Horse Charmer (14 page)

I will not lose him.
Kali assured her, slipping into a smooth lope and turning off the trail to head back toward the mountain. It didn't take long for them to reach the rickety trail.

How does Julyan get supplies?
Cassia asked in curiosity. A wagon could never travel this thin trail.

There might be other ways into his territory.

Kali lengthened her stride and quickly began to cover the distance. Cassia leaned low over her neck. The trail started to incline and before long, Kali was leaping and climbing up a steep ravine. The ravine seemed to go on forever, but Kali didn't slow her pace until the sun was directly overhead. Cassia glanced back down the trail to see if she could spot Luki behind them, but didn't see any movement below.

Kali picked her way slowly for a short time as she regained her breath and strength.
We should wait here.

Why?

Luki's horse will not be able to catch me at this speed.

Cassia hesitated. She didn't want to leave Luki, but she also didn't want to wait. The closer she got to Julyan's territory the more urgency she felt. Cassia pulled the map out of her waist pouch and frowned over the paper trying to judge the distance. That was the problem with most maps. They never specified the length of time the different portions took.

We can't wait. I don't know how much longer it will take us to reach Julyan's. Daeshawna said it was a long journey.

Then we don't wait.

Cassia was surprised by Kali's quick agreement, but she didn't say anything. Once, Kali's breath had evened out she began trotting and then loping up the ravine again. The sun was signaling late afternoon when the ravine came to an end and Kali clambered out of the tiny trail onto the top of the rocky hillside.

Kali skidded to a stop. A large log and stone lodge sat amongst the trees. Kali edged back out of sight near the trailhead behind a small grove of trees.

Did anyone see us?
Cassia asked. They both looked around. Not a soul to be seen.
Where is everyone?

We'll wait here for Luki.

Cassia shoved down her irritation. Waiting was probably the wisest course of action. Cassia chewed on her lip as she glanced about the clearing and listened. The house looked vacant and she had a brief hitch of panic as she wondered if they were even at the right place. What if Julyan no longer lived here?

She strained harder to hear or see anyone, and after a time she thought she detected some sort of noise coming from behind the lodge, but she couldn't be certain as it was very faint to her human ears.

Kali pricked her ears.
We've been discovered.

The sound of dogs barking finally registered and the noise grew louder as they raced closer.

We can't wait for Luki any longer.

You go.
Kali trotted up to the lodge.
I will take care of them.

Cassia slid off Kali and ran up the steps to the lodge's main door, but turned and hesitated. She couldn't leave Kali alone to face a pack of dogs and who knew what humans.

Go!
Kali didn't even turn to look at her as she issued the order.

Cassia obeyed and opened the heavy creaking door to gain entrance into the unknown. She glanced uneasily around the great hall. Again, not a soul to be seen. She didn't know if Julyan was inside or outside confronting Kali.

The large staircase attracted her attention and she hurried to it. A portrait hung at the top of the stairs, beckoning her closer. The thick walls masked the sound of the dogs and Cassia could barely hear them barking. Looking at the staircase, she forced back the fear trying to take over. It was one thing to be brave with Kali by her side, but quite another when she was alone.

About halfway up the stairs, she slowed and worked on steadying her breathing. She was starting to hyperventilate. What did she think she was doing? She wasn't an investigator or a guard. She should have headed straight to Karah and told Eb what she'd learned and feared. Let the Karahan Royal Guard deal with confronting Julyan to find out what part he'd played in the murder of her father.

She reached the top of the stairs and edged closer to stand beneath the massive portrait. A flash of memory assaulted her as she stared at the picture of the tall and mysterious man. She was about three years old and in a meadow just outside of Castle Karah. Her father and this man each sat on a horse as she walked, unafraid, down the hill into a band of milling horses. She selected the pretty white one, as the man had requested, and asked the mare to follow her. The man smiled when she returned with the nervous mare following obediently behind her.

The memory faded, but she now knew where and when she had met Julyan. Cassia turned away from the portrait and the same man stood at the end of the hall smiling at her.

"Princess Cassia," Julyan said, bowing his head formally, "a delight to see you."

Cassia shoved away the urge to flee though her escape route down the stairs beckoned to her.

"I've been waiting for you," Julyan said.

"Waiting for me?" Cassia finally managed to croak over her mounting fear.

Julyan stepped back and motioned her to a room at the end of the hall with double doors. Without waiting to see what she would do, he turned and headed toward the room. Cassia stared longingly at the stairs, but reaching inside herself, she squared her shoulders and followed him. She'd come for answers. It was time she started acting like a princess and not a scared little girl.

Cassia stepped into the room behind him. It was lit by the large windows looking out behind the lodge over a large hill and meadow with a camp that she hadn't realized was there. Looking down at the camp, she was captivated by the sheer number of tents and the people milling around. Julyan waved an arm. The lamps flared to life. She jumped in surprise and turned back to Julyan uneasily.

"I knew as soon as I'd heard the wedding hadn't occurred that you were coming to me," Julyan said. "Robet promised me you would come and train with me before you fulfilled your courtly duties."

Cassia was so shocked by what he said that she couldn't think of anything to say back. Her father had never said anything to her about Julyan.

"That's not why I've come," she said, getting angry and taking hold of the anger to hold her courage.

"It's not?" he asked in idle curiosity.

"No, I came to ask why you had my father killed."

The lodge door banged open downstairs and Cassia jumped at the sharp and echoing noise. Hooves thundered up the stairs and Kali burst into the room and slid to a stop besides Cassia. Warmth and courage filled her.

The guards have been taken care of.

Julyan stared at Kali in amazement. He stepped closer and Kali pinned her ears at him and curled her lip.

"Old One, welcome." Julyan bowed deeply. "I am honored by your presence."

Kali unpinned her ears and pricked them toward him in curiosity.

Julyan looked back to Cassia. "I had nothing to do with your father's death."

"I should just take your word," she said, jerking her thoughts back to what she'd asked and away from the odd way he had greeted Kali.

He speaks the truth.

"How do you know?" she asked, forgetting to speak in her mind.

I can tell when a human lies. He is not lying.
Kali shook her head in a horse shrug.

"But they said --" Cassia said.

"Rumors abound." Julyan interrupted her, his eyes shifting to Kali. "I've heard the rumors you speak of and I give you my word of honor that I was in no way involved. Your father and I were friends."

He speaks the truth.
Kali paused as if searching for the words.
He mourns for your father.

Cassia deflated. She trusted Kali's judgment more than her own. All this way and everything she'd done, for nothing.

"If you didn't order it…" Cassia trailed off.

"A king always has enemies plotting against him."

His gentle voice reminded her of the way he had greeted Kali and suddenly Cassia had to know how he knew her.

"What did you mean, old one?" she asked.

"The mare hasn't told you. She's of a very ancient breed. They rarely come down off their mountain." He stepped closer to get a better look at Kali. "However did you find her?"

"She was in a herd brought to Karah."

"An Old One can't be captured," he said with a frown, "unless she chose to be."

I was looking for you. We will speak of this later without prying ears.

Cassia was about to protest, but nodded instead. Julyan might not have killed her father, but that didn't make him a friend.

"I hope you didn't kill the dogs," he said to Kali.

Kali raised her head and snorted.
They will be fine. Their injuries are mild.

"She says they're fine except for a few injuries," Cassia said, translating. Then she wondered if she had to. Could he understand Kali as well?

"Thank you," Julyan said with a small bow to Kali. "You communicate with her very well despite your lack of training."

She wasn't sure what to make of his comment as he looked from her to Kali.

"But perhaps you've already been training," Julyan continued.

"What did you mean when you said I was to come to you and train?"

"To enhance your skills as a Horse Charmer along with your other abilities."

"What other abilities?"

He gave her an enigmatic smile. "No one has only one Talent, though one may be more dominant than the others. You have," he eyed her intently, "a lot of potential. Potential that will need to be nurtured to its full capability. Raw talent can only take you so far."

Cassia frowned. "Where am I going?"

"There's plenty of time to discuss the ramifications of your gifts later."

Luki and Dall have arrived.
Kali said.

The door below banged open again and several raised male voices echoed up the stairs.

"We have more company," Julyan said, looking over her shoulder.

"My escort." She turned to head down to Luki.

Luki rushed up the stairs and down the hallway toward her before she'd even had a chance to go one step. A human guard followed behind him, but stopped and nodded to Julyan.

"Luki," Cassia said, rushing to reassure him. "May I present Julyan of the Talent Guild." She lowered her voice as he drew up next to her. "I'm fine. He wasn't involved."

Luki shot her a look of disbelief, but lowered his sword so the blade lay against his leg.

"Julyan," Cassia said in relief. "This is Luki, my escort and friend."

Julyan smirked. "I'll let my people know we haven't been invaded." He saluted and walked casually past them to meet his guard at the top of the stairs.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Cassia stood uneasily next to Luki as Julyan spoke to his guard. Tension and anger radiated off of Luki though his body remained impassive and still. An unwelcome urge to apologize to him came over her. It didn't take any deep thought to know he was steaming over her confronting Julyan without his assistance.

Kali swished her tail in irritation at the confinement of the room.

Are you all right?
Cassia asked in concern.

I dislike walls.

Cassia looked around the room. It was larger than her bedroom with massive windows dominating the wall that faced out and only a few chairs and a desk against the wall. It had more open space than any room she had ever seen. But she wasn't a horse used to wide open spaces.
Do you need to go outside?

I will remain with you for now.

Cassia sighed in relief. Despite her bravado she wasn't certain she wanted to speak with Julyan without Kali present.

Julyan turned back to them with a charming smile. "The cook will have dinner ready shortly." He beckoned for them to follow him out of the room and down the stairs. "Until then, the Old One would probably be more comfortable in our stables."

Luki snatched Cassia's hand, slowing her steps so Julyan walked ahead of them.

"That was extremely dangerous," Luki whispered roughly.

"I'm well," she tried to assure him.

His eyes narrowed, but he was prevented from responding as Kali clambered down the stairs and thudded to the bottom. Julyan pushed the large door open and gestured for Kali to precede him. Cassia followed, with Luki at her side, to where he'd left his own horse at the steps to the porch.

None of the injured dogs were about, but the yard wasn't empty. A few of Julyan's people, mostly likely Talents, were busy at their tasks. She noticed the stable for the first time on the other side of the clearing from the lodge. A square building with pens on each side, it was smaller than she expected. She guessed the barn didn't house any horses. Kali walked to a water trough in front of the small pen to the left of the stable and dropped her head to drink her fill.

"You're traveling with Princess Cassia?" Julyan asked.

Cassia glanced back to see Julyan evaluating Luki openly.

Luki pulled his horse's reins over his neck before turning to respond. "I'm escorting her home."

"Took a detour," Julyan said with a snide smile.

Luki's temper rose, judging by how tightly he held his reins. She wasn't sure why Julyan was baiting Luki, but she didn't like it.

"You know why I came," she said. "Luki is an excellent escort."

"I'm sure he is." Julyan bowed his head. "I wonder what your father would have thought of you traveling alone with this man."

"My father trusted Luki."

"Hmm," Julyan said. "Different levels of trust for different activities."

Her own temper began to rise above irritation. "I trust Luki."

Julyan nodded as if in agreement, but Cassia wasn't fooled by the patronizing gesture. "I'll leave you two to bed your horses down. We have much to discuss at dinner."

Luki walked Dall into the small pen without looking at Cassia. She followed slowly, touching Kali's neck as they entered the pen. Cassia pulled the gate shut. One of Julyan's men, he had to be a Talent, brought hay over and busied himself putting it in the feeding container and making sure the gate was latched.

Luki fumed as he groomed his horse. Cassia was getting a little tired of the dirty looks he kept shooting her, but she refrained from saying anything as the Talent remained close to the pen appearing to do other chores. It wasn't as if she didn't have other things to keep her occupied besides Luki's irritation.

Kali? What's an Old One?

Kali was quiet for a moment.
An Old One is an ancient breed. We rarely interact with humans. We only come down from our mountain when we feel it is necessary.

Julyan knows who you are.

He has never met one of us before,
Kali said in assurance.
But he has heard rumors from the Outsiders.

A chill crossed her back at the familiar name.
Outsiders?

They sometimes come onto our mountain.

Do they hurt you?

Of course not, the Outsiders are harmless.

Cassia filed the information away for later.
You still haven't told me what being an Old One means.

I suppose you could equate it with being a Talent. We have abilities normal horses don't.

What abilities?

Speed, endurance, intelligence…
Kali trailed off.

She pondered the answer, feeling Kali wasn't telling her everything. Luki shot her another look, distracting her from the conversation. Cassia waited for Luki to look at her again. He stopped what he was doing in surprise when he saw her staring back at him.

"We're alone," she said. The Talent had finished his chores and was no longer working near them. "Spit it out."

Luki struggled quietly for a moment his eyes on the ground. He set his brush down with more force than necessary and stalked over to her. "You didn't wait for me."

"I did," she corrected as calmly as she could. "We waited over there." Cassia gestured to the grove of trees at the head of the trail. "But his guards spotted us and we couldn't wait any longer."

"You shouldn't have confronted him alone. You had no one to defend you."

She laid a hand on Kali's back. "My defender was right next to me."

A hurt look crossed Luki's face. She laid her other hand on his arm.

"You're help is greatly appreciated and needed," Cassia assured him.

"You should have waited."

She sighed. "I can't take it back, Luki. Everything turned out all right. Julyan wasn't responsible for my father's death. He doesn't like you any more than you like him."

Luki looked away, then back at her. "That's because I'd like to run him through. I don't trust him."

She hesitated. "I wouldn't say I trust him."

"Then why do you believe him?"

Cassia wasn't sure how to answer the question, especially since his question made so much sense. She hadn't been clear to Luki about her gifts and her connection with Kali.

"Let's just say I know he wasn't lying when he told me he wasn't involved."

He stared into her face and gave a short nod. "Doesn't mean you can trust him."

"That's why I have you," she said with a smile. "He wants me to stay here."

"I gathered that, to train with him?"

"Yes."

"Are you going to tell me in what?"

"In my Talent," Cassia said her voice barely audible.

"We're all alone." Luki mimicked her tone and leaned in closer.

In their current position, no one could see them hidden between the two horses. She had a sudden feeling that they were alone in their horsey cocoon.

"I'm a Horse Charmer." Cassia twisted her fingers in Kali's mane.

"What does that mean?"

Cassia almost laughed. She'd debated over her gift so much she had forgotten most people had no idea what a Horse Charmer was.

"I can speak with horses," she said. "Like what you do, but a hundred-fold."

Luki shot a look at Kali. "Talk with them."

"Yes." Relief washed over her at revealing her secret.

"So, the riding lessons I gave you a couple of years ago?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

Cassia blushed, remembering her ploy to spend time with him the first summer he'd brought horses to her father. She'd pretended to have trouble with a particular colt.

"Hmm," Luki said.

"I apologize. That was untruthful of me."

"You didn't need my help."

Cassia shook her head and dropped her gaze. His soft laugh surprised her into looking back into his eyes.

"I always had a feeling you knew a heck of a lot more than me." He edged closer. "Are you talking to her now?"

"No, she's giving me some privacy, by pretending to be a normal horse."

I would never pretend such a farce.

Luki reached up and pulled on a curl escaping her braid and tucked it behind her ear. His fingers lingered on her cheek. Cassia forgot to breathe as she stared up into his sea-blue eyes. His face moved a fraction closer.

"Rider coming!"

The shout rang out and suddenly the yard was a flurry of activity.

Neither Kali or Dall moved, keeping the protective cocoon intact, but Cassia jumped at the shout and Luki let his hand slide down with a rueful smile. He glanced over Kali's back and his smile turned to a frown.

"It's Alrik," he said.

"Alrik?" She spun around and peered over. "What's he doing here?"

"If I had to guess, I'd say he followed us."

"But why?"

"He was suspicious when we talked. He knew something wasn't right, even if he didn't know what. I think your intrigue is about to be exposed."

"Especially considering I didn't use my alias up here," she said with a sigh.

She froze as Luki's hand slid down her braid and rested gently on her back for a moment. He moved away, releasing his hold on her. She turned her head to look at him questioningly.

"I'm afraid Julyan's correct. I'm not a safe escort for you." He picked his brush back up and started grooming Dall again.

"What does that mean?" Cassia demanded in confusion. His words didn't match his soft touch or how she could have sworn he would have kissed her if they hadn't been interrupted.

He chuckled and shook his head. "We're no longer alone, Princess."

She followed his gesture as Julyan came around from behind the lodge to greet Alrik as he reached the top of the trail. Being short, Cassia was hidden behind Kali as long as she didn't go up on her toes.

What did he mean?

You're asking the wrong horse,
Kali said in amusement.

Why did he do that?
Cassia couldn't stop the questions. Her emotions tumbled. She should be focusing on Alrik's sudden arrival, but all she could think about was the almost-kiss and cryptic comment.

Which action are you referring to?

As Julyan walked forward to meet Alrik, she forced herself to focus on what was going on around her instead of her inner turmoil. Alrik dismounted, his gaze drifting briefly to where Cassia stood. She felt protected since he couldn't actually see her, but he could see Luki's head over Kali's back.

They were too far away to hear what Julyan and Alrik spoke of, but judging by the men's glances in her direction, it had to be about her and Luki. She sighed as she turned and leaned against Kali's side to stare hard at Luki.

"Julyan is not correct," Cassia said in her royal tone.

Luki's hand paused in mid-stroke and then continued to brush Dall's soft hair. "Why do you say that?"

"I'm as safe with you as I would be with any of my guards."

His shoulders shook. "That wasn't the safety I was speaking of."

"Clarify your meaning."

Luki glanced over his shoulder to glance at the oncoming men. "Later."

"Promise."

He sighed. "I promise."

Satisfied, she turned to face her latest challenge. She couldn't tell by either of the men's expressions whether her intrigue was indeed about to be exposed.

"Wrangler Luki," Julyan said as the men reached the corral.

"Julyan." Luki turned and nodded to Alrik. "Alrik."

Alrik frowned at him, but didn't respond. Cassia figured Julyan couldn't have said much if Alrik remained focused on Luki and not her.

"Wrangler Alrik is concerned about your appearance on my property," Julyan said in amusement. "He believes you're trying to take his contract."

Luki shrugged as if unsurprised by what Julyan had said, but Cassia was surprised. Luki had been hiding the length of the rift between him and Alrik well if Alrik believed Luki would poach from him.

"I'm afraid Wrangler Alrik is mistaken," Cassia said.

All three men's attention zeroed in on her.

"Am I?" Alrik asked.

Cassia squared her shoulders at his dismissive tone. No one dismissed her. "Yes, you are. I have business with Julyan, not Luki. He is my escort as we explained to you when you invited us into your home."

Alrik registered surprise at her words and she pushed on.

"I'm sure you understand I might find it necessary to keep my destinations quiet when dealing in negotiations, and wouldn't feel it necessary to inform an acquaintance of my escort of my true destination."