Heir of Amber and Fire by Rachanee Lumayno (read aloud books .TXT) 📕

heard of a murder happening in Calia at all in my lifetime, and possibly longer than that.

Noticing Taryn and me for the first time, Jarrod nodded his head at each of us, touching the brim of his hat in a gesture of respect. He frowned at me, as if trying to figure out where he had seen me before. I stiffened and ducked my head slightly, stepping behind Taryn a bit so she would draw his focus.

“It’s hard to say,” he said. “From what I’ve heard, there’s not a mark on her, but her face was frozen with her eyes wide open, looking like she had seen something awful.”

“Her? It was a woman?” Taryn asked.

“Yes, miss. Can’t be much older than either of you,” he said sadly.

“First Sava’s brother, now this woman,” Rufan said. “And wasn’t there that weirdness with Cantin two weeks ago?”

“Yes, but Cantin’s mind was already getting a bit unhinged as he’s gotten older,” Jerrod said.

Taryn and I stepped back from the crowd as Rufan continued to ask Jerrod more questions. Taryn’s eyes were frantic as she gave me another fierce hug. “There’s something strange going on,” she said. “I don’t like it.”

“I’ll be careful,” I promised her. “I’m more worried about you back here.”

“Contact me as much as you can,” Taryn said. “I’ll feel better if we’re able to talk often.”

I agreed, and set off again. I was eager to put as much distance as possible between myself and the strange goings-on in the town, as if running away from the problem would keep it from affecting me.

SEVERAL HOURS LATER, I was still on the road to Orchwell when I heard hoofbeats on the road behind me. It had been a pretty uneventful day — the only other travelers I had passed were people like me: common folk headed to either Orchwell or Calia.

But these riders were coming down the road fast. I paused and turned, curious to see who had such urgent business.

I caught a flash of a silver and blue caparison — the colors of Calia. Remembering my mother’s warning, I looked around for a place to hide. The road was fairly open here. There were no convenient trees or even a rock to hide behind.

There was, however, a shallow ditch to the side of the road. I dove into it, hoping the Calian riders hadn’t seen me up ahead of them on the road. Dirt covered my clothes and face and I sneezed right as the riders reached my hiding spot.

The horses stopped. I heard one of the riders dismount. And then, a male voice above me: “Miss, are you all right?”

Of all the times for them to be chivalrous! While I was glad that the knights of Calia were decent and honorable men, I was also cursing that very quality of theirs right now.

I slowly sat up, trying to keep my face hidden from the men without being obvious about it. The knight who addressed me was holding out his hand to help me out of the ditch. I took it gingerly and stood, trying to keep my distance. I felt hot and feverish, and I was sure my nervousness was radiating from me like a beacon.

“Thank you, kind sir,” I said. I pitched my voice lower, hoping to disguise it.

“Are you hurt, miss?” The man indicated his horse. “We’re headed to Orchwell, and would be happy to escort you somewhere if you need assistance.”

One of the man’s fellow riders shifted his horse uneasily. “Sir, do we have time...?”

The man waved him to silence. “There’s always time to help someone.”

“I’m fine, sir,” I said. “I just tripped and fell when you came by. My home is nearby, and I’ll be glad to get back and clean up.”

The man laughed and remounted. “Of course, miss. Take care, then.” He was about to lead his men away, when he stopped and gave me an appraising look. “You know, you look a bit like Princess Jennica of Calia.”

My heart stopped. My mind screamed, Please don’t recognize me, please don’t recognize me!

“She’s about as tall as you,” he continued. “But she has dark hair and dark eyes. Ah, maybe I just think that you look like her because we are on our way to spread the good news: our princess is getting married in one month’s time.” He nodded to me and turned his horse’s head toward Orchwell. “Farewell, miss!”

The royal riders continued on their way. I touched my face, smiling at the copious amount of dirt that was smeared on my fingers when I pulled them away. Thank goodness I had “tripped” when I did. In my commoner’s clothes, with the dirt of the road all over my face and dress, they didn’t recognize me. But Father — or, I amended, King Hendon; it was actually a relief not to think of him as my father anymore — would be livid if he learned that I was missing. A royal wedding with no bride would be the ultimate insult to all the rulers of the other realms that were sure to be in attendance at the event.

My hair was sticking to the back of my neck, so I gathered it up and shook it out. I idly ran my dirt-streaked fingers through it, trying to comb some leaves and twigs from it. And then, I stopped, amazed. My normally jet black hair was much, much lighter. It looked as if there were thick streaks of gold in it. A trick of the sunlight? Whatever it was, I was grateful for the optical deception that kept the knights of Calia from recognizing their princess.

Even though by this time the riders were long gone, I stared down the road after them for some time before I started walking again.

THE SUN WAS BEGINNING its descent when I realized I should find shelter. Rufan had pointed out places I could possibly stay, but I hadn’t thought to ask how long it would take to reach