Big hugs for you if you are still around and would like to continue reading this story! Hope you enjoy this part!
CHAPTER 105
Varian was racing towards the castle grounds, the wind whipping his hair. "You are expected in the stables", the King had said after they all had lunch under the gazebo. Varian whished he had gotten more explanations, but still pumped up by the excitement of his new freedom, he was merely content with running in this vast open space without any guards on his heels. Ruddiger hopped lazily after him, not so enthusiastic as his human friend.
His happiness was short-lived, though, as he saw a familiar figure in the distance, and his pace slowed before he realized it. Although the silhouette was slightly hunched and not standing straight as usual, the boy recognized it immediately and something at the back of mind wondered how he hadn't noticed that earlier during the trial.
And it stung all the more to realize it now, because Varian knew that he was the one responsible for the physical change. He attacked and hurt this man when he decided to attack the castle. The Captain of the Guards. Cassandra's father.
At the last minute, he wanted to turn around and run in the opposite direction, but the man suddenly glanced towards him. No turning back then.
"Ah, Varian," the Captain greeted, quickly adopting a more official posture despite the dull pain in his back. "I'm glad you're here. Now we don't have a minute to lose. Saddle up, boy!"
Varian stood there, frozen, not knowing what to do or say. The man had always been so stern towards him, and Varian couldn't blame him. He was doing his job, and on top of that, he probably had a serious grudge against him after he tried to squeeze the air out of his daughter's lungs. And now, it seemed that Varian was standing in front of a totally different person.
The Captain noticed how the boy shifted from one foot to another as his brain tried to figure out how things could change so fast.
"Relax, Varian, it's all right. You are not a prisoner anymore, and the King has asked me to assess your riding skills. You didn't think we would send you out there in the world without some training, did you?"
Varian's jaw worked slowly but no word came out. A familiar voice, a comforting one, jarred him out of his stupor.
"Or did you intend to walk all the way?"
Varian felt all tension leave his body and he broke into a run towards his blond friend.
"Phil!"
The young man was coming out of the stables, leading two horses by the reins. One was tall with a golden-brown coat and the smaller one was dapple-gray with dots along the neck and back. While the first one displayed a fine, chestnut brown mane, the latter had a thick black mane that showed a certain resemblance with Varian's hair in the morning.
"Hey, easy now, Varian, don't wanna let go of the reins!" Phil laughed as he staggered back, nearly losing his balance when Varian flung himself against his chest.
Varian's hug was genuine, but his bright mind quickly recovered from its confusion and used the situation to its advantage.
"What am I doing here? I-Is the Captain still mad at me?" he whispered only for Phil to hear.
"You heard the Captain," Phil chuckled, "he wants to know how well you can handle riding a horse. We will need to…"
"We?" Varian interrupted. "What do you mean, we?"
"I'm coming with you, of course!"
"What?...Wait, slow down! How?... Why?.." Varian pulled away from Phil. For him, saving his Dad had been a quest he had to lead alone for so long that it was difficult for him to think otherwise. "And what about your family? Your Dad a-and sisters?"
"Look, her Majesty summoned me while you were resting after the trial. She asked me to stay by your side and follow you wherever you would decide to go to find out how to free your father."
Varian pondered for a few seconds. It was like the Queen could read his mind now. She had guessed that he wouldn't stay within the castle walls after being officially pardoned even before he fully realized himself that he was free.
"Besides," Phil added with a wink, "she would have my head if I let you leave on your own. I don't need any trouble with her!"
Varian laughed at that, a beautiful music to Phil's ears. "Here! Time to meet your new friend!", he said, shoving the black-maned horse's reins into Varian's hands.
And before Varian knew what was happening, the little horse gave the teen a cheerful headbutt, much to Ruddiger's disapproval.
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"Keep your shoulders slightly in advance of your hips before you jump! And your eyes must look forward, never down!"
Varian was exhausted. After a whole afternoon of riding practice at all the different gaits, jumps over obstacles that got always higher and the many instructions that the Captain barked at him, the amount of effort – both physical and mental- was starting to take its toll. Luckily, being raised in the countryside, Varian had experience with horses back in Old Corona and Tangle, his new horse, seemed eager to please his rider and kept prancing around, not caring if his ebony mane was a mess in the end.
Quirin had always refused to own a horse though, which was very unusual from a leader of a land like Old Corona. It never seemed to be a matter of money or lack of horses around. Now Varian thought back of it, that was another mystery for which Varian would only get a vague explanation, if he got any at all. Was his father afraid of traveling? Traveling where?
Varian felt a knot forming in his stomach as some things started to sink in. First of all, he was about leave the only Kingdom he had always known. He had never even gone beyond the wall behind his vey house. And yet there he was, getting ready to head to wherever the black rocks would take him. The very same black rocks his father desperately tried to keep him clear of. The last time Varian disobeyed his father's orders about the rocks, he paid for it dearly. Was he ready to go against his father's ways again?
And all this for what? To catch up with the Princess. Varian, like every child who grew up in the Kingdom, had heard the tales about the old times when Demanitus stopped the demon Zhan Tiri with magic and science both. It didn't take a genius to guess that he and Rapunzel could be the key to stop, or at least understand, the black rocks that plagued their home, like it or not.
Because, no, Varian was not looking forward to seeing her again. Even though the rage that ran through him had died down since the day he fought against her, a small part of him remained upset and even angry at her. He used to look up to her, counted on her friendship and loyalty, only to be dumped and ignored in his time of need, and….
No.
Don't go there. You cannot afford it, he kept repeating to himself. You have to catch up with her, you just have to. Demanitus. The ancient tales. Science and Magic. You and Rapunzel.
But it was so hard.
Everything was so messed up in Varian's head. In the span of a few hours, he went from exhilarating ecstasy to gnawing self-doubt. Was the journey he was about to undertake the right thing to do?
Varian had to save his taunting thoughts for later, as Tangle decided to go once again for the basket of carrots that was hanging from the fence against Varian's will.
"Whoa!", Varian yelled as he didn't expect the sudden move. The boy tried to pull the reins and regain control, in vain. Carrots were obviously Tangle's weakness, in which his rider had little to no say.
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Varian dragged himself to his room, sore and stiff from the riding practice. At least, the Captain had deemed him perfectly capable to journey on horseback. Varian was more than grateful for that, especially because, while it would be far less comfortable than a caravan, it was his only chance to catch up with the Princess and her party.
But that would be for the next day. All the teen knew at that moment was that he needed to reach his bed, lay down and think of nothing.
When he pushed the door of his room, however, he was welcomed by Frederic and Arianna who were waiting for him.
"Um… Arianna? Your Majesty?" he stammered, not taking the liberty of calling the King by his name. He hadn't been invited to do so, and he somehow believed it was best to keep that distance between them, at least for now.
"I'm sorry, Varian", the King started, "we know that you have had a long, eventful day. But there is one last thing we need to talk about before you leave."
Varian raised an eyebrow. What had he done now?
"Don't worry, Varian", Arianna reassured him, "it's nothing that would compromise your journey with Phil. You may remember that… well maybe not, but you lost consciousness at the trial."
"Y-yeah… so?"
Frederic took over.
"So, the trial couldn't be completed in due form. Your situation has been taken care of, but it is not the case for everyone. And even though only I, as King, can say the final judgement, I think that, in this particular case, you should have your say."
"My say? What on Earth would you need my opinion fo…" Varian's voice trailed off and he paled slightly as he understood where this was coming at.
"That's right, my boy. I would like you to give me your thoughts on a just punishment for Nigel."
Big thanks to Rain4evah on Tumblr for their precious help on the creation of the horse Tangle!
