallen completely in love with Oliver and Sebastian, and they loved him, too.

  As much as I loved Rasmus as a friend and a part of the family, this was one time no guards were allowed in the room with us. It was our bonding time, and it made this new life of mine feel almost normal. Well, as normal as things could get in Mortisali.

  As the fire dwindled down and the embers glowed white, I said my goodnights and took Damon's offered hand, allowing him to lead me from the king's wing toward my own. Rasmus and Aric were close by, but stayed invisible as they moved in the shadows behind us, like they often did at the end of the day. Once Damon and I were in our rooms, they would be relieved by other guards who stood watch while we all slept.

  “Aric's going to be traveling with you tomorrow,” Damon said gently as we stopped outside my room. The walk had felt shorter than normal and I knew he was as hesitant to say goodnight as I was. I leaned against the door and looked up at him, memorizing the gentle lines of his face and his beautiful eyes as he drank me in.

  “What about you?” I asked casually, knowing he already had an answer.

  “Anker is going to fill in for a while. I trust Aric to protect you. He's vigilant and one of the best personal guards aside from Rasmus. He knows what I expect, and how to do his job. Anker is a good man, too, but I need him here.”