Chapter 7 #6
“That’s enough for today,” Riftan said to Ruth as he led Maxi toward the door. “You can continue on your own for the rest of the day.”
Ruth quickly rose from his seat. “Wait, where are you going?”
“Nowhere. Even I need a day of rest from time to time.”
Maxi looked up to Riftan in surprise. It was already apparent to her that he rarely rested, but Ruth’s own shock confirmed her suspicion.
“But what about the intruders?” the sorcerer asked.
“I’ve sent a messenger to Livadon. Rob Midahas and his knights will be released once I receive compensation. Until then, they stay in the dungeon.”
“What if his father refuses to pay?”
“Then I’ll cut off their—” Riftan stopped himself, seeing the look on Maxi’s face. He waved his hands at Ruth. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Seems fair. Enjoy your day off. It’s well deserved.”
“How gracious of you.”
As they exited the library, Maxi turned and nodded a goodbye to Ruth. In the corridor, bright rays of sunlight flooded in through the windows. Riftan gazed outside for a moment before turning to Maxi, his eyes bright with excitement.
“We’ll need something warmer before we go out,” he said. “It’s a fine day, but the wind’s chilly.”
“W-Where are we going?”
“You have your own horse now, and you should take her out before it gets too cold. I’ll show you a good place to ride.”
Maxi’s lips parted in surprise. He wanted to spend time with her outside the bedchamber, and the realization pleased her.
“B-But you m-must be tired. M-Maybe you should r-rest…”
“I’m not an old man, Maxi. But if you would prefer we return to the bedroom instead…” His dark eyes smoldered with mischief and desire.
Maxi’s breath caught in her throat as her face burned with embarrassment. When she cast her eyes downward, Riftan chuckled and embraced her.
“It’s tempting, but we’re going out today. I want to show you my land.”
—
After changing into a dress more suited for riding, Maxi followed Riftan to the stables where a stableboy helped her lead her beautiful white mare outside. Moments later, Riftan emerged from the stable with his own mighty warhorse, the same horse he had ridden on their journey to Anatol.
Riftan gently stroked the horse’s neck. “You remember Talon, don’t you?” he asked Maxi. “He’s got a fiery temper, but he’s as fine a horse as you could wish for.”
Maxi studied Riftan curiously. “D-Do you like h-horses?”
“When I was ten years old, I dreamed of owning one. And Talon here is the best of all the horses I’ve had.”
Riftan rubbed his cheek against Talon’s muzzle, and the sight filled Maxi with a strange jealousy. Nothing was more shameful than a woman’s jealousy, according to the church, and Maxi was mortified to feel slighted by a horse.
Riftan stepped toward Maxi. “Have you given her a name?”
Maxi shook her head, trying to rein back her emotions. “N-Not yet.”
“You should choose one soon. She’ll warm up to you faster if you call her by her name.”
“W-What should I n-name her?”
“She’s your horse. You should be the one to decide.”
Maxi mulled it over. “Th-then…I sh-shall call her R-Rem.”
Riftan smiled playfully. “Rem because she’s white? I see my wife’s imagination is wanting.”
“I-It has a n-nice ring to it.” Maxi did not mention that the order of knights under Riftan’s command had inspired the name.
A groom came to saddle the horses, and Riftan helped Maxi mount Rem. Unpracticed in horseback riding, Maxi nervously tensed, clutching the reins. Riftan, on the other hand, looked perfectly at ease on Talon.
Riftan eyed her awkward posture. “You’re not used to riding, are you?”
Maxi shook her head, embarrassed. “I never l-left Croyso Castle. Th-There weren’t many o-opportunities for me to ride.”
“Yes, I heard the rumors. Duke Croyso’s eldest daughter avoids the outside world because of her delicate constitution.”
Something in his voice made Maxi nervous, and she fidgeted with the reins. “I-I didn’t know th-that was how people p-perceived me.”
“The Duke of Croyso is one of the most powerful men on the Western Continent, so it’s no surprise that people would take an interest in his daughter.
Unlike your sister, you never made any public appearances, and that only fanned the flames of their curiosity.
I know of a knight who snuck into Croyso Castle just to catch a glimpse of you. ”
Maxi avoided his gaze. This was news to her, and she wondered what Riftan had thought of her when he first heard those rumors.
Had he imagined a frail woman, delicate as a flower?
She knew there was nothing delicate or elegant about her short, thin frame.
She also knew that her tenderhearted and skittish nature failed to make her endearing.
“H-He m-must have been d-disappointed,” Maxi said brightly, trying to mask her self-doubt.
Riftan turned to her, frowning. “How so?”
“He w-went through all that t-trouble just to s-see an ordinary w-woman.”
Maxi tightened her grip on the reins and attempted to feign nonchalance. Calling her looks ordinary was generous, but maybe Riftan wouldn’t notice. Her ears turned red.
Riftan slowed Talon’s pace and came up alongside Rem as they neared the back gate. “You aren’t ordinary. In fact, I find you charming.”
Maxi smiled awkwardly, certain that he was only being polite. “Th-Thank you.”
“It’s not my habit to say things I don’t mean,” Riftan said, sensing her disbelief. “If I didn’t find you alluring, you wouldn’t drive me into a frenzy when we’re alone together. Or have you forgotten about that because of our peaceful evening last night?”
Maxi flushed with embarrassment. She opened and closed her mouth, unable to form a reply.
Riftan leaned in and cupped her chin with his hand, his eyes dark with desire. “Perhaps riding was a foolish suggestion. Shall we turn back?”
Heart pounding, Maxi shook her head, and Riftan pulled away. He straightened in his saddle, his expression inscrutable. Was he disappointed or amused?
“Let’s hurry, then,” Riftan said. “We don’t want the sun to set before we’ve even left the castle.”
Maxi trailed after him, trying to calm her racing heart.
—
They rode through the forest, along a narrow path that led out of the back gate. Leaves crunched under their horses’ hooves, and above them birds chirped, but those were the only sounds. It seemed as if the whole world were still asleep.
Maxi stole glances at Riftan as they rode in peaceful silence. He rode Talon gracefully, while Maxi felt clumsy atop Rem, clutching the reins as she hunched inelegantly forward to keep her balance.
“I didn’t know my wife was such an unpracticed rider,” Riftan said, looking back at her with an amused smile.
“A-As I m-mentioned…I h-had few opportunities t-to ride.”
“Relax your shoulders, and don’t clench your muscles so. Horses get nervous when they sense their riders are tense.”
Blushing, Maxi took deep breaths and tried to do as Riftan instructed, but every time Rem moved, she bounced in the saddle, and her body tensed in panic. After observing her for a few moments, Riftan offered her further guidance.
“Relax your upper body. Squeeze your thighs to balance yourself, following the rhythm of the horse’s movements. It’s just like when you’re on top of—”
“R-Riftan! Y-You mustn’t say such th-things out loud!”
“Why? It’s just us here.”
“S-Still! I-It’s improper!”
Riftan burst into laughter. “You get so upset when I speak of our lovemaking, while in bed, you’re so—”
“R-Riftan!” Maxi attempted to cover his mouth with her hand and lost her balance, but Riftan swiftly steadied her.
“All right, all right,” he said. “Calm down.”
Maxi glared at him, but he only grinned at her mischievously, then leaned down to kiss her forehead. Maxi lost her balance a second time, prompting Riftan to steady her again.
He laughed. “Looks like I’ll have to teach you the foundations, starting with how to sit on a horse.”
“I’d b-be able to r-ride better if you’d stop d-distracting me,” Maxi muttered.
“Is that so? As you wish, then.” Riftan’s grin widened.
Maxi tried to maintain her haughty demeanor, but she found it difficult to be indignant when he behaved so mischievously. Whenever he smiled, her cheeks burned and her heart beat distractingly fast.
Without warning, Riftan galloped ahead, steering the powerful stallion with his long, muscular legs.
Maxi reluctantly spurred Rem to catch up and, before long, Riftan slowed his pace to make it easier for her.
The small gesture sent flutters through her heart.
No one had ever cared for her like Riftan seemed to.
She could almost believe that he really did see her as a beautiful, ideal wife.
But even if he did think that of her, Maxi knew she was undeserving of the affection.
“You’re not accustomed to riding, but you like animals, don’t you?”
Maxi blinked. “H-How did you kn-know?”
“I saw you, once, in the garden at Croyso Castle. You were petting a cat while it sat happily on your lap.”
Maxi stared at him. It had never occurred to her that someone might have been watching her in the garden, and she tried to recall if she had ever seen Riftan there.
“He was purring away blissfully, that cat. I remember it well because everything was so soft and serene around you.”
“I-It was p-probably the k-kitchen cat. We k-kept him for catching mice, b-but he wasn’t a g-good hunter, s-so he was often h-hungry. I’d feed him in s-secret.”
“So that’s why he snuggled so contentedly with you.” Riftan looked deep in thought, then glanced at her over his shoulder. “What else do you like?”
When Maxi’s brows furrowed at the confusing question, Riftan smiled bitterly.
“You’re veiled in mystery,” he said. “And you rarely reveal anything about yourself. Why are you so reluctant to show me who you are?”
Maxi’s heart dropped painfully. How could he not know the answer? He must be truly blind to her impediment. She could not understand why he refused to see it.
“I-I’ve never been r-reluctant,” Maxi said defensively.