II.

“You will hold, please, Royal House of Sealand!”

Prince Par, beside his father and mother at the head of the procession, craned his body around in the saddle to look back at the familiar voice. Beside him, his cousin also turned to see, while King and Queen Fantill exchanged knowing glances and ordered the line to halt.

Princess Zerra came sprinting across the courtyard. She was wearing rider's clothing of a comfortable leather tunic, and pants, and workmanlike field boots. Behind her ran a distraught hairdresser, still screaming at the princess to come get her hair finished—though it would have to be completely redone from her rushing to stop the Sealand procession. Ignoring the lady, the princess ducked through the crowded courtyard to slide to a stop beside the prince's large courser. “Good, you weren't gone yet.” She huffed slightly.

Par chuckled in amusement and reached down to take the princess's hand. “You will be in trouble, as usual, for this escapade, princess.”

“Who cares,” Zerra shrugged and laughed along with the older boy. “I just wanted to see the royal house of Sealand off.”

“We are very appreciative.” Queen Kesnia thanked Zerra. Her eyes, though, had a look of knowing for whom the send-off was really for. “We will always welcome such courtesy at Seaside Fortress Opal. Please come calling at any time.”

“We will. Thank you, Your Highness.” Zerra politely accepted the queen's invitation.

Queen Kesnia nodded and waved the procession forward. Par's father caught his son's eye before he moved off. “Do not be long, son. We will wait on the southern roadway.”

“Yes, sir.” Prince Par bowed to his father and stepped his mount out of the way to let the others by; though, much to his annoyance, Gordar joined him.

As the line went past, Par looked to the princess to say, “Shall we ride through the orchards?” Zerra nodded, and, with Par's help, she swung up behind the prince to settle onto the courser’s back. Ignoring his cousin, Par cued his mount to a canter and headed out of the bustling courtyard.

They turned away from the main road and into a stand of peach trees in bloom. Cantering leisurely, the two royals enjoyed the spring sun's warmth and the smell of morning dew that permeated the air. The trees were just blooming; the delightful waft of their sent mixed with the smells of dawn. It was a delight, that solitude of the moment.

Unfortunately, though, the stroll ended too quickly. They came to the end of the orchard and found an open wheat field sprawling out in front of them. The field had been left sallow, so Par held little thought of getting into trouble with King Lanar for tracking up the plot, however the empty land was a reminder of where they had come out; it was disappointing that they had ridden so far. Up ahead, Par knew, they would reach the south road and the place where he would have to part ways with the princess.

Indeed, the field ran into the southern road far too fast. Par sighed and eased his courser to a halt. Lord Gordar stopped his mount a few paces away, being ever the courteous Lord Protector. Par was still annoyed with his presence, however, and wasn't afraid to show it. Gordar stared back unblinking. “It looks awkward for a prince not to have his Lord Protector, Your Highness, even in these lands.”

Par started to retort, but a hand on his arm stopped him. “He is right, you know. It was smart of Gordar to accompany you in the courtyard.” Zerra did not have to tell him to be grateful.

“Since when did you start following protocol?”

“Since you tried to make us official to the court.” Zerra replied, jutting her chin out. “Rumors have been flying around all morning.”

Par was shocked. News had traveled that fast?! The gossip in the Crystal court was as fast as in his mother’s court back home. Unsure what to say, Par was left speechless.

“She does not exaggerate,” Gordar continued. “No disrespect intended, Highness, but I did not want you to look foolish back there.”

Par pursed his lips at his cousin's sense. Finally, though, he relented. “No disrespect taken, cousin.” He glanced away then and spotted the Sealand royal procession exiting the grove of trees. Everything was moving too fast! “I will miss you, Zer.”

Zerra nodded solemnly. “And I you. During these times of war, there are no assurances when we will meet again...I just pray it is soon.”

A chuckle sprang from Par's lips. “Anibus would have loved to hear you say that, just now.”

“Yes, I am sure he would.” Zerra smiled at the mention of King Fantill's nephew, Par's closest friend, and a priest-acolyte of the church of Estaria. A year older than Par himself, the young priest had been orphaned at three-years-of-age and raised in the palace with his cousins, up until his induction into the priesthood. “Send my best regards to him.” Zerra asked of Par before she turned to Gordar. “And you, keep the prince from harm, Lord Gordar.”

The golden-eyed lord bowed, as graceful as a swan. “He will be kept safe, My Princess—except for his pride, I am afraid. But no harm will come to him until your return to us. That I promise you, Princess.” With his vow spoken, Gordar spun his horse away and galloped back to the line, leaving the two friends alone.

“He is one true to his word.” Par commented to himself, watching his cousin's retreating back. “Do you know what kind of hell you have just imprisoned me to?”

“Less than what you will get from me if ill finds you.” Zerra promised with a rueful grin. She added teasingly, “My betrothed-to-be.”

Par followed suit in the shared joke before sobering. His eyes got that intense look in them, like the night before, and he leaned forward to kiss Zerra one last time. His hesitation was still there—and he decided to peck her on the cheek instead of her lips—but the feelings he had shown the other night were still hanging in the air. As he pulled away, Par’s warm smile returned. He helped the princess down to the ground. “Happy Berneisse, Princess. May you be well, until our paths meet again.”

Zerra watched the procession pass and disappear beyond the forest edge of mountain pines. Inwardly, she wished the Sealanders a safe and swift travel back to the distant coast. Once the line was completely out of her sight, the princess turned away and started the long jog back to the castle. However, just as she reached the line of peach trees, a loud neigh rang out in hello. Turning, Princess Zerra found Valed Darkness galloping down the line toward her. Farther back were two riders, one Zerra recognized as Zeek on Causinova; the other, she was unsure of, was riding a bay courser.

Vale slid to a stop in front of his young master and lowered his neck so Zerra could stroke his broad forehead. Sighing happily, he leaned into her firm strokes and directed her to an itchy spot at the base of his neck. Zerra laughed as Vale stuck his lip out, stretching his head high. He wiggled his lip in pleasure as she found the best spot. “You're such a ham, you know that?”

“Hey, you going to join us?” Zeek called from behind the black stallion. He and his companion halted their coursers a short distance from the pair. Zerra glanced to her brother's associate and found him to be Rowin Sunrise. “We're going up to the high mountain lakes, if you want to tag along.” On second thought, he added, “We'll be gone all morning and maybe half of the afternoon. You'd be away from the castle most of the day.”

They were just the words Zerra loved to hear. Anything that kept her from “women’s work” was high on her list of things to do—even if she ended up in hot water when all was said and done. Practicing stitches be damned, she was going to join her brother on his excursion! With practiced ease, she swung aboard Vale.

Once seated, they surged forward like one being, both alike in body and mind. Leading the way, the pair raced through the wheat field and around the eastern side of demesne around the Crystal Castle. They headed for the wildlands to the north. Behind, the two princes’ coursers pounded hard on Vale's heels; yet, they began to fade back as the stallion continued his unrelenting pace as he entered the pine trees that formed the northern forests trekking into the mountains. Soon, Vale and his rider left the other horses behind, and still, their pace did not slow. They thundered up a steep mountain side. Only when they reached the top did the great stallion finally stop.

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The view from where they stood was breathtaking. All around the stallion and his rider sprawled snow-encrusted mountain peaks that pushed through a thick blanket of wispy clouds. Tundra grass covered the hard ground, and lichen-covered granite rocks dotted the landscape. Tiny flowers, in sparse clumps of white, blue, red, and purple, peeped out of the thin tundra grass, while budding mountain-willows covered the basins between the peaks and glassy lakes at the hollow of the bowls. In the distance, the giant chain of mountains disappeared in a blue haze, teasing the beholder on how far their beauty actually stretched.

Zerra took the short time she had to herself to relax on her horse's muscular back. She breathed deeply of the crisp, mountain air. Her heart pounded in her chest, beating out her wish for this freedom to last forever, that she would not have to worry about court life again, but the arrival of the two princes broke her revelry. Zerra sighed as Zeek reined Causinova beside Vale and pointed out the high mountain meadows to Rowin.

As she waited for her brother to finish, Zerra studied Rowin's mare, who could only be Blue Galeon. Galeon was, indeed, a finely bred mount. With a perfectly chiseled face, intelligent eyes, and well-flared nostrils, she was stunning. Her neck arched beautifully from a deep chest and broad shoulders, and long legs, as perfect as could be, looked powerful and ground-eating; Blue Galeon had the look of a grey-hound, long and lean. As a mare, she lacked the muscular build of Valed Darkness, whom was also bred for speed and power but all of Zerra's visions of a dainty little mare were dashed. In short, Blue Galeon was everything a fighter looked for in a charger broodmare.

Zeek turned to his sister, once he finished telling Rowin about the pastures. “Rowin wants to see the summer pastures up close to make sure they are adequate enough for Galeon, during her stay.”

So, father must have agreed to breed her. Not that that is a surprise. “Very well. Vale and I know a quick trail to take, but you must follow closely because I won't slow down.”

“Don't worry, My Lady, we can keep up.” Rowin assured her. Zerra glared at the Sunrise prince and squeezed Vale into a canter. “Did I say something to offend her?” Rowin asked Zeek in confusion.

Zeek grinned, “She doesn't like being called a lady by most people. She's sensitive about that.”

“Oh, I didn't know.” Rowin frowned at the departing rider. “I will remember that next time...”

Zeek noticed the cautious glance Rowin had given his sister. “Zer really isn't a mean-spirited person. She is just not suited to be a court maiden. If you don't remind her of her position, she really is quite enjoyable to be around.”

Rowin still looked uncertain, but he did let a polite smile light his lips. “I will remember give that a try; however, if we do not hurry after her, I will never be on the princess’s good side.”

“Agreed.” Together, they asked their horses into a faster pace and caught up with Zerra and her tall stallion. In an almost companionable silence, the three of them came down the easy slop Zerra had chosen and galloped across a flat tundra basin to another trail. Their path led over another ridge and dropped into a large cirque. Lurking in its shadows were over two-dozen blue-blooded horses. They were the harem of Valed Darkness, and the large cirque was his wild domain.

At the sight of his mares, the black stallion bellowed his return and rushed forward, by his own will, to join his herd; Causinova and Blue Galeon pranced in excitement at seeing more horses but held back, as their riders told them to. Zerra vaulted off Vale as he slid to a stop beside his favorite mare, Sun Glory. She left her four-legged friend to join her brother and his guest as they untacked their coursers and let them free. They two princes joined the princess near the banks of the lake.

They sat tensely as Blue Galeon was approached by Sun Glory. As usual, Sun Glory, being the lead mare, decided if she accepted the new arrival into the herd. After some squawking and pawing, Sun Glory turned away from the taller mare and returned to munching grass. Blue Galeon wandered to the edge of the herd and settled down nervously to eating. Satisfied that there would be no fighting amongst the herd, the three high-born youths turned away to talk.

“This place looks well-suited for her needs.” Rowin commented lightly. “I will not worry about her being here.”

Zeek nodded his agreement. “We will give her the best care possible. King Lanar will send a watcher daily to check on the horses, and we will bring them in, if the weather turns ill.”

“And, does Vale stay with his herd or do you separate him, after a time?”

Rowin's question, though directed to Zeek, was answered by Zerra. “He comes and goes as he pleases. No fences can hold him and no hand can tame him.”

“Then why do you ride him?” Rowin tried not to show he was pointing out the fact that she was a girl and a princess. His challenge was blatant.

Zerra recognized his bias for what it was and scoffed at the prince's disdain. “I ride him only because he lets me. He has always been that way. Only the king and myself have been able to sit on his back.”

Rowin recognized her quick temper from the night before and his own flared to life because of it. “So, what you are saying, is that the Crystal Kingdom's prized steed is really just a wild, untamed creature? I brought my prized mare to be bred to a rogue? This is unspeak-.”

“Then take her and your insolent self back to your kingdom and leave us be!” Zerra sprang to her feet with fire in her eyes. “That “creature” you are looking down upon, of a sudden, is better than any courser you will ever come across. Do not forget, it was that fact that you wanted your mare here in the first place!” She turned her back on the two princes—one fuming, the other in angst—and ran to the herd of horses.

Vale left his companionable place beside Sun Glory to comfort his human friend. Zerra stroked his satin neck, to reassure the stallion that she was not angry at him, and whispered into his mane, “They never understand how truly amazing you are. If only outsiders could know you as I have come to...but, not now. Lend me one of your own to carry me away, to a place far beyond social graces.” Vale seemed to nod, as if he understood her words, and nickered to his mares.

A fine-boned, steel grey came prancing out of the herd and flitted over to Zerra. She halted and lowered her finely chiseled, dished head to whuff the princess's hand. Zerra smiled and softly rubbed her hands over the mare's forehead and across her bright eyes, to soothe the lines there. “Rain. An honor that you would carry me.” Rain nickered softly and raised her head. She arched her delicate neck and stood as still as a statue until Zerra was sitting atop her back. With a departing toss of her head, the spirited mare wheeled around and cantered away from the harem. They disappeared over the cirque's lip, with a parting flicker of Rain's silken tail.

Princess Zerra did not bother to give her brother and his guest a backward glance.

Prince Rowin watched her departure with a mix of surprise and anger. “Is your sister always so volatile?” He sounded both astounded and repugnant.

“Only on certain subjects.” Zeek explained in his sister's defense. “Being a lady and anything to do with Valed Darkness would be on the top of that list.”

Rowin had the sense to look embarrassed at the slight. “I only questioned the domestication of your prized stallion, not your sister’s abilities with him.”

“Valed Darkness is the best courser you will ever see; just as Zerra said. No other horse has been able to beat his speed and stamina. That is why people bring their best horses to the contests each Planting Time and Harvest-Gathering Time, in hopes that one of theirs will beat our champion. As of yet, Valed Darkness is undefeated. This fact is also why his offspring are so highly valued. You know these facts; it is the reason you sought out the stallion for the traits he passes onto his young. Do not let your knowing that Valed Darkness cannot be ridden by anyone but two people, diminish your opinion of his breeding capabilities.”

Rowin felt thoroughly chastised but he had the mind to hold his tongue—lest he say something that insulted the Starkindlers more so. “Really, it is not my business what you do with him—only as long as he produces a blue-blooded offspring.”

“That he will.” Zeek promised. He stretched then stood and offered a hand to the other prince to help him rise. “I don't believe word of this incident will reach the king, but you should try to patch up the mess with my sister. Zerra is easy to forgive but forgets naught. Her tongue may be sharp, yet her influence with Valed Darkness can affect your breeding with Blue Galeon. You best not forget that.” Zeek rose and whistled. Causinova trotted over at the signal. Zeek began to pile the two saddles on the horse's withers and back, slinging the two bridles over his shoulders.

“What are you doing?” The Sunarian asked.

“We're walking back,” Zeek answered indirectly, “To give you time to think over things.” Without embellishing, he started back across the pasture, pausing only at the cirque's edge to wait for the prince. “Besides, Prince Rowin, it’s a great way to go sightseeing.”

Rowin kept his grimace from his face. “You have weird ways of paying back insults, Starkindler.”

Zeek shot him a firm smile. “It is not I who will pay you back your insult. My sister's dislike of you tends to lead her to indelicate reproof. Settle your issues with her before you leave—else, it may be a long while before she is on speaking terms with you; however, that may be hard to do, as I doubt Zer will let her presence be seen before your departure this afternoon.”

Rowin understood the warning and hoped that he would get the chance to apologize to the princess. It was not that he was especially wanting to make any extenuations with the princess, but if it made Zeek happy and facilitated their friendship, then it was a small order. However, the afternoon came and went. Rowin did not get the chance to make amends, before the Sunrise departure. The princess’s slight was answer enough of how she felt about the Sunarian royal. Rowin had to make do with his apology to her brother and thankfulness that the situation did not turn into anything; as, it seemed, the no one had gossiped of the event to the Royal House of the Crystal Kingdom. In relief that his Blue Galeon would stay on a a brood mare, Prince Rowin bid the northern kingsmen good-bye.

It was only after the Sunrise Kingdom's procession was well beyond the Crystal demesne that Zerra returned to the keep. She and her brother did not say a word about the tiff between Rowin and herself. It seemed the princess was willing to let bygones be bygones. With that unaddressed offense, the princess's Berneisse came to a mediocre end.