Chapter 36 Jess #2
I fought to lift my chin as my mother would. “I am quite well. What is the meaning of this? Surely, you do no mean to detain your Queen?”
The man’s brow quirked in confusion. “Your Majesty? I don’t understand. You were kidnapped and—”
“Nonsense! Do you see any captors? Am I wearing chains or ropes?” I raised my wrists as dramatically as I could, then lifted both eyebrows. Only then did I notice how dirty and road-worn I looked. Still, I persisted. “I see three men sworn to protect and serve the Crown delaying their monarch.”
As if on cue, Dittler let out an angry snort and stamped one hoof to the ground. The closest man nudged his horse back a stride. If I hadn’t been so afraid in the moment, I would’ve grinned at the stallion’s reaction.
The men looked to their sergeant.
They were likely sent to rescue a frightened, fragile, possibly injured sixteen-year-old girl. So they likely never expected to find a clear-headed young woman who radiated command. What were they supposed to do now?
The sergeant trotted his horse up and bowed his head.
“My Queen, forgive us. We were sent by High Sheriff Wilfred to find and aid you. He believed your life was in danger, though he wouldn’t say from whom. Rumors are spreading throughout the land that you were kidnapped by two Melucians who disappeared from the encampment at Cradle.
They are also suspected in the murder of the King and Prince.”
At the mention of my father and brother, my regal bearing faltered, and a bit of the damaged girl emerged. I tried to recover but couldn’t hide my torn emotions.
The sergeant’s eyes lowered, and his voice saddened. “I’m so sorry for your loss, Majesty. The Kingdom mourns with you.”
“Not the whole nation, Sergeant.” My eyes flared. “Ask my mother what happened to the King and Prince. The Royal Guard should be seeking their murderer, not chasing after the rightful ruler.”
“Your Majesty?” The sergeant’s jaw dropped as he looked to his companions.
One nodded. “Heard that one, too. There’s lots of rumors about what happened to the King and Prince floating out there. Most garbage, though.”
I shot the man an icy glare. “I assure you, Isabel is at the heart of this.”
When the men gawked in silence, I turned back to face the sergeant and stiffened my spine. “What are your intentions, Sergeant? Will you attempt to delay me?”
“Majesty . . .” He looked horrified and torn. “Our orders are to return you to the capital, to the safety of the Palace, to get you as far from the war as possible. That’s what the Sheriff said.”
“And if I order you to do otherwise?”
He faltered again. “I . . . I don’t know. We can’t just let you ride the countryside alone with war on the horizon, not after—”
“Enough. I have no time for this. Let me pass and be on my way. This conversation never happened. I order you to report a fruitless search. I was never found.”
The sergeant looked at each of his men, then drew a deep breath and returned his gaze to me.
“Your Majesty, please come back to the Palace with us. We have our orders and . . . I have a daughter about your age. The road is no place for a young girl, Queen or not.” He tried to add authority to his voice, but it came out more like a father’s desperate plea.
I was unused to being denied by men wearing Kingdom cloaks.
I gave the man credit for his backbone and intentions, but I was now Queen. How dare he defy my will.
I was about to express something to that effect when Dittler’s head snapped up and he danced a few steps, then looked purposefully at the other horses. I couldn’t imagine what he wanted—or that I was looking down and trying to understand my horse’s thoughts while facing three armed men.
I’m losing my mind out here.
When I didn’t react, Dittler whinnied urgently and looked from me to the other horses. The men watched the odd exchange with a mix of curiosity, confusion, and pity for their monarch who was clearly one slice shy of a full loaf.
I finally followed Dittler’s gaze and noticed the sergeant’s horse staring at me. His eyes were locked in a trance-like gaze.
On a whim, I thought, “Help me. Take your rider far from here.”
The horse blinked, snorted, then turned and bolted toward the road. The sergeant was so stunned that he fell from his mount after only a few strides, making it to his feet in time to see the beast run in the direction of Kitchton. His eyes were almost as wide as mine in that moment.
I had no idea what had just happened but wasn’t about to pass up a gift.
A Gift!
Of course.
Something clicked in my mind that had puzzled me for years.
Animals had loved me since I was a little girl, but I never really gave it much thought.
My Gift for endearing wildlife to me was quickly identified, but none of our Mages found practical uses for the skill beyond creating a bond with my mount.
No one had even suggested I might one day be able to communicate with animals, much less compel them to act.
Seeing the sergeant’s horse respond to my mental plea, I began to understand the untapped potential of my power within.
I turned to the other two horses. Their eyes had remained locked on me the entire time as well. With a quick thought, I urged them to take their riders away.
There was no hesitation.
They leaped to obey.
From trot to canter to full sprint, the Protectors hollered and clung desperately all the way beyond my field of vision.
I peered at the sergeant, unable to contain a smug grin. “I will be on my way now. I trust we have no further business, Sergeant?”
The man shook his head, his eyes still wide. “No, Majesty. Please stay safe. We need you.”
I cocked my head at the sincerity pouring from the man, then nudged Dittler toward the eastern shore.