Two elf servants approached carrying large baskets, which they secured to the back of one of the tarrans with straps. I gave Roswen a questioning look, and she smiled.
“It’s such a lovely day. I thought we could ride to the river and have our lunch there.”
“That sounds great,” I said before the rest of her sentence sank in. “There’s one tiny problem.”
Roswen took the reins of the tarran Parisa led to her. “What’s that?”
“I’ve never ridden a tarran.”
“Then you will have to ride with me,” Lukas said from behind me.
I turned to find him astride a glossy black tarran. He smiled devilishly and leaned down to extend a hand to me. My heart gave a little flutter as I walked over and took his hand. He lifted me with ease, settling me in front of him.
“Comfortable?” he asked as his arms encircled me to take the reins.
“Uh-huh.” I glanced around at the other riders, most of whom were watching us curiously. Even Roswen was openly staring, but she looked pleased, too.
I licked my dry lips. “Are you sure it’s a good idea for me to ride with you like this? Won’t people talk?”
“Yes.” He flicked the reins, and his tarran started walking. Conlan and Faris flanked us, with the rest of our party falling in behind. Kaia ran ahead, already on the hunt for something.
We set off across the grounds, skirting the main gardens and lake. When we reached a narrow hard-packed trail, Conlan took the lead with Faris behind us. They put enough distance between us so Lukas and I could talk privately, and it felt like we were in our own little world.
The valley was a riot of colors that were even more vibrant up close. Wildflowers of every hue grew among the tall grasses on the gently rolling hills, and they attracted bright yellow and blue birds no bigger than butterflies. There were trees that looked like pines with silver needles and others with giant red leaves that resembled clusters of open umbrellas.
Lukas pointed out things we passed such as a livestock farm, an orchard, and a small village inhabited mostly by artisans. When I asked why they didn’t live in town, he said they preferred the quieter village.
Further on, a low group of buildings came into view. They were too far away to make out much detail, except for a few people walking around and what looked like tarrans in a fenced area.
“That is a training camp for new recruits,” Lukas explained. “We have another camp on the mountain for advanced trainees.”
“The same mountain your trainer made you run up and down?”
He laughed. “That’s the one.”
For the next hour, he entertained me with tales from his childhood and training years. Most of his stories had some or all of his friends in them, and it was easy to see why they were such a tight-knit circle.
We reached a low rise, and hoofbeats interrupted our conversation. Roswen raced past us laughing with Kellen hot on her heels and half a dozen of their guards chasing after them. Roswen looked back over her shoulder and taunted her brother before she leaned over her tarran’s neck, and they shot forward. She crested the rise and raised her arms in the air with a victorious whoop.
“Roswen and Kellen have always been competitive riders,” Lukas said. “He’s never been able to catch her, but he keeps falling for her challenges.”
I smiled at the comradery between his siblings. “Is she better than you?”
“She’s better than everyone,” he answered proudly.
We followed them up the incline. As we neared the top, Lukas said, “Close your eyes.”
I did. A minute later, we stopped moving, and I was bursting with anticipation when he said, “You can look now.”
I opened my eyes and stared at the view laid out before me. Less than half a mile away, a wide, sparkling river moved slowly as if it had all the time in the world. The far bank of the river was lined with tall trees, and beyond them, the black cliffs rose in the distance.
Between us and the river was a field of undulating flames. No, not flames. They were flowers with reddish-orange blossoms that resembled fire under the sun. The illusion was so realistic, it looked like flames were licking at the legs of the tarrans ahead of us.
“Wow.”
Lukas urged our tarran forward. “Calaech flowers. They grow all over the valley, but they are most plentiful along the river.”
“Beautiful,” I murmured, mesmerized.
We caught up to the others as they were dismounting at a grassy spot beside the river. Two grooms led the tarrans to the water to drink, while we began to set out our picnic.
Roswen was helping me spread a blanket when she scowled at something over my shoulder. “They never give up.”
“Who?” I turned and found another riding party coming around a bend in the river. Rashari was at the front beside the same male who had been with her at the lake. Behind them rode Delphine, Sereia, and two males I didn’t recognize.
Cyrene made a face. “Someone should tell Rashari that desperation is not a good look for her.”
I looked to where Lukas stood by the water talking to Kellen, Conlan, and Faris. Conlan saw the newcomers first, and he said something to Lukas, whose smile disappeared.
“Hello, there,” Rashari called, feigning surprise at seeing us. “I see we are not the only ones drawn to the river today.”
“I’d like to throw her in the river,” Parisa muttered.
Roswen snickered, and I smothered a grin. I would not let anyone spoil this day for me. It didn’t matter how many people crashed our outing as long as I was with Lukas.
Movement behind Rashari’s group caught my eye, and I looked at the blond straggler riding into view. He saw us and waved a hand, and I thought my grin would split my face.
“Tennin!”
“You know Tennin?” Roswen asked.
“He’s a good friend of mine,” I said as he approached. “I’m surprised to see him with Rashari and her friends, though.”
Parisa stepped up beside us. “He’s most likely here because of Delphine. They are cousins.”
I made a face. “I won’t hold that against him.”
The group reached us and dismounted. Tennin handed his reins to one of our grooms and came over to us. He gave Roswen a small bow. “Princess Roswen, you grow more beautiful every day.”
She laughed affectionately. “I see the human world hasn’t changed you at all.”
“And I see you have the same impeccable taste in friends.” Tennin looked at me. “How are you, Jesse? I hope you’re not finding Faerie dull after living in New York.”
Roswen burst out laughing. “Only if you consider being carried away by a drakkan dull.”
“Or surviving a rock slide at the royal dinner,” Parisa added. She lowered her voice. “Although, I believe you were less in danger of the rocks than some of the death glares you received when Prince Vaerik carried you out of there.”
Tennin’s eyes widened. “Do tell.”
Roswen, Parisa, and Cyrene took great delight in recounting the events of last night. In their version, Lukas had vaulted over the head table and run for me as soon as the first rock fell. I thought they were embellishing the story until I met Roswen’s eyes, and she nodded.
“Jesse,” said a quiet female voice.