The ladies depart on horseback

After considering different options for travel, the ladies decide to travel on horseback. Adella tasks Courtney with securing the animals while she doublechecks the items they have packed: clothing, provisions, money, and, of course, their swords. She has always had servants care for her travel arrangements before, so this experience is both exciting and frightening.

A couple of hours later, Courtney returns, looking well pleased with herself. “I have secured horses for us. They will be waiting for us behind the stable, but we will need to be quick about it before someone comes along and notices them.”

“Well done, Courtney,” says Adella. “I have everything in these travel bags. We can change into appropriate travel clothing once we are away from the palace.”

The girls make their way to the stable without incident and find the horses exactly where Courtney said they would be.

They mount the horses and begin their journey, but when they get to the guard post at the entrance to the castle, Courtney becomes alarmed. “Your Highness, we must turn back at once! I had not counted on this, but my brother is standing post right now. If he sees us leaving together, unescorted, it is sure to raise suspicion.”

Before they can react, however, one of the guards sees the women on approaching horseback and calls the others to attention. The senior member steps forward, and seeing Adella, snaps off a salute and says, “Good afternoon, Your Highness. It is a fine day for a ride. Forgive me, but I was not informed of your plans to leave the palace grounds, or I would have had an escort on standby. If you wouldn’t mind waiting just a few moments, I will call up some men to accompany you.”

“Thank you, Captain,” says Adella, “but that will be unnecessary. We are just going out to enjoy some sun. Don’t trouble your men at all. We will only be going as far as River Rock.”

“It is no trouble, Your Highness. And it is the King’s command that you have escort whenever you leave these gates.”

Courtney speaks up. “Oh, Dathan! Don’t be such a wet blanket! How much trouble can we get into with a simple little horseback ride on a beautiful afternoon?”

The soldier regards the young woman evenly. “I have full confidence in Her Royal Highness’s integrity and demeanor. I wish I could say the same about my sister; I know full well the mischief that follows you — or, more accurately — the mischief you pursue!”

As that thought occurs to him, he takes a fresh look at the women and their horses. “Just going out for a brief ride, you say? That’s a fair amount of baggage for such a short excursion.”

He looks at the ladies suspiciously. “Is there something I should know, Your Highness?”