“Yet you will allow one of my men to risk the same life for his monthly pennies?”
“It does not seem right,” Hannah protested.
“Dressing up one of my men who will fail is not right. Looking like a princess to any person close enough to see him is right? My men risk their lives daily. They volunteered to join this venture of yours. This young woman also volunteered. Where is the difference?”
“I don’t like it. She’s a target.”
“One that will be protected exactly the same as if you wear her dress and go with us—which was your original plan. Why is it you can risk more than her?”
“It’s my choice,” the young woman said.
Hannah realized she was defeated in the argument. She turned to the woman. “I will remember this. I promise. And thank you.”
Brice took Hannah’s elbow and led her away, probably before she could change her mind. She turned to look over her shoulder at the young woman—and found a princess watching her. She was enjoying the attention of the men, and her long blonde hair fit the description of the missing princess. With the soldiers surrounding and protecting her as they marched, no observer would doubt they watched Princess Hannah.
Brice leaped to the back of the short horse as naturally as if born on a farm. Hannah was dressed as a farmer and wore her hair tucked under the straw hat to look like a younger brother, but she used the rail of a fence to boost her onto the horse. They rode off.
Hannah knew her disguise was flimsy, but all she needed was to get out of sight of the soldiers. She had her backpack, and inside were spells of several kinds. She would use one or more. But again, she had to conceal her abilities from all but Brice. Even the suspicion of a Queen with magic powers would unsettle the kingdom and perhaps others. While magic might be marginally accepted, it wasn’t liked, and nobody trusted those using it.
She had to agree with the general. The soot on Brice’s face gave him the right look. She assumed the same for her, so the magic needed was minimal. She only needed a slight change in her appearance, especially her hair. A spell that changed the color and length would do it, and she had one ready. She also had a replacement knife that would cut hair, and she could color it, skipping the magic.
As soon as they crested a small hill and passed out of sight, she called for a short pause and leaped off the horse beside a stream. She reached into her pack for the spells she had brought from Gallium. The spell on top was her old friend, the no-see-me spell. If they encountered the need, she would quickly cast it and continue her journey on foot.
There was enough of the magic dust to sprinkle over Brice, too. But, it would be easier to use it on herself and walk at his side so people would see him and not look for her. Another packet held a spell that removed anger for a short time. While held in an open palm, a sneeze activated it and blew it at nearby people. Still, another was the spell that enhanced feelings and made people like her and wish to do as she asked. She selected those few and placed each in a pocket on the outside of her pack. The others remained inside, but she mentally reviewed the use of each one and decided if it should also be included in the ones she might need quickly.
“I think those you selected are the best,” Brice said. “Simple, quick, and will maybe give us time to use others, if needed.”
“You’re just trying not to fight with me.”
“That may be true.”
“Is my foul mood that obvious?”
“It’s not a mood. You’re tense, anxious, worried, and above all, about to put an end to this quest you’ve been on for years.”
Hannah felt her face redden and the anger rise. “Quest?”
“Maybe I chose the wrong word. Please calm down.”
“And maybe I should send you on a quest, like walking to the end of the world … and one step further.”
He climbed on his horse before saying, “You are my Queen, and I will do what you ask, but you also charged me with telling you when you’re wrong. If you send me on that Quest, you will not have anyone left to blame your faults on.”
Hannah watched him spur his horse into a trot. Did he just laugh? She looked for something nearby to give her enough height to get on her horse. Even though they were small for horses, she couldn’t quite leap to their backs like Brice.
A boulder provided enough height for her to mount and she rode after Brice. He was right, she knew. She had made him promise to always tell her the truth, but he didn’t have to do it in such a rude manner.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Although they hadn’t departed until afternoon, Brice and Hannah rode steadily until nearly dark. They stopped at a small city named Chamara, located at a wide bend in the river. An inn beckoned, under the sign of a gray fox. The stableman promised to care for the horses, and the inn had a vacant room, hot food, and decent wine. A troubadour sang merrily and played a stringed instrument, but when he sang of the missing princess, Hannah headed for the room with Brice at her heels.
Brice spread his bedroll on the floor in front of the door, so nobody could enter without waking him. Just after dawn, they departed and followed the King’s Road north. The farm horses were used to pulling wagons a short distance and tired quickly. Hannah thought about replacing them with horses better suited for travel and decided against it. They were part of the disguise.
By mid-morning, they dismounted and walked the horses while they talked and concocted a story that they were heading for an uncle’s farm near the King’s Palace to work. He had sent word to them that he needed help because he had broken a leg. Nothing specific. They had never visited the farm, knew little about it, and hadn’t ever met the uncle. They kept one rule foremost; it’s hard to be trapped in a lie when you claim you know nothing.
They alternated riding and walking until late in the day when they searched for another inn or place to spend the night. When they found a small clearing, complete with a stream and well-used fire pit, they decided to sleep there and let the horses graze.
The fire burned cheerfully at dusk, they’d eaten and watered the horses when a regular pounding drew their attention. Two riders approached, bent low over their horses’ necks. Neither man gave them so much as a look as their cantering horses flashed by the small camp.
“They’re in a hurry,” Hannah said.
Brice spoke slowly as if thinking as he talked, “Those were expensive horses, not farm animals. And the men were not soldiers, at least they didn’t wear uniforms, but both wore swords.”
“The word is out about me.”
Brice said, “Yes, those two are out to collect the reward.”
“I wonder if they know about the army protecting the princess.” Hannah went to her pack and reapplied the dust to change her image. She considered using one of the other spells but held off.
Other riders awakened them twice during the night. At dawn, they were on the road again, but shortly after they started, a military patrol stopped and questioned them. Hannah played stupid while Brice haltingly answered questions, mostly by denying he knew anything. He played the part well.
After the patrol had released them, Hannah said, “They wore the King’s colors.”
“But did the work of Princess Elenore, if you ask me. You can’t blame them for wanting to earn a lifetime of gold for themselves, can you?”
She looked at him, almost angry and snapped, “Yes, I can.”
“If Elenore is crowned Queen, were they being disloyal?”