Starlight (Book 1)

Chapter Eleven

Ro was shaken awake and let out a gasp that was muffled beneath a rough hand that covered her mouth. She met the violet and brown eyes of the Halfling that had told her to bury the hawk. The one that had sent her to Helga to be healed. Arik removed his hand and Ro sat up in bed. She could see him looking over his shoulder at the other women in the room. His body moved with devious intent as he stood up from where he had crouched down beside her bed. His broad shoulders moved back as he straightened himself. Ro could see the moonlight from the small window flash across the hilts of the daggers strapped to his waist. The leather he wore moaned as he shifted to look down at her.

     "Hurry." The Halfling whispered before making his way towards the door.

     Ro got out of bed and slipped on her boots and coat that she had laid out for herself. She knew that the Halfling was coming for her, but she didn't expect this. The underhandedness. Ro could only assume that she was leaving the Court without the permission of someone of higher status than Alston and the King was the only person that came to mind. She met the Halfling at the door and he carefully opened it and stepped out into the hallway. Ro followed and watched as he closed the door behind them. Arik did not look at Ro, but instead walked past her expecting her to follow. Ro knew that this was not Arik's choice. He seemed aggravated and on edge. She knew that it would be best not to antagonize him with questions. At least not while they were sneaking out of the castle.

     Arik led Ro to a hidden staircase behind a tapestry a short ways down the hall. At first she was a little hesitate to follow him, but knew that she didn't have a choice. When Arik dropped the tapestry behind them the stairwell became pitch black. She could hear Arik making his way down the stairs. Her stomach sank. She was afraid to take a step thinking that she might fall. She felt along the wall so some kind of railing but only felt the harshness of the cold stone.

     "I can't see." She whispered into the darkness.

     She could hear Arik say something in the Fairy language under his breath. She knew that it was most likely a curse of some kind. Suddenly she felt Arik's hands move over her body. Her cheeks were burning as he lifted her up and over one of his shoulders. He ran down the stairs with ease and Ro held onto his waist afraid that he would drop her at any moment. Arik reached the bottom and opened a door that led to the outside. The moonlight was almost blinding compared to the darkness that they had been submerged in. Arik rolled her off of his shoulder and she landed with a thud in the snow.

     "Follow me." Arik told her. He looked over at the horizon to see the faintest gleam of daylight, "We do not have much time."

     Ro stood from the snow and wiped it off as best she could. He didn't have to drop her like that. She glared at him for a brief moment before he took off sprinting towards the stables. She followed, but she was nowhere near as fast as he was. By the time she got to the stables he had pulled out two horses. He was mounting one when she walked inside. He held the reins of the other horse beside him and tossed them to Ro. She wasn't a rider. There wasn't a saddle and she had no idea how to get on the animal.

     "Get on the mare." Arik was aggressive with him words.

     "I don't know how. I've never ridden a horse by myself before." Ro told him.

     Arik's mouth formed a straight line and he held his hand out to her. She grabbed it and he pulled her up and into his lap. He clicked his tongue and the mare took a step closer to his horse. Ro picked up her leg and swung in over the mare's back and then moved to sit on her. She grabbed onto her mane and squeezed her legs tightly against the horse's sides afraid that she would fall. She looked back at Arik who seemed annoyed by her inexperience.