Chapter 13
Azahara
“Do you want to go riding with me?” Azahara asked while sitting beside the fireplace, stoking the flames, just as Kaed came from upstairs.
His look of surprise elicited a smile from her. “I know it’s late, and we should be getting some sleep, but I really want to take Starlight out.” Placing her hands on her knees, she stood. “Plus, I think getting him used to Moondancer during a run will do them good.”
Kaed walked towards her, a curious expression settling. “Oh? Will Starlight be joining us?”
A toothy smile pulled her cheeks high. “Illyan said it was fine that I take him, and I figured, Moondancer has done enough carrying the weight of two people for a while.”
He was by her side, his hand at her elbow. “Darn, and here I was hoping to hold you while we fled from this place.” They both chuckled as Kaed continued, “A ride sounds great, Red.”
They spent the afternoon packing up everything they needed.
Azahara took care of packing items such as shirts and pants while they gathered enough food to last them a few days.
They also stocked up on some medical supplies to replace the ones Kaed had used during their first few days together.
Illyan had been incredibly helpful, going back and forth between the closest town to bring anything they might need.
As they headed out, they left the bags by the doorframe, ready for departure the following morning. The air was crisp, and storm clouds surrounded them, but fortunately, no rain had fallen on the meadow yet. This gave them at least an hour, if not more, to be outdoors.
She wore black pants with gold adornments across the belt and down the side of her legs.
Her long sleeve shirt, which was a matching design to the pants, was covered by a thick black coat.
Her brown riding boots looked worn but clean, as if she’d not worn them for a while.
Kaed was wearing the same outfit, which fit him surprisingly well, for it had been owned previously by Illyan.
“I was talking with Illyan earlier while you were packing,” Kaed said as they approached their steeds. “They said that Starlight used to be your horse.”
She looked longingly at Starlight just as he brushed his head against her cheek. “Yes, he’s a great horse. A best friend.” There was a bit of sorrow behind her tone, and of course, Kaed caught it.
“Used to be; it’s not like Illyan needs a horse. Fae can be anywhere they want, at any time.”
“You aren’t wrong.” Glancing at him, she smiled, needing to redirect the conversation away from the topic. “Want to make a bet?”
The slow, excited, smile that crept along his face tightened her stomach, sending swarms of fluttering butterflies up her chest and throwing her heart into her throat. It soon brought about a blush which tinted her cheeks. “I’m intrigued,” he finally said.
She placed her foot into the stirrup and swung her leg over Starlight. She was settling nicely into the seat of its saddle. “I will answer any question you have. Absolutely anything.” The way his eyes widened made her smile.
“This must be an impossible task you are going to give me.” He was inching onto Moondancer.
“If I win, hmm, I get—”
“Deal. Doesn’t matter. What do I have to do?” He was eager, and it caused her heart to skip.
“Catch me.” With a single click of her tongue and a tap on Starlight’s belly, the horse was gone.
Starlight was a thoroughbred, which made him the fastest horse in the realm. At least, she’d come to find no other faster. Not only that, but he was agile and could pretty much take on any terrain; she had trained him as such.
Azahara could feel the muscles tense under her as he burst into motion. Starlight propelled himself forward, exploding with energy, and smoothly transitioned to a swift gallop.
As he picked up even more speed, she became one with him, and wind rustled through her hair, feeling the agility and raw strength he had. She adjusted, leaning forward and shifting her weight as they shot through the meadow at top speed. With each of his powerful strides, she was propelled forward.
Starlight carried her effortlessly, its muscles flexing and rippling with each stride.
Her hands never left the reins, always maintaining a connection with him.
The bond between him and her had always been profound, but when they rode like this, it was like they were truly synchronized.
Their movements were enough to communicate that she never had to say a word.
A single shift in her weight, and they turned.
A sense of trust and respect between them went a long way, and for that, although their speed was closing in on dangerous, she felt nothing but safe.
The ride hadn’t lasted long before she turned around to see if Kaed was behind her, and he was. Surprisingly not too much further behind them, but they weren’t catching.
Azahara clicked her tongue, and Starlight began to slow. Her hands raised into the sky in victory.
They had made it to their destination, and it indeed was the purpose all along. She knew that Kaed would never catch Starlight, even though Moondancer was quite fast herself.
Kaed came to a halt not more than a beat after.
“Sorry,” she said, Starlight turning her around, and she turned her head, twisting to keep her eyes on Kaed. Her bright crimson hair bounced, its hue shining in the moon’s light. “Starlight is—”
“Don’t say fast. That was more than fast.” Kaed was in awe and brought Moondancer closer to give Starlight a rub on its head. He obliged, and Azahara did the same to Moondancer. “I never stood a chance, huh?”
A Cheshire grin adorned her face as she dismounted from Starlight. “I set you up for failure. I’m sorry.” Kaed followed suit, and the two horses trotted off together.
He walked up beside her. “That’s a little rude.” His tone was playful.
Chuckling, she gestured ahead of them. “I did it to bring you here.”
Kaed took his attention away from her for the first time, apparently, because when he saw where they were, his lips mouthed ‘wow’.
She guided them to the border of her land, where the cliffside embraced the Bath?lisk Sea.
To their left, imposing mountains reached for the heavens, while to their right, a dense forest stood sentinel.
But before them, there lay nothing but a boundless stretch of sky and the seemingly infinite expanse of black waters below.
In the distance, lightning clashed with the waves, casting a brilliant, revealing light upon their tempestuous nature, and unveiling their raw, formidable might.
A colossal rock formation thrust itself from the ground, suspended several dozen feet above the surface of the water. She extended her hand toward him, casting a playful smile. “Are you afraid of heights?” she asked, the sound of crashing waves below punctuating the moment.
“Don’t think I’ve been up high enough to know.” There was a bit of hesitation in his voice, but he took her hand anyway.
She flashed a wink at him, and together, they began their ascent up the rock. The incline, while not steep, gradually rose, resembling a gentle peak. Its form bore a striking resemblance to an arrowhead, tapering to a fine, pointed tip.
“To me,” she mused, her eyes dancing with amusement, “it looks like a defiant middle finger, aimed straight at the gods.”
To their mutual surprise, Kaed burst into hearty laughter at her observation, the sound echoing against the rocky walls of the formation.
“I can see it,” Kaed agreed with a sense of awe. He shifted his hand, lacing his fingers between hers. “This is truly incredible.”
As they reached the cliff’s edge, they both planted their feet firmly for a stable stance. The wind howled, unforgiving and relentless. One wrong step, and they would be lost to the abyss.
She would never let that happen, and Kaed was a warrior; they knew how to be careful.
“I come here to think. Rain, shine, snow—I find myself here quite often.”
“What do you think about?” He gently guided her down, and she settled beside him, their feet swaying above the precipice. Her heart raced, but it wasn’t solely from the perilous height.
She licked her drying lips and took a deep breath. “Choices.”
He eyed her. “The one’s you don’t want to be taken from you?”
“In simple terms, yes,” she admitted. With her free hand, the one not entwined with Kaed’s, she absently toyed with the fabric of her jacket. “I don’t want to lie to you. It seems it’s hard to do anyways, but that is the truth.”
“I know,” he sighed.
There was a brief pause before she continued, “Can I ask you a question?” It marked the first time she had initiated such curiosity, not due to any lack of interest in him, as he had already shared fragments of himself throughout their week together.
Still, a twinge of guilt nagged at her for seeking more insight without being able to reciprocate fully. “I’ll answer one of yours.”
“Go for it.” The smile on his face, it was genuine, causing her heart to flutter like a teenager with a crush.
“What’s your biggest fear?” Figured she would start small and build up to the big questions.
“Man, that’s… deep,” he quipped, which made her playfully swat his arm. He chuckled and raised his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. Honestly, I don’t think I have one. Or, well, I didn’t, at least.”
How had she been so na?ve not to see that coming?
“Not until two weeks ago when I saw you running from the monastery.” He lifted her hand, their fingers still intertwined, and placed them gently on his lap. “That was the first time I felt genuine fear.”
“Why?” Her lips pressed together, not understanding. “I was a stranger.”
“Even though I physically didn’t know you, my heart and mind told me otherwise.” She shifted her body to face him, her gaze fixed on him as he continued to look at their joined hands. “It was like I had known you my entire life, and you were about to be taken from me.”
She had stopped breathing.