Yanar, Page 2

  Chapter 2

  Yanar leaned back against the soft, velvet-covered seat and closed her eyes. She had spent the better part of the previous day packing, all the while her spirits soaring at the realization that she was finally going to be allowed outside the castle walls. Of course she knew that Mimina would be accompanying her, as would her entourage of guards. But, even with all of them with her, watching over her, Yanar was still thrilled at the idea of seeing the outside world. She hummed through her packing and, on two occasions, even found herself singing one of her favorite songs. She had slept restlessly that night, rising before dawn in anticipation of her long journey. Even though she did not know exactly where the ancestral castle was, she did know it was two days journey by coach. She had bathed and dressed in a traveling gown and was sitting on the edge of the bed when Mimina entered just before sunrise. Her servant had been both surprised and pleased that her charge was ready and ushered her down to breakfast so that they could get underway. When, an hour later, Yanar had been led out to the waiting coach, her hopes of seeing much of the outside world had been dashed. The king's private coach and one that was the most secure in the kingdom, awaited her. The windows were covered with steel bars as well as thick, solid drapes. Once inside, there would be no way she would even be able to peer out. She had eyed the garrison of armed soldiers with dismay. Yanar had thought a small legion would most assuredly accompany her, to keep her safe from armed highwaymen. But a garrison? Yanar had climbed aboard the coach with Mimina close at her heels and they had been on their way. They had departed through the back gates of the castle, out of the sight of any curious townspeople. Mimina had settled in with her crocheting and Yanar had nothing to do but watch the elderly maid stitch her latest creation. The first day's journey had been long and even more boring than any day in the castle, finally ending just before sunset. As Yanar had been ushered from the coach and through the side door of a country inn, she had overhead one of the horseman guards say that they had made good time and were more than halfway to the ancestral castle. That night had been even more restless for Yanar and she wondered how she could stand another day in the sealed coach.

  Yanar felt a soft touch on her arm and opened her eyes. Had she fallen asleep?

  "Would you like some fruit to sustain you until luncheon your highness?"

  Yanar shook her head. "I am not very hungry Mimina."

  The buxom servant's frown was instant. "You must eat to keep up your strength," she insisted and held a bag of fresh fruit forward.

  Yanar sighed and removed an apple. She took a bite then turned her gaze toward the sealed window. "I wonder how far we have come today," she said off-handedly.

  "I do not know," Mimina replied as she returned to her crocheting. "I did get a report from Vintar this morning though." She looked up for barely an instant. "He said we should be at the castle tonight."

  "I hope so," the princess said and shifted in her seat. "I am getting very tired of this coach."

  A low rumble that rose above the horses hooves brought both women's eyes upward.

  "What was that?" Yanar asked curiously. She saw Mimina's gaze dart to the window and grow wide with concern.

  "I am sure it was just more horsemen joining your guards," the maid replied and returned to her crocheting.

  Yanar did not believe her. There was a definite look of concern on the woman's face. She was sure Mimina knew what the noise had been. When, two minutes later, the noise sounded again only this time louder and closer, Yanar watched Mimina's face and saw it pale slightly. "You cannot tell me that was the sound of horses," she scowled.

  When the horses whined and the coach seemed to jolt forward slightly, both women latched onto the arms of their seats, their gazes jetting to the door.

  "You and your wishes," Mimina grumbled as she shoved her crocheting into the small cloth bag that sat beside her.

  The outburst took Yanar completely by surprise. "What do you mean?"

  Moments later, a tumultuous roar shook the coach and both women jumped then clung to their seats helplessly as the coach leaped forward then came to an abrupt halt. When the door flew open, Yanar gasped.

  "Princess," the muscular guard she knew to be Vintar called with total concern in his gravelly voice. "Are you injured?"

  She shook her head dumbfoundedly before her gaze went past him to see dark, foreboding clouds hanging in the distance. Where was the sunshine? Before she could ask, he turned to Mimina.

  "A terrible storm is coming."

  "I heard it. Are we near an inn where we can find shelter?"

  "No. Nor can we stay here. There is no shelter to protect us. There is a small village not too far from here. We will try to make it there before the storm arrives." Strong concern shadowed his granite expression as he turned back to the younger woman. "Might I suggest your highness, that you find something to hold on to and grip it tightly. You will be in for a bumpy ride for the next few minutes." He slammed the door closed then, seconds later, the coach leaped forward.

  Yanar grabbed onto the arm of her seat with both hands as she began bouncing up and down on the seat. When the coach went over a large bump Yanar flew into the air and came to land halfway on the floor.

  "Get down on the floor," Mimina ordered and shoved the brunette onto the carpeted bottom of the coach. She grabbed a coverlet from one of the overhead shelves and draped it over Yanar. "It will be best if you stay there," she informed as the coach went over another bump. Moments later Mimina tucked the coverlet around her charge as the sound of what seemed to be stones pelting the coach began. "Stay under the coverlet. It is the safest place for you."

  Yanar bounced around the coach floor as she listened to the wind and rain whipping the coach back and forth. If not for the severity of the situation and the fear that was rising in her Yanar would think this was fun. "It certainly isn't boring," she thought as a thunderous crash rocked the coach. When she heard the horses whiny then the guards cry out, Yanar knew something was terribly wrong. She felt the coach rock fiercely and Yanar wrapped her arms around the footrest bar and clung to it tightly as the coach began to slide sideways. One quick gasp was all Yanar got out before the coach began a fast end over end tumbling motion downward.