Normally one to react first and think later, I’d flown into a tizzy when Father had dropped the news on me. But once I’d had time to ponder the issue, I came to terms with it, though it was a very tenuous peace. “Believe me, I was not so positive yesterday,” I replied. “But, a nice hot soak, sleep, and the realization that there is nothing I can do to change my circumstances, has put things in perspective. I can either make the best of it, or I can grumble and be miserable, and I do not want to live a life of grumbling.”
Leaving Lizzie behind, Dayna followed me through the castle corridors, my ever-present shadow, Clay, was close behind her. The tall stone walls loomed over us as though they were passing judgment on all that was taking place. The castle had always seemed cold to me. I had spent my entire life there, yet it had felt less like a home and more like a temporary holding cell—I was simply passing through until I found my true place in life.
We dodged bustling maids and sidestepped Mother, who did not seem to notice us, as we made our way to the back exit through the kitchen. Cook was muttering into a large pot as we passed and, judging by the red flush on her face and the unnatural way she was whipping her spoon around, it was evident she was in no mood to talk. We kept our heads down, held our breath, and slipped through the kitchen as quickly as we could. Once outside, I stopped and closed my eyes, tilting my face toward the sun and letting its warmth seep into my skin. Autumn was fast approaching, pushing away the heat of summer away. I loved the fall—the cooler temperatures, the changing colors of the foliage, and the warm hearths being lit in the castle. It was a time of preparation for the winter, and I always felt as though the earth was holding its breath, waiting to see what force winter would bring.
“Want to go to the stable?” Dayna asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Mother said she was the same way in the womb, constantly kicking and moving, which drove her crazy. I did not think much had changed.
“Fresh air sounds delightful. I remember the stable boy saying a foal was to be born soon. We can see if it has made an appearance yet.”
We walked on in silence, both lost in our own thoughts, even though I tried to leave my thoughts behind and just live in the moment. The castle yard, though busy, did not echo the hustle and bustle going on inside the castle walls. Banners were being hung from the ramparts. Mother had been sure to have some specially made in honor of the king of Tara to mix in with our standard adornments, but the colors clashed horribly. Ours were a deep hunter green and black while Tara’s were canary yellow and white. Our crest held a lion in its center while Tara’s showcased a bird. I wondered if the inharmonious hues were symbolic of the union that was to come. Would our marriage clash like the crests of our kingdoms? Would the lion devour the bird or would the bird peck out the lion’s eyes? The ridiculous thought had me snorting out a laugh.
“What?” Dayna asked.
I shook my head. “My odd sense of humor is running wild with my imagination.”
“It is a good thing you have a sense of humor; it may be your only saving grace.”
“Captain,” I called out over my shoulder. “Do you think it a terrible omen that our crests are so different from Tara’s and the colors so ill matched?”
“My lady,” the Captain’s voice rumbled, “I do not believe in superstitions. We are represented by a lion and Tara a bird. Nothing more.
“That’s a rather boring outlook. But I shall not have you flogged for it,” I teased him, knowing he hated it.
“You’re a right snot.” Dayna laughed.
I shrugged. When it came to Clay, who often snuffed out my fun, then yes, I was a right snot. Was it too much to ask for my guard, who was nearly my constant companion, to have a bit more creative thinking? After all, the world was a drab enough place without his morose attitude.
We walked leisurely, as if we had not a care in the world, down to the stable on the far east of the castle grounds. The large, handsome structure housed over seventy-five horses. Above the stable were living quarters for the stable staff, which was comprised of twenty people who trained and cared for the herd. When we entered through the large sliding doors, I was surprised to find it empty of any employees. The horses were in place, but their caretakers were nowhere to be found, not even the stable master, Geoffrey.
“Where is everyone?” Dayna asked.
Before I could shrug, we heard voices coming from across the building and out the opposite sliding doors. I glanced at Dayna, who nodded as we both hiked up our skirts and took off at which we could easily fall flat on our faces. As we got closer to where the voices were coming from, we could see a crowd of people huddled around a figure on the ground. My first thought was that someone had gotten hurt while working or riding one of the horses, but that was not what we discovered.
It was not a worker who required attention, Instead, one of the large animals lay on its side. I froze mid-step, for it was not just any beast splayed on the ground. It was my father’s favorite horse. His breathing was labored, the horse’s abdomen rising and falling in rapid succession. Several of the trainers where kneeling over him and when one shifted I could see the royal animal healer, Tessa Benson. Although she wasn’t a healer in the traditional sense, she cared for our sick or injured. As if sensing my presence, she looked up, her gaze meeting mine. The tightness in Tessa’s face and her tightly drawn lips told me things did not look good.
It was then I felt it—the subtle stirring that rose in me when I was in the presence of the ill. Like a sixth sense, I could sense malady. Then, as always, I was drawn, irresistibly, as if by some unseen cord, toward the injured life-form.
It was my gift, and from what little I knew about it, the ability to heal was very rare and was seldom talked about. People feared things they couldn’t explain or control. My mother had told me to hide my gift, because, as she said, when people are scared, they do scary things. Only my mother, father, siblings, and a select few people on the castle grounds knew of my ability. Thankfully, Tessa was one of them.
She stood briskly and spoke with the authority that came from many years in a position of responsibility. “I need everyone to get back to work. Princess Allete and Princess Dayna are here, and they can assist me now so the other horses can be tended. Off with you. Captain, if you could please make sure everyone leaves the stables.” As she finished, she turned her back on the crowd and refocused her attention on the wounded animal.
The staff responded immediately and hurried back to their duties. When the path was clear, Dayna and I ran the rest of the way to Tessa and fell to our knees by the injured horse.