suggestively, earning a glare from Amelie and an uncomfortable cough from Simon.
“Let’s go,” she said frostily.
They made their way to the north end of the stables. As they crept closer, Amelie’s uneasiness grew.
“Simon, can you use your spells so we can sneak off with some of the unguarded horses?” she asked. She still wanted to avoid any contact with the royal staff if possible, seal or no.
Simon shook his head. “I can’t carry three horses and the two of you. And we have so little moonstone between us. I have a feeling we’ll need it so we should reserve it.”
Rankor’s head snapped between them at the mention of moonstone. Amelie sighed. She’d have to tell Simon to watch what he said around him. She wondered if Simon even knew the extent of Rankor’s actions in his quest to collect mage powers.
“Yes, Rankor,” she confirmed his questioning stare. “I know all about moonstone now. And no. I’m not sharing it with you or telling you where it comes from. I’m not pouring power into you when it could mix with the amber in your blood and kill you. Besides, I still don’t wholly trust you.”
“And here I thought we were beyond petty deception,” he said, eyes narrowing. “We both know your fear is not my death.”
His look alone could’ve murdered a weaker woman. Amelie stood straighter, her muscles tensing for a fight. Before they could decide whether their temporary truce would hold or whether they’d try to gut each other, rays of torchlight illuminated their hiding spot. All three turned towards it.
“Who goes there?” a guard called out.
Amelie quickly pulled out the seal and tossed it to Simon. Better to have one of their own try to talk them into a horse. She hung back behind him, trying to cover her face as much as possible. She didn’t want him to have to explain why he was taking the half human with him.
“Business for the queen! We need three of the magic steeds.” Simon said, holding up the seal. The guard came forward and leaned closer to look at it, then summoned the stable hands to prepare the horses.
Rankor was completely accurate in his faith in the seal. They did not question them further as the horses were brought out and the three of them mounted. Amelie’s mind churned with questions. Just how powerful was this Lord Thorne Queen Trinity was trying to betroth her to?
“This isn’t over,” Rankor shot at her.
“Of course not,” Amelie replied in a straightforward tone. “This is only over when I’ve personally seen to your death.”
Slight admiration passed briefly over Rankor’s face at her words but it was gone as soon as she registered it. He leaned towards her in his saddle.
“Steer your horse to keep the gatekeeper or me in your sight and you will be fine,” he instructed.
Just as they were about to be on their way, a frantic voice called out “Stop!” and Amelie turned in her saddle to see several of the White Guard sprinting towards them.
“Looks like they found Gershan Thorne,” Amelie muttered and Rankor cast her a curious look.
“What did you do to get that thing?” he asked. Amelie didn’t answer and he wasn’t waiting for one. Instead, he turned and began to sprint. Simon did as well, glancing back at her to make sure she was following before the mist began to rise. Amelie did as she was told, turning her horse as they did, her surroundings a blur.
Chapter 19
Amelie
They came out of the run to the shoreline of the lake. It looked much like it did on the human side with the exception of the eternal snow. Rankor still drove his horse, taking the lead as he headed for the camp where Talon was held. He slowed as he neared it, allowing Simon and Amelie to draw up next to him.
“There were ten of them when we crossed the border,” he said. “At least four of them chased me. So I’m estimating six guards, maybe more if the ones that pursued me returned here.”
“I don’t like those numbers,” Simon
“Let’s go,” she said frostily.
They made their way to the north end of the stables. As they crept closer, Amelie’s uneasiness grew.
“Simon, can you use your spells so we can sneak off with some of the unguarded horses?” she asked. She still wanted to avoid any contact with the royal staff if possible, seal or no.
Simon shook his head. “I can’t carry three horses and the two of you. And we have so little moonstone between us. I have a feeling we’ll need it so we should reserve it.”
Rankor’s head snapped between them at the mention of moonstone. Amelie sighed. She’d have to tell Simon to watch what he said around him. She wondered if Simon even knew the extent of Rankor’s actions in his quest to collect mage powers.
“Yes, Rankor,” she confirmed his questioning stare. “I know all about moonstone now. And no. I’m not sharing it with you or telling you where it comes from. I’m not pouring power into you when it could mix with the amber in your blood and kill you. Besides, I still don’t wholly trust you.”
“And here I thought we were beyond petty deception,” he said, eyes narrowing. “We both know your fear is not my death.”
His look alone could’ve murdered a weaker woman. Amelie stood straighter, her muscles tensing for a fight. Before they could decide whether their temporary truce would hold or whether they’d try to gut each other, rays of torchlight illuminated their hiding spot. All three turned towards it.
“Who goes there?” a guard called out.
Amelie quickly pulled out the seal and tossed it to Simon. Better to have one of their own try to talk them into a horse. She hung back behind him, trying to cover her face as much as possible. She didn’t want him to have to explain why he was taking the half human with him.
“Business for the queen! We need three of the magic steeds.” Simon said, holding up the seal. The guard came forward and leaned closer to look at it, then summoned the stable hands to prepare the horses.
Rankor was completely accurate in his faith in the seal. They did not question them further as the horses were brought out and the three of them mounted. Amelie’s mind churned with questions. Just how powerful was this Lord Thorne Queen Trinity was trying to betroth her to?
“This isn’t over,” Rankor shot at her.
“Of course not,” Amelie replied in a straightforward tone. “This is only over when I’ve personally seen to your death.”
Slight admiration passed briefly over Rankor’s face at her words but it was gone as soon as she registered it. He leaned towards her in his saddle.
“Steer your horse to keep the gatekeeper or me in your sight and you will be fine,” he instructed.
Just as they were about to be on their way, a frantic voice called out “Stop!” and Amelie turned in her saddle to see several of the White Guard sprinting towards them.
“Looks like they found Gershan Thorne,” Amelie muttered and Rankor cast her a curious look.
“What did you do to get that thing?” he asked. Amelie didn’t answer and he wasn’t waiting for one. Instead, he turned and began to sprint. Simon did as well, glancing back at her to make sure she was following before the mist began to rise. Amelie did as she was told, turning her horse as they did, her surroundings a blur.
Chapter 19
Amelie
They came out of the run to the shoreline of the lake. It looked much like it did on the human side with the exception of the eternal snow. Rankor still drove his horse, taking the lead as he headed for the camp where Talon was held. He slowed as he neared it, allowing Simon and Amelie to draw up next to him.
“There were ten of them when we crossed the border,” he said. “At least four of them chased me. So I’m estimating six guards, maybe more if the ones that pursued me returned here.”
“I don’t like those numbers,” Simon
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