Chapter 36 #2
Aisha pressed her forehead to the horse’s damp neck and whispered a shaky prayer. Then, guiding the gelding with slow, coaxing steps, she began to cross.
Her boots skidded slightly on the slick surface, and the horse threw its head up behind her, snorting at the churning water.
She kept a firm grip on the reins and murmured some reassurances.
Mira let out a low, uncertain growl from the saddlebag, but Aisha kept her eyes focused on the path in front of her.
Water rushed around her calves as she moved from one rock to the next, testing each one before shifting her weight.
The current pulled at her cloak and skirts as her teeth began to chatter.
She was halfway across when her foot landed on a moss-covered stone.
It slid out from under her, and in an instant, she went under.
The cold hit like a slap, water closing over her with a roar. The weight of her cloak dragged her down, but she clung desperately to the reins with both hands. Miraculously, her horse held its ground. Aisha surfaced, coughing and heaving as she clawed her way back towards the rocks.
But then the current carried her away once more.
The horse threw its head up in response and took a trembling step backwards.
Aisha used the opportunity to grab hold of a rock.
Finally, she found some footing beneath the surface and climbed back up onto the crossing.
Soaked and shaking, she crawled the rest of the way to the riverbank, the horse staggering after her.
The moment she was clear of the water, the horse leapt up the bank, dragging her through the mud for a few paces before swinging around to face her.
‘That went well,’ Aisha muttered as she got to her feet.
She went to check on Mira, who wasn’t happy. The cub whimpered, despite only having some water spray on her face.
Aisha looked down at her sodden clothes and boots full of water.
At least they had made it across. She looked up at the sun again to get her bearings and wondered how much further the border was.
After emptying the water from her boots and wringing out her clothes as best she could, she climbed stiffly into the saddle.
Her muscles were sluggish from the cold, and her clothes stuck to her skin.
The sun continued to rise, but it offered no warmth.
She nudged the horse into motion, clutching the reins with numb fingers.
‘Almost there,’ she said—mostly for her own benefit.
The landscape began to slope down. Aisha urged the horse faster while checking over her shoulder every few minutes. Hills in every direction.
She rode for another half hour before a village appeared in the distance like a mirage: low stone homes and smoke curling into the air. As she got closer, she caught sight of a pale blue banner fluttering in the wind, a distinct desert rose symbol at its centre.
Avanid.
The relief came out as a sharp laugh. ‘We did it.’ She clapped her hand on the horse’s neck, then nudged it forwards. ‘My sisters are never going to believe this story.’
Another mile and she would be across the border.
She whipped her head around to look when she heard horses coming at a fast canter, dust lifting into the sky behind them.
Her stomach dropped when she recognised the white surcoats banded with scarlet.
Holy warriors. She sank her heels into the horse’s sides, and the gelding responded with a surge of speed.
‘Just a little further,’ she told the horse, holding the reins so tightly her palms burned.
Mira’s frightened cries were muffled by the rush of wind.
She risked another glance over her shoulder and saw that the warriors were closing in. Leaning low over the horse’s neck, she said, ‘Come on, come on…’
The gelding’s hooves struck the road as they flew towards the village. A farmer in the fields turned at the sound, his hand lifting to shield his eyes from the sun. He looked from Aisha to the warriors behind her.
‘Help me!’ she shouted as loudly as she could. ‘Please!’
The man dropped the plough he was holding and turned to shout in the other direction.
Two more figures appeared. Aisha’s horse stumbled on some uneven ground but recovered well, sides heaving as they reached the edge of the village.
She continued towards the men, blindly hoping they would protect her.
Her horse skidded to a halt in front of them.
The tall man with the greying beard was holding an axe and looked ready to cut her down from the saddle.
‘I’m Princess Aisha, and I need help,’ she blurted.
The younger man looked from her mud-streaked face to her wet clothes. The man from the field came running over.
‘We don’t want trouble here,’ he said, out of breath.
‘She claims she’s a princess,’ the young man told him.
‘I am.’ She slid off her horse. ‘I swear before the gods.’
The warriors were closing in.
A door creaked open nearby, and a woman stepped out of a house. Her hair was wrapped in a scarf, and flour dusted her forearms. Her gaze travelled from Aisha to the warriors riding towards them.
‘I need help,’ Aisha said, her voice cracking. ‘I can pay you.’
The woman looked her over. ‘Come inside.’
Aisha pulled Mira from the saddlebag and ran for the house. ‘Thank you,’ she breathed when she reached the door.
‘Get that horse to the stables,’ the woman called to the younger man. ‘Go on.’ She turned to Aisha, frowning at the cub in her arms. ‘Stay inside no matter what.’ The door banged closed between them.
Aisha leaned against the wall, sliding to the ground. Her heart continued to thud against her aching ribs. Outside, she heard the horses pull up, then the voices of the riders, muffled and angry. They carried all the way to the house. Feeling brave, she pressed one eye to a crack in the wall.
‘You think we’re fools?’ one warrior shouted. ‘We saw her go in there.’
‘Actually, I think you’re trespassers,’ the older man replied. ‘You’ve no authority here.’
A door slammed, and another man appeared holding an axe. ‘You heard him. On your way.’
More doors opened. Then another, and another. A chorus of villagers stepping up to protect their homes and one another. Someone was shoved. Someone cursed. A horse squealed. Then the warriors were mounting their horses and riding away.
Aisha leaned her head against the wall, exhaling a shaky breath. A minute later, the woman returned, closing the door behind her.
‘They’re gone,’ she said, crossing her arms and looking down at Aisha. ‘Why are you wet?’
Aisha swallowed. ‘I went for a swim in the river.’
Frowning, the woman walked over and crouched down in front of her. Her eyes were steady and searching.
‘The money’s in my saddlebag,’ Aisha said, holding Mira close.
The woman sighed as she scrutinised her. ‘Are you really Princess Aisha?’
Aisha nodded. ‘Yes.’
Her expression softened. ‘Must have been some wedding.’ She rose to her feet. ‘We don’t want your money. We want our kingdom back.’
Aisha’s throat was coated in dust. ‘We’re working on it.’
The woman nodded slowly and looked out the window. ‘Up you get. Let’s get you dry and warm, then see about getting you home.’
Home.
She was going home.