Chapter 16 #2
"It's the road home, Thom."
"I know it is," he said, with the seriousness of a man who meant something more general than road safety.
She squeezed his hand, allowed herself to be handed up, and the carriage moved out under the Laurel Crown's stone arch and into the morning streets of Castine.
The estate came into view shortly before noon. The sea was a deep clear blue; the kind it turned in late autumn when the summer haze finally lifted. At the sight of it, Verna let out a long breath and relaxed for the first time since she’d left.
The gates opened as her carriage approached, the guards on the wall raising a hand in greeting.
The courtyard was busy with midday activity, women crossing with baskets and tools, someone carrying oil jars from the press house.
The ordinary life of the place moved around the carriage as it pulled up on the cobblestones.
Dara appeared on the portico steps before the wheels had fully stopped.
Verna stepped down and looked at her. "I'll eat something and then I need to speak to Kalen. Where is she?"
"Training," Dara said. "She hasn't stopped since you left."
Verna handed her cloak to Marleen and moved toward the steps. "Send someone down to let her know I want her in my study an hour from now."
"How was the city?" Dara asked, falling into step beside her.
"Exactly as expected," Verna said. "I’m pleased to be home."
Dara held the door. "I'll bring lunch to your study."
Verna ate at her desk, bread and cheese and a handful of the estate's dried figs, and scanned through the correspondence that had arrived in her absence. When the knock came at the study door exactly an hour after she had sent the message, she pushed the papers aside and called out, "Come in."
Kalen entered, dressed in her training leathers, her hair pulled back, and sand on her boots. She had clearly come directly from the training ground without stopping to change, obviously worried by the summons. She gave the study a brief once-over before she settled her gaze on Verna.
"Sit down," Verna said with a smile.
Kalen sat in the chair across the desk, rested her arms along its sides, and waited.
Verna looked at her directly. There was no version of this that could be softened, so she didn't try. "The dinner last night told me things I needed to know. I'll tell you what they were and then I must discuss the first event with you. All of it is relevant."
Kalen nodded once.
"I was seated next to Bain," Verna began. "The emperor's eldest son. He told me with considerable charm and no shame whatsoever that the Trials have been arranged to produce a particular outcome." She took a deep breath. "That when you come last I must marry Bain."
Something moved in Kalen's face. Something much harder than surprise.
"If that happens," Verna continued, keeping her voice level, "everything in here ends. The women, the guards, the work we do. All of it. He said that the estate would remain mine to manage, but we both know those were just words to appease me. A husband owns his wife’s possessions.
An archaic law that the emperor has never changed.
But it's the law and Bain’s exactly the kind of man who would use it to his advantage.
" She held Kalen's gaze. "He’s a cruel man who beats women.
I and the women here can expect no mercy. "
She cleared her throat and continued, "Which means that if we come last, I must marry Thom on the final day of the competition before Borgine can move. It’s the only legal protection available to me."
Kalen was silent for a few seconds, then said, "We won't come last."
"I know you will do everything in your power to make that happen, Kalen, but you must be careful," Verna said. "They may try to hurt you and I… I couldn’t bear anything happening to you."
"I will, Verna. There’s no need to worry."
"Which brings me to the first event." She leaned forward and folded her hands on the desk.
"The horsemanship day. I got Bain talking about it last night and he told me more than he intended to.
" She paused. "The event takes place in the arena.
Each champion must complete a course on horseback that includes agility tests. "
Kalen's attention sharpened in the way it did when something engaged her tactically.
"The first is mounted archery," Verna said. "A full circuit of the arena at a canter, six targets set at varying heights and distances. All six must be hit to score maximum points."
"Manageable," Kalen said.
"In the other part, poles are set in the ground in a pattern, and the horse and rider must navigate them at speed, then collect six flags from posts at the far end and return without dropping any. Fastest clean run wins the round."
Kalen was quiet, working through it. Verna watched her and waited.
She looked up. "I will have no problem, but I must have a good horse. Which will I be riding?"
"Mine," Verna said.
Kalen blinked, just slightly. It was the closest she came to showing surprise. "Your mare. She’s worth too much to be hurt in the arena."
"She's the best horse on the estate. She's fast, steady under pressure, and she responds to a good rider." Verna met her eyes. "You are a top rider. I've watched you with the estate horses these past weeks."
"Your mare is used to you," Kalen said. "She doesn't know me."
"She will," Verna said. "That's why you’ll start with her immediately. You’ll ride her this afternoon and tomorrow morning and the morning after.
By the time the Trials begin she needs to trust you and you need to trust her.
" She paused. "Her name is Sera. She doesn't like sudden noise and she responds better to leg than rein. Talk to her. She likes that."
Kalen’s face warmed at that. "You talk to your horse?"
"Constantly," Verna said without apology. "It works."
Kalen glanced out the window, and Verna could see her mind running through it. "Where I am from, we are taught to be masters of the horse. If your mare is as good as she looks, we won’t be defeated."
Verna smiled. "I like your confidence."
Kalen just laughed. "What about the second day?"
"It’s hand to hand fighting. You won’t have any problem there."
"And the third?"
Verna chewed her lip. "I have no idea. But knowing the emperor, it won’t be anything pleasant. If you’re going well in the competition, then I fear he will have something planned to make it difficult for you."
"No doubt," Kalen replied. "And Bain. What does he look like?"
Verna regarded her steadily. "Tall, broad and dark hair and a beard. He'll be in the box next to the emperor's during the competition." She paused. "Why?"
Kalen's expression was entirely composed. "So I know who to look at when I win," she said and got up. "Now I’d better see to the horse."
Verna sat alone in the quiet study for a while after the door closed behind her.
Then, despite everything, she felt a surge of hope in her chest.