Page 16 of Royal Hunt
What garbage. The only murderers and scoundrels were currently inside the castle. I drifted with Flare toward the woodpile I knew Ellis was hiding behind. I made sure my voice was louder than necessary.
“That’s very kind of you, but I only planned to go on the main path around the castle. Surely you have more important things to do than babysit me on a simple walk?”
Agree. Go away.
The guard looked unsure, but turned his back to the woodpile to glance up at the castle. Ellis was a blur as he lunged, knocking the guard to the ground and drawing a dagger on him. Flare whinnied in fear and reared on her hind legs, and I held onto the reins for dear life. I yanked hard, trying to keep her away from the squabbling men on the ground. It wouldn’t help my plans any to have Flare squash Ellis’s head like a melon.
“HELP! THE PRINCE!”
Ellis tried to stab the guard, but his opponent easily flung the knife out of reach. I couldn’t let go of Flare, or risk her trampling both of them. Ellis hissed as the guard landed a blow on his chest, rolling away to protect himself. I didn’t know if Ellis was a good fighter or not, but all royal guards were. And this one was large, wearing armor, and certainly didn’t have Ellis’s pale, sick look about him.
I drew the dagger I’d stolen from the soldier in the castle, aiming carefully. I threw it with one hand, holding tightly on the reins with the other. It landed on target, right in the weak chink of armor at the soldier’s groin. Ellis used the distraction to punch him hard in the head, knocking him out. I blinked in disbelief.
I cried out in fear as Ellis put a hand on my leg, startling me badly. Flare huffed, and danced her feet. I gave her a reassuring pat, trying to breathe.
“God above! You scared me!” I hissed at him.
Ellis ignored me, handing me back the knife after wiping it on the hem of my dress.
Ass.
“Don’t mutter anything about that foul new god in my presence. Do you always aim for the groin?”
His gold eyes sparkled with mischief and an odd gleam of respect. I snatched at the reins, ensuring Flare was settled. She glared at Ellis, who nervously eyed the horse back.
The way Ellis’s eyes flicked from the stirrups to the reins in my hand was suspicious. I put an accusing hand on my hip.
“You don’t know how to ride, do you?” I accused.
Ellis grit his teeth. His brow pinched harshly. “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I know how to ride. I simply prefer not to…not.”
I put a hand to my mouth to hide an inappropriate grin. A prince of who couldn’t ride? Oh, how ridiculous.
Then another thought occurred to me. “That’s why you didn’t abandon me in the tunnels. You need me. We’re only taking the one horse, aren’t we?”
Because if Ellis wasn’t a strong rider, he wouldn’t be able to manage on his own. He was taller than me, so he’d have to sit behind me as I drove the horse.
Ellis blushed, clumsily mounting the horse. His hands gripped the horn of the saddle tightly as he swung his leg over. I scooted as far up as I could in the saddle to make room for him behind me.
It took a few awkward moments of shuffling around, but eventually we both settled into place. I grasped the reins in my fingers, getting a feel for the horse and her temperament now that I had a moment. Hopefully she was in the mood to stretch her legs, because I had no choice but to gallop as fast as we could with the missing heir sitting behind me. It was too bad we didn’t have a cloak or something to throw over him to hide his identity.
And the foulness of our attire.
I grit my teeth. “Now, we run like hell.”
Six
Ikicked the horse’s sides, and we flew into the woods. Ellis made a choked gasp at our sudden movement, his arms flying around my waist and gripping me tightly. As the sound of hoofbeats thudded around us, I forgot for a glorious moment that we could die. I forgot that Ellis was a dick, and that I’d watched the entire royal family die in front of me.
Instead I was free, racing through the woods without a care in the world, dodging trees and bushes as a man held on for dear life behind me. I was needed. I was important. I was in charge.
“You’re gonna kill us!” Ellis grumbled in my ear.
I laughed crazily, my hair escaping its braid to fly wildly behind me in the wind. I hoped it smacked Ellis in the face. His arms tightened around me, my back warm as it took in the heat from his body. “Nonsense, she’s a jumper!” I reassured him, grinning like a maniac.
Up ahead the woods ended, and the main road lay beyond. I hoped we could run straight to it, crossing without incident and getting lost in the vast forest beyond. From there we would go north to my manor, then hopefully one of the other realms to gain support from the remaining royal families.
Ellis’s voice rumbled against my ear. “Where does a lady learn to ride like a heathen warrior? Or is this common for women in the country?”
