Lyrien Nightwalker's Arc

Chapter 2 of 6

Lyrien followed the pale winged creature to his stables at dawn. It drifted through the tall doors and settled on a beam above his black mustang. He came to saddle the horse and ride where the wings led him. But a woman stood in his path, arms crossed, blocking the stall. "You wasted your trial on liars," she said. "I am the herb-girl. I have proof." Word of the failed trial had spread fast. Now this stranger claimed his search for herself. She held up a wilted purple stem. "Wolfsbane. I brought it. I am the one you seek." Lyrien studied her. Anyone in the kingdom could have learned the flower's name by now. His stomach tightened. If she convinced the court, the whole realm would call his search finished. He would be pushed toward a wife who knew a fact and nothing more. "Anyone can carry a flower," Lyrien said. "That is not proof." Lord Thomas came through the doors then. He had ridden the night hunting rumors of pretenders, and his boots were caked with mud. He looked at the woman once, then at the king. "She paid two guards to say they escorted her here as a girl," Thomas said. "I found the coins. She is lying." He did not raise his voice. He never did. Lyrien turned to the woman. "Tell me what she said to me at the market." The woman's mouth opened. No answer came. She glanced at the wilted stem in her hand, then dropped it. "You cannot expect me to remember every word," she said. "I remember every word," Lyrien said. "You are not her." Thomas nodded to a guard. "Escort her out. Charge her with bribing the crown's men." The woman fought, but two guards took her arms and pulled her from the stables. Her shouting faded down the yard. The king breathed out. The creature above his horse spread its glowing wings, restless. Lyrien reached for his saddle again. "You cannot keep chasing this," Thomas said. "Each dismissal breeds another pretender. Forty became one. One will become a hundred. The court sees a king ruled by a girl he met once." "Then I will not chase them," Lyrien said. "I will find her before they can pretend." He led the mustang out. The winged creature lifted and floated ahead through the doors, toward the hills. Thomas caught the reins. "If you ride out alone, the court will name you unfit. I have held them off. I cannot hold them forever." "Then ride with me," Lyrien said. He mounted the black horse. "Or hold them one more time." Thomas released the reins. His jaw set. "Go. I will manage the court. But the moment they move against you, I will send for you, and you will come back." Lyrien nodded once. He turned the mustang after the drifting wings and rode from the stables, following magic into the open land beyond.