“What is happening?” Lori asked with a surprised chuckle as Faye still wrestled to take control of her horse.
“Gaia,” Faye scolded.
The mare snorted and shook her head before springing forward into a lazy trot. As she caught up with Raxx, she slowed to a walk once more before stretching out her nose to nuzzle the demon’s shoulder. Raxx kept his eyes trained on the woods ahead, but reached back to pet her.
Faye scowled. “Alright, what are you playing at?”
Raxx looked up at her, straight-faced as ever.
“I know you’re doing something to Gaia. Stop weaving your spells on my horse,” the princess snapped angrily.
The demon shook his head. “Princess, I’m not doing anything. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do. You’re doing something.”
“I swear it, I’m not doing anything.”
“Then why is she following you?” Faye muttered, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks. “Why is she not listening to me?”
“Maybe you’re not as good a horse woman as you say?” Though it passed over his face for a split second, Raxx flashed her a grin before striding on ahead.
Lori snorted from behind her and Faye glared at her sister warningly.
“Oh, come on, that was kind of funny,” Lori mumbled.
“Using majick on my horse isnotfunny,” Faye protested.
“Tell me, can you sense any majick from me right now?” Raxx turned to face them, walking backwards through the snow for a few paces.
Faye focussed. She could feelhim, that’s for sure, like the dull hum of a bee’s hive. Though the intensity of his presence had increased tenfold with proximity, no other majick auras clouded the air.
“Maybe you can hide your majick? How would I know?”
“You can feel the majick in my veins from several miles away. I think you’d know if I was using any right now.”
Faye saw Lori glance between them and she gritted her teeth. How could Raxx possibly know about that? She had only discovered it herself an hour or so previously.
“Who says I can sense you? That’s weird, Raxx,” she scoffed.
“I know you can because I can sense you too, princess.”
Faye stared at the demon, wide eyed. His mouth hadn’t moved and yet she heard his voice, as clear as a bell. Raxx’s eyes bore into her for a moment before he turned his back and pushed forwards through the snow, towards Lephas.
Gaia’s pace sped up as the mare followed behind. Faye dropped her reins from her hands and crossed her arms under her bust.
“No point in having these if my mare is going to ignore me anyway,” she huffed.
The commander glanced over his shoulder at them as Raxx approached, followed closely by Gaia. Lephas smiled at the princesses before turning his attention to the shadow demon.
“Anything?” he asked.
“Nothing of any concern. The main road is busy – I believe it is market day – so it might be best to track North-East of our current trajectory. The snow is thick and undisturbed, so it’ll be slower, but we’ll avoid the main road and possible detection,” the shadow demon explained.
The commander sighed wearily. “More snow. Yes, you’re right. We can’t risk the main roads. No one can see them until Zelrus decides…” The demon trailed off and glanced up at Lori and Faye once more.
Faye inspected the delicate trim on her leather gloves nonchalantly, as if the uncertainty of the demon king’s decision didn’t frighten the wits out of her. The fact that even the demons were tense about what awaited them upon their return just served to frighten her tenfold. Her hands began to shake.
“Agreed.” Raxx nodded.
