The Kings Mistress Chapter 89

[ … words ]

By the time she got over, the stable masters and guards finally got Macadamia to calm down a little. They released his reins when Sierra told them to leave them be. Sierra looked straight into the horse’s eyes.

She knew she could not show any sign of fear to him. The moment she did, she would never be able to earn the stallion’s respect or trust. Warhorses were hardened by battle. They were extremely loyal to their masters too.

She carefully held out her hand to the stallion while still maintaining eye contact. She had taken off her riding gloves moments ago and placed them in her pocket for safekeeping. She held out both hands to show that she meant him no harm.

Macadamia was still glaring deep into Sierra’s eyes as if he was trying to analyze her. He was breathing heavily through his nostrils, gently tapping his hooves on the ground.

Everyone held their breath. Sierra had gotten closer to Macadamia than anyone had dared to do so in the last few years. In fact, she was the first woman to have gotten that close. Sierra did not know it then, but back in his day, Macadamia never allowed a woman to get close to him.

“My name is Sierra,” she introduced herself slowly to the stallion, “I need a simple favor and I was hoping you could help me with it.”

She knew what others might think, seeing her speak to a horse. But she did not care. She had done the same with her mare, Midnight too. She always felt that it brought them closer.

Sometimes, she swore Midnight understood the words she spoke.

“May I have the honor of riding on your back? I promise you won’t be going to war” she continued to speak as she gently placed her hand on his neck.

Macadamia jerked backward a little at the mention of ’war’. Sierra caught a glimpse of shifting emotions in his eyes. But she was hopeful that Macadamia would trust her.

“You like to win, don’t you? I just need your help with that. So what do you say? I’ll be in your debt,” she coaxed the stallion.

She now had both of her hands on his neck. She gently stroked the side of his neck. Marionne and the others looked on in disbelief. None of them had ever seen the stallion look so calm when in such close proximity to another person.

Sierra walked to the side and tip-toed to whisper in his ear, “I’ll bring you out for a ride in the forest as a reward. How about that?”

Macadamia flicked his ear and threw her a glance. After looking at her for a moment, he lowered his head and nuzzled her cheek as a sign of acceptance. Sierra smiled as she traced her hand down the length of his body.

She got a saddle from one of the stable masters and strapped it on Macadamia’s back. She mounted onto the horse and pulled on the reins carefully. She leaned forward to stroke his back as she observed his movements, making sure she was as gentle as she could be while still remaining authoritative.

“Princess Sierra, is everything alright?” Marionne asked as she came forward.

As soon as she took a few steps closer to Macadamia, the stallion began to whinny. He lifted the front half of his body off the ground in panic. Everyone panicked too.

“Stay back!” Sierra warned as she tightened the hold she had on the reins.

She knew what the stallion was going to try and do next. So, she leaned forward to hug his neck while whispering in his ear in an attempt to soothe him down. She held onto the reins tightly as she did so to prevent herself from falling while everyone else took a few steps further back.

“Easy there, Macadamia, easy there. It’s alright. I’m here, I’m here,” she said over and over again.

Eventually, the stallion simmered down. Once she was certain he was listening to her commands, she pulled on the reins and nudged his side with her foot to get him to trot. Macadamia did as she commanded. He did not act up like he had done before, even when there were other humans nearby.

“Good job, Macadamia. I think someone’s ready,” she said with a smile.

“Your Highness, are you sure? We can get you another…”

“No need, Miss Marionne. Macadamia here is all good to go,” Sierra said confidently.

Seeing the confidence the princess had and the miraculous bonding between princess and stallion she had just witnessed, she did not ask any further questions. She guided Sierra back to the horse track.

At the horse track, the first princesses had already begun their tests. So far, three princesses had gone through the tests with varying results. Alistair, who watched from the stands, could not concentrate at all. His eyes were transfixed on the royal stables in the distance.

He tapped his finger impatiently on the arm of his chair as he watched and waited. If it were up to him, he would have loaned Sierra his own horse, Crescent, to her. But Alistair knew the moment he did, it would be seen as favoritism.

He would never hear the end of it from his court. Roxine had thought about it too. But her horse, Opal, was not suited for the test. For the same concerns Alistair had, she decided against it too. Berserker, or better known as Macadamia, was the only hope.

“Maybe we should have loaned her one of the royal guard’s horses instead,” Roxine whispered to Alistair as she kept her eye on the horse track.

She knew Berserker was an untamable horse. But it was the best bet they had. Perhaps by some miracle, that would have worked. Alistair shook his head as he let out an audible sigh.

“Those horses would not come close to the horses these princesses have. She would have lost before she even began. Macadamia is the only horse apart from ours that would even be able to stand a chance.”

Alistair straightened his back. From where he sat, he could see Sierra returning to the horse track. The nobles in the spectator stand noticed her too and they were in shock to see her riding on the dark brown coat horse. All of them had heard about the notorious horse that even their King could not tame.

Needless to say, all of their jaws were on the ground when they saw Sierra riding Macadamia with ease. When Roxine saw her, she was in awe too.

“Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” She asked in disbelief.

“I am, at least I believe I am,” Alistair remarked.