“Lift the hood, Pet. I’d have you covered before we enter the bailey,” Ryder said, offering his hand in my direction. I took it, and I quickly put the hood over my head and followed Ryder as he led us out of the bustling hall and into the bailey of the castle.
Remembering my brief stint outside with Ryder; I placed our current position at the upper most castle; the biggest of the three tiers. The Horde Kingdom looked as enchanting as any Scottish castle from the fourteenth century from the outside, and inside it was breathtakingly beautiful. It was a bit of a mind bender for me as I always thought that the Horde was scary and that they must live in an awful nasty place. Then I remembered the flowers of the cove and realized that the Horde had a dangerous beauty about it. As if they wanted those coming in, to be lulled into a false sense of security. Ristan once told me that they came from one of the most dangerous places imaginable, so that had to be the case. Put in that perspective, it made sense. It was just another way for them to show their strength to those opposing them.
“You will be riding with me,” Ryder said thickly.
The men looked like we were gearing up for war, and I was ready for it. Even in my condition, I wanted to be busy. I wanted to be out and about, instead of locked away and wrapped in bubble wrap. “Riding?” I said after his words registered in my brain.
“Yes,” Ryder said with an impish grin lifting his lips.
The words had barely left his mouth, when I heard the clip clop of hooved feet over the cobblestones. The horses were being led into the huge courtyard. Ryder’s war horse was the same one that had been with him during the hunt. He was huge with blood red eyes that were sharp, and alert. I stepped back instantly, colliding with something hard. I turned to find Aodhan with his blue and black hair looking down at me with a cheeky grin on his lips.
“By all means, Princess,” he said, and pulled me against his body. His ice blue and electric blue eyes searched my face as I looked up at him from where I was pressed against his hard body. “I don’t mind at all.”
“Aodhan, if you want to keep your hands, I suggest you get them off of her,” Ryder growled as he reached for me and pulled me against his body.
“Just seeing if she’s into me, my King.”
“She’s not,” Ristan said as he pushed his way through to where the Elite Guard had gathered. Darynda was standing beside Z, and Adam, who would be joining us for the trial according to Ryder. He wore black armor as well, but on his was a coat of arms that marked him as a royal from the Dark Kingdom.
Darynda waved to me, but she was eyeing Zahruk with something akin to hunger in her eyes. I shook my head as Ryder headed to the horse and easily mounted him. He turned back to me and held out his hand. I accepted it, and was assisted by Ristan, who had snuck up behind me.
“Allow me, Flower,” he said smoothly, as he hefted me up to Ryder, who placed me astride the horse, in front of him.
I was wrapped in one of Ryder’s big arms, as he turned to address the crowd gathering in the huge courtyard. “We ride for the Horde!” He growled over the crowd, and it erupted in cheers that sent my skin tingling with the sheer volume of it. “Those who stay are to protect the kingdom, and those who ride protect the princess, and the future heir!”
I rolled my eyes. The big guy was a little too happy that his little warriors got the job done. It was a once in a lifetime (I hoped) thing to see the Horde warriors, and the elite guard ride out of the castle. They moved like a well-oiled machine, the entire assembly was three horses wide, and as far as the eye could see when I tried to look back.
“Am I riding the entire time?” I asked as I noticed a few wagons toward the back.
“You ride with me. I can make sure you are safe this way. The Mages are in the area, and the Shifter is here to sniff them out if they get too close. I’m not taking any chances with you. We won’t be able to use glamour, or cast magic when we leave these walls. It is part of what I was telling you last night; to be mentally ready, we must walk as mortals. The elders thought it gave the warriors time to reflect on their past as they prepared for their future as a chosen warrior,” he replied against my ear.
“You plan on squishing me with your arm for the entire ride?” I countered as I turned my face and looked up into his beautiful amber eyes.
He laughed and loosened his hold on me as I shifted to rest against his back. “How long of a ride is this?”
“A few days journey to reach the trail to the labyrinth. After that it should be two weeks or so, to reach the actual labyrinth itself. The men and Adam will stay with you when I enter the trial.”
“Ryder, Vlad and his men have arrived,” Ristan said as he rode up beside us.
“Good, find the Shape Shifter and see if he has caught any scent of the Mages.”
When it got quiet again, I closed my eyes and rested against the protection of Ryder’s body. His soothing scent wafted in, and even though it was morning, I fell asleep in his arms. In the last month I’d been falling asleep with an ease I wasn’t used to. I was willing to bet it had something to do with being pregnant.