Freya's Freedom (The Tower and the Eye Book 3) (3 page)

Vrenstalliren strode ahead of Freya, enumerating the many horse companions he’d had since he started riding.

Freya followed him with only half a mind on his story.
Why are that woman’s clothes so familiar to me? It’s as if I‘ve seen them before, but somewhere else.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of bright blue.
I’m seeing things now. Concentrate, Freya.

“Here we are!” Vrenstalliren stopped in front of a large barn with a sign bearing a rearing stallion on it.

“That’s good.” Freya looked around.
Is someone following me? I feel like I’m being watched.
There were plenty of people around, but no one seemed to be paying any attention to her or the Paladin.

“Welcome to The Black Stallion Livery Stables!” a voice boomed out, preceding a mountain of a man who strode out of the barn. “If you are in the market for a mount, you did come to the right place. I am Hedlan, the owner.”

Vrenstalliren stepped forward.

“I am Sir Vrenstalliren of Alethdan, Guardian of Lady Freya. We find ourselves in need of a mount for Lady Freya and…”

“Yes, I did speak to Master Groilin’s runner. He apprised me of the Lady’s need,” Hedlan waved the elven Paladin silent. “I have four mounts out back that may suit her.”

Vrenstalliren blinked and looked at Freya as the man beckoned them to follow.

“The Tavern Keeper knows you?”

Freya blushed.

“Master Groilin knew me when I was a child, but I only realised the connection this morning.”

Vrenstalliren frowned but said nothing as they followed Hedlan through the barn.

Freya breathed in the sweet, pungent aroma of hay and horses, the air full of straw dust, turning the morning light into deep golden beams.
The stables were always my favourite place, even before I went to Jira.

At the other end of the barn, double doors opened out onto a sand floored ring. Four horses stood with their grooms; two bays, one albino and the other pure black. Freya felt a childlike surge of joy force its way up.

“They’re beautiful.”

Vrenstalliren made a show of walking around all four, examining their conformation, hooves and teeth.

“They are adequate,” he sniffed.

An audience had gathered around the ring and Freya spotted the woman in blue and the strange creature who accompanied her. He wore a brown hooded robe now, but her skin crawled at his look.

To hide her unease, Freya approached the first bay. She looked him over.

“He’s a gelding?”

The groom nodded.

Placing one hand on his withers, she vaulted onto the gelding’s back. After trotting him around the ring, she dismounted and shook her head.

“He has an uncomfortable gait. Take a look at his offside fore, he was favouring it.”

“Damn stablehands know nothing of such things.” Hedlan glared at the groom, who checked the horse’s leg and nodded back at his master. “Send for the Farrier immediately.” The groom acknowledged the order as he took the horse back into the barn

She tried the second bay, a mare this time, who attempted to unseat her. Freya laughed and kept her place.

“Spirited, but I don’t think we’d get on.” She dismounted and held her hand out to the horse. The mare snapped at her. “See? She can smell my Guardian’s stallion and considers me a threat to her chances.”

Taking one long look at the albino, Freya shook her head.

“Her breathing is laboured, just standing still. I think someone took you for a ride with this one, Hedlan.”

Hedlan took a closer look at the mare and growled.

“You do be right, Lady. I did not buy this one, she was a debt payment.”

“She’s in foal though; you might make your money back,” Freya said, surprising herself.
How did I know that?

The Livery Owner ran his hand gently down the mare’s barrel.

“Hmm. Take her to the breeding yard,” he said to the groom who had returned from returning the bay mare to her stall. “Be careful and do no spook her.”

The groom took the mare away, talking quietly to her.

Freya stepped up to the black. She looked him in the eye and smiled.

The horse whickered softly and extended his nose to her. He stamped one hoof, the feathers that covered his hooves tickling Freya’s legs.

“What’s his name?” she asked, stroking the soft nose.

“He do be Korariettln. The fellow I bought him from claimed he had Elvish blood.”

Vrenstalliren looked the black over more carefully.

“He may be right. He has a similar conformation to Ohtár.”

“Black Spring Magic.” Freya smiled. “I like it.” She mounted and took him in a circle around the ring.
He’s gorgeous.

“My Dam was Elvish. My Sire, an Each Usage from Galivor. I like you, can I come with you?”
The horse asked her in a strong smooth voice that echoed through her mind.

Freya jumped a little.

“You can talk?” she whispered, not wanting to lose any face in front of the Horse Dealer.

“Only to you. Everyone else around here is too closed minded, even that Elven Paladin.”
Korariettln snorted.
“Reply to me by thinking your words rather than speaking them.”

Freya patted his neck and followed his instruction.

“Then you shall come with me.”
She dismounted gracefully. “I’ll take him. How much?”

“He’s still a Stallion, Lady. It is unseemly for a maiden to ride a Stallion.” Vrenstalliren burst out.

Freya turned on him.

“You overstep your bounds, Sir Paladin. I shall ride any horse that I wish.” She looked at Hedlan. “How much?”

“He’s yours. Master Groilin bade me make the bill out to him. I have his tack in the barn. Do you wish to ride him back to the Tavern?” Hedlan shrugged.

Freya was taken aback.
Groilin is paying him. I can’t accept a horse like this as a gift; but I also cannot refuse to take him. I’d better talk to Groilin.

Vrenstalliren took advantage of her surprise.

“Have him gelded first, my Lady. ’T’would be far more suitable a mount then.”

Korariettln reared and bared his teeth at the elf.

“If anyone tries to do that to me, I shall rip their throat out!”

Freya laughed at the horse’s antics.

“He can come with me as he is. Send his tack over with a groom.” She patted the black’s neck as he regained the ground. “I shall call him Korettln though.”

She strode to the ring’s gate, Korettln following at her shoulder. A groom opened the gate and the two left the livery stable’s grounds, leaving everyone staring after her.

* * *

“She’s a feisty one, Lord.” The Jar chuckled. “Mayhap, she would make a better Queen than Mistress.”

The Aracan Katuvana shrugged. He moved to the western windows and touched the symbol for the Lych Mistress.

The Jar frowned. “Gmichi! Where are you?”

The ancient Goblin appeared beside the Jar and bowed.

“Don’t just stand there, fool. Our Lord needs my voice.”

Gmichi picked the Jar up and carried it over to the western windows, depositing it on the pedestal there.

The Aracan Katuvana flicked one finger towards the Goblin who flinched and bowed deeply, before leaving the room.

“You wished my attention, most wonderful of Lords?” The Lych Mistress’s sultry tones washed over them and the Jar grinned at the Aracan’s sigh before it spoke.

“How are Lady Erendell and Sir Grald doing in their training, Lady Lych?”

“Erendell has excelled at Dark Mistress Training and would be a good choice for the Higher Caste. Not surprising considering her lineage. Sir Grald will make an excellent Dark Paladin.” The Lych Mistress laughed. “He is already surpassing many of the Drow candidates.”

“We will need Sir Grald for a mission shortly. Is he ready?” The Jar asked as the Aracan Katuvana selected another symbol and brought up a training room where Grald fought against a Poison Demon.

“He should be. Are we beginning at last, My Lord?” The Lych Mistress clapped her hands in childlike excitement.

“Lady Freya is indeed almost to the designated dungeon, Lady Lych.”

“Wonderful! I shall put my minions to work at once.” She curtsied deeply and a strangled noise emerged from beneath the Aracan Katuvana’s hood as her cleavage was revealed. “Thank you for honouring me so.”

“Thank you, Lady Lych.” The Jar said as the Aracan Katuvana switched views, bringing Grald into the main view.

The Aracan Katuvana and the Jar watched as Grald severed both of the Poison Demon’s horns with one swift pass of his oversized sword, before cleaving the demon in two, green ichor spraying over everything in the vicinity.

“He’s not even breaking a sweat, despite that armour,” the Jar remarked as Grald flicked the ichor off his blade and turned toward them.

“My Lord Aracan,” Grald bowed in greeting. “I hope this morning finds you well.”

The Aracan Katuvana nodded.

“Sir Grald. It is time for your departure to Jinra. Your sister is in the next town over,” the Jar told him. “Do you remember your orders?”

Grald bowed.

“Yes. I am to bring her in as swiftly as possible so the expansion to the East can begin. I thank my Lord for allowing me into his confidence.”

The Jar smiled.

“Lady Lych assures us of your total loyalty. Besides, it would not do for the first Emperor of Elysia to be uninformed of his fate.”

“I understand,” Grald nodded. “I will not let you down.”

“Good.” The Jar’s eye slid round to look at the Aracan before returning to look at the window again. “Our Lord has a great deal of confidence in you.”

The Aracan Katuvana waved one hand and Grald’s eyes dilated with pleasure.

“Thank you for your favour, my Lord. May I have leave to see my wife before I depart?”

“Indeed you may.” The Jar watched as the man ran out of the arena. “Have fun, Sir Grald.”

The Aracan Katuvana snapped his fingers and the pictures disappeared from the window, leaving him gazing out over the lake surrounding the tower.

“And so it begins, my Lord,” the Jar murmured.

* * *

Kraarz and Lin watched Lady Freya walk away, the black stallion’s coat shining like satin under the noon sun as he followed her.

“She certainly has the right attitude, Lin,” Kraarz commented as they made their way back to the Tavern through the midday crowds.

“I believe your spirits may be correct, Kraarz,” Lin smiled. “I have not seen such regal bearing and temperament in anyone except our late Empress. Lady Freya may indeed be the Heir.”

“We should introduce ourselves without delay.” Kraarz quickened his step, using his staff to navigate past a knot of traders haggling over a load of grain.

“What if she will not return to Elysia with us?” Lin frowned and a small blonde boy carrying a tray of baked goods skipped out of her way.

“Then we shall accompany her until she will. The Spirits shall send us aid,” Kraarz said.

They turned into the stableyard beside the Tavern. Lady Freya stood at the door of a loosebox, feeding the black stallion chunks of carrot and apple.

“Lady Freya, I presume?” Kraarz strode up to her and bowed deeply.

“You must be the Urakh Shaman that Master Groilin said wanted to speak to me.” The girl laid one hand on her stallion’s neck as his lip curled up. “Steady Korettln. Groilin said he was a friend.”

The horse snorted and turned away from the Urakh.

Kraarz smiled. “May I introduce my companion to you: Samurai Cha Mai Lin of Elysia.”

Lin stepped forward. “I am the Aide de Camp of the Late Empress of Elysia. My companion, Kraarz is a Shaman of the Northern Urakh Tribe.”

Freya inclined her head to acknowledge them.

“Why are you here?”

“The Late Empress sent me out to find her Heir many, many months ago,” Lin bowed toward Freya. “You have the form and face of an Elysian noble.”

“Do I? I think you must have me muddled up with someone else,” Freya said and turned to look at the pair. “I have no family; they were all killed when I was a child.” She seemed ill at ease.

She’s lying.
Lin realised and changed what she was about to say.

“Only your parents died. They were travelling on a diplomatic mission from the Empress to the Council of Thirteen in Jira,” Lin said.

Kraarz shot a startled look at her and Lin shook her head imperceptibly.
Now is not the time to tell her about the bad blood between her parents and her grandmother. This white lie will suffice.

“Why are you talking to me then? Surely you should go back to Elysia and report back to her?” Freya frowned.

“I would have done, except…” Lin paused.
She didn’t protest the lie. She knows more about her past than she lets on.