“I can’t just not trust him either,” Will pointed out.
“But you’ve kept the truth from him this long, even without the Ranger telling you too,” Rowan argued. “So, why’s that?”
Will opened and closed his mouth, frustration mounting. They didn’t understand, they couldn’t understand, what it was like to be in his position, to have to face what he was facing. It had been stupid for him to even try.
“We’re not trying to annoy you, Will,” Colin said, his voice softer than it had been. “We’re trying to help keep you alive.”
“Yeah, well, the Ranger is too and all he’s really done is make this worse,” Will growled. He crossed to the table where his friends sat, dropping into the remaining seat between them. He sat back in the seat, digging his fingers into the faded blue upholstery of the chairs arms. “I want answers.”
“We all do,” Rowan said flatly.
“What I’d like to know,” Colin said, frowning and closing the book that still lay open before him, “is what all this has to do with Marl.”
“Marl’s a prat, the Cutthroat is a prat, seems a good enough connection to me,” Rowan mumbled.
“But Miller said that he didn’t know if Marl had anything to do with the Cutthroat,” Will repeated what he’d already said, more for his sake than his friends’. “And I don’t think he was lying. He doesn’t seem to keep a straight face well.”
“Then what is it? Because now we’ve got Miller and the Ranger saying Marl’s up to something,” said Colin, watching Will carefully.
Will shook his head. “I haven’t the faintest idea and I’m not sure how we’d find out.”
“Didn’t the King say that the Ranger left because of the Kelkor knight?” Rowan asked, straightening suddenly.
“Yeah, so?” Will watched his friend, noticing the excitement and dawning on Rowan’s face.
“Well then, don’t you think she’d know why he left? She’d know at least what’s going on there, in Kelkor. If it was all somehow connected…”
“But we just said we shouldn’t trust her.” Colin shook his head. “So, I don’t think asking her is any smarter than asking Haru. In fact, it’s probably stupider. I’m with you, I’d like to think it’s not Haru who’s spying on Alamore. It’s more believable to me that it’s her, even if the knights don’t agree.”
“If she admitted to being a spy, though, that’d prove that Haru’s innocent!” Will said, sitting upright.
“Hold up, not what I was going for,” Rowan yelped. “We aren’t doing that.”
“Why not?” Will looked between his friends, a new energy coursing through him. “If I could talk to her, find out and prove she’s the spy…”
“You’d get killed,” Colin snapped. “And that defeats the point of us trying to keep you alive. The Ranger told you not to tell her who you are. How would you casually find out all of this without revealing you’re Marl’s son?”
“It’d be worth telling her the truth to catch a spy,” Will pointed out. When neither of his friends looked impressed he slapped a hand on the table, causing them both to jump. “How can you take this not knowing?”
“We don’t like it either, mate, but we also know we can’t get killed trying to prove a point!” Rowan said, shaking his head. “And you’ve heard Laster talk about Kelkor knights–they are fierce. I don’t even like to cross my sister and she’s not a trained lady knight with a bloody sword.”
“Rowan’s right, Will.” Colin’s voice was decided. “You can’t do that. All we can do right now is see what we find out through listening and focus on keeping our heads down. That’s all.”
Will sank back into his seat, crossing his arms and scowling at them. “I don’t like this. I don’t like not feeling like I can’t trust Haru.”
“We’re not saying don’t trust him,” Rowan said, and to Will’s astonishment his friend was grinning, hair flopping forward over his face. “We’re saying don’t trust anyone.”
Will couldn’t help but laugh, the knot of tension easing in his chest. “You’re an idiot.”
“You just don’t appreciate genius.”
After that, the three of them began talking about the Cutthroats again, Will’s discussion with Miller sinking to the back of his mind in laughter as he watched, once more, spring to his feet and reenact the attack.
It wasn’t until hours later, when the sun had cast a red shadow over the shelves the three descended the stairs for dinner, that Will’s mind was pulled back to the idea of speaking to the Kelkor knight. They were sinking into their seats with the other squires, Rowan already trying to cause chaos by attempting to knock Novin’s chair backwards as it balanced on two back legs, when a shiver like spiders ran over his skin. Turning in his seat, he stiffened as his eyes met the green set that were locked on him from the knights’ table. There, sitting upright and proud, dark red hair pulled back in a braid and one arm cradled close to her chest in a sling, Lady Serena of Kelkor was giving him a searching look that gave Will the uncomfortable feeling that she already knew exactly who he was.
CHAPTER NINE
Grey clouds rolled across the skies over the night, sending shadows across the walls and courtyard. Their filtered light seemed to wash the color from the surroundings, and Will could smell the rain as he shifted foot to foot anxiously outside the barn.
Haru had told him at breakfast that the squires had been cleared by the King to practice outside the walls again, providing they had knights with them, and that they would be borrowing Ross’s new hunting horse for him to practice with until Visra recovered. Rowan and Colin had been volunteered by their knights to help the two new squires, Gabe and Jerram, in their first day of training with Miller and Robin. Will had noticed both of his friends throw him anxious looks at the news they wouldn’t be training together but had pretended not to notice. Haru wasn’t a spy. He was sure of that and, not to mention, the idea of riding again was too tantalizing to resist.
The excitement of riding had been part of why he’d sprinted out to the barn before Haru. Part, but not the main motive. The more concerning and pressing reason had been Serena approaching Haru in the dinner hall. She’d shot Will a calculated look of loathing as she called Haru over and, not eager to be under her watchful gaze a moment longer, he’d slipped out of the castle. Whatever she was doing here, and whatever Will tried to tell himself, there wasn’t any doubt in his mind that she knew more about him, and Marl, than the Ranger had admitted.
He glanced out the barn doors, hoping to see Haru rushing to meet him, and noticed the clouds slowly churning overhead. Please don’t rain yet, please, please, please. I need to get out of the castle for a bit, just get out and not deal with any of this for a few minutes.
“Morning, Will!”
Will started.
Airagon was striding toward him, a spring in his step and hands buried in his pockets, a broad smile on his freckled face. He raised his brows. “You ready to go riding?”
“Are you training with us today then?” Will asked, confused.
“In a sort.” Airagon shrugged, pausing next to Will. “Haru told us, the King and I that is, that you were going to try out Ross’s hunting horse in the valley today. The King and I were already going to leave the walls this morning anyhow and he said we should go together. So, us, Sir Don, and Novin.” Will noticed that even when not walking, Airagon was bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet.
“What were you leaving the walls for?” Will asked. He had to resist the sudden urge to laugh at how ridiculous the older squire looked, bobbing like a child awaiting sweets.
Airagon’s chest swelled with pride and he straightened. “I turn seventeen today, which means, I get my sword.”
“You do? Really? That’s excellent!” Will beamed, some of the worry of seeing Serena melting away. “Are you getting yours from the same blacksmith that Novin got his then?”
“Yes.” Airagon nodded. “I’ve been practicing with it a couple times a week and it’s
brilliant–the balance, the edge on the blade–I just hope I don’t do something stupid when trying out the swords, like drop it.”
“You’ll be fine.” Will rolled his eyes. “You’ve never dropped a sword in practice have you?”
“Not yet, but there’s a first for everything.”
Sir Don appeared through the double doors and waved a hand in greeting. A few strides behind him, Novin and Haru were the next to leave the castle, Novin laughing at something Haru had said. The King was last to appear, striding next to Sir Ross. Will noticed the King and Ross both looked unusually serious, more so even as the rest of the group ahead of them were in obvious good spirits. The King paused, saying something to Ross who nodded and turned away, toward the steps that led up the castle wall and onto the battlement. He didn’t even glance in Will and Airagon’s direction, frowning ahead.
Will’s gaze moved back to Haru and he felt the knot of tension grip his chest again. If he was a spy…but how could he be? He was laughing now, thumping Novin on the back and shaking his head. Will relaxed. He was starting to act like Ross, Miller, and the Ranger–paranoid over nothing but empty suspicions.
“Ready to try out Ross’s little horse with the big attitude?” Sir Don clapped Will on the shoulder as he passed him on his way through the doors of the barn.
Will grinned. “When you put it that way, I’m less certain about it.”
“He’s not terrible,” Haru assured him, reaching him and ruffling his hair. “He’s just a hunt horse. Different breed of animal from warhorses.”
Will waved Haru’s hand away, trying to flatten his hair again. “I’m not certain that’s of much more comfort.”
“Oh, you’ll survive.” Haru laughed, rolling his eyes. “Just don’t come off the horse or I’m not letting you live it down.”
A deep chuckle made Will turn. The King had clearly overheard his and Haru’s discussion and smiled down at him, pausing to let Airagon and Novin enter the barn first.
“From what I’ve heard, your horse is a handful himself.”
“Yes, he is, King.” Will nodded, uncomfortably aware of his now disheveled hair. He tried again to flatten it. “But he’s the only one I’ve really worked in a while.”
“It’s good to change horses every so often,” the King said, stepping past Will and Haru and into the barn. “Though, I never much care for any horse that isn’t my Talloe.”
“See, even the King says it’s good for you,” Haru said, smirking when the King had walked out of hearing distance.
“And carrots are supposed to be good for Rowan, but he still thinks they’re terrible,” Will pointed out but he was laughing, walking into the barn with Haru. “You didn’t tell me what horse I was looking for anyway, so I haven’t saddled or anything. I’ve just been waiting.”
“I’m sorry, Will.” Haru clapped a hand to his forehead. “I forgot that! I got caught up talking to Serena, she had some questions about practice courts so she can start training again with her good arm. Hold on a minute, I’ll get Ad.”
“Ad?”
But Haru was hurrying across the barn already, not listening. Will shifted while he waited, watching Airagon saddle his grey horse while the King haltered his massive blue roan stallion. Visra was watching them through fiery brown eyes, his chest pressed against the stall door, clearly expecting to be worked. Will grimaced, turning away with a guilty twinge. It felt somehow like a betrayal to be working another horse.
He looked up to see Haru returning, and his stomach dropped at the sight of the animal walking casually at his other side. It wasn’t the horse’s height that took Will aback but rather that he recognized the deep red coat, the thick neck, the long wavy mane and tail and the thin white stripe that ran down the horse’s curved face.
“Will, this is Admere,” Haru said proudly, holding out the horse’s line. “Don’t mind the size–we’ve got a saddle that’ll fit him in the tack room.”
Will took the rope, not sure what to say. It was the same small stallion that had taunted and challenged Visra days before. Now he looked the picture of curious innocence, his breath hot on Will’s hands as he smelled the squire’s sleeve. “This is Ross’s horse?”
“One and the same.” Haru nodded. “Don’t mind the size. As I said, he’s built to be a fast mount for hunting or just light fighting, not carrying full armor or anything. Which is lucky because you don’t do that right now.”
Will didn’t say anything, only looking over the horse’s build. He was a fair few hands shorter than Visra, but his body was still muscular, the thick neck defined. His coat was a brilliant red and though he didn’t have the thick feathers of most the war horses, he still had large hooves. Hooves that seemed almost too large for his legs.
“You know, strange as it is, looking at him isn’t going to get him saddled,” Haru joked, making Will look up, surprised to find his knight watching him carefully. Haru sighed, running a hand through his hair, making it stand up for a moment before flopping to the side again. “I know he’s not ideal, he’s just turned five and I’d prefer you be on something a bit more trained than him, but it was him or the ponies and I don’t think either of us want to work with those beasts.”
“I appreciate you picking him over a pony.” Will grimaced. He forced a smile. “Then you’d really never let me live down falling off.”
“No, no I wouldn’t,” Haru said, chortling. “Now, come on, let’s get tacked up or the others will leave without us.”
When saddling, Will felt like a complete fool, as though he hadn’t gone through the motions of saddling a hundred times before. He fumbled with the straps of a borrowed and unfamiliar saddle that would better fit the smaller horse’s back. Twice he tangled up the bridle so he had to step away to figure how it would fit on Admere’s head again. The horse stood patiently the entire time, watching him with that same curious intelligence.
By the time Will had finally bridled Admere, the others were lounging against one of the stalls and watching him. Embarrassed, Will hurried to join them.
“Alright.” Haru straightened, grabbing the reins of his roan from a nearby hook. “I think we can ride out now.”
The others nodded and they traipsed out of the barn. Above, the sky was darkening, the air thick with the smell of an oncoming downpour. Will lifted himself into the saddle and had to grab at a handful of mane as he almost fell over the far side with his momentum.
“Smaller horse, smaller jump,” Sir Don called. “And nice catch there. This courtyard isn’t a soft landing.”
Red with humiliation, Will only nodded, adjusting his reins in his hands. The red horse stood perfectly still, waiting for direction from his new rider.
The King chuckled. “Take it easy on the boy, Don. Airagon, come up here. I’m pretty sure this is your adventure, seems only fit you lead us.”
Will felt his unfamiliar horse tense, his neck arching. Horses around him moved forward and, with a deep breath, Will loosened the reins. Admere broke into a trot, the movement strange, different from Visra’s stride. It seemed to be less of thunder and more floating, long and even strides. Despite the freedom that rushed over him, the sense of flying as they left the castle, Will had to swallow the knot of resentment that the horse wasn’t Visra.
***
The ride to the edge of the town was uneventful. Will rode at the back of the group with Haru, who made him practice different maneuvers with Admere. The horse was quite responsive, almost too much so, and Will had to catch himself twice from being thrown when the horse turned faster than he expected.
There was no comparing the animal to Visra. Where Visra pinned his ears and displayed his power, this horse seemed more interested in listening to Will, his ears flitting back to catch orders or words each time Will spoke. Not that the horse was entirely innocent. Will noticed he had a clever tactic of sidling up to the side of Haru’s roan and biting him without any warning.
Haru’s roan made short work of that on the second occasion th
at Admere tried. Will was listening to Haru describe their next practice maneuver when the roan twisted his head, pinning his ears at the smaller horse, teeth bared, and Admere danced sideways, making Will scramble for the reins.
Haru let out a bark of laughter. “Spirited little thing, isn’t he?”
Their practice distracted Will through the ride. He hadn’t even noticed their progress until Haru ordered him to rein in the sweating chestnut horse and walk him to cool down. Will slowed Admere from his trotting side-pass and looked up, taken aback.
They had reached the crest of the ridge that separated the valley that held Alamore and the city below. Ahead, the place where he’d grown up stretched out below. Will halted Admere, staring down at the streets, the buildings, the familiar place that had been his home most of his life.
Even from here, he recognized each building, could almost smell the bakery, hear the singing from the Dancing Stag Tavern. The place seemed unchanged and yet… yet strange.
It was like seeing a place he’d only heard about and, looking down over it, it seemed to fall short of the memories in his mind. Was this what happened then when a place became the reminder of the lies lived before? His fingers tightened on the reins and he had to fight a sudden urge to turn round and ride back to the castle.
“Miss it?” Haru had ridden up to stop beside him, watching his squire carefully.
Will shook his head. “Not at all.”
“Don’t blame you a bit,” Airagon, on Haru’s other side, said gravely. “If I had to go back to the tunnels.” Airagon shivered. “Feels odd to think about…a past life.”
Will nodded, watching the distant people hurrying down the streets, baskets ladened with shopping, people who hadn’t known he lived there, hadn’t cared he left.
The Cutthroat Prince (William of Alamore Series Book 2) Page 11