He considered her answer.“We could dig deeper once it is cleared to encourage fresh water to leach back in.”
“Ponds naturally fill back in, correct?”
“Usually, yes, either by a waterway or the groundwater.”
Despite her exhaustion, all Bella wanted to do was return to Riven’s pond with a solution.“How fast can you make a pump?One stout enough to drain a pond?”
“Slow yourself, Bella.I am in no condition to travel.”
“Maybe not yet, but soon you will be.What then?”
He thought for a moment.“I believe I can make it with supplies on site if I had money to buy them.”He spread his hands.“Mair’s healing tonic claimed the last of my spare coin.”
Bella smiled.“Fear not, for I have enough.”She jiggled the coins Riven gave her in proof, making her papa’s eyes widen.
“Where did you get that?And how?”
“A competition,” she rattled off, hoping he did not see the lie behind her words.“I outsmarted three others for this bounty.Are you not glad now of my cleverness?”
“I admit to having mixed feelings, but I am grateful you won.”His eyes remained fixated on her purse.
She glanced out the window, where a coating of snow glistened on the horse’s back.Would Nocturne be able to handle two long rides a day apart?She had not mentioned the second cube after seeing her father fixate on the coin purse.For some reason, she kept it secret.“Nocturne needs shelter.Food.Rest.As do you.As you pointed out, you are in no state to travel.”
Her comment was greeted with a fresh round of coughing.“I am fine.But yes, that horse needs stabling.Are you warm enough to bring him to the barn?”
She nodded, though the heat had not yet fully warmed her.Still, the communal barn was not far.She put her coin purse on her desk in her corner of their square hut.When she saw the frost gathering on the window above her desk, she pulled a fresh pair of warm gloves from the drawer.She set the box with the sugar cube on her desk, then thought better of it and returned it to her pocket, patting it into place.She then donned her father’s coat—hers had been lost at the beast’s castle—and tugged on a knit cap to head outside.She collected Nocturne’s reins and held his eye.
“No more long steps now, you hear?We are exactly where we need to be.See that barn?”She indicated it with her chin.“That is where you shall be stabled.Are you fit to walk a normal pace?”
One steamy puff of air escaped his nostrils.
“Let’s move, then,” Bella said, preparing to drop the reins if the world blurred around her.But it did not.They plodded up the stony path, between the square stone homes, and Nocturne stood quietly as she hauled open the barn door.No ostler or royal caretakers here—just villagers coming and going.She found an empty stall and led the horse into it, then filled his buckets with grain and water before removing his gear to give him a good brushing.An old blanket hung on the back wall, tattered and mouse chewed, but Bella retrieved it and flopped it over his back.
“Probably the poorest item you’ve ever worn, but I do not wish you to get a chill.You made a two-week journey in mere hours!”He nickered in appreciation, and Bella patted his neck and smiled.“Such a brave, smart, and hale horse you are.”
He whinnied, making her smile.
Bella trailed her palm down his neck and headed home, her thoughts filled with the Frog Prince, her heart heavy with missing him.
