Cassian bowed his head to me and slipped away. I sighed and disappeared into my bedroom. Sleep soon followed.
Chapter 30
Morning also followed, or at least a hint of morning. A loud rap on my door was followed by Titus’ voice. “Grace! Time to get up! The sun will be rising soon!”
I groaned and raised my head high enough to look out the window. It was still dark. Still, I didn’t want to slow up such a large train of men, so I crawled out of bed and shuffled over to the door, which I opened. Titus stood in the hall with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his lips. I hated it.
He bowed his head to me. “Good morning, Grace. I hope you slept well.”
I closed my eyes and rubbed them profusely with my fist. “I was.”
“Food is ready downstairs, and the horses are being saddled.”
I followed him downstairs, where the rowdiness from the previous evening was still being cleaned up. A few busted chairs had been piled in a corner, and stains and a few errant bits of glass hinted at some spillage. A large breakfast awaited me, but I was only able to get down a dozen bites before the front door opened.
Cassian strode in with a small entourage of his men. He walked over to me and inclined his head. “Good morning, Lady Holt. Are you ready for the final leg of the trip?”
I swallowed a large helping of eggs and stood. “Just strap me to the saddle, and I’ll be ready to go.”
Some of the men laughed, and Cassian offered me his hand and a smile. “I’ll be sure to keep a tight grip on you.”
We moved outdoors, where the horses and a brightening eastern horizon awaited us. I was helped up, and Cassian took the lead with Titus close beside us. The others climbed aboard their horses or the cart, and we were soon off down the road.
That last part of the journey was as much a blur as the afternoon before, especially with the long shadows of the early morning hanging over everything. We continued until noon, where we stopped at a small clearing to rest and eat. The horses were offered food and a drink from a nearby creek.
I munched on a piece of bread from my perch on a rock while the men saw to the animals and their own affairs. My solitary meal was interrupted by Cassian, who strolled up to me and offered me his hand. “There’s something I want to show you.”
I shifted atop my perch and winced. “Does it involve more riding?”
He chuckled. “Walking. It’s only a short distance.”
“Then I’m in,” I replied before I stuffed the rest of my bread into my mouth.
I accepted his hand, and Cassian helped me up. He guided me into the woods and to a small mound some forty feet high. It was large enough to look over the tops of most of the forest. We made our way to the heights and were presented with a breathtaking view of our surroundings. Yellow fields and green woods mingled to create a tapestry of bounteous color.
Cassian pointed at a spot on the horizon. “Do you see that? The silver shining in the distance?”
I squinted and beheld something that shimmered in the light of the afternoon sun. “What is it?”
“The peak of the Citadel, and the first hint of Elyra. We’ll be there just before sunset, so you’ll get a good view of the castle before we settle into your new home.”
Home. I wasn’t sure I wanted to call it that just yet. Still, I didn’t argue with him. He had promised to put me up for free, after all.
We returned to the men, who had readied the horses. Hope for the finish filled my heart, and I watched the scenery pass with more interest. The road widened, and more traffic joined us. Other carts, carriages, pedestrians, and riders mingled together to create a steady stream to and from the capital.
We climbed a short hill, and the forests fell away to reveal a large valley. Elyra was nestled in the gentle depression of that hollow, its countless houses, businesses, and other buildings nestled inside a fortified wall some forty feet high and fifteen feet thick.
Twelve gates opened into the city, and these were all manned by the soldiers of the man I accompanied. Our company dipped down the road and arrived at one of the gates an hour before sunrise. My thighs were grateful for the arrival.
The men saluted their master, and the plebeians stepped aside to gawk at the king. Many of their curious eyes fell on me, and I shrank beneath that much attention.
Cassian leaned close against my back and lowered his voice to a whisper. “They’re admiring your beauty.”
I snorted. “They’re admiring you and wondering about me.”
“Let them,” he mused as we trotted into the city. A maze of winding streets stretched out before us for miles. “I’m curious to listen to what the naughty rumors that may spread.”
I choked on my surprise, but the increasing crowds meant I couldn’t vocalize my shock. The people crowded the streets and watched us stroll past. Stone shops with large windows, wooden houses with one or two floors, and large inns with many windows dotted many of the cobblestone streets.
