The Heretic Royal by G.A. Aiken

Author:G.A. Aiken [Aiken, G.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2022-09-26T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

A insley crouched down by the river and filled her flask. The gray horse moved in next to her, lowering its head to drink. Then Sheva’s white mare stood on her left side to drink.

And, for the first time, Ainsley felt trapped. Having these particular animals next to her was unnerving. Not that she didn’t appreciate having such a fine, tireless animal to ride. But she couldn’t forget how they’d come into this world. They seemed normal, but she wondered what their normal-looking hides might conceal.

Which was why she wished she had one of her father’s horses. The travel party would have had to stop for more breaks, but at least those horses wouldn’t make Ainsley feel . . . well . . . trapped!

Staying crouched, Ainsley eased back. Step by crouching step until she’d crouch-stepped away from the two horses on either side of her and right into the long front legs of Hilda’s black stallion. The beast glared down at her and, without meaning to, Ainsley let out a startled squeak that she was glad her sisters weren’t around to hear. She was embarrassed by that weak sound, and it did nothing but annoy Hilda’s horse; his large head came down and snapped at her.

She ducked but didn’t really need to, because the gray stallion rammed his equally large head into his brother’s. The two began battering each other with their bodies and Ainsley had to scramble across the ground to get away from them. Sheva’s mare charged in but didn’t stop the fight as Ainsley had hoped she’d do, but instead joined in, leaning over Ainsley to bite one brother; rearing up over Ainsley to attack her other brother with her front hooves.

Ainsley rolled and ducked, but every time she thought she’d found a way out of the melee, she quickly discovered her exit was blocked by stomping hooves or snapping jaws.

“I should have said no!” she kept repeating out loud. “I should have said no!” And she should have! She wanted her old horse back. The horse she’d ridden to Gemma’s old monastery hadn’t been the best horse she’d ever been on, but at least he’d never crush her skull in while busy fighting one of his siblings.

A hoof kicked her in the side and she rolled over two times, landing on her back as front hooves hovered over her, about to slam down on her chest. She didn’t have time to scream as she attempted to roll away again, but many hands suddenly gripped her, and she was quickly yanked out of the way.

“You all right?” Gruff demanded. When she nodded, he released her and charged into the middle of the fight, his sister by his side.

Ainsley was helped up by Hilda, Sheva, Sarff, and a few of the other centaurs. She nodded her thanks and pressed her hand against her side, wincing a bit.

“You hurt?” Sarff asked.

“One of them back-kicked me, but I don’t think it’s broken—owwww! Beastly female!”

“Stop yer whining, girl! No wonder your sisters don’t think you can handle anything.

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