Read Horse Charmer for Free Online Page A

herd, she sighed in resignation. If she could have bedded down with the horses she would have. Cassia gave the mare a final pat.
    "Cassia," Luki said with hesitation.
    She turned to him in surprise. He hadn't said her name since she'd told him she was to be married.
    "We'll be arriving in Castle Vespera tomorrow." He shuffled his feet.
    "Yes." She prompted him to continue.
    "I'm unsure if I'll be able to see you once we arrive." He looked at the camp and then back to her. "I probably won't."
    "Are you going back to Karah?"
    "No, I'll be there, but I doubt you'll have much time for old friends."
    She stepped closer and grabbed his hand. "I always have time for my friends."
    "I know." He smiled. "I meant you'd be busy with preparations for your…wedding. I-I wanted to wish you long life and happiness."
    She smiled at the old blessing. "Thank you, Luki, I wish you the same."
    "I know." He huffed out a breath. "Look, I'm probably stepping over the line here, but I couldn't not tell you --"
    "Your Highness," Maconahay said from behind them.
    Cassia glanced over Luki's shoulder to where Maconahay had moved around the makeshift corral.
    "I'm sorry, but the Queen has requested your presence," Maconahay said.
    "In a moment, Captain." Cassia looked back to Luki expectantly.
    But his face had closed up and he bowed his head. "I won't keep you, Your Highness. Safe journey."
    Luki retreated back into the herd to where he'd laid his bedroll and small campfire just outside the corral.
    Frustrated, Cassia followed Maconahay into the main camp. Sarahann beckoned her over to her tent as soon as she stepped into the firelight. Cassia headed over obediently, but her thoughts were focused on what Luki hadn't told her.
     
    ****
     
    The descriptions of Castle Vespera didn't prepare Cassia for the reality of its grandeur. It wasn't that the castle was huge. Well it was, but no larger than Castle Karah. It was the fact that it appeared to grow out of the mountainside behind it. She hadn't understood what they'd meant when they'd said it was built into the mountain. Now she did. It was built into a gigantic mountain, the back half of the castle safe from attack by the cliffs surrounding it. You had to go up a hill to approach the main gate which afforded the guards an excellent view of anyone approaching.
    The mountain rising above them made the castle seem larger. Cassia obediently ducked back into their carriage when the caravan set on the final climb for admittance into the castle.
    As they were expected, and a royal party, there was no delay in getting through the gates. Her mother had drawn the curtains on the carriage so Cassia couldn't see out and no one else could peer in. Cassia fussed at her skirt and sleeves as they rumbled into the courtyard. Noises bounced loudly off the castle and courtyard walls. Sarahann looked impeccable as usual. Cassia wasn't sure how she did it considering they had both been on the same journey and sitting in the same carriage. Yet, Sarahann looked like she was on an afternoon jaunt while Cassia looked like she'd been on a hard journey for nearly three days.
    "Relax," Sarahann said softly.
    The carriage jolted to a stop. Cassia twisted her fingers as she tried to go over her lines. The door opened, washing them in the afternoon light.
    Sarahann climbed out and Cassia followed behind her, blinking once to adjust her eyes to the sudden brightness. She smiled politely at Maconahay as he helped her out. The horses and other wagons were not in sight and Cassia wondered where they were. She glanced around. They weren't unprotected. A full detachment of Karahan Royal Guards accompanied them. Some still sat on their horses while others surrounded the carriage and walkway to the large door.
    It swung open and Erich stepped out with Torr by his side. It felt like an eternity since she'd seen them, but it had only been about a week since the Vesperans had left Karah to begin the wedding preparations.
    "Princess Cassia,