Horse Charmer

by Angelia Almos

  Alrik laughed as Cassia turned his comment over in her head. She hadn't realized Alrik and Luki were competitors. Perhaps that was why Alrik was pushing for the marriage.

  He could use Luki's help. Kali munched on some grass hay, but listened to their conversation through Cassia.

  Why?

  He understands Luki has a gift with the horses and could assist in the endeavor.

  "Not yet, my boy," Alrik said. "If I'm successful, as I believe we will be this coming season." Alrik raised his glass to his wife. "I'll need more hands to expand to service Karah let alone supply Vespera. Speaking of Vespera, I understand you were there for the marriage ceremony."

  Cassia choked on a sip of wine. Luki slapped her firmly on the back, adding insult to mortification. She glared at him before masking her face.

  "I was in charge of bringing out the dowry herd," Luki said.

  "Twenty fine head." Alrik nodded.

  "News travels fast," Luki answered.

  "Not as fast as the news that our princess was kidnapped before the wedding," Alrik said. "Or the rumors that she was kidnapped by Julyan and forced to wed him. Or that she wasn't really kidnapped but was murdered by her bridegroom. What was the other one, Marelda?"

  "She was kidnapped by the mountain people to be made their queen."

  "So, what's the true story?" Alrik asked.

  Luki's knee brushed Cassia, but she firmly kept her focus on the food in front of her. Kidnapped by the mountain people, where had that come from?

  "You'd have to ask Lady Kaia," Luki said. "She was an invited guest. I was stuck out in the barn and missed much of the excitement."

  All attention turned to Cassia and reluctantly she tried to figure out what to say. "There are many rumors. Spread no doubt by the chambermaids. The one thing I do know is the princess disappeared the night before she was to wed the Prince of Vespera."

  The table looked disappointed in her less than interesting news.

  Luki sighed. "Lady Kaia has been raised to be discreet when it comes to news of the royal family. I talked with one of the Karahan guards before I left with one of the search parties."

  "You helped look for her?" Gabrial asked in excitement.

  "I did, but all I found was the dowry herd they believe was released as a distraction to the real crime." Luki didn't add that Cassia had escaped with the herd. "I then took on my assignment to escort Lady Kaia back to Karah in a roundabout way through the horse lands."

  "What did the guard say?" Pakelika asked.

  "Much as Lady Kaia mentioned," Luki said in apology. "The guards were on heavy alert. She was tucked in for the night with her two handmaidens and when they went to wake her she was gone. The herd was let loose just before midnight and it's believed that is when her kidnappers made their escape with her while the focus was on the herd. They left no trail and no sign of a struggle."

  "Do you think they hurt her?" Gabrial asked.

  "They'd have no cause to harm the princess," Luki assured her. "She was taken for a reason. The reason just hasn't been figured out yet."

  Alrik snorted. "We all know the reason. To prevent the wedding and treaty between Vespera and Karah. My money is on her being forced to wed Julyan. Now that marriage would be a union of power." He lowered his voice. "There are rumors among the Guild that Princess Cassia is one with great power."

  "She's a princess," Fayline said.

  "Not that type of power," Alrik said. "The type the Guild values."

  "But she's a princess," Fayline protested. "Not a Talent."

  Alrik shrugged. "Just something I overheard."

  "What ability is she supposed to possess?" Luki asked, careful not to look at Cassia.

  "That wasn't clear," Alrik said. "Julyan traveled to Karah when she was still a young child and was very impressed with what he saw."

  "How do you know this?" Cassia asked, no longer able to contain herself.

  "I supply horses to Julyan," Alrik said. "I've overheard things while at his manor."

  "My husband is a horrible gossip." Marelda ignored his sharp look. "He has no problem repeating what he's heard whether it's based in truth or falseness."

  "We don't know that's false," Alrik said.

  "We don't know it's true either." Marelda stood and began clearing the dinner dishes. "Fayline, would you show Lady Kaia to your room and set up a pallet? Luki, I hope you don't mind bunking with Pakelika above the barn again."

  "Your hospitality is unquestioned, Marelda," Luki said. "The barn will be perfect."

  Cassia bit her lip to keep from objecting. She would have rather stayed in the barn as well. But a lady staying in a barn would bring up too many questions so instead she smiled and picked up her bowl to help Marelda. Marelda plucked it from her hands with a cluck of disapproval.

  "Fayline will show you to their room where you can freshen up. I'm sure you're tired after such a long ride today." Marelda turned to her other daughter. "Go and get a pitcher of fresh water for Lady Kaia and take it to your room."

  Gabriel put the wooden bowls she carried down and went to the cupboard for the pitcher.

  "This way, my lady." Fayline picked up a lit candle and gestured to a narrow staircase against the far wall.

  "Lead the way," Cassia said with one last uncertain glance at Luki.

  He gave her a small smile of encouragement as he pulled on his coat and went out the door with Pakelika and Alrik. Cassia was instantly glad she wasn't encumbered by her heavy court skirts as she climbed the narrow stairs.

  Fayline noticed Cassia's riding pants for the first time and paused as she lit a couple of candle lanterns in the small loft.

  "My sister and I share this room." Fayline explained as she set the candle down and reached under one of the beds to pull out a wooden pallet with blankets and furs. "You can have my bed."

  "The pallet will be fine," Cassia objected.

  "My mother wouldn't hear of it," Fayline said with a false smile as she stripped the bedding off her bed and tossed it on the pallet. "I'll return with some blankets if you wish to prepare in private."

  Cassia waited for Fayline to descend the stairs before she walked to the window. She was disappointed to discover it didn't look out over the barn, but deep into the forest and mountains behind the house. With a sigh, Cassia turned away from the window and opened her small bag. She wasn't exactly traveling like someone of the court. Cassia chewed on her lip as she considered her options. She hadn't packed a sleeping gown as she hadn't thought it would be necessary on her journey.

  Cassia sat on the bed and removed her leather boots. The shirt she wore was long, but not long enough to pass as a sleeping shirt. Gabrial climbed up the stairs with the heavy pitcher of water.

  "Let me help you." Cassia jumped up.

  "I have it," Gabrial said, setting the pitcher next to a large clay bowl. She pulled out a clean cloth from her pocket and held it out to her. "To help wash off the day's dirt."

  "Thank you." Cassia took the cloth from her. She loosened the ties on her shirt, rolled her sleeves up and quickly rinsed the dust off her face and neck and arms. By the time she'd finished, Fayline was climbing the stairs with the blankets for Cassia's bed.

  The two sisters prepared for bed in practiced ease. Fayline offered a white nightgown to Cassia without much enthusiasm. She took the soft fabric gratefully and untied her vest as the two sisters blew out all but one single candle. The soft flicker allowed just enough light for them to finish undressing while preserving everyone's modesty. She folded her vest and set it next to her bed, her pants went on top, and then her blouse. The nightgown was almost a perfect fit and she slid into the covers of the bed as Gabrial blew out the last candle.

  The conversation from the table kept repeating itself in her head and she could barely contain herself. She needed to speak with Luki, or preferably Kali. Taking a deep breath to concentrate, Cassia focused on Kali.

  "Lady Kaia?" Gabrial whispered quietly.

  Cassia nearly jumped o
ut of the bed. "I'm awake."

  "What was the wedding like?" Gabrial asked.

  "It didn't happen, you goose," Fayline whispered next to her.

  "I know the ceremony didn't happen." Gabrial snapped back. "I meant everything else. It must have been very grand. I've never been to a wedding before."

  "You'll come to mine," Fayline said softly.

  "You're engaged?" Cassia asked, acting like Luki hadn't told her anything.

  "Yes," Fayline said, "to Luki."

  "Oh," she said, not able to think of anything else to say. She couldn't very well call Fayline out on her lie.

  "He hasn't said yes, yet," Gabrial said.

  "Gabrial!" Fayline bolted up in her bed. "You know nothing about it."

  "I know enough. You treat me like I'm a child."

  Fayline hissed, "We have company, Gabrial. Only a child would be behaving this way in front of company."

  Gabrial rolled over, but stayed silent. Cassia judged it best to also stay silent. Did Luki know Fayline considered them to be engaged?

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  The dream came quickly this time. Cassia sucked in her breath as she looked into the darkness. She could just barely make out the shape of the grove, but the inky darkness wound its way through the trees and found its way toward her. Her breathing quickened and she instinctively stayed still instead of running to the grove and looking for her father.

  The darkness touched her. Her skin chilled where the darkness made contact. Cassia held back a scream, covering her mouth with her hand. She glanced around for an escape. A movement just past the grove caught her attention. Kali burst from the darkness and swept toward her. Cassia reached up, her fingers gripping firmly in Kali's thick mane, and pulled herself onto her back. Kali galloped deeper into the unlimited meadow and away from the darkness.

  "What's happening?" Cassia leaned close to Kali's neck.

  Someone has invaded the dreamscape. You're no longer safe here.

  "But where's my father?" Cassia asked as Kali raced endlessly through the thick grass.

  Not here. Someone else has entered the dreamscape he created.

  "How do you know?"

  The darkness started to fade.

  Kali slowed and turned back toward the grove as light filtered into the dreamscape. Someone wants to know what you're dreaming.

  Even with the darkness gone the grove was still empty and her father was no where to be seen. "Why?"

  It's time to wake up.

  Cassia snapped her eyes open and she was no longer in the dreamscape with Kali, but in the dark loft. The two girls' quiet breathing filled the room.

  Kali.

  I am here.

  You were in my dream.

  Yes.

  How did you do that?

  I felt your distress so I went to you in my dream.

  But how?

  The more important question is who else was there?

  Could it have been Daeshawna?

  The Dream Weaver had told her she could manipulate dreams in a roundabout way and had already invaded her dream before.

  Would she have told you so much if she planned to invade your dream?

  I do not know. Cassia sighed in frustration.

  She was tired of everything. A sudden longing filled her to be in her own bed with just the usual problems of trying to avoid her duties to sneak down to the stable. She'd even be happy to go back to doing her duties if this could be over.

  Julyan might have Dream Weavers in his domain.

  Of course. She sat up and looked at the sleeping lumps across from her.

  What are you doing?

  I cannot just sit here. I need to do something. Everything points to Julyan's involvement.

  Luki and Pakelika are sleeping above me.

  Do you think we could wake him without waking Pakelika or the entire household?

  I do not believe so. I would advise waiting until morning.

  I can't just sit here and do nothing. Cassia sighed in frustration.

  Journeying up the mountain in the dark would be ill-advised.

  Cassia thumped back down onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. The idea of waiting through the rest of the night for morning gnawed at her. She wasn't sure she could handle waiting that long.

  Unless you want the entire household waking it would be best to wait until Luki and Pakelika have risen. They might come looking for you if you disappear in the middle of the night.

  Cassia hissed. She hated people lecturing her and now she had a horse who seemed to enjoy lecturing her. Even if said horse was right.

  I am right.

  She smothered a laugh. We'll wait.

  Kali's satisfaction flowed through her and she went back to contemplating the ceiling. This was one of the longest nights of her life. She was too edgy to fall back to sleep, but she also didn't have enough information to think about anything clearly. She mostly just focused on how she would convince Luki to head up the trail instead of toward Karah.

  He wasn't going to like this idea and she needed to work on her rebuttals to his arguments.

  The sun is rising. Pakelika and Luki are awake.

  Cassia jerked up and looked around. She couldn't detect any additional light coming through the small window in the room, but in the mountains it took longer to see the light once the sun had begun its climb.

  Moving quietly, she slipped into her clothes, her vest taking longer to lace up than she had the patience for, snagged her bag and shoes to tiptoe out of the room and down the stairs. She hesitated at a soft shuffle behind the curtain by the stove, but she squeezed out the door and jammed her feet in her boots. Not bothering to tie them, she flew across the yard toward the barn and ran into the dark opening.

  A hard chest met her and Cassia bounced back in surprise, losing her balance. Luki reached forward to grab her and backed her out of the barn. It was only then that she saw he was only half dressed, with just his pants and a towel around his neck. She ogled his naked chest, speechless, her cheeks flushed and she forced herself to look up from the toned muscles to his face. He was just as flushed as she.

  "In a hurry?" Luki asked.

  "You're not dressed," she stated the obvious.

  "Pakelika is even less dressed than I am."

  "Oh." That's why he'd backed her out of the barn so forcefully. "Oh, sorry."

  He shrugged. "What is it, Princess?"

  "Sshh." Cassia peered over his shoulder expecting Pakelika to be standing there, but he wasn't.

  Luki smiled slightly and released her arm as if realizing he still held it. "What can I do for you, My Lady?"

  She frowned at him. "We need to get going."

  "Marelda will be insulted if we don't have breakfast with her before we head to Karah."

  Cassia ground her teeth in agitation. She couldn't wait that long. "No, we need to leave now."

  "Why the sudden urgency? You were fine with dining with them and accepting their hospitality. There are customs we need to observe."

  "I know." She didn't think he'd listen if she told him the mountain was calling to her. She pulled out the argument she'd spent all night working on. "How far is Karah from here?"

  "Many hours."

  "Could we get there today?"

  Luki frowned as he thought. "If we rode hard we might arrive after dark."

  "Good, that's our excuse. We need to get back today, so we need to leave now."

  "What do you mean, excuse?" Luki was too clever for her own good.

  "Well." She fidgeted, reaching mentally toward Kali. Kali didn't answer, but Cassia could tell she was listening. "We're actually going to go up the mountain."

  "Why?"

  "To Julyan's."

  "Absolutely not."

  She mock-frowned. His reaction was what she had expected. Now she had to do this carefully or he'd blow her cover. "Luki, if Julyan knows anything, we need to find out. I have no proof to show the advisors. I have to bring them something."

&nb
sp; Luki lowered his voice as he leaned over her and crowded her space. "Going to the man who killed your father is not going to produce any proof for your advisors."

  "We're here. It's too good a chance to pass up. He won't be expecting us. I just need to talk to him."

  "Talking won't accomplish anything. Do you really think if he had something to do with your father's death that he's going to mention that in casual conversation? And if he does, do you think he'll let you leave? It's stupid to go there."

  "I'm not stupid."

  "I didn't say you were."

  "This is beside the point." Cassia pulled her shoulders back and raised herself to her full height so she could glare up at him regally. "I am going up the mountain. Will you accompany me?"

  Luki opened his mouth and shut it with a snap. He took a deep breath as the muscles bunched and jumped on his arms and chest, and Cassia realized he was restraining himself from reaching for her. Despite herself, she was fascinated.

  Be careful. You can push anyone too far. Kali warned.

  "You tell Marelda we won't be breakfasting with them," he said between clenched teeth.

  She relaxed and beamed up at him. "As you wish."

  He turned and stomped back into the barn.

  That went well, Cassia said in relief.

  We shall see.

  A sound behind her caught her attention and she turned. Alrik stood on the porch of his house. She probably shouldn't have been conversing with her escort since he was half-dressed. Plastering a smile on her face, she walked back across the yard, careful not to trip over the loose ties on her boots.

  "Good morning, Alrik," she said.

  "Good morning, My Lady. You're an early riser."

  "Old habits are hard to break. Is your wife about?"

  "She's starting the breakfast fire."

  "Thank you." Cassia ducked around him and let herself back into the house. It wasn't until she stepped inside that she realized she had no idea what she should say to Marelda as the woman smiled at her across from the table where she worked.

  "Good morning," Marelda said. "Did you rest well, My Lady?"

  Cassia nodded. "That looks wonderful."

  "It's bread dough," Marelda said in confusion, looking up.