hurried to rejoin the rest of the company, he turned to Maiten. “Your timing is terrible. Varest and Ceres are in a panic. Varest went after him. If he didn’t get out of the path of the swarm in time…”
“I’m sure the twins are fine. I herded both of them, remember. I’d know if something happened to either one of them. Nothing has, they are fine. Your foal is too, and we both know it.” Maiten shook his head. “They’re probably safer than we are right now. Can we please get away from here?”
Breton headed after the mercenary company. “I would be far more comfortable if he had Gorishitorik with him.”
“His Majesty kept prodding himself in the ribs with the pommel. I felt it prudent to hold onto it so he wouldn’t prove a menace to himself or others. Anyway, until Honey brings him back to us, it’s better if he’s less conspicuous. Gorishitorik stands out.”
Ignoring his growing irritation at the other Guardian, Breton fought to keep his tone calm and reasonable. “Did you happen to forget he’s lacking his left arm and that he’s blind? He already stands out. Honey isn’t going to help with that problem any. If anything, she’ll make him even more of a target.”
“As if Honey would let anyone take her Rider away from her. Remember Tavener?”
Breton flinched at the reminder of Kalen’s first stallion, inherited from Arik. After Arik’s death, Tavener had protected Kalen in all of the ways Breton, as a Guardian, could not. Without Tavener, his foal never would have survived through his first day as the Rift King.
“I remember Tavener,” he whispered. He’d never forget the horse who had sacrificed his life to save Kalen’s.
“Trust Honey to do what he needs, not what we want.” Maiten sighed. “I thought she would have followed Ferethian when he came to you, but I was mistaken. I’m sure she had a reason.”
Perin snorted and bobbed his head. Breton glared at his horse’s ears. “Not you too, Perin.”
“Perin has more sense than you do,” his friend muttered.
“And what do you mean by that?” Breton glared at his fellow Guardian.
“Maybe we’re in this mess because someone couldn’t leave things alone. Perhaps we’re in this mess because someone— you, in case you weren’t sure—couldn’t resist the urge to snap at a certain Rift King well-known for having a temper almost as short as he is. We might not—”
“I understand.” Breton muttered a few curses under his breath. “I should have had more patience with him.”
“He wasn’t really wrong, you know. We’ve been smothering him. I took him out to see the horses, hoping fresh air would do him some good. I wasn’t expecting that swarm.” Maiten shuddered, twisting around in the saddle to gape at the black waters behind them. “I never would have taken him out of the camp had I know this was coming.”
“I know.”
“He’s really frustrated. A little time with Honey should cool his temper. I know you’re worried, old friend, but changing His Majesty is a futile effort. You know how he thinks. Why would he burden us when he can do everything on his own?”
“Except he can’t.” Breton nudged Perin into a trot, leaving the other Guardian to catch up. When they closed in on the company, he slowed, turning in the saddle to check behind them. The swarm remained contained in its self-made path. A dark mist wafted through the trees. “What do you suggest I do, then?”
“Give him space once he’s back. Go herd the Delroses. Stay out of sight for a while until he has a chance to heal and adapt to his situation. Your foal’s clever. If anyone can figure out how to deal with his situation, it’s him. Let me protect him until he can protect himself.” Maiten made a thoughtful noise. “We’re all worried about him, but you’re a mountain he can’t climb. He couldn’t care less about the approval of most people—but you? He does, and he can’t live up to your expectations. Of course
“I’m sure the twins are fine. I herded both of them, remember. I’d know if something happened to either one of them. Nothing has, they are fine. Your foal is too, and we both know it.” Maiten shook his head. “They’re probably safer than we are right now. Can we please get away from here?”
Breton headed after the mercenary company. “I would be far more comfortable if he had Gorishitorik with him.”
“His Majesty kept prodding himself in the ribs with the pommel. I felt it prudent to hold onto it so he wouldn’t prove a menace to himself or others. Anyway, until Honey brings him back to us, it’s better if he’s less conspicuous. Gorishitorik stands out.”
Ignoring his growing irritation at the other Guardian, Breton fought to keep his tone calm and reasonable. “Did you happen to forget he’s lacking his left arm and that he’s blind? He already stands out. Honey isn’t going to help with that problem any. If anything, she’ll make him even more of a target.”
“As if Honey would let anyone take her Rider away from her. Remember Tavener?”
Breton flinched at the reminder of Kalen’s first stallion, inherited from Arik. After Arik’s death, Tavener had protected Kalen in all of the ways Breton, as a Guardian, could not. Without Tavener, his foal never would have survived through his first day as the Rift King.
“I remember Tavener,” he whispered. He’d never forget the horse who had sacrificed his life to save Kalen’s.
“Trust Honey to do what he needs, not what we want.” Maiten sighed. “I thought she would have followed Ferethian when he came to you, but I was mistaken. I’m sure she had a reason.”
Perin snorted and bobbed his head. Breton glared at his horse’s ears. “Not you too, Perin.”
“Perin has more sense than you do,” his friend muttered.
“And what do you mean by that?” Breton glared at his fellow Guardian.
“Maybe we’re in this mess because someone couldn’t leave things alone. Perhaps we’re in this mess because someone— you, in case you weren’t sure—couldn’t resist the urge to snap at a certain Rift King well-known for having a temper almost as short as he is. We might not—”
“I understand.” Breton muttered a few curses under his breath. “I should have had more patience with him.”
“He wasn’t really wrong, you know. We’ve been smothering him. I took him out to see the horses, hoping fresh air would do him some good. I wasn’t expecting that swarm.” Maiten shuddered, twisting around in the saddle to gape at the black waters behind them. “I never would have taken him out of the camp had I know this was coming.”
“I know.”
“He’s really frustrated. A little time with Honey should cool his temper. I know you’re worried, old friend, but changing His Majesty is a futile effort. You know how he thinks. Why would he burden us when he can do everything on his own?”
“Except he can’t.” Breton nudged Perin into a trot, leaving the other Guardian to catch up. When they closed in on the company, he slowed, turning in the saddle to check behind them. The swarm remained contained in its self-made path. A dark mist wafted through the trees. “What do you suggest I do, then?”
“Give him space once he’s back. Go herd the Delroses. Stay out of sight for a while until he has a chance to heal and adapt to his situation. Your foal’s clever. If anyone can figure out how to deal with his situation, it’s him. Let me protect him until he can protect himself.” Maiten made a thoughtful noise. “We’re all worried about him, but you’re a mountain he can’t climb. He couldn’t care less about the approval of most people—but you? He does, and he can’t live up to your expectations. Of course
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