Page 124 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

Roderick looked down at his roster. “Looks like it’s Tallon’s Delight from the Court of Wailing Winds.”

“Oh, that’s my home! Go, Tallon!” Ora shouted.

The three horses crossed the finish line together. The crowd held their breath while the officials decided who won. After what seemed like an eternity, the round official, wearing a deep blue vest covered with embroidered hoof prints, announced Tallon’s Delight as the Winner. A mixture of cheers and disappointed sighs rippled through the crowd.

The next set of horses lined up while men frantically smoothed the track again.

“The horse from my court won!” Ora said, clapping her hands together in delight. “Can I see him during intermission?”

Caiden smiled. Seeing her happy lit something inside him he hadn’t felt in a long time. “Of course.”

They cheered on the next two races, of which a mare named Cherry and Greysong each won a round.

“Let’s go down and see your winner,” Caiden said to Ora, who nodded enthusiastically.

“Oh, this is so exciting,” she said as they made their way down to the stables.

The smell of oats, hay, and manure all mixed together in the bustling stables.

Horses snorted and whinnied to one another.

“Oh, this is lovely,” she said.

Something gnawed at Caiden’s mind, like an itch he couldn’t scratch. Someone else he knew loved horses. Amolie was a royal trainer once, but that’s not who he was thinking of. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a horse neighing.

“This is him! Look how beautiful he is,” Ora cooed over the stallion, who munched on hay happily.

“Yes, he is gorgeous,” Caiden said, admiring the horse.

“Thank you for bringing me to see him.” Ora held out her hand flat, and the horse gently nudged it, looking for a treat. “I don’t get out of the library much.”

Caiden swallowed hard. “I’d like to see you again, if that’s alright with you.”

Her face brightened, and her eyes darted to where the horse nuzzled her.

Caiden wanted to say something, but it had been some time since he’d courted a woman, and his tongue refused to untie. “We could go somewhere right now if you’d like.”

“I…” She hesitated, digging her toe into the dirt of the stable floor. “I’d like that.”

A wave of relief washed over him. “Great, there’s a little pub not far from here that I haunted as an up-and-coming commander.”

“Sounds lovely,” she said.

He extended a hand and clasped hers. Together, they walked through the sparkling night. The lights of Vantris twinkled like little stars all around them, hands laced tightly together.

“I’ve not done this before,” Ora said.

“Done what? Hold hands? Surely you had suitors in school?”

She shrugged. “Not really. It’s been my dream to be a Master Scholar since I can remember. I’m not very good with my powers. Books and knowledge made more sense to me.”

“And what exactly is your specialty?”

She cleared her throat. “Ancient elixirs, potions, and the gods of the old world.”

Caiden arched a brow. “That’s a lot.”

“I never get bored.”

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