Page 59 of The Princess of Nothing
“We can gallop from here,” he said, seeing the road widen again, leading a clear, unbroken way downward.
Pulling on his reins, he raced forward. I pressed my feet into my horse’s sides. The wind pulled my hair back. My eyes were alight as we sped through the night, chasing morning. Freedom elated me, and the urgency to keep it spiked my adrenaline, coursing it through my veins and propelling me forward.
I passed Cedric as we curved a bend in the widening road. Trees became more sparse the farther we rode. Animals scuttered from the watching tree line as we galloped past.
After stopping briefly for water at a stream, we took off again, wasting no time.
I wondered about the army he’d brought to protect me. How many had died? How much more blood did I have on my hands? At this point, I’d lost count.
So many souls had been lost to have me fail.
Fear buzzed my mind into fearful scenarios of death, destruction, and hopelessness. I tried to push them away, but the more I ignored them, the more prominent they became.
I wished I had Morgana’s herbs to numb the fears in my mind. To slow my mind. In the blackness of night, with only the road ahead to distract me, I fell further into my thoughts.
My throat tightened when I remembered the cage and the pain that had come with it. My chest ached when I considered Kiros’s broken heart. Panic tightened a ball in my stomach as I thought of Berovia moving against me, punishing my people for my betrayal. Edgar would soon be removed from his rule. Berovia had dragons, and the letters poking into my breast was a reminder of the power Xenos held.
My fingers flexed against the reins. “Stop!” I yelled. I gasped for breath. My lungs felt like they were growing smaller by the second.
“Winter!” Cedric shouted, powering a shield of white light to catch me as I fell from the horse. It broke my fall as I landed on the bright barrier. Cedric slowed, using a blue magic to calm the horse, and jumped down.
As he dropped to his knees at my side, his eyes were wild. “What happened?”
I clutched my throat. “I can’t breathe.” I moved my hand to my chest. “My heart hurts. I think I’m dying.”
He placed his hands on me, closing his eyes. “I don’t sense anything.” His eyebrows furrowed; silence hung around us on the desolate, dark dirt road. “There is no blackness attached to you.”
My tears fell thick and fast. I choked on air as I tried to gulp in more. “I’m dying!” I screamed. I felt like I was moving out of my body.
Placing his hands on my shoulders, he rested his head against mine, muttering unintelligible words. Within seconds, a calm washed over me, bringing me back to reality. Looking around, suddenly able to breathe again, I flushed pink. “What did you do?”
“The same spell I placed on the horse.” His eyebrows pulled downward in concentration. Serenity continued to pulsate over me in waves. I closed my eyes, feeling so relaxed. Sleep lulled. Until it didn’t.
Jolting, I opened my eyes. Cedric patted my shoulder, his expression soft. He ran his finger along the hem of his shirt. “You were filled with panic and dread. Stress, worry, it can do the strangest of sensations to your body. Us fae learn about healing properties and the darkness that plagues people’s souls. Fear is the biggest killer of spirit.” He pressed the back of his hand against my forehead. “Your mind is full. Share your burdens with me.”
“We’re on the run,” I said on a sob.
He pulled me to my feet and brushed his lips against mine. Running the tip of his nose against mine before pulling away, he nodded. “We will work on this when we’re somewhere safe. I promise.”
The conviction in his tone brought me comfort as I grabbed my fallen staff and climbed on the horse’s back. Taking a minute to steady myself, I whispered a quick apology to my horse for startling her, then trotted into a canter and eventually galloped.
“We’re close!” Cedric shouted over the clonking. “How are you feeling?”
“Better,” I called back. Veering away from pressing fears, I instead focused on the moment I was in. My attention took in the evergreens whipping past my head, from branches to their low-hanging leaves.
The moon moved down in the sky, and stars dulled as a wash of purple brightened the night. We had an hour until dawn, from what I could tell.
A stream babbled at the side of the road, which began to narrow. I moved behind Cedric. After several minutes, fences, small houses made of wood, and the stench of manure from a farm—markers of civilization—welcomed us into Woodbarrow.
Dawn brought light to the shadows of Woodbarrow, a small town in Woodbourne. Familiarity brought a smile to my lips when I looked around at the small houses, shops, and sandy walkways. I jumped off my horse and led her through the almost-empty streets.
Passing a newspaper stall, I gasped. I grabbed a paper with the headline:
MARRIED TODAY, PRINCE KIROS AND QUEEN WINTER MORTIS OF MAGAELOR. UNITING NATIONS. XENOS RESTORES PEACE TO THE KINGDOMS.
Cedric came up behind me and sighed. “They put out the message to newspapers before you ran. How embarrassing for them.”
He was right. They would feel humiliated. It would flame a war so personal. Hearts and prides were broken, and for that, I would pay. “This will mean deadly repercussions.”
