Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 137226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
“You’ll see,” he says as we walk through the rows of plants and greenhouses, then through the chicken yard, where the birds scatter in all directions. When we get to the cook’s vegetable garden at the end of the east wing, vines growing up the dark stone sides of the castle, Steiner suddenly appears holding on to the reins of a very large black horse with a long flowing mane and tail. Probably the biggest horse I’ve ever seen and standing with such poise, it immediately reminds me of the ones bred for the Black Guard of Esland.
“We’re going riding?” I ask, surprised.
“Hope you’re all right with sharing a horse,” Andor says as we step over the low veggie garden fence. “Unless you know how to ride.”
“I’ve never ridden one before,” I admit. “We had a donkey when I was young, but he was too ornery to mount.”
“I bet you still tried, though,” he says with a smile.
“Of course. I spent the whole first month we had that donkey getting bucked off into the sand. Finally, he took a big chunk out of my arm and my father pulled me aside to tell me it was one challenge I should probably let go.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” he comments as he takes the reins from Steiner. “Thanks,” he says to him. “I doubt Father will notice I’m missing, but if he does just tell him I went to check the fences or something.”
“Are you checking the fences?” Steiner asks.
Andor gives him a steady look. “You can lie, just this once.”
Steiner sighs and then steps into the cook’s garden and back to his lab.
“What fences?” I ask Andor as he softly strokes the horse’s muzzle.
“Whenever I need to clear my head I say I’m checking the fences. We have some fields to the south where we let the cows loose in the summer months. I rarely make my way down there; I just want a chance to be alone.”
“So we’re not going to check the fences?” To be honest, that sounds thrilling enough. Not only have I never been on horseback, but the idea of roaming the fields among the cows seems like something out of a dream.
“We’re going somewhere much better,” he says. “My way of making things up to you. Now come, I’ll hoist you into the saddle. Don’t worry about Onyx, he can take our weight. He was raised to be a battle horse, though it’s been a while since we saw war. He’s certainly never seen it.”
He leans over and puts his hands down and together like a step. Gingerly I place my boot on them and he hoists me up. I scramble, grabbing the horse’s generous mane while trying to gracelessly flip my legs over his back and sit upright in the saddle, feeling chagrined that I’m not automatically a natural at riding.
“There you go,” Andor says. “Wrap the reins around your three middle fingers and weave them between your thumb and pinky.” I do so, holding the soft leather in each hand while he somehow swings himself up behind me, as effortlessly as if he were sliding into bed.
“Show-off,” I comment under my breath. Then I gasp as he moves so that I’m pushed up by his thighs and I’m practically in his lap.
The horse begins to shift to the side and Andor puts his arms around me to keep my balance, curling his fingers over mine as he holds the reins too. “Comfortable?” he asks. “It’s a long ride.”
I nod. “You’re still not going to tell me where we’re going?”
“You wouldn’t know anyway. Just trust me. Let me do all the work.”
I can’t help but smirk at that. He definitely did all the work this morning and last night.
He clucks his tongue and Onyx starts to walk forward. We’re only a few strides away from the front of the castle when suddenly Lemi shifts beside us.
The horse rears and I cry out, Andor leaning forward to keep me bracketed in between the horse’s neck and himself until we’re level.
“At least you stayed on that time,” Andor remarks.
Lemi wags his tail, somehow knowing I was about to embark somewhere without him, and seems to treat the horse like a large dog, sniffing at the horse’s fetlocks as Onyx moves sideways.
“Lemi,” I scold him. “You’re being too forward.”
Lemi’s ears twitch as he eyes me and then the horse before he sits down next to us, waiting patiently.
“All right, let’s go,” Andor says, and the horse starts at a brisk walk, Lemi trotting beside us, as we head away from Stormglen.
Chapter 28
Brynla
I’m not sure how long we’ve been riding for, hours maybe, but I’ve enjoyed every single second of it. With each breath I’m relishing the fresh scent of the pine trees that line our path, mingling with the cold creek that runs by our side, the air that tastes damp and sweet and wonderful. I’m savoring the journey like I would a fine wine, aware that everything is so fleeting and that I might not get to experience this again. Even Lemi is running around with his muzzle raised high in the air, seeking out his own adventures, tail wagging happily. I have no idea where we’re going but at this point it doesn’t matter. It’s just somewhere. Somewhere beautiful, somewhere new, and I’m with Andor.