Free Of Silver and Beasts by Trisha Wolfe Page B

steer my horse toward it, not slowing as I pass Claudia.
    Speeders and Cury-crafts buzz past me as we trot along the sidewalk. I’m breaking a lot of rules riding out in the open, but the emblem on my uniform stops authorities from questioning me. There’s nothing to stop them from attacking the prince, though. Not dressed as he is now. I veer off the main road toward the barren desert. He’s probably taken the quickest route out of the city, which is the east border. The border closest to Perinya.
    Kicking my heels, I command the horse to gallop over the open flat. Before me is divots in the dirt, and I know this is his trail. “Let’s go!”
    A cloud of dust stretches across the horizon. The prince is ahead of it.
    I duck, sinking low, and place my head beside the horse’s to block the dust from my eyes. Her hooves thunder over the plain and I grip the straps tighter as she bounds on.
    The prince cranes his head and gets a good look at me coming up on him. “That’s right,” I mutter. “I’ve got you.”
    As we ride up next to him, he grabs my sword from his belt and extends it.
    “What are you doing?” I shout. “You’re going to kill yourself if you fall.” Why did I warn him? Let him fall. Then he’ll stop being a pain in my ass and I can do my duty.
    Lowering the sword, he hesitates before sticking it back in his belt. “Go back!” His eyes spear me.
    “No—” Guiding my horse closer to his, I reach for the reins and scoop air. Damnit. I try again, and this time I snag the leather between my fingers.
    He steers his horse into mine, knocking into us, but I hold on to the reins. “You’re going to kill us both—and how can you be so cruel to a horse?” I pull the strap taut. At first the horse nearly careens into us again, but then slows to a stop. The horse is probably just confused, and has simply decided to stop to get away from the crazed humans.
    The prince jumps off, landing sloppily on his feet and nearly falling on his ass. He quickly rights himself and draws my sword.
    Releasing my own reins, I dismount and stalk toward him. “You have no thoughts for anyone or anything other than yourself.” I wipe the dust from my mouth with the back of my hand, then unsheathe my dagger. “I’ll enjoy teaching you some respect.”
    “You don’t understand,” he says, and spits the sand from his own mouth. “I can’t be here. I have to get back to my people. I refuse to be looked after as if I’m some child.” He takes a step toward me, advancing. “How will I ever rule them if they think of me as a coward?”
    I scoff. “Again, you’re only thinking of yourself.” I sidestep him, slowly circling, wishing I had a sword.
    “I’m thinking of my duty to rule my kingdom!” He lunges and swipes the air, missing me by a full foot. He keeps the blade extended and I move in, capturing his hand and turning into his unguarded stance.
    “You should think harder if you actually want to live to see the day you rule.” I kick his legs from under him and follow him to the ground where I press my dagger to his neck.
    His gaze latches on to mine, and he swallows, his Adam’s apple working. He truly believes I’m going to end his life. I give him credit; there’s no fear in his eyes—no regret. He must have lived a full and pampered life despite his age.
    Still, I’m disgusted with the weak fight he’s barely put up. I remove my blade from his throat. But his eyes don’t convey relief as they linger on my face, wide and curious, and I’m suddenly wary of the mercury.
    “Get up.” I turn my face away and climb to my feet, dust off the terrain from my uniform, and sheath my dagger. I take in calming breaths, count to three, then say, “Grab the horse. Let’s get back before the empress has cause to be alarmed.”
    The prince doesn’t move. He’s still lying in the dirt, his eyes trained hard on me. “I was taken off guard. And I don’t usually fight girls.”
    “The knot on my head