Gaia, Faye’s horse, spotted him and her ears pricked. The mare fixed him with a stare and moved away to the back of her stable, snorting.
Indi glanced between Raxx and Gaia curiously.
“She doesn’t like you,” Indi muttered.
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
“She says you frighten her. You appear from thin air and she doesn’t trust you. You upset Faye a lot.”
“How do you—”
“Oh, animals and I can speak to one another. It’s a gift.” Indi shrugged with a small smile. “Though I don’t think I’d need my talents to know that mare is terrified of you.”
Raxx cocked a brow at her indifference, like it was an everyday occurrence to converse with animals, but not wanting to get into the how and why, he let it slide and watched the mare.
Gaia shifted from hoof to hoof and snorted again, staring back at him. Her eyes were wide with concern.
Raxx sighed heavily. The horse’s fear of him was becoming a bit of a recurrent problem between himself and Faye. Even when he tried to be more considerate, the damn mare always spooked and the princess would scowl or snap something at him. He knew Gaia’s reaction to him was only a fraction of the bigger issue, but he couldn’t help feeling if he could get the horse to relax, Faye’s ire towards him may thaw slightly.
“What happened back at the farmhouse?” Raxx asked, changing the subject.
“I suppose you know that Oriel has left?” Indi replied, her tone growing cold and tense.
“I’m aware.” He nodded.
“Well, he promised me the next time he visited, he would take me back to Banesteppe with him. He swore it,” the faerie’s voice wavered.
Raxx crossed his arms across his chest and averted his eyes.
“So, I’ve told Magna I’m coming with you, Lephas and the princesses.” Indi grabbed a saddle and hooked it over a nearby stable door. A large horse, its coat splashed with large black and white patches, stuck its head over curiously.
Raxx stared at the faerie, dumbfounded for a moment. “Are you sure that’s wise?”
“Quite frankly, I don’t care.” She kicked a bucket out of her way angrily and it clattered across the barn. “It’s about time that bastard kept his promises.”
“Careful, Indi. Bastard or no, Oriel is still our prince.”
“Shame he doesn’t often act like one,” she snapped.
Raxx couldn’t argue with that. Prince Oriel was renowned for his drinking, womanising and all-round reckless behaviour. It didn’t surprise the shadow demon in the least that Oriel had failed to deliver his promises. Indi was not the first and most certainly wouldn’t be the last to fall victim to the prince’s charms.
It did, however, raise another curious question as to why the prince had chosen to involve himself with someone like Indi in the first place. She was a beauty, that couldn’t be denied, but whilst Raxx didn’t know any great detail of his king and prince’s upbringing, he knew Zelrus regarded Indi as a sister, despite not being related by blood.
Surely Oriel was not so debased as to lust after his own sister? Raxx grimaced.
“Will you help me Raxx? Please?” Indi had turned to face him and was imploring him with large, tear-filled eyes.
Raxx groaned with discomfort and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m going to have to side with Magna on this one Indi. It’s not a good idea.”
A small sob escaped her and she turned away, almost visibly pulling herself together before glancing back at him.
“Please? I’ll do anything. Please just help me convince the others to take me with them?” Indi glanced between him and Gaia. “I-I’ll help with the horse. I can convince the mare to trust you.”
“I’m sorry, I just— Wait, what?” Raxx blinked.
“I can talk to animals, please – help me to convince the others and I’ll help you with this. I’ll talk with Gaia. I’ll introduce you properly. Princess Faye thinks an awful lot of her horse, I’m sure having the mare on side will garner some appreciation.”
“And what makes you think I want Faye’s appreciation?” Raxx replied quickly, his brows turning down into a scowl.
