Chapter 4: Rayne.

Over the next few days, nothing changes much. The Queen and the Prince eat their meals in the main hall, but when she has work to do, he hides in his room. I am disappointed because I really hoped to have a playmate, but I’m not the kind of girl who gives up, so I start playing my games below his window. 

After a week I begin to get bored sitting there, so I wander over to the paddock and climb up on the fence to watch the men with the horses.

“Hello, Rayne. Everything okay little one?”

Mr Tobias calls out to me, and I wave back, smiling.

“Hello. I’m okay, I wanted to watch you work.”

“Really? Say, how old are you now?”

“I’m eight.”

“Eight you say, would you like to help?”

A huge bubble of excitement rises in me, and I grin like an idiot.

“Yes please!”

He laughs and then walks over to pick me up and carry me over to one of the horses, he is smaller than the others.

“This is Spade, he likes to have someone on his back when I lunge him. Put this riding hat on and then I will help you up into the saddle.”

I quickly do as he says and then before I know it, I am up in the seat. I lean forward and gently pet his neck which he seems to like.

“Hello Spade, I’m Rayne.”

He chuffs, and I giggle before I take hold of his reins, while Mr Tobias grips the lunge line.

“Okay then Rayne, your job is to stay in the saddle and try to keep him calm.”

“Yes sir.”

We start the session and I enjoy every moment of it. Sometimes, if I feel Spade start to get distracted, I put my hand on his neck and he refocuses. After a long time, Mr Tobias finally stops Spade and lifts me down.

“Well done, Rayne. That was actually, Spades best training session so far. Thank you.”

I grin stupidly after hearing that praise, I really enjoyed myself and I think I know what I want to do when I get older.

“Mr Tobias, can I help more often? I really like horses and I want to do more to help with them.”

“Sure, little one. I think you have natural talent. But you will have to wait until you are a lot bigger before you can help with much more. For now, just be sure to stay close to an adult if you want to help, okay?”

I nod, and he pats my head gently before I turn and run back to the house to tell my mummy what happened. I look up as I cross the yard and I am surprised to see the Prince standing at his window. I stare for a moment, but he sees me and quickly retreats out of my view.

Hmm, strange boy.

The weeks pass and finally the day for the Queen and the Prince to leave arrives. We all line up outside, the same as when they arrived, and watch them leave. The Prince still clings to the Queen’s skirts, but I notice that once he is in the carriage, he looks out of the window and our eyes meet. I expect him to look away, but when he doesn’t, I begin to wonder what he wants. I smile and wave discreetly to him at which point I am sure I see him smile back.

What does that mean?

Over the next year, I spend more and more time helping with the horses. I mostly fetch things for the other workers, such as the tackle items, but I also help to groom the horses after their training sessions. I enjoy brushing them and seeing their fur shine once it’s clean.

Once again it is time for a visit from the Queen and the Prince and it seems they intend to make this a regular thing. Just like last time and as I cross the yard, I spot the carriage in the distance. I let everyone in the house know and we are ready to greet them when the carriage stops at the steps.

They climb out and I notice that he is taller and a little less skinny than last time. His hair is a little messy and it suits him, but he still doesn’t make eye contact and clings close to the Queen.

So just like their last visit, I don’t see him unless he is in the hall for meals. I focus on my chores, instead of dwelling on him, until one day in the stables while I am brushing Spade, I see him standing in the entrance.

Remembering what my mum said last time, I wait for him to speak to me. I continue to work as though I haven’t noticed him, but it is hard because he is staring at me.

“Hello.”

My hand freezes mid-stroke and I look over to stare back at him.

Did he speak?

He looks uncomfortable and I wonder why he is here.

“Hello, your Highness.”

I smile and bow to him, but when I look up, he is frowning.

Uh, what did I do wrong?

“I don’t want you to call me that.”

I raise my eyebrows, surprised by what he said, but I don’t know how to answer him. As I look closer, I notice he seems a little sad, behind the annoyed tone of voice he used.

“What would you like me to call you instead?”

“Just my name is fine by me.”

The thought of speaking so informally to him terrifies me because I know that the adults would punish me if they found out. The fear must show on my face because he frowns again and begins to walk closer.

“Why are you so scared?”

“B…because it’s not my place to speak to you like that, your Highness. I would get in big trouble.”

“But I am saying it is okay. So, they have to listen to that.”

Now it’s my turn to frown.

“Why are you insisting on this?”

He looks me in the eye, and I feel a shiver run through me under his gaze.

“Because I want to have a real friend. Not just someone who has been told to be nice to me because of who I am.”

I gape at him in shock.

“Why me?”

That question makes him smile and it lights up his features, completely changing his face, I find I am drawn to him.

“Because you love horses as much as I do.”

I look at Spade and then back to the Prince, unsure of what to do. He approaches Spade and immediately Spade puts his muzzle into the Prince’s palm, I stare at them in awe. The change in the Prince is amazing, the confidence I feel flowing from him is worlds apart from the fearful boy I saw when he arrived.

“My name is Rayne.”

I say as I hold out my hand for him to shake, he pauses a moment to try to figure out my intentions, before placing his hand in mine.

“Hello Rayne, it is nice to meet you. Please, call me Lance.”

I smile, and he smiles back.

“Can I add a compromise?”

He frowns, and his hand pulls back slightly, but I grip him tighter which surprises him.

“I agree to call you Lance when we are alone like this, but, if there are adults around, would you accept me calling you Prince Lance?”

I keep my gaze locked to his and watch him closely while he considers what I have asked. Finally, he smiles and squeezes my hand back.

“Deal.”

From then on, we are inseparable, every summer when he would visit, we would help with the horses, together, and while he was back at the castle, he would write to me to tell me what was going on. But he would ask me a million questions about the ranch and what I was doing.

Then everything changed the year we turned fifteen. That was the summer they caught the runaway stallion and Lance got injured protecting me. After that, the Queen and Lance both stopped visiting the ranch, Lance’s letters also stopped once he was sent to the Royal Training Academy, and I haven’t heard from him since.

***Back to Present***

I am brought out of my thoughts by a shout from the yard, I pull Lightning back and walk him to the fence.

“Rayne!”

“What is it, Tobias?”

“We have received word from the Queen. Prince Lance has been denounced by the King, he has lost his Prince status and been banished from the capital, he is coming here to live, permanently!”