“The southern kingdom is more dispersed,” Raphael explained. “There are towns and other settlements outside the capital. In my kingdom, though, most do stay in Damerel.”
It should have relaxed me that we weren’t going to be invading a human home, especially with my throat aching the way it did, but it reminded me of the fact that the Witch Kingdom was surrounded by vampires.
And if the ancient grimoire I’d been forced to leave locked under my bed was to be believed, I was supposed to keep the witches safe. Not ride horses with the enemy.
Chapter Nineteen
Samara
The inn appeared remarkablyordinary, not unlike the one Raphael and I had stayed at on the way to Apante. Demos and another guard rode ahead, making them aware of our arrival. We all dismounted—I more stiffly than the rest—and one of the guards reached for Contessa’s reins.
“I’ll have her untacked and cooled down,” she explained. Her own mount was at her side.
I hesitated before handing them over. “Can you show me how? I… I’d like to learn how to properly care for a horse.”
“An admirable choice, my lady,” the guard offered.
I waved away the title. “Call me Sam, please.”
“Sam.” She offered a hand. “I’m Larissa, of the Nightsworn. It’s my privilege to guard you.”
I took it, even as I could feel Raphael’s stare on our clasped hands. The vampiress was as tall as Demos, her hair short to the shoulders and cut close on one side.
“I can show you how to tend a horse,” Raphael cut in. “Or I could show you tomorrow at dusk, before we leave, so you can rest. You’re exhausted.”
His arms were crossed, his gaze still on Larissa.
Truthfully, part of why I wanted to learn was to have some distance from Raphael. I’d been surrounded by his scent for all my waking hours since we’d left. My fangs had been aching for days.
I gave the vampiress a small smile. “Larissa can show me. I’m not too tired.”
I could all but feel Raphael’s disapproval, but he didn’t push the matter. He just watched Larissa lead me away. She had us walk around for a bit, leading her horse with ease, before guiding us to the stable.
“You’ve been here before?” I asked.
She nodded with a glance back. “I’ve been part of an envoy between the kingdoms several times over the years. Here, this is how you untack.” She showed me how to remove the bridle on her own stallion and tie him to the stall, and then to adjust the buckles of the saddle.
I mimicked the action on Contessa. Now that I’d spent several hours riding her, she wasn’t quite so scary. As Raphael said, she was a fairly easygoing creature. It was the unfamiliarity that made everything worse. Larissa gave an approving nod, then patiently walked me through the steps to care for a horse after a long ride, including picking the feet, before she handed me a brush and demonstrated the next task.
“Gosh, I feel like I need this,” I mused, as I brushed Contessa’s coat in massaging circular motions. Larissa was caring for her own horse in the stall next to me.
She laughed. “The first days are the hardest. You rode well.”
I snorted. “I thought vampires couldn’t lie.”
“You rode well for a woman who’s new to the saddle,” she amended with a smirk. “You haven’t ridden before, right?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Then you did great. Besides, you’ve been willing to learn the drudgery with it.”
Drudgery. Nearly my whole life had been drudgery. “Tending to an animal that’s carried me for several hours hardly qualifies.”
She set her brush down and stood next to me. “An admirable attitude.” She slipped a palm over my hand.
Perhaps it was meant to adjust my technique.
Perhaps it was simply meant to be a comforting gesture.
