Page 38 of The Masked Princess

The chestnut stepped forward and stared at Annalise. With slow, measured steps, she walked in a circle around Annalise and Soren, then returned to the front of the princess. The mare was magnificent. While smaller than Brunen, there was a delicate fineness about her head that continued through the lines of her body. If Brunen was a battle-axe, strong and heavy, the chestnut mare was a rapier forged by a master craftsman. With her head high and ears perked, she drew closer until she was practically on top of Annalise.

For a moment the two were frozen in time, their cloudy breaths intermingling in the cold winter air. Then, in a whirlwind of chestnut coat and feathers, the mare spun on her heels and galloped away, throwing herself into the sky with wild abandon.

Brunen tossed her head and gently bumped Annalise with her muzzle before following her companion.

Annalise closed her eyes, an expression of deep sadness and regret flitting across her face before settling into something as emotionless as the ivory mask she’d worn in Dovea.

Just as Soren was about to say something to lighten her mood, she opened her eyes and shook her head. “They really are amazing creatures, aren’t they?”

“Very much so.” He nudged her with his shoulder. “Are you okay? You looked sad.”

“Did I?” She paused before shrugging one shoulder. “I guess a small part of me wondered what it would be like to be bonded to a rhys. It must be a wonderful feeling to know that you’re never alone and that you’ve always got a friend nearby.”

“You don’t have to wonder what that would feel like. I’ll always be in your corner, Princess Annalise.”

“Until we get to Rea and I’m married, you mean to say. After you’ve completed your mission, you’ll be on your way back to Dovea.” One corner of her mouth ticked up into a bittersweet smile. “Thank you, Captain Soren, it is certainly a nice sentiment that warms my heart.”

He bit his tongue to stop the confession rising to his lips.

Thankfully, Annalise didn’t seem to notice, and she flung her arms out wide. “Plus, can you imagine how it would feel to fly on one of them? How exhilarating that would be?”

“To be honest, I’m quite terrified of heights, but I’ll believe you when you say it sounds like fun.”

She chuckled, and her eyebrows rose. “How did I not know that you’re afraid of heights?” She gathered their leftover snacks and wrapped them up before placing them in their saddlebags.

“Probably because I wasn’t until I started working on a ship.” Soren dusted off the tree stump and wove his fingers together to give her a boost into the saddle as he talked. “I don’t mind anything if it’s the height of a small tree or less, but the masts of a ship are very tall, and the further up you go, the more they sway.”

“I see. Are there any more fears you have that I should know of?”

“Why? So you can use them against me?”

He’d never be able to thank Annalise’s aunt enough for convincing her to forgo the mask. Having the opportunity to gaze upon her beauty and see all her expressions was an immeasurable gift.

She was looking at him expectantly, and he realized he’d completely missed what she’d said. “I apologize, Princess, I didn’t hear you. Can you repeat that?”

She smiled and shook her head. “It wasn’t really anything important; I was being silly.”

“Then I’m particularly sorry I missed it—you’re always so serious. I’ll probably be old and gray by the time I have another chance to hear one of those witty quips that I know you keep bottled up.”

He swung into the saddle with hardly a grunt. It had taken some wheedling and more than a few bribes, but he’d convinced the healers to let him ride with Annalise on two conditions: they would only walk the horses, and he would take the calmest mount in the stable.

She rolled her eyes at him, but her laughter was music to his ears as they set off. “Fine, I’ll tell you since you’re always so clever and appreciate a good joke. I said that I’d never use your fears against you, even if now I know you wouldn’t dare lock me up in a tall tower in retaliation because you’d be too scared to make the climb.”

“I’d never lock you in a tower. A beauty like yours deserves to walk among the people, to inspire feats of artistry, courage, and love…” the words flowed out of Soren like the free-flowing stream they rode beside, and he wasn’t able to stop them any more than he could have dammed a river with his bare hands, “not hidden away like a miser with his handful of gold.”

The blush across Annalise’s cheeks deepened, and he immediately regretted his words.

“I’m sorry, I fear that was inappropriate. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

The smile she graced him with was like a shaft of sunlight between the clouds. “Don’t fear, Captain Soren, I will treasure your compliment without reading anything into it. I can only hope your words are prophetic, considering my future in Rhinnea.”

At the reminder of Annalise’s upcoming nuptials, Soren’s heart twisted painfully in his chest, but he somehow managed to keep his face neutral. “Yes, of course, it is my hope as well that you have all the freedom you wish for in your new home.”

“I suppose only time will tell.” She sighed as she looked up at the sky through the bare branches rustling above them in the wind. “Did the healers tell you when you’ll be able to travel again?”

“Another three weeks, I’m afraid, and they said that would be pushing it.”

“Three weeks?” She exhaled through pursed lips. “With the travel time to Rea, that’ll leave us with what? A month until spring equinox? Five weeks at the most?”