The crows began their feast.
Chapter 2 - On the Road
Katryna Bower held a firm grip on the horn of her saddle with one hand and the reins in the other. Her palms were slick with sweat.
Boom boom.
Boom boom.
Her heartbeat was like an earthquake from within her chest. Her brown eyes grew wide as she willed for her anxiety to settle. She knew she was safe, but felt like she was in great peril.
Katryna had never been a confident horse rider, despite growing up with her mare Tulip. Riding for several weeks straight was not easy for anybody, let alone when riding made them nervous.
Katryna always remembered her instructor’s tips when it came to riding- “Trust her, and she will trust you… Balance your weight on Tulip’s centre of gravity and you will never fall off… Hold tight and never let go.” But she could never forget, when she was little, when her brother’s friend, Devon, who had gone on the wrong end of a stallion and ended up having his face kicked in.
The lessons she had undertaken as a child helped Katryna to learn the physicalities of horse riding, sure. But there was always something so terrifying about putting her life in the hands of a huge, powerful animal.
Tulip paced along the dirt road in a gentle trot, her golden mane blowing in the wind. It was almost as if she could sense her rider’s fear and made sure to keep steady.
That’s why I love you, gorgeous, Katryna acknowledged in her head, stroking the animal’s neck.
Tulip was a beauty to behold- all Camridian Aurous Mares were. Strong legs, a trusting nature, and most notably their long, flowing manes of sunlight.
Katryna exhaled deeply, trying to settle the butterflies in her stomach. Focus on your breathing.
The sun was hot on her back.
All she wanted to do was stop and make camp for the day. But night-time was a fair way off, and Katryna had responsibilities to attend to. She knew there wasn’t much choice in the matter.
She was needed back at Ravenrock, as soon as duly possible.
“…You must return home at once, Kat. Mother is dead, and now father is dying. We need you here…” the letter from her younger brother Finn had read. The letter was hiding away, folded up in the side pocket of her rider’s jacket. Far enough away to be out of sight, so she would not obsess over the horrible words contained within. But just close enough for her to reach if the torment in her mind forced her to take one last look.
Katryna and her company had been riding for several weeks from Redwatch. The distance to get back home, however, did nothing to quell Katryna’s despair and anticipation.
It was a road she never thought she would have to ride down again.
“Are you alright, m’lady?” a soft voice from behind asked.
Katryna looked into the sparkling blue eyes of her handmaiden, Trish. The woman wore a crimson-red, embroidered dress with dark leather boots and was sitting comfortably atop her horse. Her silky, golden hair blew in the breeze.
Katryna had always admired Trish’s striking features but would grimace and avert her eyes each time she saw the long scar running down the side of the handmaiden’s face.
Katryna smiled at Trish to try and ease her concerns. It was an “I’m alright but not really” sort of smile. The two were close, good friends even, and Katryna knew that Trish would only worry if she told her the truth.
I’m worried sick. My mother is dead. My father is dying. What will become of my House? What of my family? They loathe me, and I them. The riding is making me sick. All I want to do is get off this damn horse and run away.
“I’m fine,” Katryna murmured.
“You’re as pale as a ghost.”
Katryna tied back her long, brown hair into a ponytail to relieve some of the overbearing heat. “I’ll be alright. The heat is killing me, is all.”
Trish nodded, suspecting otherwise. Katryna would talk about her anxieties when she was ready, Trish knew that.
Katryna and Trish led the company; behind them were three guards in mail armour and two other servants.
They were taking the Spring Mile, a long stretch of dirt road through Camridia lined by huge green cypress trees. “The Mile”, as the locals called it, was much longer than a mile in length. Katryna had never understood why it was named so.
It ran from west to east across Camridia, ending at the capital, Ravenrock.
The Spring Mile, while not all that populated, had inns and farmhouses scattered along its length. Katryna’s company saw one every half hour or so.
They would pass farmers on their carriages, pulled by a myriad of livestock. Horses, cows, donkeys. The peasants’ carts were full of fresh vegetables and barrels of grain and wines for trade. Camridia was a lush, fertile land that grew plentiful resources.
The company had witnessed the odd traveller here and there. One old man they rode past had a walking stick, a great long beard, and a white monkey on his shoulder! Katryna was pleasantly surprised- she had never seen a monkey before.
The insects were out and biting this time of year, making the most of the warm sun, light winds, and blooming flowers.
Katryna tried to admire the beautiful Summer surroundings, but she was stuck in her head. The voice of her mother played on repeat.
“Katryna, what have you done?!”
Trish rode up to Katryna so that she could talk to her more personally. She turned back to make sure the guards and servants were out of earshot.
“A skeleton walks into a tavern,” Trish began. Katryna was taken aback by how out of nowhere the joke
