Of Secrets and Serpents by Gabriela Lavarello

Author:Gabriela Lavarello [Lavarello, Gabriela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gabriela Lavarello

23

Finriel

“Wake up. It’s time to get going.” Lorian’s voice cut through Finriel’s slumber, and she blinked her eyes open to find them in the cramped room in the small Farridian village.

She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with the heels of her palms.

“The horses are outside, and I’ve already got us some breakfast and provisions for the journey,” Lorian said as he turned toward the door.

“Don’t sound too chipper. You’ll make me want to burn you,” Finriel growled as her sleep-muddled brain slowly gave way to full consciousness, and she followed Lorian out of the door.

The tavern was nearly empty at this early hour, with no more than five people seated by the window with steaming mugs and bowls before them as they watched the sunrise. Finriel scanned the faces of the people hunched over their breakfasts, but none bore the familiar elegant stature of the Sythril. Concern prickled at her insides, remembering her conversation with the fairy the night before.

Lorian wove through tables, silently leading them to the threshold and stepping outside into the chill morning with a soft thud of the inn door. Finriel stepped onto the cobbled street to find their horses tethered to a wooden post, and her knowledge of riding and proper horse care made a jolt of agitation bite into her already dull spirits at the sight of the two fluffy animals tied by their bits.

“The gray one is yours. I’ll take the roan,” Lorian said in a lighthearted tone and walked down the wooden steps and onto the street.

Finriel approached the gray horse Lorian indicated for her and held out her hand for the gelding to sniff. The horse was tall and well built, its long legs strong and powerful even though they were covered in a thick winter coat. The horse’s warm breath shot across the top of her hand as it sniffed her, and she untied the reins from the post as soon as it licked its lips and nudged her gently, as if in acceptance of her presence.

“Do you need help getting on?” Lorian asked, and Finriel shot a glare to where the thief had already mounted the even larger strawberry roan mare that now pawed at the cobbled street in anticipation.

“I’m tired, not incompetent,” Finriel snapped and quickly gathered the reins as she put a booted foot into the metal stirrup and hauled herself into the saddle, her still sore legs protesting at the sudden movement.

Her horse stood patiently as Finriel arranged her cloak in a way that wouldn’t flap too cumbersomely as they cantered and wouldn’t choke her either. Once she was ready, she took up a light feel to the reins and nudged the horse forward. Lorian’s mare began to prance in place with anticipation as he met Finriel’s gaze and nodded. “Ready?”

Finriel patted her horse on the neck and took up the reins even more. “Ready.”

Without a warning, Lorian clicked to his horse and gave her a nudge. The mare jolted forward into a canter without a second thought.

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