A Tale of Red Riding: Rise of the Alpha Huntress (The Alpha Huntress Series Book 1) by Neo Edmund Page B

in understanding. “Oh, like that kind of unofficial. So he’s the reason the Seethers don’t like your family?”
    “Oh, no. My grandmother once tried to destroy the Seether Clan by casting a spellcraft on them that causes people to go crazy with paranoia,” Dote said, quite casually.
    Red gasped in disbelief. “Dote, you’re only joking, right?”
    Dote gave Red a nervous grin.
    Just then, in the near distance, the sound of galloping hooves erupted. Red and Dote stood watching in awe as four white horses emerged from the foggy path. They were pulling along a magnificent white carriage with glimmering gold trim. A driver sat atop wearing a formal riding uniform.
    “Is that for us, Red?”
    “I have no idea, Dote.”
    The horses pulled the carriage to a stop near the porch. Red and Dote watched in wonder as the driver stepped down and meticulously straightened his uniform. He approached Red and bowed to her, all the while managing to blatantly ignore Dote.
    “Your carriage awaits, my lady.” The driver spoke with a formal English accent.
    It took Red a couple of awestruck seconds to respond. “Thank you.”
    The driver opened the carriage door and kicked down a wooden step. He turned to Red and extended a white-gloved hand. “My lady.”
    “After you, Dote,” said Red.
    The driver looked over Dote a little perplexed. “I was not informed there would be two this evening.”
    “Ice said I could bring a companion,” Red said. “Is it a problem?”
    “Of course not,” the driver said through clenched teeth.
    Dote giggled and took the driver’s hand. As he helped her up the step, she lost her balance and fell backward into his arms. Her legs flailed around as the driver fumbled to get her through the carriage door.
    Red did her best to contain her laughter as she waited for the frazzled man to regain his composure and straighten his uniform.
    He turned to Red and extended a hand. “Shall we?”
    “I suppose if we must.”
    Red took the driver’s hand. While stepping up into the carriage, she faked like she was going to tumble backward. The driver gasped in a panic and dashed behind her with his arms extended. Red gave him a devious grin as she stepped inside and sat down on the crushed velvet seat.
    “Enjoy your ride, ladies.” The driver slammed the carriage door.
    “Thank you,” said Red and Dote in unison.
    The ride to the ball took the better part of an hour. Red and Dote sat mostly in silence. It was all so surreal that neither could come up with much of anything meaningful to say.
    Red instead gazed out the window at the lush forest landscape. Even in the dark of the night, Wayward seemed magical to her, like she was living in a fairytale realm of boundless possibilities. Only days ago she was a nameless orphan, and now she was riding in a fancy carriage on her way to a grand ball. It made her feel quite foolish for considering the idea of leaving.
    “Dote, if this is a dream, I don’t want to ever wake up.”
    As they rolled up a steep embankment, Red and Dote gasped in astonishment. Thousands of floating lamps that looked like twinkling stars illuminated the night sky. Below was what could best be described as an ivory palace. It towered a hundred feet tall and was many times that in width. There were even guard towers on the two front corners.
    “Have you ever seen anything like it in your life, Red?”
    “I’ve never even dreamed that such a thing could exist, Dote.”
    As they approached the palace, they bypassed a long line of horse-drawn carriages and formally dressed party guests. They rolled to a stop at the front gate. The door opened, and two men wearing formal uniforms stood at attention.
    Red gestured for Dote to go ahead, but Dote shook her head to say no way . Red sighed and took the lead. As she stepped out, a handsome butler extended a hand and helped her down. He wore a black tuxedo with several medals on his chest.
    “Announcing the arrival of the lady Red of the Riding