Page 21 of Golden Queen
We both rode through the city gate looking decidedly happy, and by the time we reached the hill where we could see the approaching group, I forgot about my own adventure of the previous evening.
Coming up the Godsway were at least ten Artaxian stallions.
They were tall, with thickly muscled bodies and sleek, shining coats. Their long manes and tails streamed out behind them with the long, crimson plumes that topped their rider’s helms.
My heart soared at the sight of creatures I had only ever dreamed of seeing.
They slowed as they neared us, drawing up into a long, straight line. The central horse was solid black, his coat so shiny his flanks reflected the gold of the godsgrass.
His armored rider sat straight and proud on his back, but the stallion wore no bridle, saddle, or harness of any kind.
When we had all dismounted, the Artaxians bowed low to me, even as the herald announced my uncle. Their horses all stood perfectly, eerily still behind them, huge heads held high.
They were not lathered or winded, even after galloping at full speed up the Godsway.
One of the warriors, with skin like burnished gold, stepped forward and turned to me, removing his helm. He had a head of thick slate-gray hair and a handsome, weathered face. “Your Majesty, Aelia of Windemere," he said, ignoring the regent at my side. "I am Adrio of Artax."
I stepped forward and clasped his hand—for once, also ignoring Markus, who was glaring at me with cold fury on his reddened face. "Well met, Adrio of Artax," I said, smiling widely.
The warriors all wore fine, white tunics and leggings under armor that looked like it was made from pounded copper plates. Their matching helms had arrow-shaped nose guards and were topped with bright-red horsehair plumes that fell down their backs.
Adrio was dressed the same, except that he had an elderwood seed hanging from his neck on a leather cord. The little white acorn was held in a silver wire cage to protect it.
He was the Elderguard, I realized. The King of the Horse Lords would always wear the seed around his neck to signify his role as guardian of the Elderwood Forest.
When he spoke again, his voice rang out loud enough for everyone to hear. "We have been tasked by the Elderwood to bring a message to Aelia of Windemere. Butthisgift is from Artax, to honor your coronation as Queen of the Godsgrass Kingdom." He held out his hand.
I heard hooves pounding across the ground.
I turned, barely comprehending the monumental words he'd said as I followed the sound.
A lone stallion trotted through the godsgrass. His head was held high, proud, his massive shoulders flexing, long hair whipping out behind him as he trotted up the hill toward me. The brilliant white of his coat was stark in the sunshine.
Mine,my heart nearly sang.Mine!
Tears pricked my eyes as I took a step toward him. He stopped in the field to my right, throwing his head up, shaking his long mane out around him. He moved gracefully, but wild, free, and beautiful as he danced in place.
Arkadian's hand came out to stop me, but I shrugged him off. "It's fine," I said, tears spilling over to stream down my cheeks. "He's mine." My voicebroke on the last word. I was so overcome by emotion in the presence of such a creature, by the honor of such a gift. Surely there had never been such a beautiful horse in all the world.
Adrio and the other Artaxians put their fists to their chests and pounded on their armor. It made a rhythm in time with my footsteps through the grass as I went to him. The pounding did not stop until I reached his side.
He was several hands taller than any horse I had ever seen, and he was pristinely white, as though not even a speck of dust graced his coat. He was the precise color of my hair, I realized with unexpected joy. Pale, milky-white, with a barely perceptible coolness that lent itself to thoughts of moonlight. The description was somehow easier to make in regard to this noble creature than my own hair.
The horse stilled as I reached him, going completely motionless.
"Hello," I told him. He lowered his head and shoved his nose against my shoulder. I reached up and ran my hands down his long face and crooned to him. "Beautiful creature."
He pushed against me again, gently, breath huffing out in what sounded like a greeting.
I looked back, realizing no one had followed me through the godsgrass. I wondered if they were all somehow afraid of him. That made little sense. How could anyone be afraid of what must surely have been the king of all horses.
He startled me by raising his head and backing up a step. He lowered the front half of his body by extending one leg and bending the other, almost as though he was bowing to me.
When I made no move, he gave me a loud huff and a snort. I realized he was asking me to climb onto his back.
No, I corrected, he was commanding me to do it.
I obeyed, as one does when given a command by a king. I stepped to his side and grasped his mane, pulling myself up and throwing my leg across his back.
