Page 98 of Realm of Thieves

“There are no other secrets you’re hiding from me?” I ask. “No secret children you have somewhere?”

He laughs. “Goddesses, no.” Then he pauses and looks me over. “We need to get you something warm to wear.”

“I’m fine,” I say.

“Not where I’m taking you,” he says. “Stay here.”

He lets go of me and walks to the door, shutting it behind him. I have no idea what he’s talking about or where he’s taking me, but when he returns he’s got my pants, boots, socks, and a large heavy coat in his arms.

“Put these on,” he says.

“Why? I’m not that cold.” I take the pants and pull them on, then kick off my slippers and put on the socks, which are made of thick wool and a little too big. I have to hike them up to my knees.

“Those are mine,” Andor says. “Don’t worry, freshly laundered.”

I slip on my boots next while he puts the coat on me, and then he grabs my hand and leads me out the back door of Steiner’s lab, into the garden.

“Where are you taking me?” I ask, but he doesn’t say anything. The morning air is warm, though the breeze carries a hint of crispness, as if hinting at a change in seasons, but the coat is already too warm.

“You’ll see,” he says as we walk through the rows of plants and greenhouses, then through the chicken yard, where the birds scatter in all directions. When we get to the cook’s vegetable garden at the end of the east wing, vines growing up the dark stone sides of the castle, Steiner suddenly appears holding on to the reins of a very largeblack horse with a long flowing mane and tail. Probably the biggest horse I’ve ever seen and standing with such poise, it immediately reminds me of the ones bred for the Black Guard of Esland.

“We’re going riding?” I ask, surprised.

“Hope you’re all right with sharing a horse,” Andor says as we step over the low veggie garden fence. “Unless you know how to ride.”

“I’ve never ridden one before,” I admit. “We had a donkey when I was young, but he was too ornery to mount.”

“I bet you still tried, though,” he says with a smile.

“Of course. I spent the whole first month we had that donkey getting bucked off into the sand. Finally, he took a big chunk out of my arm and my father pulled me aside to tell me it was one challenge I should probably let go.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” he comments as he takes the reins from Steiner. “Thanks,” he says to him. “I doubt Father will notice I’m missing, but if he does just tell him I went to check the fences or something.”

“Are you checking the fences?” Steiner asks.

Andor gives him a steady look. “You can lie, just this once.”

Steiner sighs and then steps into the cook’s garden and back to his lab.

“What fences?” I ask Andor as he softly strokes the horse’s muzzle.

“Whenever I need to clear my head I say I’m checking the fences. We have some fields to the south where we let the cows loose in the summer months. I rarely make my way down there; I just want a chance to be alone.”

“So we’re not going to check the fences?” To be honest, that sounds thrilling enough. Not only have I never been on horseback, but the idea of roaming the fields among the cows seems like something out of a dream.

“We’re going somewhere much better,” he says. “My way of making things up to you. Now come, I’ll hoist you into the saddle. Don’tworry about Onyx, he can take our weight. He was raised to be a battle horse, though it’s been a while since we saw war. He’s certainly never seen it.”

He leans over and puts his hands down and together like a step. Gingerly I place my boot on them and he hoists me up. I scramble, grabbing the horse’s generous mane while trying to gracelessly flip my legs over his back and sit upright in the saddle, feeling chagrined that I’m not automatically a natural at riding.

“There you go,” Andor says. “Wrap the reins around your three middle fingers and weave them between your thumb and pinky.” I do so, holding the soft leather in each hand while he somehow swings himself up behind me, as effortlessly as if he were sliding into bed.

“Show-off,” I comment under my breath. Then I gasp as he moves so that I’m pushed up by his thighs and I’m practically in his lap.

The horse begins to shift to the side and Andor puts his arms around me to keep my balance, curling his fingers over mine as he holds the reins too. “Comfortable?” he asks. “It’s a long ride.”

I nod. “You’re still not going to tell me where we’re going?”

“You wouldn’t know anyway. Just trust me. Let me do all the work.”

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