Page 82 of Slippers and Thorns
Ella pulled Shadow’s head sideways to avoid him. “Heading out on my ride.”
“But the group isn’t leaving yet.” He made another grab for the reins as Ella pushed Shadow forward. “And shouldn’t you be sidesaddle?” he prompted, lengthening his stride to keep up.
“I’m not going with the group.”
“You’re not leaving on your own!” Charlie growled. “Not again!”
“You’re welcome to come with me, Charlie,” Ella snapped, not looking at him. “But I’m going. Now.” She squeezed her knees to urge Shadow into a trot.
Charlie stopped trying to catch Shadow and ran back towards the stables. “Where’s Destrier?” he called to one of the grooms.
“He’s not out yet, sir.”
“What about Bentley?”
“Sorry, sir, Oliver isn’t riding out today.”
“Is there any horse belonging to the guard saddled already?” he desperately cried.
Ella didn’t hear the answer. The back gate loomed ahead. The guards hadn’t challenged her yet, since they were more concerned with keeping people out than keeping them in, but she needed to make sure she got through.
One of the guards turned at the quick sound of Shadow’s hooves on the cobblestones. “Your Highness? Where are your attendants?”
“Coming,” she replied tersely. She didn’t slow.
The guards exchanged an uncertain look, but didn’t move to block the gate. She was close enough. If they decided to try, she could break through.
“We’ll wait with you,” the other guard said, starting to step into her path.
She squeezed her knees and leaned over her mount’s neck. Shadow launched into a canter. The guard leaped back as they thundered past.
“Princess! Wait!”
Ella ignored the yells and concentrated on avoiding pedestrians as she steered through the few streets between herself and the western city gate. She pressed Shadow to a gallop as soon as she cleared the gate and veered off the main road. Always one for speed, Shadow tossed her head and stretched her legs out, flying across the meadow.
It was dangerous to maintain the speed through the trees on the other side, but Ella steered towards a thin trail that would give them a clear path. Her surroundings blurred as she gave Shadow her head and let the air whipping her hair ease the tension in her mind, even if it couldn’t stop the heartbreak. But maybe it could push the painful thoughts away, for at least a little while.
When they had run far enough that Shadow was lathered, Ella reined her in to give her a break. Shadow snorted and tossed her head, but dropped down to a trot and then finally a walk.
Ella slumped in the saddle. She couldn’t outrun her problems, any more than she could when she escaped into the city in her old clothes. But at least here in the barren forest, there was no one to see her misery.
Pounding hooves sounded on the path behind her, but she didn’t bother to turn around and look. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered right now. Besides, she knew who it was.
“What did you think you were doing?” Charlie angrily exclaimed as he pulled his horse to a walk beside her. “You cannot just run out of the castle by yourself like that, let alone into the countryside. It’s dangerous! Do youwantthe king to put a constant detail on you again?”
Ella didn’t even look at him. Staring down at Shadow’s ears, she dully replied, “It doesn’t matter. He probably won’t care soon, anyway.”
The anger on Charlie’s face began to melt into confused concern. “What do you mean by that? Why would he not care?”
The scene in the maze played out in front of her again. She squeezed her eyes shut and said nothing. How could she possibly admit what she’d witnessed?
“Princess?” he asked gently. “What happened? What were you running from?”
She couldn’t do it. He’d understand once Michael sent her away.
Did it make her pathetic that she still loved him? What was she supposed to do?
“Arabella?”
