Page 22 of Anwen of Primewood
I bite my lip and look away. “I want to come with you.” I nudge a piece of straw with my foot, pushing it back and forth as I wait for his answer.
The stable smells like horse, but it’s not an unpleasant odor. Around me, the animals nicker and snort, and if I had the time, I would greet them all. I say hello to a gray mare in the stall next to Galinor’s. She lifts her head from her breakfast and nuzzles my hair. I laugh and give her a pat. Finally, I look back at Galinor.
“Do you have a way to protect yourself should we run into trouble?”
“Well.” I shrug. “I’ll have you.”
Galinor smiles, leaves his horse, and comes to me. “I mean besides me.”
“I scream very loudly.” I give him a wide smile.
He chuckles and plucks a piece of hay from my hair. “You’ll listen to me if there’s trouble? You’ll do exactly as I say?”
“I won’t leave Danver, if that’s what you mean.”
He crosses his arms.
“But other than that, I will.”
“All right. It’s a bad idea, but you may come.” He raises a hand in greeting, looking over my shoulder.
“You can ride with me this time,” Irving says from behind me. He drapes his arm around my shoulders.
I glance at Galinor to see what he will say, but he’s already turned back to his horse.
“What willyou do when you return to Primewood?” I ask Irving.
Riding with him isn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
“Well, since I didn’t win the tournament, Father will expect me to choose a bride.”
“That’s natural, Irving. You’re his heir.”
We’re in the woods again, but we have made better time today, and it isn’t nearly as late as it was when we were here before. We’re deep in blue bushes, and I believe we’re in an area we haven’t yet checked.
“I know that,” he says. “I do.”
“You still haven’t found her, have you?” I enjoy these rare talks with Irving, the ones where he’s serious for a change.
“Not yet.”
He sounds so dejected, I laugh. “You’ll find someone, Irving.”
Something bright, just on the edge of my vision, catches my attention, and I turn. “What was that?”
Irving looks into the still trees. “What was what?”
“Let me off.”
“Anwen—”
“Let me down,” I urge, already throwing my leg over.
Irving slows the horse, and I leap to the ground. I wait, watching for another sign of life, but I see nothing. I take a step into the woods and then another. I step over branches and around bushes, going deeper into the forest. Irving rushes behind me, and I wish he’d be quiet. He’ll scare them off.
“What did you see?” Irving asks, taking my arm.
“A floating light. I think it was a fairy.”
