I descended eagerly.
Misty pawed at my sleeve.Please do not leave me with this woman.
Giselle had stopped making small talk ages ago, opting instead for studying me with narrowed eyes. She made no attempt at concealing her scrutiny for the entire two hours. I found her shamelessness unnerving.
Giselle yawned and stretched before I could send Misty my condolences. “I’ll walk with the others for the rest of the way,” she said, hopping lightly to the ground. “I’m in dire need of some exercise.” She saluted me and Lord Frederick and skipped off.
If Lord Frederick found her as strange as I did, he didn’t show it. He led me to the front, where Crown Prince Bennett sat atop his white gelding.
He held the reins of a speckled gray mare, which I presumed was mine. Her tail swished meekly and her ears drooped. Certainly not a lively mount.
“Have your travels been comfortable, Lady Narcissa?” the crown prince asked as Lord Frederick helped me onto the saddle.
“Very much,” I said, my words stilted. I took the reins from him. He didn’t call me Cissa like I requested.
Our procession stood in the center of the short field that divided Delibera’s residential parts from the bustling witch market at the edge of the city. The ground was bare and brown, gray frost clinging to the patches of withering grass that remained. A cluster of teal-topped structures sat on the horizon of the bleak scene. It was odd seeing so many buildings in the once empty land.
“Is there anything I must do when we pass?” I asked.
Crown Prince Bennett hardly spared me a glance. “No. I will handle it.”
I bit back a scoff. I highly doubted His Royal Stoicness could handle a proper procession. If being a duchess’s daughter taught me anything, it was how to flaunt—just enough to impress an audience of commoners without appearing too gaudy. Processions were my specialty.
My mount, on the other hand, needed work.
We continued forward. I leaned over to stroke the speckled mare’s mane. Her thoughts were quiet compared to the others, but I managed to pick it out of the rabble.
So hungry...so bored...
I prodded her thoughts with my own to make my presence known, gentle enough not to spook her.
Hello.I continued to stroke her mane.My name is Narcissa. What’s yours?
Cozbi,she replied. She didn’t seem too interested in talking to me, or surprised that I could.
That wasn’t a promising start. I leaned back and looked around. Crown Prince Bennett rode to my right, and Lord Frederick to his. The three of us were flanked by two guards. Four rode behind us. Maddox, thankfully, was the furthest away from me. I didn’t need any snarky remarks from him.
“Excuse me,” I said to the young guard to my left. He looked not much older than me, with a crop of red hair and freckled cheeks.
He turned, as if surprised by my attention. “Did you need something, milady?”
I flashed him my best smile. “Yes. Do you happen to have any fruit on you? My mount is hungry.”
The guard blushed a deep scarlet. I felt some relief that I hadn't lost my charm entirely.
“Ah. Y-yes milady.” He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a small pear. The yellow skin was dull and bruised. “Will this do?”
I thanked him sweetly, then leaned into Cozbi again, now holding the fruit in her line of sight. Her ears perked up.
May I have that?she asked with a small snort. She was a rather polite horse. My old mount would have snapped it right out of my hand.
“Do me a favor and it’s all yours,” I said.
“Pardon?”
I jumped at the sound of the crown prince’s smooth voice. He looked down at me, puzzled.
“Apologies, I was...talking to myself.”
