George gasped with astonishment for a moment, failing to understand the implications of her presence. But a second later he was forced to remember his manners as Alyssa surreptitiously poked him in the side.
"Stop gaping at me like a fish!" she scolded, "People will talk. And we can't have that." She continued in a louder voice, "Again, allow me to apologize Lord Prince, may I ready a horse for your pleasure?"
"Oh, well, uh yes. Yes please, my horse if you would be um so kind…" His voice trailed off as Alyssa spun away to do his bidding. Bizarre, thought George feeling uncomfortable. Then he walked over to help her brush his tall bay down, helping to tack up as well.
"Where are you planning to ride today, Lord Prince?" asked Alyssa solicitously as they worked.
"Oh," George responded, "I –er that is, I had thought to go out onto the trails behind the palace."
With a slight smile at his messy reply, Alyssa merely commented, "I did not know that there were trails there. I thought it might be dangerous up the mountain, not that I doubt your capability Lord Prince. I hear you are an excellent horseman."
"I thank you, though I assure you any skill I possess has surely been exaggerated. You're right of course, the trails can be a bit, not dangerous per say, more along the lines of uncertain. But I try to stay cautious and bring a friend along so that should one of us need assistance, the other can ride for help." George explained.
"Sounds complicated," said Alyssa with a teasing grin before remembering her role, "Lord Prince." She added hastily, "With whom are you planning on enjoying these uncertain trails, Crown Prince?"
"Well no one as of yet, I hadn't thought that far ahead." George replied with a shake of his head. "I usually just take whichever stable hand is free. Might you go ask who can spare the time?"
"Certainly Lord Prince," said Alyssa, "I'll return shortly."
And return she did, leading a proud gray mare by the reins over to where George stood. He raised an eyebrow at her prompt return guessing that she had not actually requested permission to ride out, but maintained his silence. Together, they walked from the stable and mounted before meandering through the grounds to the gates.
"Lord Prince," the guards mumbled as they pulled the tall gates wide for the two horses to pass.
"Gentlemen," said George with a smile.
Alyssa found she was smiling too; excited to be out of the palace, out with her friend, and on a horse again. The gray mare, Isis, was a feisty little thing but Alyssa relished the chance to stretch her muscles. They reached the trailhead, and Alyssa took the opportunity to glance back at the stunning landscape. Her eyes never tired of the vivacious colors of Axia, the way the trees stretched and wove outward more than upward creating a swirling green canopy entranced her. Isis picked her way carefully along the trail behind George's horse; her hoofs trampling over hopeful young greenery, only to watch it spring up again in her wake.
Alyssa was so distracted; she only noticed just in time that George had stopped ahead of her. She pulled Isis up beside him and raised her eyebrows in silent inquiry.
"Yes, it's safe to speak here." George replied.
"I'm sure you're bursting with questions," Alyssa said smiling, hoping to keep the conversation light for as long as possible. She had enjoyed working in the stable, pretending at normality for a while. But her reluctance aside, the expression on George's face expected answers to his unasked questions. Trying not to release her melancholy sigh, Alyssa squeezed her horse's sides until the mare moved to a brisk trot. Over her shoulder she called back to George, "Let me be free for five more minutes. Just five." Turning so she would not have to see his reaction, she rode on, marveling once more at the landscape. The ground fell away beneath them, their speed devouring the trail. The wind buffeted her ears until its dull roar became the pulsing soundtrack to her flight. Alyssa tried to memorize this fast, free feeling of the air tugging happily at her hair and clothes before she pulled her mare to a smooth stop.
George rode up beside her and they smiled down at the view before them. Alyssa slid from the saddle with a dreary sense of déjà vu, here they were in some deserted location, she about to tell George something he would probably be happier not knowing. And suddenly the free feeling she had been enjoying fell away to reveal the haggard princess beneath. Alyssa the stable girl was having a good week, Alyssa the Crown Princess of Rechad had never had a worse week in her life. Noticing the change in her demeanor, the smile slipped from George's face to be replaced with intense concern. He too dismounted and, taking the reins of both horses, tied them to a nearby tree to graze. Then he sat down on the thin layer of grass and waited patiently for Alyssa to explain herself.
"Hello, George." She started with a weak smile.
"Hello, Alyssa." He answered evenly. More silence. And then, Alyssa threw herself to the ground beside him, leaning back on her hands. As though she were telling her story to the sky, Alyssa began. With her journey to the Duke's estate on account of his bullying ways in the local town, which turned out to be far more sinister. How the people the Dukes stole from the town on trumped up charges were then forced to take part in his personal army. How a friend of hers (she neglected to mention Friday by name for the girl was sweet but skittish, and Alyssa had promised to omit reference to her) had overheard the Duke conspiring.
"Conspiring? Against the crown?" George sounded shocked to the core, and Alyssa turned to look at him. "I would never have thought him capable of such complexity." He mused aloud.
"Of course he isn't, the Duke of Belmonte is irreparably dim," Alyssa said scathingly, "Led only by his desires. The real brain behind the operation is Sir Patrick."
"Sir Patrick?" demanded George sitting up straighter, his dark green doublet askew. "You can't mean the same man we banished from this court years ago!"
"The rumors believe that he is that same man. Why was he exiled?" Alyssa asked with concern.
"Charges of slavery and assault," replied George heatedly, "the man was disgusting, tall, thin and so unbearably mysterious. Finally there were too many rumors of his conduct to ignore, and my father was forced to investigate. I shall not repeat what we found, for it was a sight so horrible as to still cause me the occasional nightmare. He had snared a group of servants for his own sick pleasures, keeping them locked up in a secret compartment of his rooms." George's brown eyes were uncharacteristically fierce as he relived Sir Patrick's offenses. Alyssa shuddered with horror at his story, and his eyes immediately softened. "Tell me, what is Sir Patrick planning now?"
"Regicide." She whispered, "my parents, he plans to-to kill them."
"And you? What does he plan for you Alyssa? Is that why you fled? But then why not to Rechad to warn your parents?" George's eyes were fiery with concern and determination once again. Alyssa could practically hear his mind whirring with possible defensive strategies.
"He does not plan to kill me," Alyssa laughed bitterly, addressing the sky again because George's intense brown eyes made the whole situation too real. "Oh no, his plans for me are far worse. Do you know, George, of the Rechadian tradition? Perhaps not. Well it is custom for a monarch when saved from murder to grant any wish their savior might have. Any wish at all, besides the crown of course. But the clever Duke, or rather his clever advisor Sir Patrick, plans to reach the kingship by other means." She finished derisively.
"You." George said quietly, "They'll use you as a figure head. Threaten you with the death of your friends." He looked disgusted by the notion, but Alyssa merely smiled.
"Ah, George, of course not. Their plan is above such folly as petty threats. I," here Alyssa paused as though rolling the words around in her mouth, tasting them before speaking again, "am to be wed."
Alyssa laughed at the expression of dismay that appeared on George's face. "But-But surely not!" George exclaimed, "It can't be that easy! He is but a lord!"
"But he will soon be a lord who has saved my life. It will be a staged battle I imagine. The Duke will swoop in at the last moment to stop a dagger at my throat or something. And then, when I offer the prize, as I must, he will choose my hand in marriage."
"Even married you will still wield a great deal of power, you can overthrow him Alyssa. The people are loyal to you." Alyssa turned to look at him quietly; her expression was one of polite disbelief.
"George." She began quietly, "Don't you see? I would have some sort of tragic accident long before I had the chance to act." He regarded her sadly, and slid his hand over her own giving it a gentle squeeze. Concern. Loyalty. Determination. A friendly gesture, she reminded herself, nothing more. But even so, her pulse quickened as her mind distractedly noticed how solid and capable his hands were. She squeezed his hand back and found strength and solace in the touch of another person. No one was ever this comfortable with her in Rechad except her father. They viewed her as a violation of privacy, a magical accident. She was never touched unless it was compulsory, and even then with reluctance. With effort, she raised her eyes from their entwined fingers to look at George. Brown eyes stared back at her.
"I have a plan, but it can only be executed with your help. I know you didn't want to be too involved with the Council, but please George I just need your advice, your resources. I have to warn my parents without walking into the Duke's trap, I have to save the people of Bryn from his tyranny, I have to fix this or—" Alyssa's panicked rambling was cut off as George's lips covered her own. A muffled noise of surprise escaped her, and then she was lost in sensation. The kiss was soft and searching, George's hand cupping her cheek. Alyssa felt him begin to pull away and slid her a hand behind his neck to keep him where he was. At this obvious sign of acquiescence, George's other hand moved to her hair, while Alyssa's free hand moved to rest on his chest. After another long moment, George succeeded in pulling away to stare into Alyssa's green eyes.
"We'll save your parents and your kingdom, ok? Axia is at your beck and call." Alyssa nodded.
"Thank you," she whispered, kissing him lightly. They sat together for another hour, hands intertwined, discussing how best to proceed.
"I could work," George mused.
"It has to," Alyssa whispered.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
A short chapter, I know, forgive me. So Alyssa and George are finally together! hope that made you guys as happy as I was.