Fate Awaits

Daisy snorted at her master as she clipped along the trail. Her tail swished angrily against the hem of the Guardian's cloak as they rode along. She clearly thought they should not be going alone.

"Don't judge me!" Silver responded to her admonition. "Aiden and Conall will be able to handle things at the palace without me. And what they don't do, Ethyn and my sister will."

The Guardian felt guilty leaving the two men of Rynnlee, Ethyn, and Rose behind to pick up all the pieces, but he really wasn't suited to the task. Plus he needed to know that those in Rynnlee were safe.

At least he had convinced himself these things were true.

"Better to go where I am needed than to stick around and cause problems," Silver told the mare.

"After all these years, you still really think you are a problem, don't you?" A familiar presence filled the air. 

"It isn't nice to listen in on conversations between a man and his horse; those are sacred." Silver flicked the reins to speed Daisy into a canter.

It did no good. Beside him an ethereal being materialized, her bluish skin glowing in the dim light of the trees. A heavenly smile bloomed on her face. "So much effort to avoid a simple question." 

Silver sighed. "I don't think I'm a problem exactly. They just follow me wherever I go."

Hanna's voice tinkled like bells through the air. "Have you ever considered that the problems find you because you are the one who can solve them?"

"Then all the more reason for me to flee from Ethyn and Haven as quickly as possible. Why bring them more trouble?" Silver rubbed the back of his neck at the admission.

"Even if that were true, shouldn't that be for them to decide?" Hanna cocked her head to one side. 

"Don't try speaking sense to me. Anyway, you must not be too upset about me leaving. I know you were the one who brought Daisy to me." Silver had found the mare exactly where expected at the edge of the woods even though he hadn't seen the horse since his capture. 

Who else could have known where to place his most constant companion? 

"I didn't bring Daisy there for you to run away. I wanted you to know she was alright." Hanna crossed her arms as she floated along beside the mare in question. 

"I see. Is there anything else you want me to know?" Silver grinned. Her guilt trip would not work on him. If anything it made him more determined in his path. 

"Is there anything else you want to know?" Hanna turned the question back on him.

Chewing his lip, Silver nodded. "Is Borit taken care of?" 

"The Princess and her knight have seen to that. Borit will never bother anyone again." Hanna seemed even more relieved than the Guardian. 

"Good." Silver did not need details. All that mattered was that Borit had finally faced justice.

"There is one more thing I would like to discuss," Hanna's smile faded slightly. 

"Are you sending me on another terrible mission?" Silver's eyes flashed. He wasn't sure whether to be annoyed with the Fate or to be glad for a distraction. 

Hanna shook her head. "No, though you might think what I am going to tell you is terrible..." The Fate paused. "It seems my news will have to wait."

Silver heard it as well. Hooves pounded against the ground. Someone was moving toward them with great speed. Leading Daisy off the path, the Guardian hid in the shelter of the trees for the mysterious visitor to pass. 

His effort was for naught. 

"Over here!" Hanna called to the traveler, causing the white horse he was riding to slide to a halt.

Silver glared at the Fate, who now had a horse of her own on which she was sitting. "Why?" he asked with a sigh. It was a constant question he had of Hanna. She simply smiled in return. 

"Guardian! Is that you?" the voice called through the trees. 

The question was unexpected, and Silver paused before answering. "Depends on who seeks me."

With Hanna, he rode out of his hiding place and into the lane. Dressed in royal garb of purple and gold, the messenger dipped his head. "I have a missive from the palace for you." 

"Is everything alright? Did something happen?" Silver's eyes flashed as every terrible thought imaginable crept into his mind.

Had he left too early? Was there another attack? He had assumed that there would be only one main assault on the palace, but the Guardian had to admit he was not always right. 

Hanna had said that Borit was dealt with, but what if something had happened while the Fate was with him? He wasn't sure if she was omnipresent, but he guessed that Hanna could only be in one place at a time, at least when physically manifested as she was just now. 

The messenger was no help. His face was unreadable and Silver found out why. 

"I was given this message and told to find you. I know nothing beyond this, my lord." 

'My lord? Is he making fun of me or...' Silver decided to take the paper from his hand and read it. This was not the first time when he was very grateful for this ability. If he hadn't seen the words with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed it. 

"It...it's from the king," he told Hanna. "He requests my presence back at the palace immediately." 

"Oh?" Hanna tilted her head innocently. 

Silver was too anxious to feel frustrated by the action. "Should I go?" 

"He's the king, dearie. Can you afford not to go?" The Fate shot back the question at him.

The messenger listened to the curious exchange with a neutral expression. He had not been told there would be a woman with Silver, especially one so beautiful and pale that her skin seemed almost blue. But when did anyone ever tell him anything? He cleared his throat.

"Shall I accompany you back to the palace or would you like to send a message of your own?" the young man offered politely. 

Silver and Hanna engaged in a long staring contest. In the end, the Guardian was forced to break contact first. "I will go with you now. No need to keep the king waiting." 

"Wise decision," Hanna dipped her head slightly. Her mysterious horse whinnied in agreement. Silver could have sworn there was a wavering of light about the creature's head. 'A horn?' 

Shaking off his daydream, Silver eyed the Fate carefully. "I haven't forgotten that you were about to tell me something. I better see you the next time I pass this way to finish the conversation." 

"Oh dearie, by then we will have much more to talk about..." Hanna answered, her ever-present smile becoming brighter. "Until then!" 

The messenger blinked, and the female rider vanished. He looked around as he stuttered, "Where...how..." 

"Hanna does that. I would say you get used to it, but that would be a lie." Silver looked warily beside him, half expecting the Fate to appear with a sarcastic remark. 

Instead, he felt the wind on his face mixed with the sound of tinkling bells. He couldn't help but smile. He turned to the messenger. 

"Lead on. My Fate awaits me."