Inayah sat on her bed, her belly of nervous anticipation.
She had gone about her day in a flurry of sickening excitement, washing clothes thoroughly, scrubbing floors clean, polishing the silver all before Mathilde could command her to do so. By the time dusk began to encroach in the horizon, her whole body was sore, knuckles and knees bruised pomegranate red but she did not care.
Be ready tonight. Kade had whispered in that mischievous promising way, I will return for you before midnight.
Before midnight. Inayah glanced at the small clock overhead and cleared her throat. She smoothed both palms over the skirt she wore. It was not the most impressionable one she had, if anything it was the only piece of lower clothing she possessed when Sin had taken her.
Rising from the bed, Inayah approached the small shard of glass mirror and raised it to her face, angling this way and that as she scrutinized her exterior. The excitement that bubbled within her began to wane. She only wore a simple brown long sleeve, scarf, skirt stained and stocking with holes and boots.
“Doesn’t matter,” she muttered, setting the glass down and pinching her cheeks to flush color onto the paleness.
A sudden knock on the window drew her attention towards it. Inayah rushed towards the source and hurriedly unlatched it, bracing both palms on the ledge before leaning out just as the figure leaned it.
Their foreheads bumped with a dull knock and Inayah began to pull away, grimacing just as the figure chuckled and reached for her rising hands. She felt coldness a moment later, frigid night air that drifted into the room sucking away all warmth.
“Excited, aren’t you?” Kade’s mirthful tone drew hers to him. He leaned in halfway through her window with either forearms folded on the ledge, face handsomely flushed and cerulean eyes dancing as he regarded her scowling face.
Inayah rubbed the spot between her brows where he knocked her accidentally, “You’re the one who leaned in,” she defended as his idle gaze dropped to her attire, her voice takes on a sullen slight petulant tone, “I have nothing else to wear.”
“So I figured,” Kade swung what looked like a backpack over his shoulder and into the room. It fell clumsily by her feet. Inayah’s curious stare dropped to the bag and rose back up.
Kade elegantly arched an eyebrow, “Go on.”
Gingerly she crouched low and undid the zip, staring at the pale of pants and large jacket folded side by side. “This are mens fit.”
“They’re the smallest available clothes in my possession,” he waved a dismissive hand, “forgive my short back, your highness, for I did not have time to ride into town and find you the finest of winter wear.”
Inayah narrowed her gaze at him pointedly then quickly lowered her gaze, remembering just who he was. She skimmed a hand over the jacket, testing its thick leather outing with sheep’s clothing inside. It looked old but expensive nonetheless. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he spun around, “dress.”
Obediently, Inayah hurriedly stripped and pulled on the trousers then jacket. They draped over her body like canvas clothing. The waist of her pants required numerous folds then a rope wrapped around as a makeshift belt. The sleeves of the jacket drifted past her hands which she folded as well and zipped up the front.
Kade snorted in loud amusement as she stepped out of the room, “You look absolutely ravishing.” he remarked and she mimicked his snort but said nothing else, slight warmth spreading across her cheeks.
Inayah dutilly trailed by his heels, staring at his broad back and easy gait by which he walked with hands eased into the pockets of his satin blue coat. She glanced over her shoulder dubiously at the large mansion. All windows were dark.
He must be asleep, she thought, I should have bid him goodbye.
Crossing the threshold into the forest, Inayah spotted a large horse leashed to a tree. She had only seen one just as large that belonged to Sin, with thick manes and lithe muscles that shifted restlessly beneath dark glowing skin. It stomped its hooves as they approached. Kade clicked his tongue soothingly whilst brushing a gloved hand over its thick neck, “Ready?” He turned and gestured Inayah forward.
Noting the slight inflection in her eyes, his smile widened encouragingly, “Afraid of horses?”
Inayah hesitated, stare flickering between the two. She pursed her lips to mask the tumbling of her heart within, then raised her chin in slight defiance. “No.”
Kade studied her a moment longer, his smile hardly wavering. With the gait of a swan, he stepped beside and bowed with a wave of his hand, mockingly gesturing her forward. “Mount the horse, my queen.”
Noting his own mockery towards her, Inayah sucked her tongue whilst stepped forward, eyeing the creature and saddle bemusedly. Where did they put their feet again? And hold where?
“Step here,” Kade pointed at the stirrup. She obeyed. “Now hold onto the cantle.” Inhaling a measured cold breath, Inayah did so. The horse shifted. Her muscles tensed. Kade’s chuckle was somewhere behind, so close she felt the heat of his breath brush her numb ear. “Lift yourself up.”
Licking her dry lips, Inayah began to do so. The saddle shifted slightly and the horse made a slight step forward, but that was enough for Inayah to give up all hope as she released her grip. Large firm hands gripped either side of her ribcage reflexively, lifting her onto the saddle with graceful ease.
“Great rider you are,” Kade commented amidst breathy chuckles as he mounted directly behind her, gripping the reins and guiding the horse deeper into the forest.
Inayah sat stiffly on the wide creature, her legs stretched out uncomfortably. Her face burned with mild embarrassment but more so the ghost feeling of his handprints which had touched her sides. She cleared her throat and exhaled a cloud of warm breath into the absolute dark night.
“I just need practice,” she explained and the figure behind her shifted.
“Sure you do.” Kade snickered.
Lapsing into comfortable silence, she sunk further into the cocoon of jacket, tucking her chin inside as he kicked the horse into a trot then run. Cold air whipped against her face, numbing each exposed skin and she sniffled then squinted to prevent tears from surfacing as her eyes threatened to dry out.
“Where are we going?” Inayah suddenly questioned, feeling rather foolish for not having asked before.
“You’ll see,” there remained a lilt to his voice, one diminutive and hidden. It unnerved her slightly yet she kept willing herself to trust him. Trust required acceptance, not answers.
They rode for forty or so minutes, up until the forest cleared and Inayah made out the faint silhouettes of houses. A village. She sat straighter, hands braced on the saddle as she leaned forward now, squinting into the dark. No, it wasn’t her village but it was still one that held humans.
Her heart drummed against her sternum as Kade slowed the horse into a trot on gravel. Warm light spilled from the windows of numerous houses. She spotted silhouettes moving about inside. The slight laughter of children and wailing babies.
“Where is this?” She questioned, noting how few short them sparse looks while most never questioned.
“Kiriani village.” He moved the horse towards a wooden cabin with numerous latches up front for riders. “Careful,” Kade’s grip on her waist tightened as she attempted at leaping off, excitement guiding each blind actions.
Inayah made a noise of protest but waited nonetheless, once the horse completely stilled, his grip loosened but rose to her bicep as she began to unmount. Inayah peered from around the horse as two women carrying baskets of laundry walked across the slightly lit street and into their respective houses.
A wave of nostalgia coursed through her. One that reminded her fondly of her family and friends.
Kade’s gloved hand braced against the back of her neck protectively, turning her onto his path. Inayah blinked in a dazed trance, glancing all about before blinking up at him. “Where are we going?”
Faint light glowed across his features, sharpening each one as he studied her face, the corner of his mouth quirked into an indulgent smirk. “Here.”
Inayah heard the noise a moment later and she glanced up at the wooden building. It had not completely hit her, where he had taken them, not until he braced a palm against the rough door and pushed it open.
Numerous eyes fell on them.
Inayah stilled.
A bar.