Chapter 92

“Good morning, gorgeous,” Cassius called out to her as she approached. Avinia and Isla were only a few steps away, close enough to fetch her if she should be needed for anything but not so nearby so as to interfere. “How are you this fine day?”

Kit’s cheeks burned with a blush and from the strain at smiling at her broad-shouldered beau. “I’m well, Cassius. How are you? Is that your stallion over there?” She remembered one of the first statements he’d ever made to her was that he’d like to take her riding. Now, she saw a large white stallion with a braided mane standing nearby, it’s saddle and bridle the same colors of Warchester Keep, white and red, held in place by a man she thought she recognized as Cassius’s liegeman, though in fairness she never paid much attention to anyone else when Cassius was around.

“It is,” he replied with a proud smile. “That is Snowduster, finest Warchestian stallion you’ll ever lay eyes on.”

Kit admired his ride from a distance, thinking she’d get a better look at him later. “He’s magnificent.” She could say the same about the horse’s owner, but presently, she remembered they were not alone and turned her attention to the other men who were waiting patiently next to the only Representative she had roomed. “Good morning, Jate, Landon, Reeve.”

“Good morning, Princess,” each of the others said, smiling fondly at her. Kit swallowed hard. It made her uneasy to have so many handsome man looking at her longingly, but when she glanced over their shoulders, she realized the eyes went on in waves. There were just too many of them.

Kit spoke to each of the Representatives briefly before moving on. By the time her mother was approaching them, and the trumpeters announced everyone needed to bow and pay their respects, she’d managed to speak to several of the men, including three of the four she intended to send home later that day, assuming none of them won the contest. She had a feeling based on what she’d seen of them so far that none of them would.

Once her mother passed, Kit looked around and saw her own mount, Belle, being brought over by some of the stable hands. Several gentlemen rushed to her side to help her climb atop the small mare, but Kit had no trouble hoisting herself up all by herself. The Representatives and the rest of the party likewise mounted their horses, and they all slowly moved close enough that they could hear the queen’s announcement.

“Good morning, members of the Choosing and other nobility!” she shouted so that those in the back would be able to hear. “I welcome you to the first official hunt of my dear daughter’s Choosing!”

There was a round of cheers, particularly from the Representatives, and then, when the queen motioned for them to quiet, silence consumed the crowd. “The objective today is quite simple. In a moment, the Royal Prey, Frick the Fox, will be released. We will give him a chance to make his way into the nearby forest, and then we shall give chase. I am certain our castle rules may be different than what you are used to in your provinces, so let me clarify how this must work, and listen carefully. For if any harm should befall our dear Frick, whomever harms him will wish he had never set foot on the grounds of Castle Wrenbrook.”

Every ear leaned in closer to listen so as not to inadvertently anger the queen. “The hounds in use all belong to the crown. I never allow any beast to chase my beloved fox who has not proven her or himself to be capable of restraint. You may use any and all of the dogs to help you track the fox, but Frick is a special sort of creature, one you are capable of recapturing yourselves. So... whomever brings me Frick shall be declared the winner!” Once again there was a cheer. “And should the winner be one of our Representatives, he shall have the honor of pleasuring the princess this evening.”

Kit’s face turned bright red as the gentlemen cheered even louder this time. Of course, the rest of the hunting party were aware they would serve as chasers, not hunters, and only one of the Representatives should win the contest.

“Frick is a crafty fellow, and this hunt should take several hours, so be prepared to be in the saddle for quite some time. Now, unless I have forgotten something...?” She leaned over toward the council members and her closest advisors. Duchess Zora shook her head, assuring the queen she had left nothing out. “Then let the hunt begin!”

Shouts of glee filled the air as the trumpeters announced the release of the fox. Several of the horses chomped at their bits, ready to take off as well, but as the small, red-tailed fox shot out across the castle grounds, the riders restrained their rides, waiting for the signal to pursue. The dogs would be released next, and then the Representatives would be allowed to give chase, followed by the rest of the party. Kit would ride alongside her men because she wanted to observe them through the process. She was well-aware Frick would be difficult to catch, but whomever was sly enough to corner him would be able to call him out as well. On one recent hunt, no one had caught up to him, so the party had returned to the castle grounds, and Kit was afraid he was lost forever. He had been waiting for the hunting party in his cage. She had a feeling the men wouldn’t let that happen today.

The signal for the dogs to be released was sounded, and the pack of two dozen or so small brown and white hounds set off in pursuit. Each of them was numbered, and the Representatives were assigned one each, though Kit wasn’t sure how they were supposed to know whose was whose unless the dog cornered the fox and someone was near enough by to shout out what number it was. The whole thing seemed a little silly to Kit, but apparently, this was the modified version of a hunt held during Choosings for as long as such events had been transpiring.

Kit glanced around her. Isla and Avinia were mounted and not far behind her. Off to her left, she saw Cassius, Jate, and Danyen. They all looked ready to take off. To her right, and a ways in front of her, she saw Reeve’s familiar profile next to Landon and Drake. A few of the other Representatives were also with them, but none she cared about.

Turning to look over her shoulder, she saw Pierce looking awfully uncomfortable on a dappled mare. She looked away, afraid she might laugh at him and make him feel even worse. She also saw Gavin and Crew, the man from Chormsey. Merek was having trouble climbing atop a stallion, and several of the liegemen were helping him. Kit shook her head, feeling sorry for the roan.

She looked around again, wondering where Eli was. She hadn’t seen him anywhere. Surely, he hadn’t had any difficulty saddling up Aeros. Part of her wanted to ride over to the stable to look for him, but before she could give it too much thought, the trumpets sounded again, and the horses in front of hers took off. The princess didn’t have much choice but to go along with the others.