by Ivy Logan
Often lost in her own thoughts, Talia was completely unaware of how heads turned in her direction. The hard knocks and terror of the past failed to mask her inner radiance and grace. Her sorrow only further accentuated the loveliness of her features and the beauty within. To her admirers, she was the epitome of politeness but nothing more. Despite her loneliness, she forced herself to remain aloof from all overtures of friendship because friends would be curious. In fact, the women were even more eager then the men to learn more about her. The questions were one too many and Talia would often find herself going red in the face trying to hold her tongue.
Almost six months passed before Talia even found the courage to venture out. Once she did, she got into the habit of visiting a tiny chapel quite a distance from the central marketplace that she came upon during her leisurely walks. Most folks preferred to attend service at the main church in town instead of making the inconvenient trek outside of the city to the somewhat derelict and relatively deserted chapel, but Talia didn’t mind the long walk in the least. There amidst the chapel’s silent, hallowed interiors with the fragrance of burning frankincense and perfumed lilies wafting around her, she found peace. She prayed hard for the souls of her mother and brother, and for the well-being and safety of her father. She also prayed for the strength and the opportunity for vengeance, although she wasn’t sure if it was right or not.
After visiting the chapel, she would stroll by the banks of the river, marvelling and committing to memory the beauty of the wild bushes, the colourful flowers and the chirping birds. This freedom meant the world to her.
Once she had absorbed enough to cleanse her soul, Talia would close her eyes, freeing her mind from the beauty around and forcing her thoughts to her worst fear—to Damien. Talia would imagine Damien standing before her as if in flesh and blood spinning tales about her mother and brother, enticing her to go with him. Suppressing the urge to turn and run, she would force herself to breathe again. She would then retrieve her crossbow and sword from the bushes where she had hidden them, the craftsmanship of both so elegant and perfect that they could be considered works of art. In reality, they were deadly and sharp weapons capable of ending a life with the lightest of touches and her last resort against a mad man.
Talia knew Damien would be expecting a sorceress, but he would get only an ordinary girl. Her death would be quick if he learned she had no magic. She had to be prepared if she were to stand any chance at all.
Since her mother disappeared, Talia’s combatant skills had grown rusty, but she had learned enough. For a long time, the sword felt stiff and unwieldy in her hands. Her movements were awkward and frozen, but then Talia would imagine a sneering Damien in front of her. Block him, she would command herself. Don’t leave yourself wide open to an attack. She would swing right, imagining Damien coming in from the left, lunging towards her, an evil glint in his eyes. She kept at it, repeating the same manoeuvres again and again until she had perfected them, then adding new ones and repeating the process. The bow, despite being lightweight, felt heavy to her stiff shoulder. The arrows she tried to shoot flew everywhere but at the target. Talia thought it was a grand thing indeed that she hadn’t unwittingly killed herself, an innocent animal, or a passer-by. As time went by, the crossbow began to feel familiar once more. The arrows began to find their mark. But she could feel her fear growing every day. How would she seek vengeance when the mere thought of meeting her greatest and only foe again choked her and left her paralyzed? What would she do when the time came to face him?
And what of her father? Was he safe? Anxiety for him clouded her thoughts. How would she find him without returning to Aberevon? Worry made her hands tremble. Focus, she told herself, once again casting an icy cloak of calmness around herself.
CHAPTER XVII
I thought I had no power, but Mother always had the ability to draw creatures of nature towards her, and now so did I. Joshua feared animals, but not I. There was no animal I did not care for. But most of all, I loved horses because they reminded me of home and all I had lost.
Talia
THE HERO THAT WALKED ON FOUR LEGS - AHERIN
Out in the woods of Syrolt, Talia drifted along a solitary path she hadn’t been down before. She came to a standstill in front of a handsome, reddish brown Arabian horse with a glossy coat and a smooth black mane and tail. The very sight of it brought an onslaught of precious memories as she felt her eyes grow moist. Compared to her pony, Liata, this horse on the river path was much bigger, but Talia was still mesmerised. When it saw Talia, it became restless and looked like it was about to bolt.
Talia soon realized the horse was wearing a saddle with its reins trailing behind, but there was no rider in sight. Before she could speculate on what must have happened, a high-spirited snort from the horse attracted her attention. Her resolve to keep a low profile was quickly forgotten and she approached the horse from its offside in a non-threatening manner, making soft, comforting and crooning sounds. Sensing Talia’s presence, the horse rolled its eyes and tried to shy away. She kept up the soothing sounds and gradually it grew less alarmed. Talia now interspaced the sounds she made with soft, calming words. “Come on, boy. Don’t be shy. I would never hurt you. Don’t you agree that a handsome horse like you deserves some love? Here boy.” The Arabian gave an answering sigh in return, and as if finally deciding that she posed no threat, it stood still. Talia stopped by its side and continued speaking softly. As she ran her hand over its coat, she wished she had some sugar cubes or a juicy carrot in her pocket to offer it.
Standing there with her head resting against the horse’s flank, Talia could feel the wind on her face and whipping through her hair. She wished she were a stable hand instead of a shop assistant. Just being surrounded by horses, even if it involved mucking them out and cleaning the stables, would have been satisfaction enough for her.
As though driven by the force of her memories, Talia impulsively climbed into the saddle and clasped the reins, telling herself it was just for a little while. For the first time in many months, she felt revived and like her old self again.
With a rider in the saddle, the Arabian became slightly skittish as though eager to get going. Without giving it any thought as she had done it countless times before, Talia applied slight pressure with her legs while leaning forward in the saddle. Before she could even say go boy, the horse broke into an elegant trot.
The Arabian galloped like the wind, lifting Talia’s spirits, making her feel strong and alive. Singing at the top of her voice, she laughed with exhilaration, thrilling in the deep connection she felt with this powerful creature and the heady sense of freedom it gave her.
As girl and horse finally slowed down, Talia suddenly fell silent as she saw a young man standing to the side grinning in amusement. A startled Talia almost lost her balance. The watching man wore his hair slightly longer than necessary. A few wavy tendrils strayed onto his cheeks but did not seem to bother him in any way. He was lean and tall. He stood under a tree slouching slightly, casually munching an apple. He made no attempt to disguise the humour in his eyes. How could she not fail to note that he had the most beautiful laughing brown eyes she had ever seen? Why was she scrutinizing him in such detail from atop a horse? She had never done anything like this before. What must he make of all this staring? Turning red, Talia dismounted, refusing the courteous hand he held out. Her marked rebuff did not ruffle his composure. He bowed politely to her before addressing the horse in a scolding but affectionate voice. “Aherin, you naughty boy. After all the sugar cubes I fed you, you threw me off like a sack of potatoes and ran off with this pretty young lady.”
As Talia spluttered in indignation, he continued. “Is this the way to treat your pr—?” The young man stopped abruptly, almost choking on his apple.
Talia liked the stranger. Anyone would. Everything about him was friendly and open. But since early childhood, her mother had ingrained deep within her the habit of avoiding strangers. No matter if it was the chi
ldren in the neighbourhood of Aberevon, or customers who tried to chat with her as she attended to them here in Syrolt, she never opened up to others. There was nothing threatening in this young man’s demeanour, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak to him. It was very difficult to let go of patterns of the past, especially the ones that had saved her life.
Despite the young man’s amiable nature, he was hiding something. He had hesitated when he spoke to his horse, Aherin. It seemed she was not the only one with secrets. She should make her exit before he started asking her impertinent questions. Muttering a quick apology, she turned towards the lane and cast one last longing glance at the horse. She was proud that she absolutely did not sneak a peek at the cute young man—however much she wanted to.
Aherin’s young master called out to her but thankfully did not give chase. Talia returned to her mundane but safe life. What was it he had called after her? “I don’t even know your name.” Talia did not know his name either. Such a pity. At least she knew the name of the horse.
As he stood there holding Aherin’s reins, Aiden, Crown Prince of Syrolt, shook his head in wonder. The girl had accomplished a feat he’d had limited success with—befriending Aherin and riding him like an expert equestrian. In his book, not falling off Aherin for an extended period qualified as expertise.
What a wonderful girl.
Such spirit and beauty.
CHAPTER XVIII
Nothing in life is ironclad. I decided I would never open my heart again, but all it took was a horse, a man and a boy, and I was lost. They saved me when I didn’t even know I needed saving.
Talia
A GLIMPSE OF POWER - TALIA
Over the next few days, Aiden thought a lot about her, the beautiful girl who refused to share her name. It didn’t matter who she was or where she came from; he just wanted to see her again. Syrolt was an island, but it wasn’t small. Where would he even start looking for her?
Why had the girl run away as soon after she saw him? Did she have a possessive boyfriend or a mean father she was afraid of? Had he terrified her? He ought to stay away, but he knew better than to look for someone who didn’t want to be found. She seemed like the kind of girl who cherished her privacy. Maybe if he were lucky, he would see her again.
Aiden was well aware that his sister, Andrea of Calhem, was hoping he would fall in love with her sister-in-law, Lady Ellie. He liked Ellie but he never really thought about her unless she was standing right in front of him. Her, on the other hand, Aiden could not stop thinking about.
****
One day, Talia walked back into Aiden’s life, and it was all thanks to his nephew, Jesse. During the visit of the royal family of Calhem, Jesse took it in his head to ride Aherin without informing Aiden or the stable hand. No sooner had Jesse mounted the Arabian than he realized he had taken on more than he could handle. All his attempts to rein in the headstrong horse failed and he was reduced to holding on for dear life as Aherin galloped out of the palace gates. An alert gardener warned the palace. Fearing that Jesse may be hurt, Aiden immediately organized search parties.
Meanwhile, Aherin, finding himself master instead of the unschooled and green Jesse, decided to head to the path by the river. He was on the lookout for Talia.
Hours passed with no sign of the little boy. Aiden, who had spent the entire day searching the woods, was riding out again when he was met by a sight he would never forget.
News of the young prince’s disappearance had spread and a large crowd had gathered to show support and to pray. Suddenly, murmurs spread through the gathered crowd as they glimpsed Jesse mounted on Aherin. Once he understood that Jesse was only dishevelled but unharmed, Aiden only had eyes for her as she focussed on calming Aherin, who was becoming agitated by the growing cheers and applause. She was even more beautiful than he recalled. Fearing a terrible scolding, the recalcitrant boy clung to Talia on dismounting, preventing her from making the unobtrusive escape she was hoping for.
Hidden by the throng of cheering people, Aiden could see the need to flee in Talia’s eyes. She was a runner. No wonder Aherin had an affinity for her. They both had that in common. Whatever her reasons, the girl had a good heart. She craved anonymity but she had still put her responsibility for Jesse’s safety above her own desires. If only she wouldn’t run away this time and give him a chance.
Meanwhile, tears of remorse, relief and happiness flowed freely and Jesse was forgiven—for the moment.
Aherin took them to Syrolt’s royal palace. When a bewildered Talia wondered why, Jesse told her whose horse Aherin was. She finally learned his name. Aiden—Prince Aiden. As she reconciled herself to the reality that the only man she had ever liked was royalty, she had to laugh at the fact that she’d run from a king only to fall for a prince. But there was no comparison between Aiden and Damien. The realization that just how much she liked him hit her like a ton of bricks. When she saw him looking oh so solemn and worried for his nephew, the fierce joy she felt took her by surprise. She had not realized just how much she wanted to see him again. Talia knew that he was staring at her, but she could not make herself meet the intensity of those alluring eyes of his. Until she got a better control of her emotions, she would do best to avoid him.
****
Talia didn’t dare tell Jesse’s family of the narrow escape he’d had. Seeing Aherin galloping past, she had initially tried to hide, thinking that his handsome master was the rider, but the sight of the much smaller figure had alerted her to the possibility of danger. She gave chase as Aherin was galloped straight towards the edge of the river. Talia was too far away to grab his reins. A deeper instinct took over. She reached out to the Arabian through her thoughts. In her mind, he was right beside her. “Stop, Aherin. Stop, otherwise the boy will die,” she pleaded with the horse in a firm voice.
When Talia opened her eyes, it was to the amazing sight of a stationary horse. Aherin was galloping towards the river at breakneck speed when the voice he loved so much reached out to him. He sensed her gentle presence and had no choice but to come to a standstill when she asked. He actually ceased his frenzied ride after checking his speed, slowing down to a gentle trot so that his rider wouldn’t suddenly fall off. Talia’s anxiety for his little passenger had now become his own.
“Good boy,” Talia mumbled.
Jesse lost his precarious hold on Aherin’s reins and almost fallen into the water, but Talia was there to catch him. Even as she spoke to Aherin, she continued running towards them, so when Jesse fell, it was only into the safety of her arms.
“Where did you come from?” he asked.
“I was right behind you, laddie. You were too scared to see me.”
Jesse seemed to be in shock. Talia encased his cold hands in her own and began rubbing them in earnest. After a while, she asked him if he wanted to return home. The boy nodded his head in relief until a terrifying thought struck him. “Will you be sending me back all by myself with this devil?” he stuttered, shuddering in fear.
In Talia’s eyes, Aherin was a darling and as harmless as Liata, but she understood where the terror in the Jesse’s eyes came from. “There is nothing to be scared of. He is not as scary as he pretends to be,” she said, but the little boy still looked unconvinced.
“Aherin is a friend of mine. He will listen to me; have no fear. Whenever you fall, you should get right back in the saddle, otherwise your fear will only grow. So how about you ride him and I walk by your side? I will have his reins in my hand. I won’t allow him to run away again.”
Talia hoisted Jesse back onto Aherin, and, patting the horse, she said, “Home, Aherin. Walk.” It seemed enough for Aherin, who set off at an extremely docile pace. Talia understood how Aherin could be scary; he had thrown off his own master, hadn’t he? She just happened to have a soft spot for him—the horse, or the master, or both.
Talia followed Aherin’s lead, letting her mind wander to how she had been able to command Aherin from afar. How had this been possible? Had it been th
e magic her father had told her about? He had told her there was magic within her and it may emerge at the right time. What would have happened if she had been unable to talk to Aherin? She shuddered to even think about it.
CHAPTER XIX
Mother, when I experienced the richness of love, the initial euphoria that one can’t get enough of, I understood what you felt when you met Father. It is love that is holding me back and keeping me from moving on. We cannot help who or how we love. Love is a gift, one that is received even if not always asked for.
Talia
GIVING LIFE A CHANCE - TALIA
Princess Andrea was deeply grateful and refused to let Talia leave, insisting that she stay on as an esteemed guest. Talia couldn’t ignore such genuine warmth. It felt churlish to refuse, so she finally conceded to stay a while.
Talia developed a close bond with Andrea and Ellie over the next few weeks. They surrounded her in a circle of such unconditional love that she had no choice but to reciprocate.
After a long time, Talia felt her fears abate. Syrolt was beginning to feel comfortable, like a second skin. She could see herself living on this island safe and secure, never having to leave. It had been so long since she’d experienced the warmth and security of a real home. Then there was Jesse. He followed her everywhere, reminding her of Joshua so much that sometimes she forgot he was Andrea’s son and not her brother. She couldn’t help but laugh and smile when she was with him.