Free Web NovelChapter 191: Chapter 191 Hixton
Amber’s POV
After my good cry, and our little cuddle moment on the couch, we are back into the swing of things. We need to be ready to leave tomorrow morning, and I still have a few last minute things to prepare.
We are going in horse drawn carriages, which is very old fashioned, but as technology doesn’t work here, we need to do this the old fashioned way. At least we have found a way to have lights in the castle without having to use candles all the time. I mentioned it to mom some time ago, and when they came to the wedding, she had a solution with her. Chase was so happy to welcome the change, and after that we installed the magical lights all over the castle. You just need a glass bowl, with small white crystals in them, which we have in abundance in the Kingdom, and use a simple spell to get them to shine. Mom enchanted small sticks for the staff to use, and they had to do one movement to turn it on and one to shut it off. I can just use my hands because I have magic, and we discovered the guys can use their hands as well, as I transferred some of my magic to them when I marked them.
The next morning everything is ready, and Melody and Elina are practically bouncing in anticipation for this trip. They have been bugging us for the entire week, wanting to know when we were going and for how long. They absolutely are looking forward to learning about other cultures, and seeing more of the lands, which I have to agree with. I’m very much looking forward to meeting people, but I am not looking forward to spending so many hours in a carriage every day.
"Mom, maybe we can learn to ride on this trip?" Melody asks, excitement in her voice and her eyes brimming with happiness as the horses trot up to the castle doors. Chase, Blaze and I are all great riders, and we will be taking turns to ride with the men, and be in the carriage with the children and nannies. We have two of them, and one of us will be in each of them and one riding at all times.
"Maybe, little shadow. But right now you need to go to your carriage and be good to your teachers." She nods, her eyes solemn.
"I know, we promised." She answers, giving that ’duh’ look and hurrying down the stairs with her sister, who hugs me in passing.
I laugh as I go down the stairs myself, watching as Chase is speaking to Captain Tristan, and Blaze is getting the girls in place. At the other carriage Merida and Glaciel are sitting inside with the twins, and I move to them, knowing I will be with them for most of today.
"My Queen!" The soldiers greet when I walk by, followed by a head bow from the horses. I notice some of them are at foot, and I raise an eyebrow. One of the closest soldiers notice my look and bows from the saddle. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
"They are going to fly in their dragon form and protect us from the sky, Your Majesty." I nod. It makes sense, but is maybe taking it a tad too far.
"Was this the Prince or King’s suggestion?" I ask, keeping an eye on Chase, as he moves with Tristan to the footmen. The soldier eyes me, but I give it no mind.
"Uhm, both actually, my Queen." I shake my head with a smile. frёeωebɳovel.com
"And the rotation?" I turn my gaze to the soldier who looks at me surprised and then he smiles.
"One day in the sky, one day as a general horse guard and one day the side of each carriage."
"So, you are on your wings every fifth day?" He nods. "And that’s enough time in between? It must be exhausting flying at a slow pace the entire day." He smiles again, his eyes alight with curiosity and respect.
"Yes, we need a couple of days rest, but we have as fast a healing pace as wolves, my Queen." That seems fair enough.
"And your name soldier?"
"Hixton, my Queen." I nod.
"I’ve noticed you, Hixton. Thank you for the honest answers, and thank you for your service and protection for me and my family. I hope we talk again." He bows again, a big smile on his handsome face. I can appreciate a good looking fellow when I see one, even though I am happily married.
As I turn around to go into my carriage with the twins, Merida and Glaciel, I hear his mates swarm him with questions and praise. I smile to myself, hoping he’ll remember this for a long time. I certainly will. This is the first time I had the opportunity to speak to one of our people one on one, as much as that is possible with all these people around, and I feel like I won him over. It’s a definite win in my book.
Half an hour later we are on our way, and the journey of a lifetime has begun. I’m so proud of what we have accomplished with this journey, and I know the inns we are staying at on the way will have a good year ahead of them. Some of them we heard are exceptional and I spoke to the guys about giving them the honor of being Royal Inns, so they’ll be our choices whenever we go about the Kingdom, as well as it would maybe help their income over the year as a whole. We also need to inspect the different trades in the other parts of the country, and decide who are becoming Royal Traders, for when we are in that area of the country.
"So, what are we supposed to be doing in this little enclosed space for so long?" Merida asks, while looking outside to see if she can see her mate. They have not been that much away from each other, and even though we decided he is not my guardian anymore, he is still like a brother to me and I love having him around. When they asked if they could come along, the answer was an immediate yes.
"You will not see him, Mer. He is with the map makers in the far back. They are redoing maps for the Kingdom, making them better and more accurate. And as for what we are doing? Taking care of the twins and a craft for when they are down sleeping. I can knit and crochet, though it’s been a while." Glaciel and Merida perks up.
"You brought yarn and..."
"Of course." I reach under my seat, taking out a big chest of yarn and everything we need. Callum and Ashilia are taking a nap, so we get to it and soon all three of us are chatting quietly and doing our own thing.
