Chapter 97

Lia wondered if all the horses owned by nobles were trained differently or if Eli was simply an extraordinary steed. It would have been easy—and understandable—for him to break into a fast gallop in excitement over leaving the stables for the first time in weeks, but instead, his steady trot was elegance itself. She kept him at a nice, easy pace as she was afraid her leg would act up again. She didn't want to shock the sensitive horse with an unexpected jolt.

The fog lent a mysterious air to the beautiful forest. She ventured forth, noting the shots sparsely cutting through the air on the east side. Eli, surprisingly, didn't seem to be afraid of the gunshots. It made her feel rather silly every time she recoiled at the sound. Lia chuckled after flinching again, leaning forward to hug his neck. He immediately slowed down.