The Stable Hand's Daughter (Title and cover subject to change)

Chapter 4

The dinner was over and the servants were all off to their beds. My soon to be uncle and I were the only people left in the candle lit hall.

“My dear nephew” He said after a long silence. I snapped out of my own thoughts and turned to regard King Percival. “Do let me know if there’s anything else you need before you depart.” I opened my mouth to tell him that I had everything I needed, but remembered the news that Gael had brought me and decided to act.

“I don’t want to inconvenience you uncle” I said slowly

“Don’t be shy Edwin! Tell me and it shall be yours!” He was in good spirits and I intended to make full use that.

“We do need a good stable hand back in Mondi. Good stable hands are hard to come by, so I thought I’d ask if you had someone you could spare.” The king laughed and slapped me on the back, almost making my face hit the table.

“Of course my boy! I have far too many here! Take whichever you like! Just don’t take old Jackson - he’s too frail to travel so far.” I smiled easily at the king.

“There is one I have in mind. His name is Henry.”

“Ahh Henry… he came to us from god knows where twenty years ago, with a baby girl in his arms. How he begged for a job - it was a heartbreaking sight. I can’t pay him much, so if you can offer him and his daughter a better life, then I wholeheartedly agree.” Well that was too easy in my opinion.

“Of course, we’ll take good care of them in Mondi. Good people are always needed and appreciated.”

“Good, good” The king cooed. “Best send the messenger in the morn and tell them the good news. They’ll want to pack their belongings.” With that said, king Percival got up and headed to his own chambers. “Good night my boy” he called from the threshold of the hall. I sat in silence for a while, before making my way to my own chambers.

The messenger had left at sunrise and returned with Caellyn and a middle aged man with greying hair, who must have been Henry. They were dressed for travel, and a small satchel each was all their belongings. I did not look at Caellyn, knowing full well that her eyes would be spitting fire, but I knew I couldn’t avoid the confrontation forever. With a deep breath, I turned from my own preparations to see the two waiting patiently.

“Henry, I presume” I held out a hand to the man, who took it firmly. “King Percival personally commended you” I said “and we are in sore need of good stable hands in Mondi. I’m sorry that this is all so last minute.” Henry shook his head in response.

“It’s quite alright, you Highness. It will be our pleasure to serve your family.” His grey eyes looked earnestly into mine.

“Then you better saddle up. We’re leaving within the hour.” I glanced at Caellyn then, but her head was bowed and her eyes on the ground. “My lady? Is something the matter?”

“No, your Highness” she replied demurely and curtsied perfectly, making me crack a smile.

“All right then.”

“With your permission, your Highness” Henry bowed his head and once I’d nodded, took his daughter by the elbow and disappeared into the stables.

“Well that was heartwarming” Gael said quietly, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

“Be quiet you.” I told him half heartedly.

“I’m just saying, your Highness, you could have handled that a lot better.”

“You’re going to teach me royal manners?” I snapped at him.

“You don’t have to take my advice, but I assume that is the reason why you take me everywhere.”

“Well you’re a good bodyguard.”

“Can’t guard you if I’m not with you.” There was a hurt look in his blue eyes. I messed his short cropped brown hair.

“I’m sorry okay? Someone had to do the errands, or she wouldn’t have come! Besides if it were you and me in that forest, we’d both be dead in a few weeks time.”

“Maybe just one of us.” He grumbled in response.

“Not an option. It was fate. Okay? If not for her, I’d be dead.”

“Is that why you’re forcing her to come with us? Gratitude?”

“That’s part of the reason.”

“Oh.”

“I’ll tell you later.” I glanced around at my retinue. Ten heavily armed knights, spare horses and a supply wagon. “That wagon is going to slow us down.” I grumbled.

I led the column out of the city with Gael by my side and two knights flanking us, followed by Henry and Caellyn riding on the wagon. The rest were spread around in a defensive formation. I allowed a short stop at the crossroads so that she could call her horse. Starwyn didn’t make us wait and charged out of the fields at full speed, making some of my knights tense.

“It’s all right” I called to them “It’s only a horse.” The men relaxed and watched in awe as the horse and rider reunited. Caellyn didn’t waste any time and leaped up on her back, taking her place beside her father. I twisted in my saddle to look at her, but she avoided my gaze. Sighing heavily, I gave the signal to move on.

“Still avoiding you?” Gael whispered.

“Like the plague.” The comment made him chuckle and I joined in, feeling some of the tension leaving me. We settled into a comfortable silence and were soon passing the borders of The Vermilion. I looked at the place with longing in my heart. Just to think that I went into the forest only to loose consciousness and return again without having seen much nor hunted. The thought was entirely disappointing. Though I was still unsure whether to believe that my encounter in there was completely a figment of my poison riddled imagination. Though it was entirely possible that I could have, in my excitement, failed to notice a hairy spider landing on my neck. I raised my hand to the back of my neck, trying to feel for any bumps, but there was nothing there.

“They leave no bite mark.” I turned, surprised to see Caellyn riding by my side. She looked me in the eyes, unflinchingly, as though waiting for explanation.

“I’m aware that this was last minute and unexpected. But then what other course of action was there left?” I tried to shrug it off, but she wasn’t having it.

“How dare you?” She hissed at me, trying to keep her face straight so that the others wouldn’t notice our strange exchange.

“I’m sorry if I upset you my Lady” I begun

“Sorry my ass.” She fumed “This is my life. How dare you waltz in and do whatever you want with it? Have you no decency?”

“Whoa! Just a minute here young lady” My anger rose so fast that I had absolutely no handle on it. “I present you and your father with a great opportunity to thank you for saving my life, and this is how you repay me?” Her face turned scarlet, and even though she was angry, it looked absolutely beautiful. Gael shot nervous glances to both of us.

“Please don’t make a scene here. I’m sure you can work out your differences once you’re somewhere more… private.” I glared at him, but he was right. I looked back at Caellyn.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be harsh. I just didn’t think what else I could do.” I saw Gael roll his eyes at me.

“It’s not the thought itself. And we are grateful.” She ground out. “But you could have given us some time. Asked our opinion. Not just sent us a messenger with a royal decree. That is so high handed.” I blinked at her. Why didn’t I think of that? I brought my hand to my face.

“I’m sorry.” I told her quietly. “Please forgive me?” Her features softened, but I could she that she wasn’t quite ready to forgive me just yet.