Kingdom of Sea and Stone (Crown of Coral and Pearl #2) - Mara Rutherford Page 0,33

the cavalry at Fort Crag simply because I am the best rider. Kester is my second-in-command, and she will be taking over while I escort you to our capital, because I also sit on that council.”

“Apologies,” Talin said, looking chagrined. I wished he wouldn’t. Roan didn’t strike me as the kind of person who would be impressed by Talin’s courtly manners.

“Never mind. We’ll get you properly outfitted and set out right away. Just as soon as we find a new mount for the girl.” He was staring directly at me.

I stared back. I didn’t like this boy at all. He was brusque and demanding, and Titania belonged with me. “No.”

He tilted his head to the side. “No?”

“Kester said Landrey hasn’t returned. We purchased Titania, and she has bonded with me.”

His lips twisted in another humorless grin. “If that’s the case, she won’t let me take her from you.”

Titania’s dark ears flickered back and forth, listening. “Very well,” I said finally. “Come and try.”

“Nor.” Talin had remounted and stood next to me on Xander, and there was a note of warning in his voice.

“It’s fine,” I said. “The worst that’ll happen is I’ll get another horse.”

“Something tells me that’s not the worst that could happen,” Talin muttered from the side of his mouth.

Roan was approaching on his shaggy steed, more mountain goat than horse. I had no idea what to expect. Surely he didn’t plan to take Titania from me while I was still mounted?

“Move,” Kester commanded, motioning the rest of our party to back up. Talin did so reluctantly.

Roan dismounted, and his horse wandered several feet away, picking at a few scraggly blades of grass that had managed to find sunlight between the rocks. “Titania,” he said. Her ears pricked forward immediately. “To me.” He made a flicking gesture with his wrist. I could feel her body tense beneath me, but she didn’t move.

Roan’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. He made the same motion again, but when I didn’t respond to the gesture, Titania ignored him, instead scraping at one front leg with her teeth.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand what’s supposed to happen,” I said, scratching absently at my own arm. I couldn’t deny I was enjoying this.

Roan frowned. “All our horses are trained to obey their commanders if their riders fall. Landrey was in my unit. Titania should respond to me in her absence.” He made another half-hearted flick of his wrist.

“I told you she was bonded to me. We’ve spent the past week on the road together. She alerted me when Ceren’s guards were approaching. She would sleep with me if she could.”

“Of course she would. That’s what our horses are trained to do on the road.”

I had to restrain myself from giving Talin an I-told-you-so smirk.

“Very well,” Roan said with a shrug. “You can keep her for the time being, at least until Landrey comes for her. She will never forsake her First Rider.”

“I understand.” Or at least, I thought I did. But what if Landrey never returned? Would Titania remain mine? I patted her neck, grateful she hadn’t gone to Roan. I would have let her go if I had to, but I wasn’t sure how I could ride another horse after Titania.

Roan escorted us into a supply room in the base of the fortress, where we were outfitted with Galethian saddles and heavier clothing for cold nights.

“This should fit you,” Roan said, handing me a fur vest that looked suspiciously like his horse’s coat. Talin and Grig were sifting through weapons with Kester, and Zadie was being taught more of her horse’s commands by another Galethian.

I took the vest and rolled it up, tying it to one of the many straps on the high-pommeled Galethian saddle. “Thank you. And thank you for letting me keep Titania for now. She has made this journey far easier than it could have been.”

“I didn’t let you do anything,” he replied, patting Titania’s cheek. “She chose for herself.” She nuzzled my shoulder, and Roan laughed. “She has good taste.”

I shot him a sharp look, but he had already turned away. “I know why your sister is here. She’s betrothed to Samiel. But I don’t know your story.”

“My story?” I flipped through a pile of saddle blankets for something softer. “I don’t have a story.”

“Everyone has a story.” He leaned up against the wall, folding his arms and watching me intently. He had more scars crisscrossing his forearms, and I couldn’t help thinking that they would be a source of shame