Aspen and the Dream Walkers (24 page)

After releasing her death grip on his neck,
she turned wondrous eyes toward Dylan.

“Wow. I’m sorry for attacking you like that,
but I didn’t know what was happening or that you could do something
like this.”

Dylan’s mouth curled upward. “There’s a lot
you don’t know about me,” he murmured, and his gaze dropped to her
lips.

The shock was beginning to wear off, and
Aspen could feel her entire body humming with electricity. She
glanced down again. “I think we can go back now. The stampede seems
to be over.”

Dylan laughed softly. “Whatever you want,
Princess.”

When Dylan decreased the current in his
hands, they descended slowly. A stiff breeze whipped strands of her
hair against his face as they made their way back to earth.

“You can let go now,” Dylan said and smiled
at her.

“Huh?” She blushed when she realized they’d
landed, but her legs were still wrapped around his waist.
Instantly, she dropped to her feet and stepped away.

“Aspen, are you all right?” Ray asked from
behind her.

“No thanks to you,” Dylan snarled at him.

Ignoring Dylan, Ray grabbed her hands. “I’m
so sorry. I didn’t think the horses were so close. I would never
hurt you intentionally.”

Aspen shook her head. “It’s fine, don’t
worry. Wow, look at these horses. I know I’ve seen them before, but
they’re just so magnificent.” Hopefully the subject change would
defuse the tension between the two Dream Walkers.

Ray stepped back. “Yeah, they’re beauties,
all right. Demothi conjures them up when the Power Walkers need
them, and sends them back once the job is done. We have our own
horses, but there’s nothing like a white Arcadian. They’re
magical.”

“Come on, let’s get our horses and get
going,” Dylan said, his voice icy. “Leeman is waiting for everyone
already.”

Still reeling from the quick flight, Aspen
was shocked to feel Dylan’s hold on her hand as he pulled her
toward Leeman’s house. What was his problem now? She wasn’t
someone’s favorite toy that could be dragged back and forth like
this. She sighed and followed behind him, watching as warriors
saddled the horses and stowed supplies in bags.

Dylan found a smaller horse and strapped a
saddle onto its back while Aspen stood behind him. Once he was
done, he reached into a container on the ground and pulled out a
small hunting knife. He handed it, safe inside its sheath, to
Aspen.

“Keep this with you in case something
happens.”

Nodding, she took the knife from him
solemnly. This wasn’t a game, and the odds of their getting hurt
were high. She swallowed a lump in her throat as Dylan saddled his
larger horse. The animal stood patiently until he’d finished.

After Dylan was done, he turned and whisked
her up into the air as if she were as light as a feather. Before
she could protest, she sat on the smaller horse. Lifting her leg
over its broad neck, she tucked her foot into the stirrup on the
other side.

Dylan tightened the stirrup on both sides
before handing her the reins. It felt good knowing he was looking
after her. With little effort, he jumped up on his own horse and
turned its head so the two animals faced the same way.

“Listen up, folks.” Leeman’s voice boomed
above the loud noise in the village. “The Power Walkers will be
headed for the castle, and the rest of you will create a diversion
for us. Aspen, Dylan, Sandy, and Ginny, you’ll be in charge of the
horses once we get there. I don’t want to see you anywhere near the
castle. We’ll get back to you once we’re done. Understood?”

Sandy had joined Ginny earlier, and the two
girls angled their horses next to Dylan and Aspen. The four bobbed
their heads in unison.

“Right then, let’s get on our way.” Leeman’s
command was followed by whoops and catcalls of excitement.

The massive train of horses filtered out of
the village and made its way past the river.

“It’s about an hour’s hard ride to the
castle, so we’ll go through at least one Lavendula before we get
there,” Ginny said, and patted the twitching neck of her beautiful
white horse. “Leeman is taking us away from any known waypoints so
we don’t come across any Chancellors by mistake.”

“It’s a shame. A lot of kids will have
nightmares tonight and they won’t know why.” Sandy grimaced.

The horses picked up speed once they’d left
the river, and soon they galloped through fields of daisies and
green meadowlands.

Thick strands of blond hair flew wildly
behind Aspen, and the warm breeze prickled her cheeks. Her T-shirt
was pressed firmly against her body by the wind, and she breathed
in the smell of leather, sweat, and horses as she dug her knees
into the beautiful white steed beneath her and allowed it to take
control.

After a long ride, the sky changed color, and
Leeman reined in his horse and raised his hand. Everyone stopped as
his powerful voice shouted over the loud group. The riders behind
him jerked their animals to a halt, and the small but deadly army
of Dream Walkers gathered around their leader.

Aspen struggled to control her horse until
Dylan whistled behind her. The beautiful white beast slowed down
and then stopped. It turned its muzzle into his cupped palm as he
pulled his horse next to hers. She watched it nibble the small
piece of apple Dylan held, and he petted its head soothingly.

“That’s a good baby,” he murmured. While
rubbing the horse’s ears, he stared straight into her eyes, and her
heart thumped in her chest.

Leeman spoke up again, and they all turned as
one to give him their attention.

“Listen up, everyone. Stay together and
Demothi will cloak us in case the Chancellors come out this far. We
have to wait for Lavendula to finish before we can go any
farther.”

She watched her uncle with pride as he sat up
on his horse, easily commanding the army of people around him. Long
black hair was tied back from his face, and a heavy belt circled
his hips. The Gimler hung innocently from it. There was no
mistaking the weapon’s power—she’d seen it in action firsthand—and
she smiled as she thought about all the damage it could do.

Leeman looked strong and intimidating, and
she loved the fact that he was related to her. Not having a father
to protect her like her friends did was awful, but she knew that
her uncle thought of her as his own child, and would do anything to
make sure she was safe. That knowledge made her feel good.

“Once we reach the outskirts of the castle,
we’ll leave our horses with Princess Aspen and her followers. Then
the Fire Walkers will start their distraction so that we can enter
the castle. We’re concentrating on the dungeons. I want to be in
and out as soon as possible, no wandering anywhere else in the
castle. Everyone must be out as soon as we are done with the
dungeons, understood?”

The crowd murmured their agreement, and
Leeman nodded his head before he turned his horse around. Demothi
chanted and waved his wand in the air, and Aspen knew that they
were safe from detection. The lavender sky cooled the air on her
skin, and she sat back in the saddle and turned to face Dylan.

Ruby chose that moment to walk her horse
through the group of animals and stop next to them.

“Hi, sweetie.” She grinned and sidled up to
Dylan. Tendrils of auburn hair had escaped her ponytail that was
loosely tied, and they framed her pretty face. She was
breathtakingly beautiful.

“Ruby.” Dylan nodded his head at her.

“Are you having fun yet?” Her full lips
curved into a smile, and she reached over to stroke the flank of
Dylan’s horse right next to his thigh.

It took all of Aspen’s control not to smack
her. Ruby was way too familiar with Dylan, and the way she spoke to
him made Aspen want to scream.

Just as she was about to butt in, someone
called her name.

Dungeons and Castles

“Aspen!” Leeman angled his horse toward her. As he
neared, she overheard Ruby’s last sentence.

“Why are you playing with her, Dylan?
Seriously! She’s a Halfling.” Ruby pouted her bow-shaped mouth and
shook her head.

Dylan’s silence was heartbreaking. It was
impossible for Aspen to hide the hurt in her eyes, and she refused
to look at Dylan. All she could think of was that he hadn’t
defended her. Did he need to, though? Was Ruby insulting her?

“Come with me, Princess. Demothi wants to
show you how to hide the horses when we leave.” Leeman grabbed her
bridle and pulled her horse toward his, and she had no choice but
to follow.

As she left, she saw Caden on his dappled
horse. His lips were narrowed in a thin line as he glared at Ruby,
but Aspen was too upset to give it more thought.

Wiping her reddened eyes, she tried to
process what she’d just heard. Did Dylan think less of her for
being a Halfling? What did it matter if her mother wasn’t a Dream
Walker? She was a princess—surely that counted for something? Why
didn’t he stand up for her? Did he think she was inferior too?

“Aspen, are you listening to me?”

She jerked as her uncle tried to get her
attention. This wasn’t the time for tears, and she straightened her
back in the saddle. Demothi sat on a pure white horse right in
front of her. It was the same size as Leeman’s, but was so much
scarier. This beast had angry eyes that blazed as it snorted and
shook its massive head, definitely warning her not to get too
close.

“Demothi needs you to help us,” Leeman
said.

“Of course, I’m sorry. What can I do?”

“Take this.” Demothi leaned forward in the
saddle, holding out a smooth black wand.

Aspen looked nervously at the diminutive man.
His face was wrinkled, and his eyes were as dark as the night.
Taking the shiny stick from him, she jerked as raw power latched
onto her hand. Her palm felt like it had been clamped in the jaws
of a powerful dog that hadn’t bitten, but was waiting for the
slightest move to do so. She couldn’t drop the wand even if she
tried.

Demothi’s eyes crinkled into a smile. “I knew
she’d be able to hold it.” He beamed at her. “Her bloodline is
royal. Only royalty can handle the magic the wand contains.”

Leeman seemed to be pleased, and she smiled
weakly back at him.

“We have a spell to call the wild horses of
Arcadia. They are bound to the wand, and will be released and
returned after chanting magical words,” Demothi continued. “When we
get outside the castle, I’ll give you the wand and tell you which
words to say to return the horses to Arcadia. As soon as we are
ready to leave, you can summon them for us.”

“Why can’t you do it?” she asked. The wand
gripped her hand tightly.

Leeman stared carefully at her, as if taking
her measure. “If we have a problem and can’t get out, I’ll need you
to be prepared to summon the horses and get our people away as fast
as possible. We’ll be too close to the castle for the cloaking
spell to work.”

Although his meaning was clear, she reminded
herself again that this wasn’t the time to worry about his safety,
and she sat up with the wand raised in the air.

“You’ll be coming back, I don’t doubt that at
all, but I’ll learn how to do the spell just in case.” Aspen sat
ramrod straight in the saddle and smiled at her uncle.

“Good girl, keep the wand in this pouch.
Demothi has given you his spare. It’s a bit difficult to hold for
too long,” he said with a grin.

She sighed with relief as she took the slim
pouch and slid the wand safely into it. “That was intense.”

Ginny and Sandy trotted up to her on their
beautiful white horses. Her uncle nudged his horse and left with
Demothi after he’d given her hand a squeeze, and she turned in the
saddle to face her friends. They were both dressed in black jeans
and long-sleeved sweatshirts. Sandy wore her trademark bangles, and
they tinkled softly with each movement of her arm.

“Well, Ruby is in top form today.” Ginny
chuckled. “When she wants someone, she pulls out all the
stops.”

Aspen turned back to look at Dylan, and her
face crumpled as she saw Ruby’s crimson fingernails wrapped around
his bicep.

“Ginny, shut up.” Sandy’s eyes were as sharp
as daggers as she glared at her sister.

“What? What did I say?” Ginny lifted her
palms in the air.

“It’s okay. I think Dylan’s the only one who
doesn’t know that I like him by now.” A forlorn smile crossed
Aspen’s mouth.

“Honey, she wasn’t talking about Dylan.
Besides, he’s stupid if he can’t see what he’s got in you.” Sandy
rubbed her shoulder soothingly. “He should have realized you liked
him when you told him he makes you feel good.”

A ghost of a smile reached Aspen’s lips.

“Cheer up, girl,” Sandy said. “There are
plenty of ways to make him notice you. You don’t need to worry
about Ruby. She’s flirting like that to make Caden jealous.” Both
of them turned to look at Dylan and Ruby again.

“Caden? The good-looking Water Walker? Why
would she do that?”

“It’s a long story, and I’ll save it for
another day. We’re going to fight the Chancellors now and I need
you to focus. Think you can do that?” With a smile, Sandy reached
out to touch Aspen’s chin.

She exhaled. “You’re right, time for
payback.”

Within a few minutes, the sky had lightened
enough for the group to continue. Aspen ignored Dylan and rode
alongside her friends for the next forty-five minutes.

Parts of the castle became visible through a
break in the tree line as they neared their destination. Circular
towers constructed of white brick with black conical spires reached
out to the sky. They were so tall that small clouds touched their
black tips. She wondered how they would they ever find any Dream
Walkers in such a huge complex.

Leeman motioned for the riders to halt and
gather around him. Horses snorted and flicked their heads as they
tried to still their heaving flanks.