Page 11 of Enchanted Queen
I ignored the clear bite in the way he saidyour highness.
I hopped down and wasted no time walking over to the other carriage and checking on Archer and the other guards. “Everyone good?”
“We are good, My Prince!” Archer smiled tightly. He was likely ready to get to the castle also. We all were.
“Go, you bloody brats,” the driver of the other carriage muttered at the four horses before him, slapping the reins in his hands.
The left one in front was the one which was spooked, easily noticed by the stamping and throwing of his head back. “Please allow me,” I offered. I felt my magic flare slightly beneath my skin and chalked it up to more eyes in the trees around us. None of us felt that ten guards were really all we were dealing with today.
I went in front of the horses and began speaking calmly.
“What, he’s a horse whisperer too?” the driver snapped.
“Both princes of Wylan are excellent horsemen,” Miles snapped right back. “So yes.”
“Easy,” I offered, patting the roan-colored horse’s neck. “It’s all right, boy. Just a stream. Easy now.”
The horse’s beady dark eyes were not on the stream, however, they were on the trees. I immediately wanted to spin around and look in the direction the horse was. Was one of the creatures the Enchanted were bonded to out there? We had yet to see anything other than birds and fish. I was beyond curious, but my job right now was to help the horse.
“I’ll go first, all right boy?” I asked. I took a steady step into the stream. It was only a few inches deep where we were crossing. I shoved my magic beneath the surface of my skin again and held out a palm to the horse. “See? Come on now.”
The horse sniffed my hand. When he was done, I reached up to rub a hand down his nose and patted the horse next to him as well. “Let’s all do it together, all right?”
I took a small step, tugging on the spooked horse’s reins, and he surprisingly took a step forward.
“You’ll get your shoes wet,” the driver called.
“Does it look like he cares?” Miles had an edge to his tone that I respected, for it was loyalty through and through, but he should likely tone that down just a little. “He can dry them himself.”
Four steps later, the first carriage was through and ours also crossed. The carriages lined up side by side, waiting for me to board again.
I did so, and we were soon in motion again.
“Tired of the hostilities yet?” Emric asked quietly.
I gave my head a shake. “I am sure it is only the beginning.”
* * *
I jerkedawake from a far-too-short nap when our carriage stalled again. I knew we could not be to the castle already, as the afternoon was too young.
Dex slid open the window again. “Tree down on the trail this time, My Prince.”
“My turn,” Emric provided as he moved to leave the carriage.
I followed him, not against Emric moving the log, but selfishly wanting to stretch my legs again. That and scan the trees around us. We were in the greenest area I had ever seen. The trees were so purely green and healthy. It was a stark contrast to our forest in Kavan Keep, though Jorah was fixing that day by day.
Emric strode for the log, putting a hand up to stop the three guards who were in the process of dismounting their horses.
“Does he think he will be able to lift it all on his own?” the other carriage driver asked. He seemed to be a bitter old man, and I wondered at the bags under his eyes if it was just from being magicless for so long.
“Never said I was going toliftit, old man,” Emric jested like they were old friends.
Dark red magic lit his skin, traveling up his arms, and Emric even let it flare in his eyes before he winked. He murmured to the horses kindly and then sent his magic out slowly to the tree, likely because he didn’t want to startle the horses.
The entire tree started sliding before Emric turned it sideways, allowing the trail to be seen once again.
“You are most welcome!” Emric grinned and gave the angry driver a quick bow as he headed back toward me.