“I don’t care what your excuse is. Do you know who I am?”
“Yes, my lady,” they said in unison.
The boy had hidden in the stable during the ruckus but now peeked through a crack in the door. His big brown eyes were wild with curiosity. Kira had to fight the urge to smile and wave at him.
“Then you know I will be your queen one day. Are you sure you want to make me angry?”
“No, my lady,” the stablemen said.
“Ussay is my personal assistant. If she gives you an order, you do exactly what she says. Am I understood?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Now turn around.” She didn’t bother unlacing the front of her dress, just grabbed both sides and ripped it open. She slid it over her hips and let it puddle at her feet. When she stepped between the men and back into their view, they both cursed. She glared at them, silencing their tongues.
“You will tell no one. Do you understand?”
They nodded.
Kira ordered them to back away from the horse as she stepped closer. He still pranced around, nervously stomping his hooves into the stone. She put her arms out to the side with her palms up to show him she meant no harm; then slowly approached him. With every step she took toward him, he took one back, flaring his nostrils and throwing his head in the air.
“Calm down, boy. I’m not going to hurt you.” She took another step and put her hand out toward him, coaxing him to gather in her scent. He reluctantly stretched his neck and took in a few short breaths. His eyes locked on hers as she took one more step, keeping her hand outstretched between them. Only inches from touching him, she stood still, waiting for him to grant his trust, hoping he would let her advance, so it surprised her when he made the first move. The muscles in his body relaxed as he stepped closer, letting her run the tips of her fingers down the soft muzzle between his nostrils. She slowly moved her hand up the front of his head, burying it in the long wisps of hair that ran down his forehead. He took another step, leaning into her.
“See, I told you. I only want to ride you for a while. Think you can handle that?” She stepped to his side and brushed her hand down his neck and shoulder. As she ran her fingers through his long mane his head swung around behind her and rubbed against her back. His sudden trust in her reminded her of the cubs and their mama. Perhaps she had gained another gift from this place.
Kira took both reins, pulled them to the saddle and, standing on the tip of her toes, reached to wrap them firmly around the horn. “Okay, Althros. Let’s show them how this is done,” she whispered as she stretched her leg up to put one foot in the stirrup.
He raised his head as if to protest, shifting a step to the side. She quickly propelled herself up into the saddle and grabbed onto the reins. She tightened her legs around his sides, half expecting him to rear up and toss her on her butt, but he didn’t. She reached down and stroked his neck and mane.
“Good boy.”
Kira turned to find the two men as frozen as statues. Their mouths hung open so wide, she could have stuck her whole fist into them. The boy stood beside them, grinning from ear to ear. She adjusted herself to sit comfortably in the saddle, but now that she was on the horse, she realized she couldn’t reach the stirrups.
“Could I get a little help here?” she asked.
While she kept Althros calm by stroking his neck, the men quickly adjusted the stirrups. They’d barely stepped out of the way when the little boy came from inside the stable doors holding Kira’s bow and quiver. A moment of fear ran through her as she thought of the poison covering the tips, praying he wouldn’t stumble and drive one through his skin. She reached down and took them from him, strapped the quiver to her back and threw the bow over her head and shoulder.
“Your silence will save your lives,” she warned. Then she nudged Althros in the sides and he sprang into a gallop. The heavy sound of his hooves pounding the wooden bridge echoed against the outer walls of the castle.
Riding through the village, she gave little notice to the people jumping out of her way. She needed to get to Pride Meadow as fast as she could and didn’t have time to slow her stride. At least, since her ride the day before with Octavion, she knew the way.
By the time she cleared the main gate, she felt as though she and Althros were one. She followed the dirt road up the hill behind the castle and through a thick stand of trees leading to the area where they’d eaten their meal. She continued toward the fallen tree, being careful to stay close to the base of the mountain to take advantage of the tall pine trees. Their sturdy branches would give her the cover she would need when the time came to take her shot.
The thought of it sent a shiver through her. Althros tensed as well, slowing his gallop and throwing his head to the side. Could he really sense what she felt?
When the fallen log came into view, she pulled Althros to a stop, threw her leg over his head and slid to the ground. She led him deep into the trees and behind an outcropping of large boulders, tying his reins to the trunk of a small tree. She stroked his head one more time and turned, but then she reconsidered his restraint. If Shandira killed her, who knows how long he’d be tied up before someone found him. She quickly released him, letting the reins drop to the ground. She remembered what Octavion said about having pets and she thought it fit in this situation. If she was truly connected with him and he wanted to stay, he would.
She took a deep breath and continued on foot, carefully stepping so she made the least amount of noise possible. If Shandira was already here, Kira wanted to get as close as she could before alerting her. As she walked, she readied her bow-notching a poisonous arrow and pulling the string taut. She searched the meadow, but found no sign of Shandira.
Kira located the perfect spot to hide-a large tree had fallen onto a rock, splitting it in two and giving her perfect cover. She crouched in the shadows to wait.
She slipped her hand into her healing pack and took out the heart pendent. This time she held it firmly in her hand. She let the faces of those she loved flash through her mind. Their spirits seemed to be with her as she dug deep to find the courage she needed to carry this out. She would need their strength to survive.
Kira closed her eyes and rubbed her thumb across the stone.
Shandira. I’m all yours.
Aw. You are early. Are you alone, as I requested?
Yeah, let’s finish this.
Kira slipped the pendent back in her bag, drew back her bow and waited. When Kira felt Shandira’s dark spirit warn of her presence, she felt a pull on her lungs and she struggled to breathe. She quickly stood and spun around to find Shandira standing behind her, two curved-blade weapons gripped tightly in her fists.
The distance between them was barely enough to pull her weapon to her shoulder and release the arrow. When she did, Shandira raised her hand, deflecting the arrowhead with her blade. It missed piercing her heart, but as it sailed past her shoulder, it cut the fabric of her shirt and grazed her flesh.
Shandira grinned. “Perhaps you need lessons in fighting a Royal.”
Kira dropped her bow and slid her dagger out of its sheath, putting it up between them. “Last I heard you’d been stripped of your crown.”
Shandira laughed. “It got in my way. I much prefer being a rebel.”
“It suits you.” Kira wasn’t about to let her intimidate her. Shandira’s constant need to team up with ruthless monsters so she wouldn’t have to get her hands dirty told Kira one thing-she was a coward. “Well, don’t just stand there, bring it on. . princess.”
Shandira’s smile faded to a scowl as she leapt forward, swinging her blades. If she hadn’t caught Kira’s arm as she jumped out of Shandira’s way, Kira might have laughed. Instead she struck back, cutting Shandira’s hand and making her drop one of her blades. She stopped long enough to fire an insult; then her eyes shifted to the wound on Kira’s arm which healed as she watched. Kira assumed the increased adrenaline flowing through her body-and perhaps the power of Octavion’s world, itself-allowed the Crystor to do things it never had before. She found herself aware of every leaf that moved, the flutter of bird wings in the trees nearby-and each labored breath Shandira took. The poison was starting to work.