“What do you know about Xaphista?”
“We know lots about Xaphista,” Kali announced stiffly. “We know he’s a bully.”
“And arrogant.”
“And rude! You wouldn’t believe how rude he can be!”
“Stop it! You mustn’t say such things! The Overlord will strike you down!”
“Not likely,” Dace laughed. Then he glanced at Mikel and noticed his distress. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to get so upset, you know. He really isn’t listening to us. He’s got far too many problems to care what we’re saying about him.”
“Serves him right,” Kali said. “If he wasn’t so busy trying to rule the world he’d have time to listen to his believers instead of ignoring them.”
Mikel stopped walking, unable to tolerate their blasphemy any longer. “Stop it! You have no idea what you’re talking about! The Overlord loves us. He listens to every prayer!”
“Ah, but does he answer them?” Dace asked.
“Of course, He does!”
“Very well, prove it,” Kali said.
“How?”
The little girl thought for a moment. “I’ve a better idea. I’ll prove he doesn’t listen. Did you pray to the Overlord to watch over you during the war?”
“Yes.”
“Then what are you doing here?”
Mikel couldn’t immediately think of an answer to that one.
Kali laughed at his hesitation. “There! What did I tell you?”
“The Overlord works in mysterious ways,” he retorted, falling back on a favourite saying of the priests. “He has a reason for everything He does!”
“Nonsense!” Dace scoffed. “You’re here because Xaphista hasn’t the time to spare for one insignificant little boy. Your brother has the right of it, although he shows a distinct lack of sense by choosing to follow Zegarnald. Still, Zeggie never was that discerning – any soul who wants to pick up a sword will usually do for him.”
“Jaymes is now a follower of Zegarnald?” Mikel asked in horror.
Kali looked at him with narrowed eyes. “I thought you didn’t have a brother?”
“Leave him alone, Kali. Come on, we were going to find something to do. Did you want to learn how to be a thief?”
“No!”
“Why don’t we pay Tarja a visit?” Kali suggested. “He’s your friend, Dace, and he owes me a big favour, although he doesn’t know it yet.”
“I hate Tarja,” Mikel muttered. Kali and Dace both turned to stare at him.
“But why?” Kali asked. “He’s really nice. Well, for a non-believer, at any rate, even though he knows the gods exist. I think he just hasn’t decided who he should worship yet.”
“Well, it won’t be you,” Dace said. “Not when he finds out what you did.”
“Oh? And I suppose
Mikel looked from brother to sister in complete confusion. “What are you
They abruptly stopped arguing and smiled at him guilelessly.
“Nothing,” Dace shrugged.
“I know, let’s go visit Adrina!” Kali suggested brightly. “You like her don’t you, Mikel?”
“Of course I like her! She’s the most noble princess in the whole world!” The prospect of seeing the princess raised Mikel’s spirits considerably, although he could not imagine how these two could arrange to get anywhere near the closely guarded keep. “And besides, she’s a true believer,” he added, just to remind these pagans who had the most worthy god.
“Adrina? Believe in the Overlord? What rubbish!” Kali laughed delightedly at the very idea. “She follows Kalianah, the Goddess of Love. She used to pray to the Goddess all the time.”
“
“No,” Kali said with a sorrowful sigh. “I think she just gave up. It’s hard to find love when your father is so powerful. I always meant to find someone nice for her when she was old enough, but then she stopped asking. I wonder why?”
“What do you mean,
“Don’t be silly! Of course she’s not in love with him.”
“How do you know?”
Kali pouted. “I just do, that’s all.”
“Why don’t you just ask her?” Dace said, pointing towards the corrals.
Their walk had taken them past the Medalonian corrals and closer to the enclosures where the beautiful Hythrun horses were mustered. Unlike the Medalonians, each Hythrun was responsible for his own mount and every morning the Raiders would come to the corrals to feed their mounts, groom them and talk to them as if the horses could understand every word. There were no ramshackle canvas-covered shelters here. The Hythrun had actually built stables, which were almost completed, on the other side of the field. Mikel had heard Hadly complaining about the waste of precious timber, while staring wistfully in the direction of the sturdy Hythrun stalls.
Mikel followed Dace’s pointing finger and spied Adrina, mounted on a Hythrun steed, in the company of the Warlord. Damin Wolfblade was talking to the foreman in charge of the construction team, and Adrina sat patiently beside him, waiting for him to finish. She was dressed in her dark blue riding habit, her long fur cloak draped over her shoulders. She sat astride her horse, rather than sidesaddle, as was proper for a lady. She looked remarkably well, and when the Warlord turned and spoke to her, she nodded and replied with a faint smile. The foreman bowed to the princess and returned to his duties. Adrina and Damin wheeled their mounts around and headed south at a canter.
“He’d better not hurt her,” Mikel muttered, to himself as much as his companions.
“He won’t,” Kali assured him. “Pity he’s one of Zeggie’s favourites...”
“Don’t even think about it Kali,” Dace warned. “He’d be so mad at you if you did anything.”
“I know. But they do make a nice couple.”
“Kali...”
“Oh, don’t worry Dace, I’m not that silly.” She turned to Mikel and smiled brightly. “Your princess seems to be enjoying herself. You’d think she’d be a prisoner too, if she believed in the Overlord.”
Mikel had been thinking the same thing. He watched the riders as they dwindled into the distance, saw them pick up the pace until they were galloping across the plain. The faint sound of Adrina’s laughter lingered on the breeze. His heart constricted as he watched her. She was his princess. She was married to Prince Cratyn. She shouldn’t be out riding alone with a man like Damin Wolfblade.
And she damned well shouldn’t act like she was enjoying it, either.
Chapter 39
Adrina gave the sorcerer-bred mount its head, relishing the feel of the cold wind in her face and the sure- footed beast beneath her, unable to stifle the laugh of sheer joy that escaped her as the horse thundered across the plain. She’d heard tales of the fabled breed, had seen them when she visited Greenharbour, but until Damin Wolfblade had first taken her riding a week ago, she had never been allowed close to one. She suspected Damin had provided her with a Hythrun mount, rather than her own Fardohnyan steed, to intimidate her. Adrina had taken to riding the notoriously difficult breed like a Hythrun born and bred.
