Dark One Rising(104)
“What happened to it?”
“Last time I saw it, it was around her neck at the funeral.”
He was about to take a sip of wine but put his glass back down. He gazed at her, wondering if wearing it caused too painful of memories. “I’m sorry if it brings you distress. Maybe I should’ve left well enough alone. You don’t have to wear it for me.”
“It’s fine. It doesn’t distress me. Someday it’ll bring me another memory. One of you.”
He smiled genuinely, another warm feeling coming over him. He wanted her to have memories of him, and he hoped they lasted long after they were parted from one another. She had already indelibly etched herself on his heart. He hoped he did the same for her.
***
That same morning, she decided that it was time that she get to ride into the city again. There had been no signs that Fallon knew where she was, and for that she decided it would be safe to venture out again.
After coming downstairs again, she discovered that Dain wasn’t in the castle. He was called away suddenly and didn’t get a chance to tell her himself. He had something that needed his attention and wouldn’t be back until evening. There had been many days like this lately, and she was starting to get lonely. She admitted to herself that she missed him when he was not with her. She understood he still had responsibilities as king, but she felt lonely nonetheless.
She made her way to the front gate to find Alastair, the Captain of the Guard. She asked him to supply her a man to accompany her for a ride in the countryside.
He told her he’d see what he could do, but didn’t promise anything. Security was high; he didn’t know if he could spare the man today. He would send someone to get her if he could.
She spent a couple of hours playing lawn games with some of the household staff and helped her chambermaid Bianca do the needlepoint of a tapestry.
Emerick came to find her later in the day. He bowed to her. “I came to inform you that Alastair can’t spare the man for you today. He apologizes for the disappointment, but there are problems he’s dealing with right now and cannot spare anyone. I’m afraid you’ll have to postpone your ride for another day, Your Highness. Perhaps Dain can find the time later this week.”
She sighed. “I understand. Thank you for letting me know. I guess I’ll find other ways to amuse myself.”
He bowed and left her alone. She was too restless to stay inside. It was a beautiful day. The cold would come soon, and the clear sunny skies were few as autumn approached. She couldn’t pass up a day like this. She needed to feel the sun on her face and the wind in her hair. She decided that a short jaunt into the surrounding grounds would not hurt anything. She’d be close enough to the gates to come back quickly if needed. Everyone was so busy, they would never even know she was gone. She went back to her room to change into riding clothes.
***
She took the back stairs down to the kitchen and through it out the back door. She went across the bailey and went into the stables to find her horse. No one was in the stable at the moment which was propitious. She would get an argument from someone for asking a horse boy to prepare her mount, and since she needed no help in saddling and bridling, without anyone there, she could do it herself.
When her horse was ready, she mounted and rode through the side stable door and out into the bailey. She rode forward slowly, approaching the gate. A wagon pulled forward, stopping at the outside of the portcullis, and the guards checked his manifest of supplies. While they were distracted by the visitor, she rode out through the side gate, and turned left toward town. She rode hard for a good distance to make sure no one could catch up to her and stop her, then slowed a bit so her horse wouldn’t get too tired too quickly.
The sun was high in the sky, and the light waning summer breeze touched her face. The sky was blue with a few small wispy clouds scudding their way lazily by, but she knew the autumn storms would be rolling in soon. The lush green countryside was speckled with multi-colored flowers still, but the leaves on the trees were starting to change colors and soon would fall. A late season blue butterfly flitted by as she passed. She felt free when she was riding. She knew that she probably shouldn’t have left without telling someone, but she had been cooped up way too long. It was starting to get to her.
Her mind wandered a bit to the conversation she’d had with Emerick weeks before. Emerick had known Dain his whole life, and there was a possibility that he saw something she didn’t. Was there something there? Was he falling in love with her? She had to admit that since getting to know him and spending time alone with him, her feelings on the matter of love with a noble was starting to wane. She was definitely confused, but she didn’t know if the feelings for him were real, or just because he had been so kind, or because she needed someone to be close to. She missed Kevaan desperately, and she had no one else to talk to, but she doubted that was all there was to it.