Chapter 20: Two Riders, One Grudge

"Thank you so much for your hospitality." Karina thanked the innkeeper and the others who had served them. Leonidas had just handed him a fat purse of golden coins, and the innkeeper looked genuinely overjoyed.

"The honour is ours, your Imperial Majesty!" He responded, lowering his head in a deep bow. "Safe travels!"

Her eyes moved to the second carriage driver, Lucas apparently, whose eyes were red rimmed from crying. He had refused to join them for breakfast, claiming he needed to make sure the horses were well.

Poor Lucas, Karina thought. She had been so focused on herself that she hadn’t even properly acknowledged the innocent driver who had been mauled to death. The man who had simply been doing his job.

She walked towards Lucas, who was preparing to board the driver’s seat once more, hand-in-hand with her son. When Lucas noticed her, his eyes briefly widened, and he made a poor attempt at a smile.

"Your Imperial Majesty," he started, his gray eyes fogging with tears all over again. "Did you enjoy your breakfast?"

Karina’s face fell. "Lucas, please accept my deepest condolences for the death of Sylas. I will ensure you and his family are properly compensated for this journey."

Lucas’s lips trembled. He tried to hold it together, but a single tear slipped down his cheek, then another. He quickly wiped them away with the back of his hand, his voice cracking. "Sylas....he was like a father to me. He taught me everything about horses, about the roads, about how to read the stars at night. He—" He choked, unable to continue.

Karina’s heart squeezed painfully. She looked over her shoulder and saw Leonidas standing a few paces away. He wasn’t looking at the carriages or the horses. He was staring at a bloodstained patch of dirt close to the inn, his nostrils flared. He was sniffing the air, cataloging the lingering scent of death.

Men, she thought, a flash of irritation cutting through her grief. Can’t you just mourn for a second?

But she forced her attention back to Lucas.

She reached out and gently took his calloused hand in hers. He flinched, clearly unaccustomed to being touched by royalty, but she held him firmly. "I am so sorry, Lucas. Truly. Sylas’s death was not in vain. He helped protect us, and I will never forget that."

Lucas stared at her, his gray eyes wide with shock. Then, slowly, a fragile, watery smile broke through his grief. He squeezed her hand back. "Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty. It... it pleases me to know you valued and knew the worth of his life."

Karina smiled back, her own eyes stinging. "He was a brave man. He deserved more than what he got."

She released his hand and turned back to the group.

General Aldric stepped forward immediately, his eyes darting about briefly before they focused. "Your Imperial Majesty, with all due respect, you and Prince Valen should enter the second carriage. It still has a door. You are royalty of Zyleria—"

Karina held up a hand in one movement, a smile gracing her lips. Since she had changed, Aldric had become considerably nicer to her. "Hmm. I appreciate your concern, but I have a better idea."

Aldric’s eyelids fluttered. "Your Majesty?"

Karina looked at the battered, doorless lead carriage. Then she looked at the two strong horses hitched to it. Then she turned her gaze to Leonidas, who had finally stopped sniffing the air and was now watching her a curious gaze.

"We will disconnect the two horses from the first carriage," Karina announced. "Aldric and Leonidas can ride them. Meanwhile, the rest of us will take the second carriage—which has a door, as you so kindly pointed out."

Aldric’s jaw dropped. He looked at the muscular panther king, then at the elegant, perfectly good second carriage, then back at Karina. "Y-Your Majesty, I cannot possibly ride alongside His Majesty. The protocol—"

"Protocol is flexible when lives are at stake," Karina responded quickly. "Besides, I am the crown. I say we do it this way."

Aldric looked helplessly at Sophie, who was trying very hard to suppress a smile. Then he looked at Leonidas.

Leonidas raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He strode forward, crossing his arms over his chest. "You want me to ride a horse? Like a common soldier?"

"No," Karina said sweetly. "I want you to ride a horse like a king who has no other options. But if you prefer walking, I’m sure you’ll catch up eventually."

Leonidas’s smirk vanished. "Really?"

"Yes," Karina said, enjoying the way his smirk fell off his face. "Really. Or would you rather cram yourself into a carriage with me, Valen, Sophie, and Aldric? Because I can assure you, there’s not enough room for your ego."

Leonidas stared at her for a long moment. Then, slowly, a chuckle rumbled from his chest. It was unexpected, a deep sound that made Karina’s stomach flip in a way she certainly did not appreciate.

Ugh.

"Fine," his voice came out, bearing the faint hint of amusement. "We’ll ride the horses."

Aldric looked like he had swallowed a lemon. "I... Your Majesty, I really don’t think—"

"Don’t think," Karina interrupted cheerfully. "Just ride. And try not to kill each other. We’re already down one driver today, I don’t want to lose a general, and a king."

Aldric’s face flushed, but he nodded stiffly. "As you command, Your Imperial Majesty."

~

They set to work immediately.

The lead carriage was stripped of its remaining supplies, and the two strong black stallions were unhitched from the ruined shell. Leonidas and Aldric stood side by side, both equally tall, equally broad, equally determined not to show any weakness in front of the other.

"Shall we?" Leonidas questioned, feigning politeness.

"After you, Your Majesty," Aldric replied through gritted teeth.

They mounted the horses easily. Leonidas looked utterly natural on horseback, his broad shoulders squared, his black hair flowing behind him. Aldric, too, sat tall and proud, his hand resting casually on the reins.

But the moment they were both seated, they turned to face each other, and the glares they exchanged could have melted steel.

Karina watched from the doorway of the second carriage, Valen’s hand in hers. She bit her lip to keep from laughing.

Oh, this is going to be a long journey.

As they boarded the second carriage, Sophie settling in beside Valen, Karina taking the opposite seat, Leonidas and Aldric flanked them on horseback.

"Ready?" Karina called out, leaning out the window.

Leonidas gave a curt nod. Aldric tipped his head.

The driver, Lucas, sniffled once, wiped his eyes, and clicked his tongue.

The carriage lurched forward.