Read Online Pirate Princess by Catherine Banks - Free Book Online Page B

reluctantly took off at a canter and then lengthened his stride into a gallop. We caught up and then pulled ahead of them both by a neck.
    “Your horse’s size is not fair,” Esmeralda called.
    “Your small horse should be faster than this lazy giant,” I called back.
    We continued galloping for a little ways farther and then slowed the horses to a walk. I pet his neck and praised him. “What a good boy,” I crooned, “I’ll make sure you get spoiled in Markleville.”
    “That horse can really move when he needs to,” Jared said.
    “He’s a perfect horse,” I said with a genuine smile and heartfelt appreciation.
    “I’m surprised you can even mount him,” Esmeralda teased.
    “You should have seen her trying to climb up him the first day I gave him to her,” Jared said with a laugh.
    “Well you wouldn’t pick me up and put me on him,” I complained.
    “It was worth it to watch you scramble up his front leg and almost pull out the poor guy’s mane to get onto his back.”
    “I apologized and gave him three apples that night,” I said as I pet his neck again. “He forgave me.”
    “Most men forgive you if you give them something to eat,” Esmeralda teased.
    “Don’t put ridiculous thoughts like that into her head,” Jared reprimanded her.
    “It’s going to be interesting to see who you end up with,” Faxon said with a smirk at me.
    “What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked defensively.
    “You are equal parts your uncle and aunt,” he said, “I always knew they were meant to be together because of how they interacted, but seeing you as both parts makes me wonder who could possibly counteract your attitude and personality.”
    “Are you trying to imply that by being a little bit of both of us that she is unlovable?” Esmeralda asked with venom in her voice.
    “Not unlovable, just…difficult,” he said with a wide smile.
    “I’ll show you difficult,” she said, her hands moved and then a fire started on the top of Faxon’s saddle pad. His horse bolted ahead of us, bucking as he tried to dislodge the fire and Faxon.
    Faxon somehow held his seat and used his magic to put the fire out. “See what I mean?” Faxon called back to us, “Difficult.”
    “I’m not difficult,” I said.
    Jared reached over and pet my hand. “You’re right; you’re only difficult eighty percent of the time.”
    I let my mouth drop open and then glared at him. “You’re the most stubborn man in the Realm of Olanze and you’re telling me that I am difficult?”
    “She has a point,” Esmeralda said.
    “Don’t you team up with her against me. I’m your husband,” he growled.
    “I’m only speaking the truth,” she said.
    “You are rather difficult sometimes,” Griffin agreed with Esmeralda.
    “Not you too!” Jared groaned. I stifled my laugh, but he saw me covering my mouth and glared at me.
    Faxon yelled back, “Tilia, come up here.” I urged Duke into a trot and caught up to Faxon who had stopped on the side of the road, facing into the forest. He pointed into the forest and asked, “What do you see?”
    I looked in the direction he was pointing and saw trees. I squinted my eyes and after a moment a shimmering gold veil appeared around the trees. “What is that?” I asked.
    “That is a cloaking spell. It hides your house or campsite from others,” he explained.
    “But if people can see the spell then they know something is there and will try to break in, right?” I asked.
    “No one has been able to break them,” he said, “But I think you might be able to.”
    “I don’t want to ruin someone’s spell,” I whispered, “They might be protecting themselves from bandits.”
    “I’ll redo their spell,” he said, “I just want to see if you are able to disable it with your unlocking ability.”
    I dismounted, tossed my reins to Faxon and walked towards the veil, which looked like a golden silk wall now that I was closer to it. I reached forward, touched the wall and