Once Amelie is out of sight, Daithi mounts his horse. The stallion huffs, scuffing hooves against the walkway. As he heads to the front of the line, Henley and Rehan escort me to horses that await us.

I peer up at the white horse with a large brown spot around her right eye. I’ve never ridden a horse before! She rests idly, but all I can imagine is her bucking me off.

“Here, M’Lady. Allow me to help,” says Rehan, kneeling with his palms out to help. Always coming to the rescue, so it seems.

“I said to call me Kaeda,” I say when refusing said help. He smirks, watching me struggle to get onto the saddle. My cheeks are on fire and hands shake when holding the reins.

Come on, Kaeda has surely ridden horses before. Where is she when I need her? I climbed the side of a castle, I can ride a horse!

“Don’t be frightened.” Rehan gently strokes the horse's mane. Taking hold of my hand, he guides me to do the same. His hands are rough, a little chilled yet oddly comforting. The horse’s hair is coarse, but the warmth beneath soothes into my palm.

“I’m not frightened. I’ve ridden horses before, it’s just been a while,” I argue as convincingly as possible, sitting tall with my head held high. When Spot knocks her hoof against the ground, I bite my tongue to keep back a frightened squeak.

“Spot is gentle and attentive. She senses your uneasiness,” he explains, at least choosing to not point out my lie. “Animals are much smarter than we give them credit for. They sense what we cannot. Don’t worry. Henley and I will be right beside you.” He leans up, growing so close that his golden eyes nearly drown me. “So long as I’m here, nothing will harm you.”

His smile could melt a frozen lake, or apparently my resolve to not get dragged around by the ridiculously attractive knight. Here I am in the middle of a life or death situation and I’m wondering if he has a girlfriend. Pull yourself together, Faith! You’re being ridiculous!

Rehan leaves only to mount his own horse. Henley is on one side and Rehan the other. Slowly, we move to the front of the procession where Daithi resides. No guards close in around him. A most peculiar act, or perhaps a warning to those who dare see him. Know that he isn’t fearful of an attack. Strength comes in many forms after all; an unnerving stare, a chilly turn of phrase, confidence in the face of danger.

We head for the front gates that are as ominous during the day as they are at night. The great spires pierce a clear blue sky. The armor of soldiers gleam from within the arched windows of the dark stoned towers. They almost ask for a fight, only in hope to watch you fall.

An iron gate rattling with gears and chains rises as we approach. On the other side, a bridge connects the castle to the town, bricks as black as the gate with iron chains linking poles every few feet. The ditch around the castle has no water. Daithi, after all, is of fire. He is noted as being most unsettled by water, like a cat. I snicker, imagining him as a frightened feline hissing after being drenched.

The moat is not meant to flood with water, but rather oil that he sets aflame. A wall of fire that burns so long as Daithi still breathes. The mere idea of it is frightening so I can’t imagine it in action.

Across the bridge is the capital of Vuirin, Satume. The cities and people of Vuirin are described from Aquilan’s point of view; oppressed people that keep to themselves, stuck under Daithi’s thumb. Their homes are visible from the gates, growing taller and taller until we step onto the cobblestone streets. Admittedly, I expected to find poverty, disease, citizens cowering in their homes or begging for scraps, instances that are hinted at in the novel, but we’re met with the exact opposite.

Satume is bustling. Even as the streets are cleared for us, there is vibrant life all around. Citizens keep at a distance, but children are sitting atop the shoulders of their parents, staring in awe at their emperor. Some even boost themselves up on mounds of dirt that their little hands call forth or blast into the air with gusts of winds, giggling at abilities that are still mind boggling to me. Families huddle together, some shyly waving while others merely watch in stunned silence. I wouldn’t say they feel scared of Daithi, but they aren’t cheering either.

There’s an odd sense of respect accompanied with distance and uncertainty. However, the citizens appear well fed. Their skin tones are healthy. Their clothes are not tattered rags clinging to skeletal frames. Quite the opposite yet again. Some are waltzing about in dazzling jewels while others are in fresh uniforms or doll-like dresses.

Homes and shops are clustered together, well kept with busy town squares and clear water in sparkling fountains. Children frolic in said fountains, squealing with joy until a bell tolls. They rush into a school where a teacher calls for them. Not what I expected based on what the novel had told me...

Tack the citizens on with Rehan and my mishap of getting caught, I’m beginning to worry that the world around me is even farther from the one described in the book. If so, what else could it be and how am I going to work around it? And here I thought college was tough. I’d actually rather go back to finals week than continue this!

When we return, I wonder if I can request some paper and pens...or ink, whatever they use here. I need to try and keep track of what has changed, how it may affect things later, or if it even does. I don’t know if it’ll help, but I won’t sit idly by.

I’m going to do whatever I can to survive.