“But I can understand,” he told himself. “I can understand.” He closed his eyes and listened. For a moment he heard nothing but quacking, and then he was no longer in the forest. His dream changed. He was still a young boy, but now he was inside the castle, in his chambers, asleep with his head on a woman’s lap.
“Grayson, I came back for you, but I was captured.”
“Mother, I have been so afraid without you.”
“Forgive me, my darling,” she cooed, stroking his head. “I couldn’t live the way they wanted me to live in that time. I was so miserable by all their ridiculous rules and regulations against women that I prayed many nights for death. I didn’t know that I could travel through time until I was twelve. My younger sister Joan was just eight when she was thrown from her horse and broke her neck. She died later that night. My parents were inconsolable. I was…I was crying. Joan was a beautiful, sweet little girl. I didn’t want to lose her in my life. I wept, brokenhearted. All I could do was wish we could go back in time and stop Joan from riding that horse. And then, it happened.” She paused to wipe her eyes and then smiled. “I don’t regret it. Joan was with us again. I didn’t travel again for ten years. Grandmother Tessa had warned me so many times not to try it that I never did. But I was desperate to be away from this time. At first, I flitted around searching for a time that would suit us. My goal had always been to find a place for you and me, Gray. But then, traveling became fun and I began to forget my life here.”
“Me,” he whispered.
She didn’t answer but stopped stroking him and looked up at the door.
“Wake up,” she said, returning her attention to him. “Wake up, Son.”
Then he heard another voice,Grayson, it is Tabby. Open your eyes! Wake up! They have taken your lady!
Gray’s eyes shot open. He sucked in a great gulp of air and sat upright in his bed. An instant passed while his dream and what he just heard settled into him. He looked at the side of his bed where he’d left Aria before falling asleep. She wasn’t there. Without further hesitation, he leaped out of the bed, pulled on his breeches and boots and ran from the chambers.
He went directly to Aria’s chambers. She wasn’t there.
Tabby! Where is she?
Mr. Cavendish and Mr. Gable have taken her out of the house and are heading for the Gable holding.
Gray felt his blood boiling in his veins. Cavendish and Harry Gable, he thought with murderous intent flashing across his eyes as he fled the castle. He would kill them.
He called for Ghost and the horse barreled out of the stable, bareback.
He took her on Chester, Ghost communicated to him,after Esper kicked out at him every time he attempted to saddle her.
Gray smiled. Esper was fast. Chester was old.Remind me to give Esper extra carrots later.
I bit Mr. Gable’s finger when he tried to saddle me.
That’s my girl. You’ll get carrots every day for the rest of your life. But now, help me find her.
The horse took off at top speed. Then Gray heard Ghost in his mind,May I say, lord, that it is good to have you back.
It’s good to be back, Gray replied and leaned forward to pat Ghost’s neck.Forgive me for staying away for so long.
They came upon Chester and one of the horses that had followed him home the day he caught the two thieves. There was no one with them. There were droplets of blood on the snowy ground. Gray’s blood drained from his face. Was this Aria’s blood? If it was…if she was hurt in any way…
I sense two people alive within a kilometer of here, he alone heard Ghost say.
Immediately, his head snapped up. He sniffed the air as he’d seen his friends do for ten years of his life. But he smelled nothing beside the scents of the forest.
But Ghost could smell better than he could.This way, the horse told him and turned north.
“Aria!” he shouted out.
This way!something answered.
Over here!
This way!
He followed the path to where the birds and foxes and other forest animals led him. He passed the Gable’s holding and didn’t veer in its direction. He trusted the voices he heard more than his eyes.
They led him in the right direction. He came upon Cavendish hovering over her, pointing his arrow, nocked and ready to fly into her beautiful face.