Page 19 of A Spell of Heart & Havoc

Sounds more like a threat than a reassurance of my safety.

She continued, a slip of humor entering her voice, “Although, it is good to know you could likely outride any pursuer, at least. No attacker or kidnapper stands a chance against you and that demon horse you’ve got.” She nodded her chin at Lightning, and my chest warmed at the almost-compliment.

Snorting loudly, he sidestepped us a few paces away as if he’d understood her. I ran a soothing palm against his neck again. “Ignore the mean woman. You’re a delight. The best, most noble horse in Kurriel.” He whickered softly in agreement.

I set us back on the path leading toward the village, letting Lightning set our pace. You are going to get so many oats and apples for lunch, my friend.

“Where did you learn to ride like that?” Maerryl asked at my side, matching our slow walk.

Resting the reins over my pommel, I attempted to salvage Petra’s hairstyle, tucking rogue curls back into place in the metal clips. I should just ignore Maerryl. But—

“I taught myself,” I couldn’t help boasting. “There were instructors when I was young, of course, from whom I learned the basics. But they refused to let me go faster than a light trot. And jumping was out of the question.” Shrugging, I said, “So I fired them and rode on my own when we came out to the manor during the summers. Figured it out myself eventually.”

“That’s very dangerous,” Maerryl said appreciatively, her low chuckle tickling the base of my spine.

“I suppose,” I said, tossing her a small smile before I thought better of it. I always felt better after I rode. And it had been a long, long time since I’d had anyone to ride with.

We continued along the path in only slightly uncomfortable silence until it joined with the main road. Turning left, this led northwest to the nearby village, then the priory, and eventually Talon. If one turned right, heading southeast, they would encounter several more country estates like ours and then the coast much farther on.

I thought for a moment, then directed Lightning left. Trying to pretend that I had a plan, I straightened my posture and looked straight ahead.

Following my lead, Maerryl asked, “So where exactly are we headed now, princess?”

“To the village,” I said as airily as I could.

“For… ?”

My jaw clenched. “If you insist on following me, at least be quiet. Proper bodyguards don’t ask questions of their betters.”

I could practically feel Maerryl shooting daggers at me with her eyes, but I refused to turn. We rode in silence for a long while. The birds chirping cheerfully in the trees provided the only noise, other than our horses’ footfalls and occasional puffs of breath. I tried to relax, enjoy the peaceful quiet of my morning ride.

But it was impossible. Maerryl’s presence at my side, a half pace behind me, felt positively unignorable. I sensed her annoyance, how peeved and frustrated she was with me.

Well, that makes two of us.

With her here, it was like a wild boar had gone thrashing into the stillness of a serene pond, tusks waving madly, disrupting everything.

Did that make me the pond? I don’t particularly want to be a pond.

It sounded a bit boring, to be honest. All wet and dull, just plopped in the middle of nowhere, waiting for birds and frogs and such to come to it if they pleased. Much more exciting to be the boar, actually.

“Something funny?” Maerryl growled after a chuckle escaped my lips. I’d been picturing myself as another boar, bigger and fiercer than the Maerryl-boar, scaring her off with a swift tusk stab into one hairy ass cheek.

I tossed my wide hood over my head, shielding myself from her sight. “Nothing that you need be privy to. Mind your business, guard.”

More low grumbling, and then she finally shut up again. I tried to ignore her once more, focusing on the satisfying mental image of the Maerryl-boar squealing and frantically running away. Somehow, it was also yelling through its tusks, I shouldn’t have tangled with you, oh fearsome Dove!! Everyone, beware of this mighty lady boar! I bit back another laugh.

Goddess, where was this village? We’d been riding along the road for at least twenty minutes. I visited so infrequently, and Mother usually insisted that I take the carriage, whether she was with me or not. To make the right impression on the smallfolk, as she liked to say. It felt like we should already be there by now—I needed to get off this solitary road with her trailing so near me in silence.

Finally, the road opened up. A weathered wooden sign above a half-hearted attempt at a gate read “Hedgehog Hollow.” I nudged Lightning toward the entrance, not bothering to see if Maerryl followed. She would.

Now what? I’d learned from my rare previous visits that this tiny village held little of interest to me. Petra would sometimes fetch ribbons, potions, or other small items for me if we weren’t able to procure them from the city in time. During the lean years, before I had her, I’d occasionally come out here on my own because Mother’s maid often somehow managed to “forget” if I requested something when she made her weekly trips here. Hair ribbons I could do without, but not my paints. I’d rather eat plain porridge for the rest of my life than go without my tools for painting.

With that thought, I decided I would seek out the little general store that supplied the village and surrounding area with its basic foods, home goods, and artisans tools. My paintbox was running low on red and indigo anyway. This would be the perfect opportunity to do something, if not substantial, at least useful and self-sufficient. A flush of happiness fizzed in my chest at the thought. I could do this. Absolutely.

Now if I could just get these fish-eyed townsfolk to stop staring at me…

Because they were, and quite unabashedly too. As I rode Lightning down the central road, people paused what they were doing—brushing dirt about with stick brooms, tending front gardens, and other wholesome, simple village-type things—to gape at Maerryl and me. But mostly me, of course. I suppose they didn’t often see such beauty and elegance around here. Checking my posture, I sat up in my saddle and tried to embody the kindhearted dignity of Kurriel’s queen.