Vengeance

Chapter 2

I race down the well-worn path toward the stables, the laughter bubbling from my chest carried away on the wind. My skirts gather dust as my feet pound against the earth, and each step fills me with a restless kind of energy that only the open air can soothe. The late afternoon sun spreads its golden light across the castle grounds, painting the stone walls in warm hues of amber and rose. Shadows stretch long across the fields, dancing with the rhythm of the breeze, and somewhere in the distance, a bell tolls, marking the end of another day.

This is my favorite hour—the in-between time. The kitchen is behind me, the clamor and heat exchanged for fresh hay, cool air, and the promise of freedom.

A flicker of movement overhead draws my gaze skyward.

A flock of Refletts cuts across the canvas of fading light, their wings catching fire in the glow of the sun. Iridescent feathers flash green, violet, and gold, their long glacier-blue tail plumes trailing behind like silken ribbons. They wheel in effortless arcs, their chorus of trills and whistles spilling across the sky in a wild, beautiful harmony.

I can’t help but whistle back, shaping the familiar notes of the tune I’ve carried for years. The sound feels instinctive, older than I am. Sure enough, one bird breaks formation, gliding down in a long, graceful descent that sends the air rippling in its wake.

“Kaiser,” I whisper, my heart leaping with joy.

The bird lands lightly on my shoulder, talons catching fabric with a gentleness born of habit. His feathers are cool and smooth beneath my fingers as I reach up to stroke his chest. He tilts his head, fixing me with a sharp, intelligent gaze before nudging his soft crest against my cheek. I laugh, the sound bubbling up like a spring.

“Kaiser! I’m so glad you’ve come back.” My voice lowers to a conspiratorial whisper. “It’s been almost two months. Where did you go this time?”

He answers with a high, lilting whistle, his wings shuffling as though punctuating his story. I nod solemnly, pretending to understand every note. “Really? Across the mountains? Well, I suppose that explains your feathers looking shinier than ever.”

He nips affectionately at my sleeve before launching back into the air. His tail feathers fan out like a banner as he climbs skyward, rejoining his flock in a glittering sweep of motion until they vanish over the tree line. My gaze lingers after him, the smile lingering too. With Kaiser near, I never feel entirely alone.

“Ah, Callie—it was you I heard. Talking to the birds again?”

The teasing voice pulls me from my reverie.

I turn to find Arianna leaning casually against the stable doors, her hands planted firmly on her hips, a smirk tugging at her lips. Her dark hair, braided in haste, is already slipping loose in wisps that frame her sun-kissed face. As usual, there’s a smudge of dirt on her cheek—though whether it’s from brushing a horse or her own carelessness, I can never tell.

I shrug, biting back a smile. She already knows the answer, so I don’t bother denying it.

“Come on,” she says with mock exasperation, grabbing my hand before I can respond. She pulls me inside, where the scent of hay, leather, and warm horseflesh greets me like an embrace. The air is cooler here, shaded and thick with the earthy perfume of the animals. Lanterns sway gently from their hooks, their flickering light pooling across beams and straw-strewn floors.

The horses stir as I enter, ears flicking, hooves shifting against the wood. I’ve always believed they recognize me—that some quiet thread binds us.

“Papa, look who I found outside,” Arianna calls out, her voice echoing off the rafters.

Elric’s head pops up from one of the stalls. He wipes his hands on a cloth before stepping into view, his broad frame filling the doorway. Years of working under the sun have etched deep lines into his skin, but his eyes—kind, warm, knowing—never fail to soften when they land on me.

“Hello, Calista,” he greets with the easy familiarity of someone who’s known me all my life. “Come to help with the feeding, have you? The horses do love it when you visit.”

As if on cue, a sharp snort sounds from the nearest stall. I turn, already smiling, and find exactly who I expect: Relin. My heart swells at the sight of him. His sleek coat glimmers even in the dim light, his strong head stretched over the stall door as he blows a warm breath against my face.

“There you are,” I whisper, stepping close. I press my forehead gently against his, closing my eyes as the rest of the world fades away. “Did you miss me, Relin? I’ve been gone too long, I know. But I promise—I’ll visit more often.”

He exhales sharply, the warm gust tickling my cheek before he nudges me with playful insistence. I laugh and scoop up a fistful of hay, holding it out to him. His lips curl around it greedily, the steady crunch of his chewing grounding me more firmly than anything else could.

Behind me, Arianna and Elric share an amused look. They’ve long grown accustomed to the bond between Relin and me, though Arianna never fails to shake her head at it.

“Lettie sent me to help,” I say brightly, turning back to them with renewed energy. “Do the horses need walking tonight? I can do that!”

Elric strokes his chin thoughtfully, then pulls a harness from the wall. “Relin and Hanne haven’t been out yet. I assume you’ll be going bareback again?”

I nod eagerly, already bouncing on my toes.

Arianna rolls her eyes, her sigh exaggerated. “One of these days, Callie, you’re going to take a tumble.”

I flash her a grin, already reaching for Relin’s stall. “Not today.”

With practiced hands, I fasten the harness and swing myself easily onto Relin’s back. He shifts beneath me, muscles rippling, but I can feel the trust between us—steady, unshaken.

Arianna steps aside as I guide him from the stable. The fading sun greets us, spilling molten light across the trail that winds around the castle grounds. Relin tosses his head, eager, his hooves striking the dirt with steady rhythm as we move forward.

The breeze catches my hair, lifting it from my shoulders, and my laughter joins the sound of the wind. The kitchen, the heaviness of earlier, the shadows pressing at the edge of my thoughts—all of it falls away with each stride.

Here, astride Relin, the world is wide and endless. Here, I am not the girl tucked in a kitchen corner, burdened by headaches and strange memories. Here, I am free.

For now, that is enough.