The group was waiting for us when we crossed over the ridge, down to the site where we had spent so many days and nights. If I hadn’t been so exhausted from lack of sleep, I would have probably been nervous. As it was, I blindly followed Ruby as we gathered and eventually mounted to leave.
Chevelle, Steed, and I were back on our mounts from the earlier leg of the journey. Ruby, Grey, and Anvil each rode their own black horses, though Anvil’s was larger (I assumed to accommodate his massive frame) and Ruby’s was decorated, tendrils of red and gold in its mane. Though not unusual, I didn’t see Rhys and Rider or the wolves. I wondered if they had their own horses and preferred to stay out of sight or if they ran with the wolves. I felt slightly comforted either way.
Once we were on our way, I didn’t mind so much. I was enjoying being back in the rhythm of the ride, not to mention the break from training. Conversation flowed easily between the riders as we made our way farther up the mountain. I had been thinking about my discussion with Steed but hadn’t decided how to respond if I were asked again about the incident in the clearing, about controlling the snake. No one knew about the hawk and I wasn’t sure how I had done it to begin with, so I couldn’t exactly explain it. It would have been like explaining how to wiggle your ears to someone who wasn’t able. But it was easy for me, much easier than fire even.
I considered my horse. I’d had so much trouble learning to control him, trying to push him from the outside. I fell back a little from the group and tried to settle into his mind as I had the snake, the hawk. I closed my eyes, trusting him not to run into anything, though a low limb was the more likely problem. It was more difficult and... different. I was there though, leading him and seeing what he saw. It felt odd, uncomfortable, not like the hawk. The feeling reminded me of something and I drew back, opening my eyes to focus on remembering.
The small gray bird on the lip of the library window. For a fraction of a second I had been there, in that bird before I dropped it. I hadn’t realized, the moment seemed insignificant in the course of things. I laughed at myself as it dawned on me that I probably could have simply made it stop singing. And the frog that had exploded on my white gown, I had been there for a mere instant. Their minds were so small, so simple, it was like nothing. The horse was different. It was watching for predators, concentrating on the path, its steps, carrying a load.
I tried to find another animal to experiment on. Our group wasn’t exactly small or quiet so I was sure we’d scared most of the larger animals off. I wondered if I could figure out a way to locate them without seeing where they were first. I thought of the wolves. If I had an animal trained, I could call it to me to use at my leisure. I had no idea where they were now. Besides, the thought of entering those massive, vicious-looking animals made me uneasy. Maybe I could get in on the hunt tonight, find something then, away from the clatter of rocks under horse hooves.
An idea struck me and I closed my eyes again to fall into Steed’s horse. It felt similar to my own, though I could tell he had more power, more confidence. I pulled back and experimented with each of the other horses. Anvil’s seemed slower, fatigued. The others were about the same, though I noticed Chevelle’s horse was more skittish. I was sure Steed had done that on purpose.
“Frey?” Ruby was talking to me.
I pretended I’d been alert. “Yeah?”
I hadn’t fooled her. “Doing okay?”
“Uh huh.”
I decided to take the opportunity; I had a dozen questions since reading the diary. “Hey, Ruby, are there any castles around here?” The caravan stopped as everyone turned to stare at me. I had no idea what I’d said wrong. I must have given away the fact that I had no clue where I was. It wasn’t my fault, I’d never left the village. I didn’t know anything about anything. She glanced to the watching eyes and again to me. I was sure she was waiting for something, they were waiting for something.
“Well, it’s just that I remember reading… in the village… about castles in the North.” Was I supposed to have read that? Was that in the documents I had pilfered from the library? Shut up, Frey, shut up!