Horse Stone (Book 1 of Ilyrian Series)

Chapter 34

My father watched me lead Vanar out of the pen, and relief filled his eyes. His Adam's Apple bobbed up and down while he tried to keep his face blank. Tears filled his eyes, and he took a look at Vanar, studying him as if he knew this stallion and what he was.

Vanar stayed by my side. His ears were pricked to my father, and I could tell that he was curious about this male. He knew him, and I had a small feeling as if I knew the reason as to why he knew him.

My father cleared his throat and took a step forward, watching the stallion. Slowly, he held out his hand but didn't touch Vanar. He wanted to, I could tell, but he respected Vanar and wanted to act like he didn't know this stallion. "Hello, my old friend," he mouthed while Vanar whickered. "It's good to see you again."

Vanar breathed in and out and flicked his tail. He leaned forward and let my father touch his nose before he quickly backed up and wrenched his head higher against the lead rope. Vanar squealed out in fright and backed up some more while I dug my heels into the ground and tried to hang on.

"Easy," I crooned, silently cursing the stallion. "You are safe. Easy."

"He touched me," Vanar said. He half reared and shook his head, trying to get away from me. "The male touched me."

"Would you quit it?" I hissed. "You don't need to act like a butt." I grunted when he half reared again, this time picking me off of the ground.

"Hadley?" Serena asked nervously. She wanted to help, I could tell, but she didn't want my dad to know that I knew something unless I gave her a signal.

"Just... start walking towards the field," I said, twisting around and making Vanar start to circle around me. "We'll catch up when he calms down."

"See!" Mrs. Treat exclaimed. "I told you that he was dangerous! He should b-"

"Enough!" my father exclaimed, interrupting her. I didn't need to look at him to know that he was glaring at her. "Let's go so that she can calm him down. Be careful, Hadley Rose." His gaze was on Vanar and me, and I knew that he wanted to help in some way but didn't know how without me finding out his secret.

I didn't look at him, my focus solely on the rearing stallion. "I will," I promised. "Can you just go, please?"

My father grunted and nodded his head. "Ok," he said. "Let's go." He gestured to every to get a move on while Vanar kept rearing and whinnying his distaste at being touched.

When my father and the rest were farther away from us, Vanar calmed down and went to get some grass. He acted like nothing was wrong, and I stared at him, shocked and amazed. Vanar lifted his head and noticed me staring at him with an open mouth. "What?" he asked, and if he could raise an eyebrow, he would. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

I shook my head but didn't reply. Slowly, I turned towards how they had gone and started to walk that way with Vanar in tow. A million thoughts went through my head, but I kept going back to one of them.

I saw the bond between Vanar and my father. I knew that something was there, especially when my father mouthed, 'my old friend' before he went to touch the stallion.

My father was the king.

He was the king of Ilyrian, which made me a princess of a kingdom that I knew nothing about.

No wonder the Headmaster didn't want me to become the leader...

***

That evening, I sat on my bed and stared out the window, lost in thought. I had no idea who I could ask about what I thought or wondered. I didn't even know who I could ask and get an honest answer back and not the words 'figure it out yourself,' which I didn't like at all.

All I wanted was someone to answer me and not let anyone else that I knew.

For some reason, I didn't want Dr. Wilson to know, so I knew better than to ask him.

I didn't want to ask Vanar my question because I had a feeling that he would either say he didn't know or make a smart-aleck response. I didn't need a smart-aleck response. All I needed was a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer.

Serena wouldn't be able to answer me. She was under strict orders, and I had a feeling that she would tell either my father or Dr. Wilson, that I knew.

Would an animal tell me and not tell anyone what I asked? Could they be sworn to secrecy? Or was that too much to ask?

I turned my head and looked at my cat sleeping in the tower. I still had no idea if she was from Ilyrian, but I had a feeling that she was.

However, she was too close for comfort, and I had a feeling that she wouldn't answer me if I asked.

I shook my head and huffed, breaking me from my thoughts. I groaned and moved a hand across my face before I got up.

Would Lucas do it? Was he even nearby?

I went to my window and opened it up before returning to my bed. I didn't look at Tigra when she did her small chirp and focused my attention on the window, waiting for Lucas to appear.

Relief filled my body when he landed on the window sill and surveyed the room. He looked this way, and that before hopped onto the window seat.

Tigra hopped out of her tower and walked over to him, her tail flicking back and forth. She nuzzled him before she sat down, and they started to communicate with each other.

I watched them communicate back and forth and pursed my lips in annoyance. I wanted to know what they were saying to each other, but I knew that I would be able to one day.

Tigra sighed and looked at me. She turned her gaze to Lucas and said something else before she hopped back into her tower and curled up to fall asleep.

Lucas flew over to me and perched himself onto my leg. He cocked his head, and I knew he was wondering what was wrong.

"You have to promise not to tell anyone about this. Nobody can know what I am about to ask. Ok?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Lucas cocked his head and looked at me. He studied me before he dug one of his claws a little harder into my leg and held up one foot.

I raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to make a pinkie promise?" I asked, and he nodded his head. I rolled my eyes and smiled. "Ok," I said, amused. I grabbed one of his claws with my pinkie, and we shook "hands."

Lucas placed his foot back down and relaxed his grip on my leg. He cocked his head farther and waited for me to ask my question.

I licked my lips and cleared my throat. My throat went dry, and I started to second guess myself. Again I licked my lips and cleared my throat. "Is he the king?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Is my dad the king of Ilyrian?"

Lucas studied me. Respect filled his eyes, and I had a feeling that he didn't think I would figure it out as fast as I did.

So, he did the one thing he could do.

He nodded.