Cadmus barked. Alexis reined in her mare and looked to the east as the little dragon looped in the air. She stayed with the gypsy band for a week, reconnecting with them before eventually returning to her duties in the castle. As Artac said, she couldn’t stay with them forever. However, she made time out of each day to join them for a meal, take care of her mare and go for a ride.
Alexis couldn’t believe that she used to think riding was a waste of time and a false sense of freedom. While it was true that it wouldn’t help her leave the island, it allowed her to escape the sometimes-stuffy atmosphere of the castle. The gypsy band treated her as one of their own and not some lofty ruler. It was grounding and a much-needed break. Nikiti was right, she belonged on a horse.
It had been almo
