Free Quest for the Sun Gem by Belinda Murrell Page B

undo the bridle.
    ‘Here, rub her down with some grass to help dry off the sweat,’ Lily instructed. ‘You mustn’t mind Ethan. He’s not usually so touchy. I think it’s just the worry of Mama and Dadda and home and everything.’
    ‘I know how he feels,’ agreed Roana, hiding her face in Moonbeam’s sweaty flank.
    When the horses were all tended, the children drank greedily themselves then curled up in their cloaks and quickly fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.
    A few hours later Lily woke. The grey gloom was gone, replaced by a beautiful morning. The sun shone hot from a deep blue sky. Small jewel-coloured birds dipped and flitted through the air, singing and chattering. Their wings flashed ruby, emerald, and sapphire in the sunlight.
    The clearing was bathed in a rich golden light. Lily sat up, rubbing her eyes. The others still slept deeply in a tight huddle, curled up in their cloaks with Aisha at their feet.
    Lily stretched and yawned, delighting in the warm sun on her face, the birds, the horses snuffling and munching and the sound of the brook tumbling and gurgling over the flat white pebbles. Aisha opened one eye and cocked a black-tipped ear at Lily. Then she padded over to lick Lily on the face.
    Lily hugged her and buried her face in her tawny red flank. ‘Oh, Aisha,’ She sighed. ‘What are we doing here?’ Lily wandered down to the stream to drink some water and splash her face. The water felt so refreshing on her hot face that she took off her boots, stockings and long blue dress, and hitched up her petticoat for a paddle.
    A big splash of cold water drenched her back. Lily squealed and swung around in alarm to see Ethan chuckling as he splashed her again right in the face. Lily screamed and splashed him back. The shrill squealing woke the others, and Saxon waded in to join in the water fight, splashing furiously.
    Roana hesitated on the bank.
    ‘Come on, last one in is a hairy toad!’ shouted Saxon.
    A huge splash from Lily quickly had Roana joining in the fray. Aisha barked and splashed in delight, shaking her coat so that shining droplets of water flew through the air. Everyone laughed and squealed. After the terror and strain of the last fewdays, it felt wonderful to be wet and cool and having fun in the sunshine.
    Saxon collapsed on the bank laughing ‘Enough, enough, I give in!’ The cold water had washed away the grime and exhaustion of the night, and everyone was in high spirits, their hope restored. They all climbed out, giggling and laughing.
    ‘Some food and then we hit the road again, folks,’ grinned Ethan, rummaging in his pack. ‘A veritable feast – we have cheese and apples and bread.’
    ‘And hot tea brewed with wild mint,’ added Lily, stirring her green concoction as she hung it over the crackling fire Saxon had made.
    When the food and tea were ready, they laid it out on a blanket and then dug in.
    ‘By the mighty Sun Lord, I think the princess lost all her manners when you lopped off her hair, Lily,’ teased Saxon laughingly. ‘She certainly doesn’t eat like a princess!’
    Roana stopped cramming a piece of cheese into her mouth. She squirmed a little. ‘I am rather hungry,’ she said apologetically. ‘I never felt this ravenous in all my life.’
    ‘It’s the fresh air and exercise,’ Lily laughed. ‘Swimming before breakfast is a very special way to start the day.’
    ‘Thank goodness for that, you do all smell a lot better!’ smiled Roana shyly.
    After breakfast, Lily taught Roana how to saddle and bridle Moonbeam.
    ‘You need to walk her around a bit so that you can tighten the girth properly,’ Lily instructed. ‘You heard what happened to the guards last night! Here, it might be easier to climb up in the saddle if you stand on that log. You do look a bit odd riding in a sidesaddle with breeches on, you know!’
    ‘Thank you for your help,’ Roana murmured. ‘I have never had to prepare the horses myself before. I did not realise quite how