Free Horse Charmer by Angelia Almos Page A

the triple beauties.
    "Was it a long journey, Princess Cassia?" Margarette asked.
    "Yes, it was the longest I have ever been on," Cassia said. "I wouldn't recommend being cooped up in a carriage for days."
    Margarette shot a look at her brothers. "It's such a bother being a girl. If you were a boy you could have ridden by horseback."
    "Margarette," Torr's voice held a hint of reprimand.
    "A much more enjoyable journey," Cassia said, giving a real smile. "But then if I was a boy I wouldn't be marrying your brother, would I?"
    Margarette laughed into her napkin. They all quieted as the servers brought in several platters of fruit, bread and cheese.
    "We should wait for your brothers," Margarette said.
    The pounding of feet announced their presence as her brothers tumbled into the room. Torr nodded to one of the servers who fetched two more chairs and another one brought two more place settings. Cassia scooted closer to Torr until they were sitting next to each other at the round table as her brothers reached for their food.
    "Tully, Faolan!" Cassia said. They paused. She cleared her throat. They both bowed and then sat down. She glanced behind them and was surprised to see only Maconahay. Witen had not accompanied them. "May I introduce my brothers, Prince Faolan and Prince Tully. You remember Prince Torr. His brother, Prince Lindley and his sister, Princess Margarette."
    "Prince Faolan and Prince Tully." Torr gestured for them to eat their fill.
    The boys quickly covered their plates. Cassia picked at a few items. Her appetite still hadn't returned. She ate just to fuel herself at this point, as she couldn't taste anything. Once the meal had started, Faolan and Lindley began to converse as boys do. Not that Margarette didn't add her input here and there, and Tully agreed with everything Faolan said. This would be the best time to see what Torr knew.
    "Are you ready?" Cassia asked, trying to think of a way to bring up the treaty without being too obvious.
    Torr paused, his fork halfway to his mouth. "As ready as one can be."
    He sounded as unenthusiastic as she felt, but then again he had a lady friend already.
    "A fortnight ago the treaty wasn't even complete." She took a sip of wine. "And now the treaty is signed, my father is murdered, and we are to be wed."
    Torr stared at her blankly. She had spoken quietly so the siblings hadn't heard her sarcastic remark. Torr set his fork down and focused on her. Cassia raised an eyebrow in challenge.
    "What are you implying, Princess?" Torr asked just as quietly.
    "It's all happened so quickly," she said over her glass. "The treaty."
    "What of the treaty?"
    She shrugged. "It's amazing it was signed when it was. You didn't know they were no closer to an agreement when they last met?"
    His eyes narrowed at each of her carefully chosen words. "Obviously, an agreement was made or the treaty wouldn't be in place."
    "You weren't involved in the negotiations?"
    "Were you?" he countered.
    She smiled slightly as she shook her head. "Such negotiations don't include the wants and desires of a mere princess."
    "Nor a prince." Torr turned to his siblings and corrected something Lindley said.
    The rest of lunch passed swiftly and Cassia didn't attempt anymore intrigue. Torr remained closed and kept his conversation to light accounts and descriptions of the countryside near Castle Vespera. Tully and Faolan leapt on his hunting stories and demanded more as the plates and food were cleared from the table. Cassia rose, signaling the end of lunch and after quick goodbyes she shepherded her brothers after Maconahay who led them back up to their quarters. The boys burst with their stories, excited about their new siblings. Cassia turned them gratefully into Witen's skilled hands and escaped into her quarters.
     

 
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    Cassia hadn't really escaped. From her window she watched the first guests arriving; those important enough to be housed inside the palace. Outside the castle walls a tent