Chapter One #2
“This is exciting!” Sidonie said. Even though she grew up just south of the Valerian Mountains, she had never been to Vale. “Do you think we can stop and see my sister on the way?”
When Dagan choked on the water he was drinking, Sid gave him an annoyed look.
She knew he wouldn’t be happy about the thought of visiting the Sabras, especially after they’d kidnapped him, simply for being a wizard.
But Adelphie had finally given Dagan and Sidonie her blessing and she missed her sister and the other Sabras.
“I think you’re forgetting something, Sid,” Dagan said, once his throat was clear. “One of the conditions of my release was that I never set foot near the Sabras, ever again.”
“What about Elmber?” Rowan asked. “There’s an inn in Elmber, where we can all stay. Sid can visit her home, and you can stay away from it. We have to travel through there anyway.”
Dagan hadn’t planned to visit Elmber again, but there was an apothecary in Elmber he could visit to restock some ingredients that the shop in Junacave didn’t carry. The stop could be beneficial for both of them.
“I guess that could work.” Dagan thought for a moment, then asked, “Leitis. You said Leitis. Is that the wizard in Vale?”
“Yes,” Bree replied. “He is very skilled in predicting the weather. He has a son too, but I’m not sure how old he is. I haven’t been to Vale since I was a child. My mother’s family usually come here to visit, seeing as our weather is more pleasant.”
“Have you met him? The wizard?”
“I have, yes. His father was the Royal Mage of Vale before him also. Why do you ask?”
“Just curious,” Dagan replied. Another wizard could possibly help him and Sidonie to solve the mystery of her magic, but just because this wizard served Bree’s family, that didn’t mean he could be trusted. They would have to be careful. Sidonie’s safety depended on it.
~*~
“Are you sure you’ll be alright, Finn? I know it’s a lot of responsibility.
I wish I could leave someone here to assist you.
” Bree hadn’t left yet and she was already feeling guilty for forcing Finnley to take over while she was away.
She knew he was perfectly capable of handling the daily operations in the castle as it was already his job as the castle’s Steward.
This is the first time he would truly be handling all matters on his own.
“I’ll be fine,” Finn replied. “You just try to avoid falling off the side of the mountain, please. And don’t get kidnapped again by a group of wild women either. If you can avoid it.”
“Funny, especially considering if we hadn’t been kidnapped by the Sabras, Dagan might have never met Sidonie, and you would have never met Adelphie. Imagine how boring your lives would be.”
Finn snorted but knew there was truth to Bree’s statement.
Meeting Adelphie had been a disaster at first. He had never disliked a woman so much in his life.
Most ladies loved him, but Adelphie had hated him immediately and he’d returned the sentiment.
Even though he still found her beliefs to be barbaric, he did have to admit that he often thought of her.
He even kept a piece of one of her furs tucked away in his pocket.
Bree pulled her cloak around her shoulders. She was just about to lift her hood when she saw her cousin, Dahlia, bringing a horse into the courtyard to attach it to the carriage.
“I’ll keep an eye on her. Don’t worry,” Finn said, nodding toward Dahlia.
“Actually, I’m not worried. I’m glad Dahlia has found a purpose here. I must say, I had my doubts, but she has done remarkably well in the stables and Garret is thrilled to have her assisting. I think if you need any help while I’m gone, you should ask her. It could be good for her.”
Though Dahlia was a princess in her own right, they had agreed it was best if no one outside of Bree’s small group of trusted family and friends knew of Dahlia’s real identity, to give her the freedom to make a fresh start without her late father’s evil deeds hanging over her head.
To most people in Junacave, Dahlia was just Dahlia.
A beautiful bard with a newfound love of working in the stables.
“Your Majesty,” Dahlia said, giving a quick curtsy. “I didn’t see you there. Are you ready to go?”
“I am, thank you.”
Dahlia and a stable boy loaded the two large trunks of clothes and several leather bags onto the back of the carriage then Bree climbed inside, followed by Sarita and Sidonie.
Dagan and Rowan had chosen to ride alongside as they rode out of the courtyard.
It would take four days to get to Elmber and two more days to reach Vale.
“I can’t wait to get there,” Sarita said, looking out of the carriage window. “What does it look like?”
Bree thought for a moment about her last trip to Vale. It had been many years, but she still remembered it well. The mountain kingdom had been a memorable sight.
“There is snow a lot of the time and mountains, as far as the eye can see. The castle is gorgeous and this time of the year it looks like a winter wonderland. You are going to love it, Sarita. I am so happy you get to join us.” Sarita snuggled up in Bree’s skirts and before they had made it out of the kingdom, she was already fast asleep.
Bree looked out over her land as they rode through.
It was nearing the end of winter for Junacave.
Spring would be here in just a few weeks.
Soon the annual tournament would take place, bringing people from all over the kingdom to watch the competition, as young men fought to win the right to serve as a Royal Knight.
The queen closed her eyes and thought about her father, who was watching her from the heavens above. She remembered the tournament last year, when her father had still been alive, and it made her smile. Slowly, she too drifted off to sleep as the carriage rolled along.