Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
As planned, Gustav notified the stables that Avera would be going for a ride, and from there she readied herself quickly so as to not give the traitor too much time to prepare. As she went to exit the palace, she ran into Josslyn.
“Where are you off to?” asked the lady who was dressed in a lovely gown of green, nipped at the waist, with tight sleeves.
Shooting a quick glance around, Avera murmured, “To see if we can catch a traitor.”
The statement widened Josslyn’s eyes. “I take it this is because of Venne’s abrupt death.”
Avera nodded. “Gustav finally agreed to see if we could draw them out so I’m going for a ride.”
“I’m coming with you,” Josslyn declared.
“It might be dangerous.”
“Then you definitely shouldn’t be alone,” Josslyn huffed.
“I’ll have some rooks with me.” Avera inclined her head to show her pair of shadows.
“I am coming, and you can’t change my mind.”
In truth, Avera didn’t want to. She’d be glad of the company. “Then let us be off.”
They emerged from the palace into a gloomy day, the skies heavy with gray clouds. They walked to the stables, their skirts fluffing with each step, leading Avera to grumble, “How goes the plan to make trousers a new fashion?”
Josslyn laughed. “Not well. I asked my seamstress and she looked so appalled.”
“I don’t see the issue. Men wear them all the time.”
“Patience. The good news is as queen you will set the fashion. Already the ladies are wearing much more subdued styles, matching your own.”
Were they? Avera hadn’t noticed.
An already saddled Luna stood just outside the stable with a groomsman holding her reins.
Avera almost sighed in relief to see they’d used plain tack as requested rather than the fancier stuff other royals used when going out.
Avera preferred her gear to be functional rather than pretty.
Not to mention, she liked to avoid being noticed, especially now.
“My queen.” The man bowed low. “Your steed is ready.” Upon noticing Josslyn, he asked, “Will the duchess require her mount as well?”
“Yes, please,” Avera stated. “And my rooks will require horses to ride as well.” She gestured to her pair of shadows.
“At once, Your Majesty.” The man trotted back into the stable and in short order four horses stood in the bailey.
As the groomsman handed the reins of Josslyn’s mare to her, he said, “My thanks, Duchess, for the new hay. The last batch we had wasn’t the best quality. The horses are already much happier.”
“Glad to hear it,” Josslyn declared. “I hope you’ll let me know if anything else is required. After all, these fine animals deserve it. Oh, and keep an eye out. I’ve got something special being delivered later for their caretakers.”
The man beamed ear to ear. “Thanks, Duchess.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank her majesty. She’s the one who demanded I rectify the situation.”
“Majesty.” The man hit the ground and bowed his head.
It still embarrassed, because honestly, all Avera had done was tell Josslyn to spend whatever she needed to in order to make things right. “You’re welcome.”
“Where are you riding to?” the groomsman asked as Avera checked Luna’s straps. Her steed could sometimes be naughty and puff out her belly to keep them loose.
“Just outside the city for some fresh air,” Avera replied.
“Watch you don’t go into the woods. Rumor is there’s brigands preying upon people.”
“And the knights haven’t cleared them out?” Avera frowned.
“Only started a few days ago,” he advised. Right around the time of her mother’s death and coincidentally on the same path she usually chose to ride.
“We won’t go far, and fear not, I’ll make sure the Grand Rook is made aware and sends out some troops to handle it.”
The women used wooden steps to mount their steeds, with Avera grumbling, “I can’t wait until I can sit astride all the time instead of using a side saddle.
” She’d done it before. On numerous occasions, she’d taken Luna out and, when out of sight, removed the saddle to ride bareback.
She quite enjoyed those spurts of rebellious pleasure.
“With any luck, after she gets over her shock, the seamstress should have some sample trousers for us within a few days.”
Avera couldn’t wait. “Shall we, Duchess?”
They moved at a sedate pace as they exited the palace bailey and clopped onto the stone bridge. Despite not announcing her excursion, people popped out of their homes and stuck their heads from windows, pointing and exclaiming, “It’s the new queen.” Some also added, “Is that the duchess?”
It led to people calling out to her, offering blessings, condolences. A few threw flowers. A discomfited Avera waved and smiled, feeling foolish. She’d done nothing to deserve this accolade. A much more relaxed Josslyn blew kisses and appeared to enjoy the attention.
“You’re better at this than me,” Avera admitted as they passed out of the crowded street and entered the open fields just beyond the city’s edge.
“It’s an act. Trust me, I’d rather no one paid me any mind, however, when playing a role, one must give them what they expect.”
“It wasn’t an act for my mother.” Avera had often watched her mother from a hidden spot in an alcove. She’d seen how the queen always held herself regally, had a smile and word for everyone—but her daughter.
“She had decades to feel comfortable in her position. You’ve had less than a week. Give yourself time.”
“And if it never feels right?”
“Then fake it. I’ve done it with a few lovers.”
Avera’s jaw dropped.
Josslyn laughed. “Don’t look so shocked. Sometimes it’s easier to pretend than to have them keep fumbling and missing the mark.” She winked.
“Weren’t you married?”
“Yes, to Goffrey, a kind man gone too soon. A good thing I don’t have issue finding lovers.”
“I never intended to have a husband, but it seems I don’t have a choice,” Avera admitted.
“With the right man, you’ll see marriage can be a pleasure.”
Avera had her doubts. “Will you marry again?”
“Perhaps. Although, I do enjoy my freedom.”
As they exited the city, the road tucked between the shorn fields appeared unobstructed which led to Avera saying, “Shall we race?”
Josslyn glanced behind her at the rooks keeping pace without crowding them. “We might lose your escort. Their horses aren’t as fast.”
“Just to the edge of the woods, then we can stop and wait for them before entering.” The temptation to feel free, if just for a moment, had her smiling when Josslyn nodded.
“Fly, Luna,” Avera whispered, giving her horse a nudge with her knees.
Her steed bounded forward, her long legs stretching and thumping as they rode hard for the forest a half league away.
Within it, Gustav would already be hidden with knights and rooks.
He might even already have the supposed brigands in custody.
After all, it seemed rather more than a coincidence they appeared shortly after her mother’s death.
Especially since they’d never had issues with thieves this close to the capital before.
Add in the fact she used to regularly ride this route and it seemed likely the brigands had been put in place to cause her accident.
The part that bothered? It was obviously someone not only familiar with her routine, but also with the fact she loved to ride.
Avera pulled ahead of Josslyn’s mare, her hair streaming like a banner at her back. The air was so fresh and clean. The field of hardy grass, needing little rain to grow, stood barely knee high, short enough for her to see anyone hiding in it.
What slowed her run was noticing a strange totem sitting between the road’s edge and the mown crop. Shaped like a lizard, the statue appeared quite hideous.
Josslyn cantered a few paces past Luna before turning around to see what had Avera staring. “What is that ugly thing?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t like it and think we should head back.” Avera and Gustav had not told Josslyn of the snake in her room and the clay statue that caused it.
“It’s just a silly statue,” Josslyn laughed.
A statue that suddenly emitted vapor that began to take shape.
“Run!” Avera shouted. “Back to the palace.”
She turned Luna around only to stare in shock as more plumes rose from the field, a half dozen at least.
“Avera, what is that thing?” Josslyn whispered.
Avera turned her head to see the mist from the statue had taken on a lizard shape, its leathery exterior ridged a mottled gray-green.
Its tongue flicked between pointed incisors and its eyes glowed a strange green.
A quick glance behind showed the other vapors in the field had also coalesced into monsters.
“Ride for your brother,” screamed Avera, pulling her dagger, and flicking the button to extend it into a sword. She could already hear the rooks at her back galloping to reach them. Avera swung as the lizard lunged for Luna’s legs.
She missed.
The lizard hugged the ground too low for her to reach. Luna understood the danger and reared, trampling its head. The lizard hissed but didn’t die.
“There’s more of them coming,” Josslyn announced.
Indeed, they scurried from the field, all heading for Avera. The rooks slid from their mounts and stood, weapons at the ready, to engage the monsters.
Luna whinnied as the lizard whipped her front leg with its tail.
They had to get out of there.
“To the woods,” Avera shouted, digging her knees into Luna’s sides.
Only the path forward disgorged more monsters. One stood in their path, hissing. Without missing a beat, Luna soared over it. The horse landed and kept running, leaving behind the ambushing creatures and the sorely outnumbered rooks. Would the monsters disperse now that their target had fled?
A glance over her shoulder had Avera gasping to see her protectors on the ground and the lizards scurrying for them. Josslyn raced by her side, expression intent.