Horse Charmer (4 page)

Cassia smiled. "She's very smart."

"Yes." He gave her a sideways glance. "Are you going to tell me why you're so upset?"

"I have no cause to be more upset then usual. Karah is in turmoil and needs someone to take command."

"When's your coronation?"

"That isn't why Vespera came." She really didn't want to voice the reason the Vesperans were here. It would make everything much too real, but maybe if she got used to the idea she wouldn't feel so appalled. "They brought the treaty my father signed before his…anyway, they brought the treaty."

"And?"

"And the final clause of the treaty cements my marriage to Prince Torr of Vespera." Cassia focused on the braid she started to weave through the mare's forelock. "King Erich recommends the marriage ceremony occur as soon as possible to fortify the ties between Karah and Vespera. Queen Sarahann agrees with him." She shot a look at Luki's surprised face. "I'll be married by the end of the month if not sooner."

For once she'd actually struck him speechless as he just stared at her. She went back to braiding the mare's mane.

"Will you remain in Karah?" Luki asked in a strained voice.

"What do you mean?"

"After you marry, will you become a Princess of Vespera or the Queen of Karah?"

She turned fully to him. "I don't know." She hadn't considered that possibility. "Yes, I do. I'll remain here. I'm Karahan and the next in line for the throne."

"Not the next. You are the throne of Karah now."

"Not until the coronation."

"To the people you're the ruler of Karah," he said with a small smile, "with or without the coronation."

Cassia frowned and crossed her arms in defense. "You're romanticizing me."

Luki laughed. "No, Princess, if I were, I would never have the nerve to speak with you in such a casual manner. I'd have more respect."

She felt a fluttering in her stomach at the thought of losing him. "You're my only friend, Luki. If you stopped talking to me who would I speak with?"

He relaxed in his shoulders and turned back to the mare. "You know she needs a name. I can't keep calling her 'your mare'."

Cassia jumped gratefully to the new topic and turned back to the dark mare. "I wish I could say I've been pondering a name, but in truth I haven't given it much thought."

"You've had other things on your mind."

"Yes, but she does need a name." Cassia thought about what would suit the mare. She was so different from the other horses. She wasn't sure what name would fit her.

Kali.

Cassia blinked in surprise as the name came to her, but as she rolled it around her mind she knew it suited the mare. "Kali."

Luki cocked his head as he considered. "Unusual."

"She's unusual."

CHAPTER FOUR

One Week Later…

Cassia tried to stretch as unobtrusively as she could after Captain Maconahay helped her out of the covered carriage. She'd been reprimanded by both her mother and Ula on the first night of their trip to Castle Vespera for being unprincessly by stretching where others could see. Now, she peeked at Maconhay and he bowed his head, but didn't quite hide the small smile on his face. He immediately turned to help out Sarahann, and Cassia stepped aside. He'd noticed her stretching, but she hoped her mother hadn't. Two straight days in a carriage had to be the worst punishment she could think of for anyone.

Because the carriage carried the last of the royal family, everyone but Gordain, it had been moving at a sedate pace for the entire journey, making the trip even longer. Knowing not to stray too far from the carriage, she stepped to the back where another guard would be and looked around.

They were in Vesperan territory now. She'd only gotten a few peeks out of the window as they'd traveled. They'd stopped for lunch in a small meadow surrounded by massive trees. This place was much the same, another small flat clearing along the road, probably cleared for overnight parties. The terrain was getting worse for the carriages. The road was smooth, but they had been going up hills and down hills since the morning. Cassia petted the horses hauling the wagon behind them. It held her handmaidens, Mistress Witen, and her mother's handmaidens. The women gathered stuff together to take care of their charges and directed various lower guards where to place the trunks.

There camp didn't take long to be set up, under an hour, and before she knew it she was sitting in front of her tent next to a raging bonfire. She glanced at her two younger brothers who were about to drift off to sleep. She was surprised they were so tired. It wasn't that she wasn't tired also, but she'd figured that being cooped up they'd create all sorts of trouble whenever they made camp. Which they did as they "helped" the guards set up camp, but by the time the meal was served they seemed to be falling asleep on their feet. Cassia wished she could sleep so easily. Her dreams haunted her. When she woke in the morning she couldn't remember them, but they bothered her.

Witen signaled two of the senior guards and Cassia smiled slightly as they scooped her brothers up and followed Witen to her tent. She waited outside as they took her charges in and nodded in thanks as they headed back to the fire. Witen looked past them to Cassia with an expression of concern on her face. When she saw Cassia watching, she quickly smiled and saluted. Cassia bowed her head in response before looking to her mother. Sarahann had moved off to talk to the Captain of the Guard about the rest of the journey and the plans for when they got to Castle Vespera.

Cassia stared at the towering trees. She knew theoretically the Vesperans mined, which meant mountains, but she'd never been on a mountain before and had never seen trees as tall and massive as this one or the other hundreds that surrounded them.

"Your Highness?" Maconhay stood a respectful distance behind her.

"Yes, Captain?"

"You requested an escort to check on the horses?"

Cassia smiled in relief. She'd been sure she wouldn't be allowed to spend any real time with the horses. The royal guards had gotten progressively more nervous the farther they had gotten into Vesperan territory.

The horses were strung just outside of the circle of wagons, tents, and guards. She wasn't nervous about being with the horses, but the guards and her mother were.

"Thank you." Cassia followed him outside the firelight to where the herd milled. She'd been surprised at the number of horses with them at first: the royal guard's horses, the carriage horses, and the small herd of fifteen horses which were her wedding gift to Torr.

What had shocked her even more was when she'd spotted Luki keeping the herd together behind the Royal Caravan. They'd spoken briefly the day before they'd set out and he hadn't mentioned he would be a part of the royal party. He'd been polite but distant last night when she'd checked on the herd.

Maconhay stopped just outside the rope strung as a makeshift corral and held it for Cassia to slip under. She immediately felt more at ease. She would always prefer the company of horses to people. Cassia buried her face in the first horse she found and breathed in deep. Only one more day and they'd be there. She would marry Torr within three days of arriving. Life as she knew it was over. She was still trying to come to terms with that fact.

"Princess," Luki said.

Cassia glanced up from the horse and stepped back, trying to get back some royal decorum. "Are they journeying well?"

"Yes, Your Highness." He looked out over the sleeping horses. "Kali's on the other end of the herd."

She glanced back at Maconahay. He nodded, signaling he'd heard Luki. She hesitated, regretting the distance she'd put between Luki and herself after telling him of her impending marriage. Not sure what to say to make it up to him, she waded through the herd to where she found the petite dark mare.

Their connection grew stronger with each passing day. Kali nickered and turned so they were facing. A wave of warmth flowed from the mare to her. She gratefully stepped up and wrapped her arms around the mare's neck. They stood still for several minutes and for once Cassia was able to just be, without any thoughts.

Kali raised her head as Luki stepped up. She snuffed his hand in approval.

"Captain Maconahay says you need to return to camp," he said.

Not wanting to leave the herd, she sighed in resignation. If she could have bedded down with the horses she would have. Cassia gave the mare a final pat.

"Cassia," Luki said with hesitation.

She turned to him in surprise. He hadn't said her name since she'd told him she was to be married.

"We'll be arriving in Castle Vespera tomorrow." He shuffled his feet.

"Yes." She prompted him to continue.

"I'm unsure if I'll be able to see you once we arrive." He looked at the camp and then back to her. "I probably won't."

"Are you going back to Karah?"

"No, I'll be there, but I doubt you'll have much time for old friends."

She stepped closer and grabbed his hand. "I always have time for my friends."

"I know." He smiled. "I meant you'd be busy with preparations for your…wedding. I-I wanted to wish you long life and happiness."

She smiled at the old blessing. "Thank you, Luki, I wish you the same."

"I know." He huffed out a breath. "Look, I'm probably stepping over the line here, but I couldn't not tell you --"

"Your Highness," Maconahay said from behind them.

Cassia glanced over Luki's shoulder to where Maconahay had moved around the makeshift corral.

"I'm sorry, but the Queen has requested your presence," Maconahay said.

"In a moment, Captain." Cassia looked back to Luki expectantly.

But his face had closed up and he bowed his head. "I won't keep you, Your Highness. Safe journey."

Luki retreated back into the herd to where he'd laid his bedroll and small campfire just outside the corral.

Frustrated, Cassia followed Maconahay into the main camp. Sarahann beckoned her over to her tent as soon as she stepped into the firelight. Cassia headed over obediently, but her thoughts were focused on what Luki hadn't told her.

****

The descriptions of Castle Vespera didn't prepare Cassia for the reality of its grandeur. It wasn't that the castle was huge. Well it was, but no larger than Castle Karah. It was the fact that it appeared to grow out of the mountainside behind it. She hadn't understood what they'd meant when they'd said it was built into the mountain. Now she did. It was built into a gigantic mountain, the back half of the castle safe from attack by the cliffs surrounding it. You had to go up a hill to approach the main gate which afforded the guards an excellent view of anyone approaching.

The mountain rising above them made the castle seem larger. Cassia obediently ducked back into their carriage when the caravan set on the final climb for admittance into the castle.

As they were expected, and a royal party, there was no delay in getting through the gates. Her mother had drawn the curtains on the carriage so Cassia couldn't see out and no one else could peer in. Cassia fussed at her skirt and sleeves as they rumbled into the courtyard. Noises bounced loudly off the castle and courtyard walls. Sarahann looked impeccable as usual. Cassia wasn't sure how she did it considering they had both been on the same journey and sitting in the same carriage. Yet, Sarahann looked like she was on an afternoon jaunt while Cassia looked like she'd been on a hard journey for nearly three days.

"Relax," Sarahann said softly.

The carriage jolted to a stop. Cassia twisted her fingers as she tried to go over her lines. The door opened, washing them in the afternoon light.

Sarahann climbed out and Cassia followed behind her, blinking once to adjust her eyes to the sudden brightness. She smiled politely at Maconahay as he helped her out. The horses and other wagons were not in sight and Cassia wondered where they were. She glanced around. They weren't unprotected. A full detachment of Karahan Royal Guards accompanied them. Some still sat on their horses while others surrounded the carriage and walkway to the large door.

It swung open and Erich stepped out with Torr by his side. It felt like an eternity since she'd seen them, but it had only been about a week since the Vesperans had left Karah to begin the wedding preparations.

"Princess Cassia, Queen Sarahann," Erich said. "Welcome to Castle Vespera. My people are at your disposal."

"Thank you for your hospitality, King Erich," Cassia said.

Erich quickly descended the stairs and kissed both of their hands. Cassia wasn't quite as charmed as she had been the first time. Torr followed his father more sedately. He did not offer to kiss either of their hands.

"The news of the wedding has been met with great joy," Erich said. "There's nothing like a royal wedding to fill the people with hope."

"I'm pleased to hear that," Sarahann said. "I wish I could say the same for my people. I'm afraid the announcements weren't met with as much enthusiasm."

"I'm sure once the wedding has occurred," Erich offered Sarahann his arm, "your people will settle down."

He led Sarahann up the stairs leaving Torr and Cassia alone at the base. Cassia sighed. Her mother was going to openly run the show instead of using Cassia as her puppet. She looked at Torr. He silently stared at her. It was hard to believe he'd be her husband.

"Prince Torr." She bowed her head. She'd been brought up with manners even if he hadn't.

"Your Highness." He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. Maconahay and one of her other guards stepped up and he shot them a look of disgust. "Shall we go in?"

"Of course," she said as she hesitantly took the arm he ceremoniously offered.

"They left us so we'd have a few minutes to talk before we finish up the wedding plans."

"Oh." She couldn't think of anything to say.

"Do you have a beau?"

She shot him a look in surprise. "What?"

"You're a lovely young woman. All princesses have suitors."

"Not all of us," she said thinking briefly of Luki. "No, I didn't leave a beau at home. You have a lady friend?"

Torr was quiet for a moment. "Yes."

He led her down a side hallway.

"So, not everyone is looking forward to a royal wedding," Cassia said.

He slanted her a look of appraisal as they stepped into the small meeting room and sat down at the thick mahogany table. A blush heated her cheeks as everyone turned their attention to her.

"You look well, Princess." Erich broke the silence.

"Yes, thank you," Cassia said.

"Good," Erich said. "I know you're probably feeling overwhelmed at the moment. A courtship would have been preferable, but drastic times…the wedding will be as scheduled."

"I understand," Cassia said.

"Very well," Erich said. "I've made arrangements with the friar, and a seamstress is ready to start your gown."

"I brought my gown to be fitted for her," Sarahann said.

"I'm sure the seamstress can work with that. The ceremony will be held on the castle battlement so the people can watch. Even with the short notice this wedding will be a full royal wedding with honor guards and everything that accompanies it, so you needn't worry, Princess Cassia."

She looked at him in confusion as he turned to her. "I'm not."

"Good," Erich said. "If you'd like to be shown to your chambers the seamstress is expecting you."

"Of course," Cassia said, recognizing the dismissal.

"We'll speak later?" Sarahann asked.

Erich nodded. "Once you've seen to those wedding details that can't wait any longer. There was only so much Torr and I could do." He motioned to a chambermaid. "Show them to their rooms."

"Thank you," Cassia said with a curtsy as she rose from her seat. "Prince Torr. King Erich."