Chapter 31
Gwen
I took a deep breath and steadied myself on the horse.
In hindsight, it might not have been the best idea, but I’d been cooped up in that damned palace for days, and if I did not get out, I was afraid I would go mad somehow.
The weather had been miserable for the past week and today was the first day I could actually see the sun again.
I could walk almost completely normally with the cane but riding a horse was another thing. Then again, I wasn’t planning on doing anything drastic. I was simply going to take Bessie for a walk around the palace grounds.
Her hoof had healed nicely over the past few weeks, and she’d looked quite pleased to see me in the stables this morning. Although she was probably more interested in the apple in my hand.
I allowed my foot to dangle out of the stirrup, not wanting to put any extra pressure on it.
All the rain had turned the world into a brown, muddy mess and it was difficult to navigate our way in some places.
My fingers were stiff and cold despite the leather gloves I wore. I longed for spring, with its temperate days and flowers blooming everywhere. There were few things I detested more than the cold.
I wouldn’t go as far as the forest, so I made sure to turn Bessie around long before we’d reached the treeline. She seemed to be enjoying the little walk, sometimes stopping to sniff something on the ground.
Though I was not eager to admit it, I would miss her once I returned to Norrandale, something I knew was inevitable now that my injury had mostly healed, and I would be ready to travel soon.
I wondered how the others were faring. Had they taken Mistwood ?
Had the army arrived? And what of my brother?
Had he been taken prisoner? I had a sinking feeling in my chest that whatever was going on at Mistwood, it was not pleasant.
Part of me felt guilty for not being there with the others, but I was a liability with my injury, and so I told myself that I would only leave for Norrandale once King Cai had sent word that it was safe.
As Bessie and I made our way back to the palace, I contemplated using the good weather for some archery practice. There was no range, but surely I could have a servant set up a target of some sort, and there had to be a bow and arrow lying around somewhere.
I wished I’d thought of it sooner, but it was only recently that I had been able to stand on both legs. After all this time that had passed since we’d left Norrandale, I was sure to be out of practice. But it was something to do, to make the time go by.
As the stables came into view, it was impossible to miss the horse galloping towards us, much less its rider and his raven-black hair.
What the hell was Lance doing out here on horseback?
He was the last person I’d wanted to talk to, and I figured he knew as much since we had hardly seen anything of each other in the past few days.
I still felt mortified after that conversation and my confession to him.
Why had I stupidly blurted out something so humiliating to the Prince of Everness?
Cai had better send news fast, because the sooner I could leave, the better.
“Lady Gwen.” He sounded out of breath and even his horse let out a huff.
Prince Lance looked dishevelled, his hair windblown and his cape wrapped around him awkwardly. But his riding breeches clung to his strong thighs, which I’d never noticed until now, or the way his dark jacket fitted him so perfectly.
“Your Highness.” I dipped my head in greeting.
“Are you certain you are well enough to be out riding like this? Have you consulted the physician?”
Though the doctor hadn’t directly said I could be riding again, he did say I should slowly increase the use of my ankle, exercising it little by little.
“Quite certain, Your Highness. I’m hardly using it at all.” I moved my ankle, where it dangled next to the stirrup, as if to prove my point.
“Well, I’m sure Bess is happy to be out and about again.
” Initially I was uncertain about taking her out now that I knew she was his horse.
But she was the only horse in the stable I’d grown accustomed to riding and I didn’t want to risk another injury by getting on a different mare or stallion that might be unpredictable.
“I’m glad her hoof is in better condition.”
There was a moment of silence between us, Bess having ducked her head to sniff around for any green blades of grass that she could find.
“Are you also out enjoying the weather, Your Highness?” If he said yes, then I could bid him a good morning and be on my way back again. But something in his expression told me I was not going to hear what I wanted to.
“No, I was looking for you, actually.”
“How can I be of service, Your Highness?” My grip tightened on the reins.
“Please don’t call me that. I think we’re well enough acquainted by now that you can call me by my first name.”
“You were the one who insisted upon using titles,” and then I added, “Your Highness.”
“I was just trying to tease you that day. You came into the library and looked so upset upon seeing me that I couldn’t help myself.” That seemed to be a recurring problem with him, but I didn’t say it out loud.
“Is that what you came all this way to tell me, that I should call you by your birth name?”
“No, of course not.”
“Then pray tell, Your Highness, what is the reason you have graced me with your presence?” I would not give him the satisfaction of getting what he wanted.
“Enough, Gwen,” he said, louder than I’d expected. “It cannot go on like this.”
“I see no reason why not.” I lifted Bess’s head and urged her to start walking again, passing Lance and his horse.
“I’m sorry, all right. Is that what you want from me, an apology?” his voice came from behind.
“No,” I called over my shoulder.
“I’m sorry I misread the situation and that you never heard from me again.”
“You pressured me for an answer, and I gave you one. That’s all.
It’s in the past now.” It was in the past. I had no reason to hold the grudge all these years.
In fact, I had pretty much forgotten about him until we arrived in Everness and he’d taken to taunting me so often.
If he’d only stayed out of my way, then none of this would have happened.
Lance and his horse had almost caught up to us despite our brisk pace.
“If it’s in the past like you say, then why are you still upset about it?”
“I’m not upset,” I said too quickly.
Bessie reared her head as Lance suddenly ran his horse in front of us, forcing me to stop.
“It meant something to me too.”
“What?” I barked out more harshly than intended.
“I know what you think of me and all the reasons I didn’t reach out to you again. But whatever had happened between us on that trip to Norrandale, I liked your company, Gwen, and it was never my intention to hurt you.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me.” I shook my head, still pretending not to care.
“Yes, I do,” he insisted. “I don’t want you to walk through the palace halls avoiding me every day. I’d like for us to be friends.”
Well now, there was a sentence I’d never thought I’d hear from the Prince of Everness.
“Friends?” I asked with surprise.
“Yes, you know. When two people are more than mere acquaintances but less than lovers.”
“I know what friends means, Lance,” I retorted.
“Just checking.” He put up his hands slightly defensively. “You didn’t seem entirely familiar with the concept is all.”
“Don’t be facetious.” I pressed my leg into Bessie’s side, getting her to walk again.
“Maybe I’m just surprised that you’re capable of having a friendship.
” It was a mean thing to say. But then again, I hadn’t seen anyone around the palace, in all the time I stayed there, come to visit Lance.
Nor had I ever heard him refer to anyone as his friend.
“It isn’t easy to make true friends as a royal. Not when people only want something from you most of the time.”
“You’re right,” I finally agreed, thinking back to my life at Norrandale and the people I’d left behind. “True friendship at court is a rare thing.”
“So, friends then?”
“Very well,” I agreed. “Friends.” If it meant putting the past entirely behind us and turning over a new leaf, I supposed no serious harm could come from being friends with the Prince of Everness. As long as Lance behaved himself. Which wasn’t exactly something I was counting on.