Amaskan's Blood Raven Oak (polar express read aloud TXT) 📖

In Sadai.

Where I’ll never be again.

Sounds of people and animals moving outside the inn’s walls announced the morning too early for Ida, who cursed and grumbled her way through dressing. Despite Adelei’s late evening, she awoke alert and rested.

By the time both women entered the empty stables, the sun had spread across the small town. It cast shadows in corners and curves and nooks and crannies as people went about their business. Both horses whinnied and stomped their feet, their tails dancing in the sun.

It must have been a rough night in the stable if Midnight wanted to hit the trail again. She wiped down the stallion’s back before tossing a riding blanket over his side. Ida’s fuzzy-headed fingers made saddling her mare a chore.

Adelei was long finished saddling Midnight as Ida swore, dropped the bridle, and then swore again. “Damn fingers feel like pig guts this mornin’.”

“Do you need some help?”

Ida’s groggy stare was enough to light all the fires in the inn’s hearths at once, yet Adelei continued to grin as she waited. Payback was warranted.

After half a candlemark, they were on their way, and Adelei’s fingers traced the outlines on the saddle’s pommel. Ida spoke, her voice tired and thick with hangover. “Ya were five when ya were taken from Alexander, but much has improved since the war. No longer are the people comprised of starvin’ and poor farmers, them dyin’ in the streets. The poor still exist, but rebuildin’ brought change to these lands. Alexander’s a major trader of many goods across the Little Dozen.”

The woman paused to stare across a patch of dense forest. “This forest used to hide our enemy, and pockets of it were destroyed in the fires of war; but now it’s home to many. The forest grows thick, as does the kingdom’s wealth.”

Adelei could taste the burned stench in the air. “I clung to the saddle.”

“I’m sorry?”

“I clung to the saddle. The trees whipped past me. I could barely see through the hood you tossed over my head, but I could smell the woods. The land reeked of blood and smoke.” When Adelei opened her eyes, the forest was clear of the past.

At some point, Midnight had stopped, digging her hooves into the dirt and leaves below. Adelei swallowed hard. “We passed through here—along this pass, didn’t we?”

“Yes. ’Twas the only way to get past the Shadian army. ’Twas the forest or not at all. I’d forgotten we’d come through here.” Both horses moved on, a quicker journey as both women sought to escape the ghosts swinging in the trees.

“I’m surprised the King is going through with the marriage.” Adelei inhaled the pine fragrance to try and rid herself of the acrid scent burned into her nostrils. “After all these years, surely Alexander could build a strong enough army to defeat Shad if they attacked. Why not refuse the marriage?”

Ida hissed in a swift breath. “And be an oathbreaker? Never.”

“Better an oathbreaker than to sell your child to the enemy, I would think. Especially one who may be behind attempts to take out the royal bloodline.”

Silence followed both women for a time as they passed a smaller town and crossed yet another creek. As they approached the second town of the day, people ran up to Ida and reached up hands to greet her. Children cried out for her to stop and tell them a tale, while parents offered invitations to stop and quench her thirst.

She refused all offers as they traveled and once away from starving ears, she resumed their conversation. “I know ya view this marriage with serious doubts, but the princess is excited about it. She’s found her prince and is ready to become Queen.” Ida pitched her voice too high.

She was lying again. Adelei asked Ida, “Has she even met the man she’s to marry?”

“Once. ’Twas an arranged meetin’, of course, but they got along well enough.”

“Has anyone considered that the Prince of Shad or his people could be behind the assassination attempts on Her Highness?”

“Of course,” Ida answered. “King Leon for one. But I don’t know the details of the event, or the investigation that happened after. His Majesty’s keeping those details to himself. I do know that Princess Margaret’s not aware an attempt has been made on her life.” Another lie, another twitch of the woman’s cheek.

Adelei held her tongue as they passed the first travelers on the road: a horse drawn carriage with numerous guards who were wary until they spotted Ida’s sigil on her tunic. They glared at Adelei with deep frowns and kept their hands near their weapons.

“How does Her Highness not know? Or more importantly, why doesn’t she know?”

“I’m not privy to that information. ’Twas your father’s choice not to tell her. The attack was made the very same day she met Prince Gamun, who prevented its success. More than that, you’ll have to ask your father. He doesn’t trust me enough to tell me anythin’ these days.”

The crushing of leaves ahead of them caught Adelei’s attention, and she pulled her hood tighter before ducking closer to the saddle. It was probably another traveler. Gods knew there would be enough of them between here and Alesta.

Ida sat in the same position, her eyes scanning the trees in front of them. Adelei almost missed it—the slightest hints of emerald green that didn’t match the surrounding trees’ muted colors. The bright tone rocked back and forth a fraction of space.

Adelei’s fingers, hidden from view by Midnight’s neck and massive head, pointed in the direction of the color. At Ida’s nod, she rolled out of the saddle to drop to the leaves below. At the same time, Ida kicked her mare, which reared up. Midnight sidestepped to avoid the mare, and Adelei used the noise and size of her horse to shield herself from movement until she could lean behind a tree.

Stepping carefully, she made her way around the clearing and used the trees for cover. Adelei cursed her lack of