This was originally a drabble, and is now a story, set between HKT and Blackveil. As such, if you haven't read HKT, there be spoilers ahead.


Karigan urged Condor out of his lazy walk and into a brisk canter. Already the lofty spires of Corsa's highest buildings were rising above the lush green trees that lined the Kingway. She was familiar with the sight, having travelled this path many times as a merchant's daughter helping her father with his wagon trains. Already there was the salty tang of sea air on the breeze. Karigan grinned. She was almost home.

Yet there was still something to dampen her mood. The messages that sat snug in the satchel embossed with the symbol of the winged horse should have been ordinary, and for all the other Riders carrying them they were. But for Karigan, they burned.

About a week before, every available Rider had been sent forth from the castle with invitations. Specifically, wedding invitations to the royal nuptial celebrations of King Zachary Hillander and his Queen-to-be, Lady Estora Coutre. The man Karigan loved. The woman who, once her best friend, was now separated from her by a sea of some self-pitying jealousy she couldn't quite define. The date had finally been set for the Summer Solstice, the most portentous date in the calendar, according to the moon priests.

And it was the Riders' jobs to bear the letters to the great and good across the provinces.

But part of Karigan was relieved about the mission, too. Since becoming Rider SirKarigan, she had been invited to balls and garden parties and outings for the nobility. The only one she hadn't had an excuse for avoiding had been a nightmare. It had been filled with soft-spined, pampered nobles who had begged for her version of Lady Estora's rescue only to coo and titter over how brave she was. Slightly patronisingly, Karigan had thought. And presiding over it all had been Zachary, sat on his throne with his silver fillet resting on his amber hair, watching everything. Lady Estora sat at his side, resplendent as always. Through the heat of the dancing and the confusing crush of bodies, Karigan's eyes couldn't help but trail up to the dais, no matter how hard she commanded them not to. And every time she did glance that way, King Zachary's eyes were always fixed on her.

That had been bad enough, but then he had stood, and came over to her as boldly as court decorum would allow, and requested a dance. One could hardly refuse the king, and the request had come so unexpectedly, and with such a burning gaze, that Karigan had been stunned into accepting. They had waltzed around the floor, Karigan's cheeks flaming crimson. He was so close. His eyes were so intense and regretful, his arms so strong around her, that for a few moments she forgot everything but his presence. It was intoxicating. Then the music stopped and the world fell back into place. She was a commoner, a Green Rider in Green Rider formal uniform, dancing with the king. And he was slightly too close for it to be proper.

Karigan shook the memory from her mind. It wouldn't do to be thinking about it now. "Come on Condor, if we get there soon we can have some lunch before we leave again."

The good thing about being on an errand was that it was the perfect excuse to stay away from the castle –and Zachary. And she had been on a lot recently. She had scarcely got back from Arey Province before Captain Mapstone had sent her to carry out this new mission. She was beginning to suspect Captain Mapstone was deliberately trying to keep her away.

Condor whinnied suddenly and the marble entrance gates of Corsa came into view, the huge arch framed with statues of those who had built the city. Karigan put everything else out of her mind and let the wind carry the last of her cares away. After all, Corsa was home.