The object, a large traveling carriage, had also slowed, so that we both came to a stop at the point of meeting. I twisted in the saddle, but the only sign I could see of my pursuers was a whisk of gray tail before they disappeared off into the fast encroaching darkness. I turned back to the carriage.
The coach itself looked perfectly ordinary, and yet I couldn’t stop staring at it. No horses pulled it, and no coachman directed it. It stood still in the middle of this strange wilderness, as if it had arrived at a prearranged stop.
“Good evening,” I called, tentatively. No one responded. I looked around again, but the wolves had not returned. Whatever this strange apparition, it seemed to offer us some protection from them.
I swung down from Chestnut, keeping a tight hold on the reins, and approached the window. I couldn’t see the inside in the evening gloom, so I took a deep breath and opened the door. I reached out toward Lily in my mind as I did so, anticipating the need for extra courage, but nothing greeted me except the empty inside of a carriage.
What? What is it? She responded instantly, clearly on edge.
I…I don’t know.
What do you mean?
I chewed on a loose strand of hair as I peered inside, wondering if I’d missed something. I’ve found a carriage. But it’s empty.
In the middle of that wasteland everyone is always talking about? Maybe someone abandoned it when their party got attacked by bears or something. She didn’t sound happy.
Maybe…Except it drove up to me.
It drove up to you? Well ask the coachman then. Lily sounded a little exasperated now.
There isn’t a coachman. Or horses. The carriage just arrived on its own.
What?! That’s it. I’m coming after you. She didn’t say anything else, but she hadn’t completely cut off the projection toward me, either. And I knew her well enough to read the emotions she was sending. I could easily imagine the scene: Lily jumping up, ready to storm off into the night, and poor Jon being left to guess at the content of our silent conversation. After a moment, her emotions calmed and then changed. I cut the connection on my end, too tense to cope with her new feelings of tenderness and love. Obviously, Jon had managed to talk her down.
I spotted a piece of parchment resting on the floor of the carriage and leaned awkwardly in to pick it up. Every minute the light faded more, so I rushed to read it.
To my betrothed, This carriage will provide you, and only you, safe passage to my castle. It is the official carriage of the royal family of Palinar and nothing in this land will harm you while you are inside. Tie your horse behind, and it will remain safe also. Sleep inside the carriage, and do not attempt to alight at night.
Prince Dominic
I frowned and went back to the beginning, but I could barely make out the words in the increasing darkness. And I didn’t want to waste the remaining moments of dim light. Hurrying, I unsaddled Chestnut, thrusting the saddle and saddlebags into the carriage. I rubbed her down and secured her to the back.
The whole thing was madness. Utter madness. But I had no choice. The plains had offered no other option, and the wolves had run away at the arrival of this magical vehicle. I stepped inside just as blackness overtook my surroundings.
I waited a moment, but no magical light appeared to break the dark. Too bad. I groped blindly through my saddlebags and managed to cobble together an evening meal by feel. I didn’t bother attempting to wash or tidy myself in any way, what would be the point? I explained the situation to Lily as I ate, glad to be able to project and chew at the same time.
She seemed incredulous but accepting. Perhaps you’re right, she projected with a sigh. Perhaps this betrothed of yours will protect you.
Don’t sound so unhappy about it!
She laughed at that, before sighing again. I just wish you hadn’t gone off on your own.
I didn’t bother to reply. We’d already spent over an hour discussing it earlier in the day, and my muscles ached after a full day in the saddle. It had been too long since I’d had the opportunity to go for a long ride, and my body was out of practice. I arranged myself as comfortably as possible on one of the seats of the carriage.
Goodnight Lily.
Goodnight Sophie. Her warmth settled around me like a long hug, and I sent the same comfort back to her. She had no idea how much I wished she could have been here in person. Despite her presence in my mind, I had never felt so alone. I had never been so alone.
Perhaps it was that loneliness that shaped my dreams. Because as I drifted off to sleep, I could have sworn I heard the familiar chatter of servants. Only these ones seemed to be discussing me. Apparently, they found me beautiful enough, although for what they didn’t say. It was my strength they doubted. I wanted to be outraged—I had fought my way through a grueling Tourney and then braved the wastelands alone to get here—but I was already sinking deeper into dreamless sleep. And maybe the dream voices were right. They came from my own subconscious after all, and who knew me better than myself?
Chapter 2
A jolt made me roll off the seat of the carriage and crash to the floor. We had started moving. I groaned and pushed myself to my feet, rubbing my hip bone. The wheels hit a bump, and I staggered before hurriedly sitting down. Rubbing my eyes and yawning, I grumbled to myself at the rude awakening.
After checking that Chestnut trotted behind us, I munched on a cold and unappetizing breakfast. I wondered how long before Lily woke up…then if I could possibly fall back asleep while the carriage was moving…and then I surveyed the chaos again and sighed. I supposed I had better tidy up. The Palinaran royal family had several castles and palaces, and I wasn’t completely sure where I was going. Which meant we could arrive at any time.
I tidied all of my belongings neatly back into the saddlebags and used a small mirror to tidy up my hair and dress. When I felt as satisfied with my appearance as was possible in the circumstances, I settled back to watch out the window and await developments.
When the light began to fade, I gloomily surveyed the chaos of my belongings that had once again spread throughout the carriage. The hope with which I had packed them in the morning now seemed foolish and naive.
I sighed. Lily had done her best to keep me entertained, but there was only so much she could do from afar. She had even read me one of my favorite fairy tales for a couple of hours, but then she had been called away by other duties. She was betrothed to Marin’s crown prince, after all, and Marin was currently full of foreign delegations. Treaty negotiations were still underway between our own kingdom, far away in the Four Kingdoms, and all of these lands except Palinar. She could hardly come up with an excuse for spending the whole day locked in the library reading.