The Hunting Party
Perhaps the Empress’ attention has been too diligently applied.
Kalani sighed as she wearily eyed the radius of thirty something guards that encircled them. They were all thankfully dressed in traveling leathers for the trek to more fertile hunting grounds, but the sheer amount of people was going to scare off any potential prey.
“I doubt we will be successful now.” Kalani petted Bhulat who had refused to walk alongside the horses. Instead he decided to drape on the horses neck looking like a secured kill instead of a vigilant predator.
Aurdis nudged her horse forward, keeping pace with Kalani’s Tinker Cob. “It’ll become more wooded as we head up, I’m sure we can persuade some to stay behind and watch our mounts.”
Kalani tilted her head in consideration. “Unless we can convince all of them to stay behind, I can’t imagine we’ll be having game meat for dinner.”
There was a quickening of hooves and an anguished neigh from Aurdis’ Friesian as Elena’s beige Appaloosa rammed its chest into the dark horse’ rump.
The Friesian had half a mind to kick, but Aurdis tug sharply on the reins and bought her mount to the right to allow Elena to ride between herself and Kalani.
“Ah, I’m sorry, I just… the guards were so silent and just marching behind me and it was… It was making me uncomfortable, but I didn't know how to stop in time.”
“Think nothing of it, sister,” Aurdis smiled, “if I had known you were unaccustomed to riding I would’ve offered a lesson.”
Elena blushed, averting her eyes, unsure if Aurdis had meant it as an innuendo. Her mare was much happier now that its rider had loosened the bit, heels were no longer clenching into their stomach. Sorelle weaved around the horses legs sprinting about to sample all the new scents.
Kalani seemed a million miles away, fixated on the rustle and crunch of the thirty something guards and the fact that her hunting trip felt ruined by over vigilance.
They spent the rest of the ride in relative silence. Aurdis was clearly amused by how Ouroboros kept nosing at her Friesian's flickering ears; trying to encourage their mount to a canter.
The thicket of trees began to cluster as they neared the mountain range. It forced the horses to walk in pairs then in singles. The guards still busied themselves, shadows in the flickering canopy. Their horses were well trained and had experienced the guard’s actions numerous times before and barely paid them any attention.
Even before Kalani had dismounted she was already speaking to their minders. “We’ll need guards to stay with our horses.”
“Three of my troop can remain with the mounts.” The head guard stepped forward, his eyes cast respectfully to the ground.
“Three?!” Kalani near growled and approached the guard, who was a good head taller and very much so bigger than all the wives.
“Milady?”
Aurdis placed her hand on Kalani’s elbow and another on the small her waist to calm the other woman. “These were wedding presents from the Empress, she said they were prized beyond coin value.”
The guard’s eyebrows knitted together, his consternation growing at what could potentially be trouble for him.
“These animals were the first present our wife gave us, they require more than a mere handful of guards to watch over them.” Aurdis’ Friesian stepped forward, lazily letting it's cheeks sit heavily onto her shoulder. She petted it’s ebony face absentmindedly. “I think we can manage on our own for the rest of the hunt, perhaps the entire troop can remain here until we return?”
“That’s unthinkable, however prized they may be, you are the Empress’ consorts!” He crossed his arms. “At least a quarter has to remain with the three of you, this is non-negotiable!”
Aurdis gave Kalani a nudge, making the other woman immediately step up and take the guard’s hand in hers, shaking it firmly. “Deal.”
The guard’s smile turned to a frown, but with a shake of his head he started to laugh deep from his belly. “I can envision the Empress having her hands full with the three of you.”
None of the women chose to say otherwise.