12 years ago - Part 3

I sat on the small step to the carriage while my mother stood someways away with Valk and the Groomsmen.

"I shouldn't have to answer such questions," she said in a harsh voice. "Not right now."

"I'm sorry milady. It's completely my fault, it will not happen again," Valk said. Both he and the groomsman had their heads down in supplication.

"It BETTER not."

My mother turned and walked back to where I was sitting.

"Did I do something wrong?" I asked.

"No honey, you only asked a question." she bent down and looked me in the eyes. "If you ever have a question, you should always ask OK?"

I nodded.

"Alright, let's get something to eat."

As promised, Valk had stopped the carriage near a bridge that crossed a small, slow flowing river. He was set up a blanket for us to sit on, while the groomsman watered and attended the the horses. Both were gave my mother a VERY wide berth.

We walked to the blanket and sat down. It was a fine early-summer's day. Birds chirped from a nearby copse of trees, and the only other noise was the sound of the river lazily bubbling by.

Valk approached with a sack and pulled forth some meat, cheese and bread which he lay on the blanket for us.

"Thank you," my mother said.

"We will eat with the carriage," Valk said.

My mother shook her head, "There's no need. We'll be on the road for a while, it's best that we get used to each other's company."

"Yes Ma'am." Valk said. He waved the groomsman over.

The fresh-faced boy meekly approached. He did his best to avoid eye contact with my mother. I didn't know how old he was, but he appeared to be much younger than both Valk and my mother. I still considered him a "grown-up" though.

We sat down and ate in silence. The food was a far cry from what we usually had in the castle. The bread was crusty and the cheese had a very sharp taste.

The meal finished, we got off the blanket and Valk began to shake off the errant crumbs. The groomsman returned to the carriage to get it ready for the journey onward.

"How much longer," my mother asked the Captain of the Guard.

"I can't say for sure ma'am. We've another 3 or 4 days to reach the edge of the Kingdom at least. Beyond that we will need to find a safe spot for you and your daughter."

"We have some distant family in Elkshire..." My mother began. She then looked to me. "Honey, go sit with the carriage and wait."

I nodded and walked towards the carriage, slowly kicking rocks as I went along. I was old enough to know that whatever my mother wished to talk about next, she didn't want me to hear it."

I sat down in the grass and watched the groomsman get things ready. After a short while he noticed that I was watching and gave me a friendly wave.

"Hello," he said.

"Hello," I said. I tried to think about what my father told me about meeting people. "What's your name?"

"Hortim," he gave me a big grin. "And you're Lady Samantha."

I nodded. I poked the ground, not knowing what else to say.

He looked at me thinking for a moment, "Did you want to pet the horses Lady Samantha?"

"OK!" I said jumping up.

I walked over to where he was standing. The two horses seemed like giants.

"I'm going to pick you up OK?" Hortim asked.

I nodded. He bent down and picked me up under the arms. "Now, be very gentile," he said holding me up close enough to brush the neck of the nearest horse with my hand.

"This is Regal," he said as I pat the soft fur. The horse looked over at me with giant brown eyes and large lovey lashes. "She's four year old."

"Like me!" I said.

"Yes, like you." He laughed. He then brought me over to the other horse. "And this is Majesty."

I reached out to pat Majesty, who whinnied and made a step back. "Majesty is a little shy," Hortim whispered. "But I have a solution for that. One moment."

He set me down and away from the horse. He went to a small bag that was hanging off one side of the carriage and took out a small carrot. He walked backed to where I was and placed the vegetable in my hand. Then picking me up, he said, "Let's try again. Keep holding the carrot out."

I did as he instructed. I saw Majesty's eyes go wide as we approached with the vegetable. Its lips curled forward, lighting touching the pointy end, before taking a small bite out of the carrot with its teeth.

"Now try," Hortim said.

Tentatively, I reached out with my free hand and brushed the wide cheek of the animal.

Regal whinnied.

"Oh, now Regal is getting jealous. We will have to get a carrot for her as well!" Hortim said.

I giggled.

We fed Majesty the rest of the carrot. Hortim then brought me over to the bag and withdrew another, which I then fed to Regal.

Hortim then set me down. "I have to finish getting the horses ready. But you can pet them again next time we stop OK?"

"OK!" I said.

I looked back to where my mother and Valk were still talking. My mother stood with her arms crossed, listening to Valk as he spoke.

I then looked back to Hortim. He stood with his back to me, facing the copse of trees, unmoving.

"Go back to your mother Lady Samantha," Hortim said.

"Why?" I asked.

I noticed that the birds had stopped chirping. Without moving his head, he reach down and drew a dagger from his belt. He slowly began to turn.

I gasped as I saw his face. He once friendly brown eyes were now solid black orbs. Something seemed to be writhing under his skin. He gritted his teeth, which now seemed pointy and elongated.

"Run!" he roared.