by Cheree Alsop
“When my father realized I had bonded with a wolf cub from the forest behind the castle, he started searching the world for a suitable mate for the wolf.” Andric smiled, reaching down to run his fingers through Freis’ fur. If the movement pulled at his stitches, he didn't let it show. “Eventually, there were five wolves in all. Bayn and Freis were the leaders of the pack, with me at their head.”
“They must be getting old for animals,” I replied, but the wolves looked young and fresh even despite the day’s events.
Bayn nudged Andric's hand and he responded by rubbing the wolf's great head. “Animals who are bonded age with their human counterpoints, so it's normal for the animals to live the average human age.” He traced a white scar on Bayn's chest and frowned slightly. “I think that's because it would be so unbearable to lose a companion who's even closer than a family member. You share your thoughts with them and trust them because it feels like you know them better than you know yourself.”
He caught himself and gave an embarrassed smile. “Sorry. I guess I haven't had much time to think about it. I'm probably telling you more than you'd like to know.”
“That's alright,” I told him honestly. “I like hearing about it.”
He looked doubtful. “You do?”
I nodded. “It helps me understand, and it’ll hopefully help me undo some of the rumors about Antorans.” My eyelids began to feel heavy and I leaned back against the cave wall.
“Tired?”
“More than I've ever been before,” I answered with my eyes closed.
“Then sleep,” he replied, his tone encouraging.
I tried to nod, but I was already drifting away.
***
When I woke up, my head rested on Andric's shoulder. He stared out at the black night beyond the cave entrance. The others were still asleep. I sat up quickly and mumbled an apology for using him as a pillow, then rose and went back to my spot by the fire. When I glanced back, he was watching me, his expression unreadable in the dark cave.
Chapter 7
The next morning they loaded the wounded guards who could ride onto horses and created stretchers for the two who couldn't. One of them had a stomach wound and had lost so much blood that even his lips were pale. Jesson walked beside him with a worried expression on his face. I asked once if I could help, but he shook his head and said he would let me know if he needed me.
One of the horses had such a bad wound that it wouldn’t survive the trip to Antor. Drade was as pale as the wounded soldier, and looked shaken. I found out that he had spent the entire night out in the grove with the horses, tending to their wounds and trying to save the one. Andric pulled him aside the next morning and offered to put the animal down himself, but Drade shook his head. They both went together into the grove empty now of all the horses but one.
When we set off, the Prince and Horsemaster rode silently at the front of the column. I could see Andric speaking to Drade, both their heads bowed and faces solemn. An air of loss filled the entire company.
“All this is over a horse?” Kenyen mumbled once.
The looks of scorn and hostility on the faces of the guards around him silenced all of us for the rest of the ride. I sat behind Tisha on Pantim again, and was happy to see that she had recovered somewhat from the shock of the battle yesterday. I even saw her exchange a small smile with Landis.
We stopped that night under a stand of evergreen trees that made the air smell crisp and sharp. The guards cleared the snow the best that they could and pitched our tents on what was left. The snow wasn't quite as deep as it had been back at the cave, and I hoped that meant we would be off the mountain soon. I didn't know how much longer we could physically put up with being forced to ride for so many hours a day, though when Brynna complained, Andric mentioned that she could walk instead and give her horse a break from her incessant whining.
It was the first sign of a temper that he had displayed since the outburst in the cave. He hunched slightly on his horse and I knew his shoulder hurt more than he let on. When we stopped, he cradled his left arm after he swung off his horse. Jesson questioned him, but Andric shook his head and motioned for the healer to direct his concern to the wounded soldiers. Andric did the same and made sure they were as comfortable as possible before he pitched his own tent.
We ate a tasty meal of two turkeys one of the guards had surprised on the trail earlier and spirits rose. The bread, cheese, and dried meat we ate at the stops during the day provided energy, but the turkey tasted like Cook Mumphrey’s own. They served potatoes on the side with a small dessert made of thick maple syrup on small wheat cakes.
We had been forced to stop a bit early for the sake of the wounded guards on stretchers. After dinner, even though we were exhausted, no one could fall asleep. Everyone settled around the fire except for the soldiers on guard duty. One of the guards pulled out a small riding flute and played a few quiet notes. The flute had a very low tone that was pleasant to ears in the way that the wind blowing around the eaves of a house makes one feel comfortable to be inside and warm. For that small space of time I felt safe; the cold, snow, weariness, and being so very far away from my family and anything even remotely familiar was forgotten, or at least pushed to the back of my mind. I let myself drift with the music, and felt as if I was the one weaving in and out of the trees.
I remembered Captain Rurisk's teachings of battle lore and woodsmanship and kept my eyes averted from the fire so as to save my night vision in case of an attack. I lost myself instead in the dark shadows of the trees that swayed gently from side to side as if in time to the haunting melody. Starlight chased itself between the branches, speckling the snowy ground with sparkling crystals, vanishing and reappearing like so many woodland fairies.
I wondered what my mother would do in the same situation, what would be the appropriate action for a princess. She had married into the Crown, as all spouses of Crowns do. It was against the law for the Crown of one country to marry the Crown of another and either take away their rightful heir or divide the countries. This was only done if there was another heir to take up the throne, and very seldom did the Kings and Queens ever give their consent for such a marriage to take place. So Crowns were required to select their spouse-to-be, or have them selected, by someone in their country, preferably of a royal bloodline. Often, younger siblings were given away to other countries as spouses for Crowns in order to unite the countries and resolve differences.
My mother, on the other hand, had been the daughter of one of the royal gardeners at the palace. She had taken up the healing art when it became apparent she had a talent for it. She and my father had fallen in love and he had refused the offer of a daughter of Tyn, much to his own father's disappointment. There had always been stressed relations between Father and the twins' father, because King Tirrot had taken the refusal of his sister's hand as an insult and had never forgiven my father for marrying Mother.
After they married, my mother spent as much time as she could in the garden as tribute to her parents, and left the healing arts to the healers until Rory became sick. Father built her enormous green houses so that she could keep her flowers and herbs year round. They even had bees kept by a beekeeper who lived in a cottage near the castle wall. I had often seen him and my mother in their bee outfits inspecting comb from the hives. The honey had a wild flavor to it that I preferred over the delicate honey Father bought from the beekeepers who ranged their bees on the clover of the plains.
My thoughts turned to Rory. He would know what to do in this situation, of that I was sure. Rory always seemed to know just what to do. My chest ached, and I wondered if he would be alright. I couldn’t bear to lose my big brother.
I forced myself back to the present and realized that most of the others had gone to bed. Tisha and Landis held hands and whispered quietly, but other than the guard who played his flute, I was the only one still by the fire. The moon was high overhead and the stars shone bright through the clear night sky.
/> The guard nodded to me when I rose to go to my tent. I whispered a quiet thank you for the beautiful music before I turned to duck under the tent flap; then I noticed a dark form leaning against one of the trees and staring out into the darkness. The wolf shadow at his side would have told me it was the Antoran Prince even if I hadn't recognized his straight shoulders and easy stance that still commanded respect even in the depth of night. He could use the rest after the sleepless night before, but I shook my head and ducked into the tent. There was nothing I could do about it but worry, and I had plenty to worry about already.
***
The next morning, Prince Andric looked pale and drawn but determined. “If we make it to the valley, we'll be at the castle by midday tomorrow,” he told us.
Kaerdra and Trevin exchange angry glances while Kenyen and Danyen muttered to each other out loud about what their father would do to Andric when spring came. Brynna began another list of things she hated about the trip, which now included Breizans, swords, campfire, stars, pine trees, flutes, soldiers, more snow, and being dirty.
I had to agree with her about the dirty part. It was quite a change from washing at least once a day in the warmed marble tub in the royal bathing chambers. The water was always scented with lemon in the morning and lavender before bed, in case a member of the royal family wanted a relaxing bath before going to sleep. Father usually used it after a day of training with his soldiers, and Mother if it was a particularly warm day tending to the garden.
But I could sure use a bath now, scented water or not. I felt like I had dirt caked on every square inch of my body, which wasn't pleasant to think about. My legs had been rubbed raw from the long hours of horseback riding, and my feet were wearing holes through my soft-soled boots. I hoped that somehow the Antorans knew we were coming and would have hot baths prepared the second we stepped through the city gates.
I didn't know the accommodations we would be given once we reached the castle, but I doubted Andric would forbid us the chance to clean the filth from the arduous ride. I looked forward to that almost as much as a bed to sleep in. I refrained from questioning whether he would have real beds for us.
The snow on the ground lessened as we rode down the gentle decline, making the way easier for the horses and the men on foot carrying stretchers. The Antorans traded off with the stretchers, and even Captain Jashe took a turn. I could tell that Andric wanted to join them, and realized by the way he treated his men that it was more his shoulder than his station which prevented him.
***
When night fell, we were in the valley, and we were surprised to find a roaring fire and tents already pitched and waiting. A small party of five soldiers met our company with grins on their faces and welcoming calls. Andric swung down and met them on foot to give them what I assumed was a briefing of the events that had befallen us in the mountains. They exchanged a few questions, then two of the soldiers mounted waiting horses and left into the night.
The other three took the night watch to give our guards a full rest. We ate a much appreciated dinner of roasted venison with thick gravy, apples cooked in the coals until they were tender and mushy inside their skins, and squash slow-cooked by the flames and sprinkled with butter and cinnamon. I felt full and exhausted after eating and was secretly glad that everyone would be able to get some much needed sleep; but after dinner, I saw Andric standing sentry again, watching our back trail from the shadow of a large tree.
On my approach, he glanced at me and then back into the night. Freis licked my hand in greeting, then scooted so that her head would be within easy reach of my hand. I ran my fingers absently through her soft fur, my thoughts on other matters. “You should be sleeping,” I said quietly.
“I'll sleep when we're home,” he replied in the same courteous tone he had used in the cave.
“How is your shoulder?” I asked. “You should let me put some of Jesson's salve on it.”
The Prince fell quiet for a moment. “It's a bit sore,” he admitted softly after a few minutes had passed.
I stared at him a second, caught off guard that he was actually being open with me now when he was so closed off during the day. I wondered how hard it must be to be in charge of all of this, knowing what he did about the state of his country. I couldn't believe that it was as bad as he said, but at the same time, I feared what we would find when we reached Antor. I didn't want to believe my father had a hand in bringing about the country's downfall.
Andric didn't protest when I lifted his shirt to inspect the wound. The fading firelight provided poor lighting, and I could see a faint trail of blood, but I couldn't tell if some of the stitches had pulled through. “We need to move closer to the fire so I can see better.”
He shook his head. “We'll be at the castle tomorrow. It'll be taken care of then.”
He moved to pull his shirt back down, but I held it firmly. “Fine,” I said quietly in exasperation. “I'll take care of it here, but it’d be better by the fire.”
He turned back to watch the darkness and let me apply the salve from the back of his shoulder down to his mid-back. Blood had leaked from the wound, but I couldn't tell the source. He held himself still as I cleaned it, flinching only slightly when I touched an overly tender spot.
It wasn't until I had dressed the wound in clean bandages and pulled down his shirt that he spoke again. “It's not that I'm stubborn,” he said softly with his eyes still on the forest. “It's not good for soldiers to know that their leader is wounded. They need to know that he’s fit to lead them, and capable of protecting them.”
“I thought soldiers were supposed to protect their prince, not the other way around,” I replied. I jumped when Bayn bumped my other hand with his nose, then obliged by petting his head also.
Andric shook his head. “A good leader never asks more of his men than he’s willing to do himself. My men trust me because they know I would die beside them as readily as I lead them in battle.”
I ran that through my mind a few times. I spoke before I thought about my words. “You sound so old.”
Andric glanced at me, a small smile on his face. “I feel old sometimes.”
I shook my head. “I don't. I feel foolish and fumbling, like a child trying to walk in her mother's shoes. I've got so much to learn and not enough time to learn it.”
Andric nodded thoughtfully. “At least you can admit it. It's the people who feel that they've learned all the world has to offer that are truly foolish.”
I laughed, unable to help myself. “Now you really do sound old.”
He grinned and turned back to the night. “You're a strange girl, Princess Kirit of Zalen.”
“And you are surprising, Prince Andric of Antor.” I grimaced. “And please call me Kit. Kirit just sounds way too grown up.”
He nodded. “As you wish, but you might be more grown up than you think.”
I shook my head and walked back to my tent.
Chapter 8
The atmosphere the next morning sparked with excitement. The knowledge that we would be somewhere else by nightfall other than riding horses and camping on the cold ground filled us all with energy. By now, any change was welcome, even if we didn't know what to expect when we reached Antor.
I gave Pantim a chance to rest and walked next to Jesson and the soldiers on stretchers. Trae followed close behind me, limping slightly on his injured leg. Drade still rode silently at the front of the column next to Andric. It was obvious the Horsemaster still mourned the loss of his horse. I thought of what Andric had said about his bond with the wolves, and wondered if losing a bonded animal was truly harder than losing a family member.
I forced myself from that train of thought and concentrated on the landscape around us. We rode in the foothills now, and though the snow was still deep, it wasn’t ice-packed like in the mountains. A shallow road ran through, which gave promise of civilization. The horses pranced with light hooves and the three younger wolves raced around the column like puppies. The
re was a light gray female, a smaller dark gray male, and a young black male. The three were long-legged and lanky, as if still growing into their limbs.
I wondered how they had come to bond with Andric and his pack. It was obvious they weren't as close to him as Bayn and Freis, but he still regarded them with close affection. They often gamboled around him and licked at his hands when he dismounted. Earlier in the ride he had disappeared often into the trees with all of the wolves at his heels; now, he stayed with the column and I wondered if he was as anxious to return home as the guards clearly were.
Tall, twisted trees with gnarled limbs covered the hills. The road was easy and smooth, and the ride went quickly. Finally, with the sun straight overhead, we topped the rise of the final hill to see Antor spread out below.
The city had been laid out defensively with two rocky hills on the north side, a massive wall on the west with battlements across the top, and a stone wall that lead to frozen docks at the seaside on the east. A separate road led toward the mountains we had just left and worked around to disappear at the base. I assumed it led toward the now vacant mines.
The castle caught my eye. Though it was also built for defense, with a surrounding wall and enough room in the courtyard to shelter all of the citizens if needed, the castle had a beauty close to magic. The walls had been carved of white marbled stone that caught the light and bathed the area around it in brilliance. It seemed to share its light with the city, to brighten it just by being in its center. The city itself looked cozy, houses clustered together with narrow streets and smoke rising from the chimneys. I could see people lining the road, and realized they were waiting for us. The thought made my stomach twist nervously.