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Cloud Riders(20)

By:Debbie Behan


‘Sorry, man, mind’s elsewhere tonight, unlike you, hey?’ he said, slapping Conor on the shoulder. ‘Just a rescue mission, guys, in and out. I’ve already plotted the course so we’re good to go.’

‘What princess has Aurus kidnapped this time?’ Woody had guessed it already.

Woody was more astute than the others and his powers went well beyond those of the rest of the team. Truth be known, Kayden knew he could send Woody on his own and just his presence alone would frighten the crap out of Aurus although he knew Zoren would freak out if he split up the team. They had their allies but they also had their enemies. Getting a chance to pick one of them off would be their adversary’s greatest joy and sending a team member alone was a sure way of getting him killed.

Putting the bridle on his horse, Kayden turned to face Woody. ‘Princess Eda was visiting friends and on her way home, ended up a little lost and went through Taurus’s constellation without permission. We all know how much Aurus loves a princess and her being on his land without authorisation is a good excuse for him to abduct her.’

‘You mean give him time to seduce her?’ Jason commented, only saying what the rest of the team was thinking.

Kayden winced knowingly and agreed. ‘What he is doing is within their laws and yes, he knows it. After all, he caught her on his land. When we get her out I hope she’s learnt this time.’

Jason jumped up on his horse. ‘Poor Perseus must be beside himself. How many times has he rescued the chained princess? Normally when she wanders off he finds her just chained to a rock and he easily saves her. However, this time there is no rock. It’s Aurus from Taurus. As we know, Perseus recently made a pact with Aurus. It must be frustrating for him not to be able to charge in there and grab the princess he has sworn to save, no matter who has her.’

Kayden mounted his horse. ‘Agreed. He sounded disheartened when I spoke to him but cheered up when I told him the parents had come up with a plan. King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia have cut a deal with their neighbour, Cetus. They will let him court their daughter if he helps them get her back. Aurus loves to go whale hunting with Cetus, so Cetus is giving us permission to barter for him. He will refuse Aurus access to his whales unless the princess is returned.’

Woody mounted his horse in one slick movement. ‘I didn’t know Cetus has a thing for the Princess Eda. He has always hated her.’ He sounded surprised.

‘Love and hate walk a fine line. Cetus is apparently beside himself with jealousy that she might be canoodling up to Aurus and falling for his charms. The king tells me he is almost feral—wants to blow Aurus and his constellation out of existence.’

Conor and Ethan punched knuckles and back-flipped onto their horses. Woody, Jason and Kayden cracked up laughing.

‘They must have spent hours behind our backs practicing that one,’ Woody commented, still looking amused.

‘Show-offs pulled it off too,’ Jason added.

‘Come on, guys. I know you want to impress the ladies up there but you’ll turn us into a frigging circus act.’ Kayden choked away the laughter behind his discipline. Still amused and enjoying the time with his team, Kayden instructed Zoltan to take the lead. Zoltan felt Kayden’s every thought and needed no prompting as he trotted off in front.

Kayden’s mind wondered back to Cassie again. She was never far from his thoughts because just as Zoltan had picked him all those years ago, so had the new foal picked Cassie. Kayden could see this resemblance in the way the Zoltan’s offspring could understand Cassie, even as young as he was. The talent she held within her even now, without training and before she’d gone through the transition into immortality, he found remarkable and in fact a miracle in itself.

Kayden wondered if she even understood she would become immortal. It angered him that her parents had done her such an injustice. The kid’s going to feel messed up for a few weeks, never mind the change she’ll undergo physically. He fretted silently for her situation. Kayden and Jason had discussed at length when they would break it to her. She wouldn’t be aware of anything magical thanks to her ignorant and cruel parents. For a woman it was hard as it was rare afterwards for them to carry children. They both knew Cassie was only just starting to feel confident and happy again and the last thing she needed was for another blow to hit her just yet. His poor, innocent sweetheart had her work cut out for her once she came into her own but come hell, rain or shine, he intended to see her through it.

Zoltan trotted out to the paddock towards the portal where the clouds would take Kayden and his team up into the sky and to the stars above. Tonight Kayden was in a good mood and had allowed talking until they reached the paddocks, unlike other nights when he would cut the chatter as soon as they mounted their horses.