Horse Charmer (15 page)

Kali snorted and shook her head. Cassia pushed back Kali's presence in her mind, or she might end up joining the horse in laughing at herself. Playing the princess was something she knew how to do, but she always felt absolutely ridiculous when she did.

Alrik glanced from Luki to Julyan. The other two remained silent and Cassia waited with imperial patience for his response. He scuffed a foot. "I apologize, no disrespect intended, Lady Kaia."

Julyan raised an eyebrow, but said nothing to correct Alrik.

"I was protecting my territory," Alrik continued.

"And insulting Wrangler Luki's honor by insinuating he would poach."

Alrik flushed and looked more like a scolded boy than a man of his experience. He narrowed his eyes in irritation at Luki. "I don't expect you to understand, Lady Kaia, but I protect my interests."

"I'm aware of protecting one's interests." Cassia stepped away from Kali and up to Alrik. Luki shifted uneasily out of the corner of her eye. "As a citizen of Karah, I expect you to protect mine as well."

Alrik looked even more confused.

"You see, Wrangler Alrik, I've been traveling with great secrecy and haste to this location to obtain critical information important to the sovereignty of Karah and I won't have it risked because of your annoyance over the fact that my escort won't marry your daughter."

Alrik's flush turned to anger and Cassia waited for his rebuff as he shot a look toward Julyan and found no help there. Alrik's eyes slashed to her and Luki stepped in between them.

"Thank you, Lady Kaia." Luki tried to break up the tension. "Perhaps Alrik and I should go speak in private and no longer bother you with our negotiations."

Cassia narrowed her eyes at his interruption. She had been looking forward to cutting Alrik's next comment off at the knees, but the chance had passed. "Your negotiations became my business when they delayed our journey."

Annoyance flashed across Luki's face, but she stood her ground.

"I apologize, My Lady," Luki said.

She wondered if the others had picked up on his sarcasm.

Julyan finally spoke up, a tad late for the host. "Well, now that everything is clarified, I believe my cook is signaling me that dinner will be served shortly. You've had a long ride, Wrangler Alrik. I invite you to dine with us."

Alrik sucked in whatever he was about to say, nodded curtly and stormed back to his horse.

"Lady Kaia, is it?" Julyan said. "Interesting."

Julyan walked away and left Luki with Cassia.

"I don't need your protection, Cassia," Luki said, between clenched teeth.

"You need someone's," Cassia seethed back.

Luki grabbed her arm and she looked down at his hand before meeting his gaze. Aware they still had an audience she didn't yank it from his pinching grip.

"What does it matter to you?" he asked.

She seethed even more and threw away years of upbringing that told her to step away from the situation. "You can honestly ask me that after your actions a few minutes ago?"

He had the grace to look flushed and dropped his hand.

"If you want to marry her, you shouldn't have tried to kiss me." Tears threatened to erupt. This was why she avoided arguments. Making decrees and lectures were a lot easier on the emotions.

"That isn't what this is about. I don't want you stepping between me and my business. I can take care of myself."

Cassia acknowledged the reprimand. The tears would start in a minute and she'd be crying in front of him. She couldn't allow it to happen, and spun to leap onto Kali's back. The urge to get away overrode the knowledge they weren't alone and she was causing the scene she had been trying to avoid.

Kali took two strides and leaped, easily clearing the fence surrounding the pen. As Kali darted into the forest behind Julyan's lodge, Cassia realized her mistake. Alrik couldn't have missed that she was riding Kali without tack. But at this point she didn't really care.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The forest wrapped itself around Cassia in soothing shade and Kali slid to a stop above the Talent encampment. Cassia stared blindly down the hill to the temporary lodges and tents spiraling out from a large opening and fire pit in the middle of the meadow.

Not wanting to think about the people below her, she lay back so her head rested on Kali's hindquarters. All she could see was leaves and branches above her. The mare was quiet waiting for Cassia to make the first move. Confusion and shame wrapped around her. Luki was right. She shouldn't have interfered.

It wasn't like they could be together anyway. He should marry Fayline. The feelings she'd experienced when his hand ran through her hair and down her back shouldn't matter. They couldn't matter. She still didn't understand why he had almost kissed her.

Am I an idiot?

No more than any other girl child.

Cassia laughed at Kali's answer.
I don't know what to do anymore.

Things will be clearer.

When? I muddle through everything. I'm in a constant state of indecision and when I finally do decide to do something I can't even explain to myself why I'm doing it.

Kali shifted in a horse shrug.
You're clearer than you realize; that is why you're confused. These are confusing times. Made no easier by these complicated emotional attachments you two-leggeds insist on forming.

Emotional attachment? Is that what Luki and I have?

Kali was silent a moment.
You wish to have a stronger attachment with him than you do.

Yes.
Cassia sighed.
But I can't. I know it in my head. It was easier when it was an infatuation from afar.

He isn't very far.

I know.

No, I mean he's approaching on foot.

Cassia jerked up and turned to where Kali mentally pointed her. Sure enough, Luki marched steadily through the trees. She thought briefly of running away, but delaying the confrontation wouldn't help her mortification.

She needed him, not only because she wanted him around, but she needed him to help her get home and make the advisors understand what was happening. Cassia slid off of Kali, landing lightly on the springy ground. Kali moved away to give her privacy and she shot her a look of annoyance.

We don't need privacy.

Kali gave another horse shrug and moved even farther away. Without Kali's calming presence, Cassia became even more agitated as Luki grew closer. His steps didn't slow, but his face was apprehensive when he finally stopped a couple of feet in front of her.

"I wish to formally apologize," he said. "I took advances on your person that are unforgivable."

Cassia stared in shock as she realized he blamed himself for their fight and actually thought she was upset he'd almost kissed her. Well, she was a little upset that he hadn't kissed her.

"I swear I won't allow it to happen again," Luki continued. "But if you feel too uncomfortable to travel with me, I will arrange for another escort to take you home."

She couldn't contain herself any longer and leaped forward, grabbing his hand. She had no doubt he would send her off with someone he considered more suitable. He jerked in surprise.

"No!" She had to convince him he hadn't crossed the line with her "I have complete faith in your honor, loyalty, and trustworthiness. I want you as my escort."

He slowly pulled his hand from her grasp and nodded. "I'll await your orders."

"No," Cassia said again even more harshly and grabbed his shirt to make him stay. "I. I'm not being clear. I think of you as more than an escort. You're my friend. A very good friend. I trust you implicitly without question. You've done nothing to offend. I am the one who has been offensive."

Luki didn't jerk from her grasp this time, but looked down at her from hooded eyes. "I've acted inappropriately, Princess."

"No, you have not," she insisted.

"I took liberties that were not mine to take," he said steadily. "I will be honored to escort you on the rest of your journey."

His voice was too cool and remote and she frowned at him.

"You took no liberties that I did not give freely." Cassia stepped closer bringing her body up against his.

A look of alarm crossed his face. "Your Highness."

"Do not call me that."

"I shouldn't remain alone with you in these woods."

"I wish for you to remain alone with me in these woods," Cassia said, wondering at her own brazenness. She could only attribute it to her desperation to hold on to him.

A small and familiar smile crossed his lips and some of her urgency died down.

"Julyan is holding the meal for you." Luki inched back so their bodies were no longer touching.

She sighed in annoyance to cover her disappointment at him putting space between them. "With Alrik?"

"Yes, you gave an excellent performance for him to speak of."

"You don't need to chide me for my exit from the pen," she said, relieved he felt comfortable enough to do so. "I'm well aware of the colossal mistake I made. I don't suppose we could stay here until he leaves."

"We could try." He gently removed her hands from his shirt and dropped them. "But we should probably return and face what is to be said."

"I'm dreadful at being royal, you know." She laced her fingers together to prevent herself from grabbing him again.

"Oh, I don't know. You held your own back there."

"But that's just it. I say things I don't mean because they sound like something someone in my position would say."

"Your mother?"

"Yes." She turned away from him to gaze out over the Talent encampment again. "She would be my one and only example of how a queen behaves."

"You only need to be yourself to be an excellent queen. Don't be so hard on yourself, Your Highness."

"I thought I told you not to call me that, and you don't need to lie. I'm well aware I've made a huge mess of everything."

He shook his head. "No, you've done what needed to be done for your kingdom. Only time will tell the outcome of the actions you've taken."

She smiled slowly at him in thanks. "I told you Julyan wishes for me to stay here and train."

"With him."

"Apparently, I haven't reached my full potential."

"And you need him to do that?"

"He was surprised at what I'm able to do without training." She glanced at Kali and suspected she had been in training ever since they had left Castle Vespera. "He says I can do a lot more than talk to horses."

"Like what?"

"He didn't say, because you arrived," she said.
What can I do, Kali?

A Horse Charmer enchants a horse to do her bidding.

Cassia almost rolled her eyes at the non-answer. She was starting to get used to the mare's cryptic remarks. Luki smiled at her and she was struck with wanting to know what he had meant back at the barn when he'd touched her the way he had, but she was afraid to ask him now.

"We should return," Luki said.

She grimaced, but nodded. She looked back at Kali who raised her head from grazing.

All you need to do is call if you need my assistance.

She turned to follow Luki.

He was looking at Kali and then looked back at her. "You just spoke with her."

A blush spread across her cheeks. "Yes."

"What did you say?"

"Well, I didn't really say anything. She always knows what I'm thinking. Especially," she hesitated, "especially if I'm uncertain about something."

"So, you didn't speak with her?" he asked his confusion clear on his face.

"No, yes, she spoke to me."

"She speaks?"

"To me."

Luki stared at Kali for a moment and shrugged. "We'll talk more of this later, after dinner with Alrik. You'll need your full mental faculties to explain your grand exit to him."

She held back the urge to smack him on the back of his head as he grabbed her arm and tugged her through the trees.

****

The small herd of horses next to the Talent encampment behind Julyan's lodge ate quietly. Cassia noticed them as she would notice any horse in her vicinity; with her mind, not her eyes. It was too dark to make out anything but their shapes in the moonlit meadow. She had no real interest in commanding the herd to perform for Julyan and was more focused on her own inner turmoil.

She couldn't stop thinking about the uneventful dinner she had just left and the fact that Alrik and Luki were alone while she was out here with Julyan. She would have rather remained with Luki while he spoke with Alrik, even if Luki wouldn't appreciate her presence.

What worried her most was how easily Alrik had taken the news of her real identity. He'd been surprised, of course, but what caused her concern was that he'd appeared to also be relieved by the information. She couldn't figure out why her being the Princess of Karah would be a relief to him and she had a vague idea she probably wouldn't like the answer if she was able to work it out.

"You're not even attempting to do what I asked." Julyan interrupted her contemplation. "Command them to leave the corral and return as a group."

"I don't know how to do that," Cassia said at last.

"Focus on what you want them to do and send the message to them."

"And how am I supposed to send it to them?"

"Think about how you converse with the Old One. It's the same principle, only larger."

She glared at him in frustration. His explanation didn't help her to understand his request any more than how he'd explained it a few minutes ago. Command the entire herd to leap from their rope-strung pen, gallop around the tents, and jump back in.

Cassia sighed and pursed her lips as she allowed herself to truly focus on the request and consider how it might be done. She closed her eyes and centered herself as she pushed her awareness down the short hill and across the open space to where the pen had been erected. Slowly she could feel the horses within the pen and their content as they filled their bellies.

She formed the thought of what Julyan wanted the herd to do until the command was a concrete object inside her mind. Once it was solid, she pushed it down the stream of her awareness directly to the horses below. As one, they lifted their heads and looked up at her. Cassia opened her eyes. All she could make out was their shapes with her eyes, but she could see their attention in her mind's eye.

Go!

As if one animal, the small herd ran and leaped over the rope fence. The encampment burst into noise as the shouts of the Talents rang out in surprise. The horses raced around the tents, leaped back into their pen and spun to face her.

Thank you.

The connection with the herd dropped and slowly one by one the horses lowered their heads and resumed their meal. The Talents below continued to talk excitedly as they tried to figure out which of them had caused the commotion.

"Well done," Julyan said his voice full of satisfaction. "It's as I thought. You're truly gifted."

Since she didn't understand what a Horse Charmer was supposed to do exactly, she wasn't sure what the difference between gifted and truly gifted was.

"Are we done?" She wanted to get back to Luki as soon as possible.

He frowned at her, but nodded and led the way back up the trail. "You must stay and train if you're to master your gift."

Cassia grunted noncommittally as they reached the lodge and walked around to the front. Luki sat next to Dall on the fence of the small pen, a lantern on the ground below him. At the sight of him, she hurried across the yard to where he sat. He slid down his eyes searching her face.

"Are you all right?" Luki shot a frown to Julyan. "You were gone a long time."

Julyan nodded in acknowledgement, but didn't stop on his way into the lodge.

"Doing a little training." Her thoughts drifted to Luki's horse in the corral. Dall didn't like her anymore. Maybe she could reassure him. "Would you mind if I spoke with Dall?"

Luki blinked in surprise, looking from his horse to her and back. "I don't mind."

She slipped between the rails and walked a little closer, careful to keep a respectful distance from him.

Dall, I want to thank you for your assistance.

Dall lifted his head and his ears pricked forward with interest.

I also want to assure you I won't hurt Luki.

Doubt furled inside her. It took her only a moment to recognize it wasn't her feelings, but Dall's. Bolstered, she pressed on.

I know you doubt me, but please understand I would never choose to hurt him.