“I was thinking,” I say as I dry a plate. “Would it be alright if I stayed here? Just for a few days. Until things quiet down.”
Julienne’s face brightens. “Of course! You can stay as long as you’d like. Although the queen is due to arrive sometime tomorrow. Perhaps with all attention focused on her, you could slip away unnoticed. The guards will be occupied with her arrival. It’s just a suggestion. I don’t mind if you stay longer.”
“Will she still come to the Shadow Court even though Sebastian is no longer imprisoned?”
“My contact at the castle hasn’t sent word to the contrary, so yes, she is still making her way here. I think you will have an opportunity then.”
It makes sense. I nod.
“I wish Sebastian would listen to us, and the two of you could slip away together,” Julienne continues with a sigh. “But it seems he’s made up his mind.”
I finish drying the plate and set it on the shelf. “I’m afraid so.”
“I’m sure he has a plan. You need to understand that he has the weight of the whole realm on his shoulders.”
“I know,” I whisper.
We finish the dishes. When everything is clean and put away, Julienne grabs a basket from beside the door.
“I need to tend to the horses,” she tells me. “Would you like to come help? It might do you good to get some fresh air. Clear your head a bit.”
I nod. “I’d like that.”
We go outside, following a narrow path toward the small barn behind the cabin. The barn is well-maintained. There are three stalls, each with a horse inside.
“This is Nox,” Julienne says, moving to the first stall. She strokes the nose of a dappled gray gelding. “And this is Storm.” She gestures to a black mare in the second stall. “The chestnut is Jack. He can be a little cranky, but he’s a good horse. Never getslame. He’s never given me a day of trouble. I would suggest that you take him when the time comes. The other two can be a little spirited.”
“I used to ride back home when I was young. My friend Lyre has offered me a ride more than once on her horses; right now, I wish I had accepted. I’m completely out of practice.” I widen my eyes.
“You’ll pick it up again in no time. Jack will take good care of you. Sebastian said that you can take most of the coin meant for him, so you will be just fine.”
It should make me feel better, but it doesn’t. I don’t want Sebastian’s coin. I can’t help but feel that he is making a big mistake. That he’s going to be captured or worse.
It is his life; he needs to make his own decisions.
I go to Jack’s stall, holding out my hand. He puts his ears flat back.
Julienne chuckles. “See what I mean about him being cranky? It’s all show. He doesn’t bite, I promise.”
Although I’m a little nervous, I push through my fear and pat him on the neck. His ears flick forward, but as soon as I stop stroking his soft coat, they pull back again.
Julienne laughs again. I find myself smiling, but I quickly turn serious.
I have this horrible feeling that everything is going to go terribly wrong.
17
Sebastian
I do up the cinch on the saddle, making sure it is secure. Nox shifts beneath my touch. He’s a fine horse. I feel bad taking him on this quest, but there’s nothing I can do about it.
Then I hoist the saddlebags into place, adjusting them so the weight sits evenly. They’re only half full, with a couple of basics, since I won’t need much.
“Good boy,” I murmur, patting Nox’s neck. His coat is soft and warm beneath my palm. The familiar smell of horse fills my nose, warming me. I missed this, even if I didn’t realize it. I think of all the hours I spent in the stables as a boy.
How many years did I spend believing I was human? Believing I’d never ridden a horse, never trained with a sword, never commanded an army?
Too many.
