Chapter 4

Horseback Riding

The next morning, as Prince Darian stepped out onto the palace grounds, he was surprised to see Queen Nymira already waiting for him with their horses saddled and ready to ride. Despite what happened, she had not canceled her offer of a horseback ride.

But still as they ventured into the woods, an eerie silence hung between two. Nymira kept her distance, wordlessly leading the way while Darian trailed behind on his stallion. Despite the tension, Darian couldn’t help but notice how regal and poised she looked in her riding outfit, the fabric clinging to her curves in all the right places. Her dress was made of the finest silk, the fabric shimmering in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. A simple leather belt cinched in at the queen’s waist, giving the dress a flattering silhouette while still allowing for ease of movement as she rode. Her hair was swept up in a loose bun, a few tendrils framing her delicate features. Despite the ornate nature of her attire, the queen seemed perfectly at ease on horseback.

With a calculated glance around, Darian ascertained that they had successfully eluded any potential guards. Satisfied, he turned to his Mother.

“Are you still angry about what happened yesterday?” he asked.

Nymira’s expression slightly softened. “No. I’m not angry.”

“I told you, it was just an innocent kiss.” Darian paused for a moment, considering his next words carefully. “I mean, it’s not like I asked you to marry me or anything,” he smiled, hoping to ease the tension between them.

Nymira’s face darkened, a note of warning creeping into her voice. “You can’t do things like that to me, Darian. It’s not appropriate. I know you didn’t mean any harm,” she paused for a moment. “I am your Mother, but I am also your queen and I must maintain a level of authority and respect that is necessary for the good of our kingdom. Our relationship as mother and son is just as important, but it is a separate matter entirely. You cannot kiss me like that. It’s not appropriate for a son to kiss mother in such a way”

After nodding, he waited a moment before asking, “I was wondering, though, how familiar are you with Serpent-Slayer’s history, my queen?”

Nymira shook her head. “Not good enough, I think,” she admitted. “My attention has always been on the welfare of our people, not the exploits of our past heroes. Why would you ask?”

“It’s ... nothing.” Darian hesitated; a small smile crossed his lips before he plunged ahead with another question. “And still, why did you decide to become a queen? Did you ever find pleasure in this marriage?”

Her expression turned cold. “Feeling pleasure is not a part of my duties as a queen. You are old enough to understand me. Let’s just enjoy the ride now,” she said, nudging her horse forward.

As they reached a clearing, Nymira reined in her horse and turned to Darian. “This is a lovely spot. Don’t you think?”

Darian looked around, taking in the beauty of their surroundings. A burling waterstream meandered around, and wildflowers of every hue dotted the grassy expanse.

Nymira dismounted her horse and walked toward the water’s edge, the sound of the stream rippling through the peaceful forest. She paused, looking out over the view before her. With a gentle touch, she trailed her fingertips over the cool water’s surface, and her dress lifted slightly in the back, revealing a hint of her bare ankles.

Darian turned away, quickly dismounting. “Hush, lad,” he whispered to the horse, patting it gently.

“I love places like this,” she said.

Darian stepped closer, joining her at the water’s edge. He looked down into the surface of the stream and suddenly asked a question. “Do you miss Karlas?” he said, referring to his younger brother who had died a few years ago.

“He died like a true warrior,” Nymira replied with steady voice. “Why should I be sad or miss him?”

“The king does. And he thinks me unworthy. The worst of all Serpent-Slayers. The weakest one,” He smiled wryly, throwing a small pebble into the stream. “But not you. No ... You don’t think of me that way, do you?” he added abruptly, not giving her a chance to respond. “And that was one of the reasons why you were always special to me, Mother”

Queen Nymira’s plump lips curled upwards into a warm smile, the light gleaming in her gray eyes.

“You always knew how to make me feel better,” Nymira responded.

But before she could say more, a sudden jolt from a horse behind caused Nymira to lose her balance and tumble into the cool, rushing stream below. Darian’s heart leapt as he watched his Mother’s drenched form being swept away by the current.