Guards surrounded them as the girls came to the stables and mounted their saddled horses. Wyneth and Aerity trotted their girls around a ring, Aerity’s legs still sore from their morning ride yesterday.
“Lean in and relax,” called Vixie.
But she couldn’t help it—she always felt so unsteady when the horses gathered speed . . . unless she was nestled against Paxton. She let the other girls move ahead without her.
“Brilliant riding,” one of the guards called as Vixie blew past him.
Aerity and Wyneth finished after an hour and led their horses to the stables, where they found the Zandalee women readying their large steeds. The leader, Zandora, gave Aerity a nod.
“It is a fine day for riding,” Aerity said in Zorfinan.
“Jes.” Zandora mounted gracefully, along with the two others. She wondered what their hair looked like since they always kept it covered. It gave them a sense of mystery. “Your climate is strange. Hot one day. Cold the next.”
Aerity laughed. “Aye. As temperamental as a redhead.”
Now it was Zandora’s turn to laugh. She looked out at the forest of maroons, oranges, and yellows, mixed with evergreens. “But your trees, they are very beautiful. We have nothing like that.” Before Aerity could respond, Zandora dug her heels into her horse’s side and was off, the others following.
“What did she say to you?” Wyneth was watching the women ride away in awe.
Aerity almost forgot they’d been speaking another language. “Commenting on our crazy weather.”
“Aye, I’m sweating today.” At the sound of heavy hooves and cheers from the show ring, Wyneth smiled. “Sounds like your sister is entertaining.”
They sent their horses off with a couple stable hands and rushed to the show ring on the far side of the stables. Sure enough, Vixie had a crowd of hunters and royal workers watching and cheering as her white horse made clean, high jumps. Vixie’s bright hair soared behind her, her face exhilarated. Aerity couldn’t help but smile.
Vixie sped past Aerity and Wyneth on the far side, sending up a trail of dust that the girls waved from their faces. As the dust settled, the princess searched the hunters and felt a pang of worried disappointment at the absence of Paxton. Had he left? Her stomach dropped at the possibility, but then she saw Tiern, who was far too happy for a boy who’d been abandoned by his brother. Paxton must be around somewhere.
Tiern watched avidly, cheering with a wide smile as Vixie took to the far path of the ring and began her aerial routine. This part always made Aerity nervous.
Vixie’s instructor called out careful praises as Vixie balanced herself on the moving horse, holding the saddle’s special handles with her hands and angling her elbows to the center. She raised one leg, toe pointed perfectly, and then the other,until she was doing a handstand atop the cantering animal. Wyneth and the hunters clapped wildly while Aerity held her breath until her sister was safely seated in the saddle again.
Tiern whistled through his fingers.
“It’d be a bit awkward if that one kills the beast, wouldn’t it?” Aerity mused. “Seeing as how he now fancies my sister so?”
When Wyneth didn’t answer, Aerity looked at her. Wyneth seemed pale as she stared across the ring. She turned and gave Aerity a rather sad smile. “Aye. Indeed.”
Aerity looked across to where her cousin had been staring and saw Lord Lief Alvi turn his head away.
“That one, too,” Aerity said quietly.
“What?”
Aerity found Wyneth’s worried eyes. “Nothing, love.” She squeezed Wyneth’s hand. “I’m going to take a walk.”
“May I join you?” She sounded keen to get away.
“Of course.”
They walked arm in arm up the sunny path past the commons, two guards close behind.
“I haven’t seen Harrison today,” Wyneth remarked.
The thought of their friend warmed her. “Probably napping in his tent. That lad can fall asleep anywhere at any time.”
Wyneth giggled. “Aye.”
As they approached the commons gates, Aerity stole a peek through the bars. Her stomach flipped at the sight of Paxton’s strong back, pulling back his bow and releasing it in perfect measure, hitting the bull’s-eye. He surely must haveheard their approach, but he didn’t turn, nor did Aerity call out. She was glad to see he was still present—for how long, she didn’t know.
