The wind howled violently outside the window, making the curtain I was hiding behind feel as if it were moving.
“Lannie, come on,” Clarice’s disappointed moan echoed through the halls. “You promised to take me to see the jesters today before the banquet!”
I stood still and silent behind the thick window drapes, not daring to move or breathe. The fact that I had resorted to hiding from the duchess’ daughter was demoralizing. But I had a good reason for hiding from her.
For the past four days, I had been subject to unimaginable torture. The first day out with Clarice wasn’t as bad as I had thought it would be. Odelia agreed to my request to take Clarice out of the castle, giving reasonable restrictions to our excursions. Clarice was ecstatic when we went to see the water horses at Aria’s second water port. Thankfully, the horses were unusually docile and didn’t give us trouble when we rode in the boat. Clarice’s excitement was comparable to that of a two-year-old child on her birthday.
The second day was worse than the first. I ended up losing Clarice in a dancing festival held within the city square. It took me hours——to find her, and I spent the entire time worrying over being imprisoned for losing the daughter of Duchess Faretra. When I finally found her, she was at the castle, wondering where I had been for six hours.
The third day involved visiting the magic shop. It would have been outlawed by Odelia, but Clarice threatened me with my job again, so we made the trip secretly. The witch who owned the magic shop showed us a living griffin and several disgusting jars with disgusting things in them. I made Clarice leave before the witch could coax us into purchasing a fairy.
But the fourth day was by far the worst. Clarice, who wasn’t allowed outside, wanted to visit the naiads.
And I had nearly died—once again. She told me they wouldn’t sing when we went to the bridge because Clarice was on the “approved” list of castle occupants.
Clarice was right in that respect: They didn’t sing. But they did hurl rocks at us when we reached the middle of the bridge. Deep down, I knew that they were targeting me specifically, but I figured that only because the dark-skinned naiad grinned at me before she tossed a lily pad at my face. Clarice and I escaped before they began to sing. Devilish urchins, I tell you.
So here I was on the fifth day, hiding like a coward behind one of the castle’s window drapes. I had just completed Clarice’s lesson when I excused myself to the bathroom. The wind was far too violent for me to escape the castle, so I was forced to settle with an obvious hiding place two floors down. Even if Clarice did find me, I would absolutely not take her to see the jesters today. Even if it cost me my job…
“I’ll have the guards look for you.” Clarice’s singsong voice was fearfully close to the drapes, although I knew she couldn’t see me behind the thick, floor-length curtains. “I intend to find you before the banquet!” One of Odelia’s famous banquets—or rather, entertainment parties—was scheduled for tonight. Clarice had informed me that if I didn’t go, she would tell Odelia everything. Even if I wasn’t found, I would die tonight at the banquet.
I could sense Clarice just outside the curtains. My breath made the minuscule hiding place hot and uncomfortable. I knew the drapes weren’t moving, but the wind pounding against the window almost made me believe that they were.
The drapes pulled back. I cringed.
“There you are.”
But the amber eyes of the person in front of me did not belong to Clarice Faretra. “”
“The one and only,” Titus replied, looking unusually flustered. “Need help?”
I crossed my arms. “I’m perfectly fine where I—”
“Lannie!”
“—am.” I realized that Clarice was in the hall directly across from where we were standing.
“You have maybe ten seconds before we’re both busted.” The prince held out his hand. “Coming?”
I sighed. I chose the only route of escape and took his hand.
————————
“Where are we going?”
Titus didn’t respond as he led me through secret passageways and doors until we exited the castle. I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath until we stepped on the neatly trimmed grass of the castle courtyard. A large wooden structure loomed near the side of the castle.
The structure we were approaching looked unfamiliar. It was shielded from the castle’s view by a lush grove of trees. The wind had died down, blowing the trees back and forth. Despite the wind, Titus managed to pry the door to the building open. “These are the stables,” he said, beckoning for me to follow.
Stables? I had never heard of the Royals owning horses before. I hesitantly followed Titus inside. He closed the door behind us, cloaking the room in darkness. Light filtered in from the slotted windows near the top of the walls, illuminating several gated stalls and a wide pathway. I heard the shuffling of hooves and odd-sounding neighs. They sounded rather queer for horses…
The prince expertly lit a torch and began lighting the lanterns hanging from hooks on the stall dividers.
A freakish shriek came from somewhere in front of me as I proceeded to follow Titus. What could be making that noise…? I jumped backward when another shriek sounded—this time from one of the stalls.
And then I knew.
“Titus…these aren’t…”
He nodded. “Yep. These are water horses.”
A shuddering sigh escaped my lips as the odor of wood chips, hay, and sweat hit my nose. “Wh—why would you take me here? Surely the garden is a better place to hide from Clarice.”
“Clarice isn’t allowed in here,” Titus’ voice echoed from the end of the stable as he lit the final lantern.
A nicker sounded from the stall next to me. There was a good reason why Clarice was not allowed in here. “Okay, but explain to me why you keep tamed water horses within the castle walls.”
“They’re good battle and transportation animals.” Titus disappeared into an open stall, making rummaging noises. I timidly made my way to the stall, which turned out to be a storage area with straw, saddles, and other miscellaneous things.
Titus pulled two hay bales out and sat on one. He clasped his hands behind his head and leaned against the wall. “You’ll be safe from Clarice here. She wouldn’t dare come in the stable.”
“Why is that?” I asked, sitting on the hay bale next to his. I had to clear a bowl of porridge from the hay; the groom probably forgot to take his lunch with him. “To say Clarice is afraid of water horses is like saying Odelia despises makeup.”
The prince gave me a grim look. I noticed for the first time that he seemed tired. The wind outside had dissipated, carrying the sounds of thundering along with it—the first signs of another one of Aria’s windstorms, I supposed. Titus must have been stressing over it, since the damage that our windstorms caused was critical. “Did your mother never tell you?”