“It…is not so bad.”
“Not so bad? Your hands are swelling, my lady!”
Garrow, who had been grazing the horses nearby, came over at Ulyseon’s exclamation and poked his head between them.
He, too, furrowed his brow at the sight of Maxi’s hands. “Ulyseon is right, my lady. They will give you a hard time throughout the journey if you let them fester. Would it not be better for you to heal them?”
“I was told that healing yourself with magic…is no different from d-drinking your blood to quench your thirst. And that…unless the wound is fatal…it is better to let it heal on its own. Moreover, I also wish…to conserve my mana as much as possible.”
“But it must be painful….”
Annoyed with the young knights’ fussing, Maxi lay her cloak over the grass and sat down with a sigh. “Even if I were to heal my hands with magic…they would likely get chafed again once I get back on my horse, do you not agree? And it would not d-do for me to heal them every time. It would bebest to let my body get used to it.” She spread her hands in an attempt to appear cheerful. “I will get c-calluses after a few days, and once I do…my palms will be tough enough for even the hardest ride.”
A complicated expression briefly flashed across Ulyseon’s face. Then, as if remembering something, he began rummaging through his saddlebag. “Then, at least put these on for now, my lady.”
Maxi’s eyes widened at the thick leather gloves the squire held out for her. “D-Did you not…bring these for yourself, Ulyseon?”
“These are spares. I only brought them with me just in case. Please use them, my lady.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Maxi accepted the gloves. Her hands really were quite sore. She pulled on the smooth, expertly tanned gloves and discovered them to be at least a knuckle’s length too large for her.
“Your hands…are bigger than I thought, Ulyseon,” Maxi said. The young knight was so willowy and graceful, his features so delicate, that Maxi realized she had never considered how strong Ulyseon must be to fight with the Remdragon Knights.
Ulyseon flushed and scratched the back of his head shyly, then fished a leather strap out of his bag. “Let me secure them, my lady. It would not do for them to slip off while you are riding.”
Maxi held out her hands for Ulyseon to clumsily tie the gloves to her wrists.
“Are they not too tight, my lady?”
“No, they are perfect.” After shaking her hands to see if the gloves would fall off, Maxi gave Ulyseon a satisfied smile.“Th-Thank you. I shall…use them well.”
“It is my pleasure, my lady.”
She picked up the loaf of bread with her gloved hand and ate her meal. A short distance away, Riftan conferred with his knights over a map laid on the grass. He nodded with finality before tucking the map into his bag. Maxi waited for him to come to her, but he only frowned slightly in her direction and busied himself with saddling Talon.
His displeasure made Maxi nervous. She had thought that his attentive care yesterday meant that his anger had subsided. Was he perhaps still upset over her stubbornness? Before she could come to a decision on whether to force the subject, Riftan was already mounting his horse.
“No more dawdling,” he said to his knights. “We are entering drake territory, so keep your guard up at all times.”
The knights all mounted their steeds and got into formation. Maxi hastily saddled Rem and mounted. Riftan glanced at her over his shoulder, but looked away just as quickly, spurring Talon into a gallop.
Chapter Eighteen
They passed like thewind through the grasslands, following the stream. As the cool, refreshing breeze brushed pleasantly against her face, Maxi was surprised to feel a smile tugging at her lips. This was not the time to be enjoying herself, but she had never ridden across an open plain on her own horse like this before, so free. After two days of narrow mountain paths, her heart swelled, and she looked at the vast landscape with shining eyes.
The clear sky was a brilliant blue, and the stream that flowed across the moss green field shimmered as though sprinkled with silver dust. Wildflowers turned their blooming faces toward the early summer sun. Maxi closed her eyes and did the same, enjoying the beauty surrounding her. It was difficult in a moment like this to remember to be afraid of monsters.
“I think it would be best to prepare yourself to use defensive magic at any time, my lady.”
Maxi had been basking in the sense of freedom when Gabel, riding ahead of her, turned and gave her the warning.She answered him with a puzzled look. There were no wild animals about that she could see and certainly no monsters. Wondering if a beast lurked somewhere that she could not see, Maxi looked about in terror. However, to her surprise, Gabel pointed upward. Her gaze followed his finger, and she barely contained her scream.
Six bird-like creatures circled above them, but they were like no birds Maxi had ever seen or wanted to see again. Enormous and grotesque, they filled Maxi with dread.
“They are harpies, my lady,” Gabel said, answering her unasked question. “I do not think they intend to attack, but it is best not to let your guard down.”
If she recalled correctly, harpies had the body of an eagle and the face of a human woman. Squinting upward, Maxi thought she could see a pale female face, but the creatures were too far away for her to see clearly. Her grip tightened around her reins as a chill ran down her spine.
Ulyseon brought his horse next to hers. “Do not worry, my lady. Keep your gaze forward. The slope up ahead is more dangerous than those beasts.”
