The horse suddenly froze as if rooted to the spot, stopping a meter from the columns with vines, depriving me of the power of speech. Ahead, sharp tenacious thorns of a vine could be seen, which beckoned to their victim. The wind was getting stronger, pushing inside, as if the elements were going crazy.

The bright light blinded my eyes, golden sparks showered from head to toe, warmly touching the skin, slightly tingling it. Powerful eddy currents swirled golden sand dust, forming a huge funnel.

- Go. – a warm gentle breeze touched my ears and the skin on my neck, penetrating with a slight shiver and goosebumps. The wind seemed to carry a barely audible whisper to my ears, but is this really true or am I already having auditory hallucinations?

Berkoot easily dived into the portal, pulling me along with him, and the next moment a huge plain appeared before my eyes, limited only by the horizon line.

The landscape changed. There was no longer a castle to be seen, nor any human structures, only endless natural expanses. The horse had moderated his pace a little and was now galloping at an easy trot.

I was finally able to straighten up and sit up straight, stroking his long neck.

- Well done, boy. I whispered softly, still shivering all over. - You’ve finally calmed down.

The portal behind us also disappeared, as if it had never been there. And now I was only interested in...

What just happened? And where are we now? And how are we going to get back?

Finding myself in an incomprehensible situation, I was a little nervous and bit my thumbnail.

- Thea, why are you scared? Here is your chance to escape - use it to your health.

I mentally encouraged myself as much as I could, now is not the time to panic. Moreover, I am not alone, I have a zealous powerful steed with me, we will not be lost with him. If he doesn’t freak out again.

But to my happiness, the horse behaved complaisantly. Maybe he didn’t like the castle either? Oh, how I understand him.

For about an hour, I allowed myself to put all thoughts away and just enjoy a leisurely walk and admiring the local nature. The modest grassy landscape was gradually replaced by more dense vegetation, smoothly flowing into a forest plantation of tall century-old pines.

Pine needles crunched and rustled under the hooves, and the air smelled of fragrant resin, a little damp and moss. The sound of water was heard from afar and, as if hypnotized, Berkoot and I walked towards this sound.

We didn’t have to walk for a long time and literally fifteen minutes later we found ourselves on the edge of a huge rocky cliff, at the bottom of which a stormy river flowed. It was both beautiful and scary.

I allowed myself to get off the horse. He didn’t try to run away, so I didn’t tie him down. Yes, in general, there was no point, even if he didn’t run away–I didn’t know the way back.

As I stepped onto the cold, rocky floor, I remembered that I had kicked off my shoes on the way to the stalls. Shivering, I tucked her toes and slowly walked up to the cliff, just to admire. I sat down on the very edge and dangled my legs, dangling them in the air.

How nice it was here, quiet and peaceful.

- It looks like my plan has failed miserably. And instead of annoying Raphael, I just turned into a horse driver. It doesn’t pull for more. - I grinned at myself.

- Haven’t you had enough exercise yet, Princess? – on my shoulders, shrunken from the cool wind, a warm dense fabric lay down and I turned around.

Casting a huge shadow, a strong, tall man towered over me, with a well-groomed appearance, in expensive clothes, for lack of a jacket, which now hung on my shoulders. His black hair was gathered at the back of his head in a small ponytail, and only a long fringe fell over his eyes, slightly covering them. He reminded me vaguely of Raphael.

I hurriedly got up and took a couple of steps back, keeping some distance between us. My wary gaze wandered first to Berkoot, then to the stranger, then to the forest. I have to know where to run in case of danger.

Although the man did not cause me any obvious fears, but the way he crept up and generally came from nowhere puzzled me, caution will not be superfluous.

- Who are you? And how do you know me? – with the same wandering gaze, I quickly looked at the man.

"My name is Skars, Your Highness. You and I haven’t been introduced to each other yet. I’m your friend. - He smiled amiably and took a step closer, forcing me to back away.

- You can’t be my friend a priori, since this is the first time we see each other. - I sobered him up.

- Well, I’ve seen you before, and now you’ve seen me. We will consider our acquaintance successfully completed. - he held out his hand to me. - Now step back if you have no intention of falling off the cliff.

I looked back and at that moment noticed that there were less than ten centimeters to the edge. My breath caught in my throat and I felt dizzy. If it hadn’t been for my newfound friend, I would have definitely snapped, but at the last moment he managed to grab my hand, pulling me away from the edge of the cliff.

- That’s what I was telling you. You need to be careful, Princess. Not every time you will have a charming savior by your side. – he flashed his snow-white teeth, and I was still trying to recover from the fright.

- You’re too narcissistic. I noted, removing his hand from me and straightening my dress. – But thank you, you really saved my life just now.

I squared my shoulders, straightened up and lifted my chin, looking at him.

- So, who are you?

- My name is Skars,- he replied without hesitation. - I’m sort of His Majesty King Raphael’s right-hand man.

-Have you been following me? - I protested, still not taking my gaze off him.

- Let’s just say I’m looking out for you. – he said without a trace of a smile.

- And why would you do that? Is your king afraid that I will run away? - I said sarcastically.

- It’s unlikely. – he was amused. - If he was afraid of that, he wouldn’t let you come here, much less steal his trusty horse.

What an impudent fellow. So he means that Raphael knew everything? Although, a stupid question, what else to expect from him. He probably has a lot of "eyes and ears" in the castle.

- And why didn’t he come himself then? – I continued to torture the man with questions.

- So that’s what you were trying to achieve by running away? - he arched an eyebrow gracefully, waiting for an answer, but received only my indignant grin. - I’m sorry, but the king is too busy at the moment, so it’s just me here. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

He is strange, of course, and I could not understand my feelings in any way. Should I blindly trust him? I was distraught to say the least.

- I dare to disappoint you, I don’t want to go back yet. - I mumbled and pursed my lips.

But the man only smiled, earning small wrinkles in the corners of his red eyes. Those eyes again. Exactly the same as King Abion’s. Maybe in these places such an eye color is not uncommon? It looks tempting and creepy at the same time. As if the color of fresh blood. Inspires danger.

- You are free to do whatever your heart desires. When you’re ready, let me know and I’ll take you home. – he hastened to assure me.

House...

It’s a stretch to call this place home. What about Riliya? Ask me such a question earlier, and I would have assured you without delay that Riliya is my home. But now I wasn’t sure, because inside there was a smoldering desire to stay away from that place, there was no sense of protection or native warmth, and there were fewer and fewer good memories.

So where is my home now? Where is the place I belong to?

I was too depressed by all these thoughts, so I decided to drop them completely and just relaxed, allowing myself an ordinary walk, as if I wasn’t royal at all, but an ordinary peasant. I just imagined myself as a different person and tried to live in this feeling for a couple of hours that I had before we went back.

- How do we get back to the castle? - I was standing not far from the place where the frisky Golden Eagle was spinning circles, flexing his muscles.

During my walk, the man with the ponytail threw aside the external pathos and now looked more like an ordinary person, even his clothes no longer embarrassed him with their aristocracy. That playful aura disappeared, leaving behind only a good-natured trail. Something has changed in his look and behavior.

- Promise me you won’t be scared? - He looked at me warningly, waiting for my answer, and I nodded approvingly.

In the next moment, dark dust particles swirled around him, absorbing him inside, as if into a cocoon, changing and shrinking.

I lied a little when I thought I wouldn’t be scared. The sight of what was happening caused me to shiver slightly, which slid goosebumps down my back.

In front of me, instead of a tall man, there was now a pitch-black huge furry... wolf? A dog? What is the magic of transformation?

The dog came sniffing closer to me, softly stepping with fluffy paws on the green grass. He stretched his head forward, seeing my indecision, and poked the back of my hand with his wet nose.

What am I supposed to do now? You could at least explain before you turn into a cute giant animal. But I got the answer to my unspoken question right away when he bit the hem of my dress with his teeth and pulled, urging me to climb on his back. That’s so unexpected, but I took the hint quickly and just as soon straddled him, hiding my embarrassment behind a lowered head.

If anyone found out, I would have been booed instantly for such unladylike behavior. But we won’t tell anyone that this is a dog, which in fact is not a dog. Silence is the best defense.

I sat down more comfortably and suddenly it dawned on me...

- What about Berkoot? We can’t leave him here alone.

But fluffy blackie didn’t answer anything, just growled. Of course, where would you see talking dogs. And in an instant he set off on a fast run, straight towards the cliff. I didn’t even have time to be scared in that short moment when, right on the edge of the cliff, the warm sparks of the golden portal caressed my skin again, pulling and absorbing us inside and tearing off my warm jacket from my shoulders.

Once in a familiar place, in front of the main gate, I got down from a warm, heated place, and the dog changed again, showing his courageous image.

- Don’t worry about this demoniac horse, he often walks there. His Majesty will pick him up later. And now run to your room and be sure to put your shoes on, otherwise you will catch a cold.

We said goodbye with a slight bow and went our separate ways.

It was a very intense day for impressions and emotions.