The Black Horse Rider

Chapter 10: The Black Horse Rider

Carlia stirred slowly, the late morning light streaming through the small window in her room. She blinked, still groggy, surprised by how deeply she had slept. It had been a long time since she had allowed herself to relax, and her body had taken full advantage.

Stretching and rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she sat up and noticed a folded note pinned to the inside of her door. She blinked again, still shaking off the haze of sleep, and plucked it from the wood.

"Return the key when you’re ready. Breakfast is on the house.
~Ozfel"

With a sleepy smile, she gathered her things, pulling on her boots and strapping her cloak back around her shoulders. Slinging her pack over one arm, she opened the door and made her way downstairs.

The tavern was quiet, the tables mostly empty now that the town had returned to their daily tasks. The morning’s bustle had passed, leaving behind a sense of calm. Carlia crossed the large common room, her footsteps soft against the wooden floor. When she reached the innkeeper’s desk, Ozfel greeted her with his usual pleasant smile.

“Good morning,” he said, inclining his head slightly. “Did you rest well?”

“Better than I expected,” Carlia admitted, handing over the key.

Ozfel tucked it into a drawer behind the counter. “Glad to hear it. You looked like you needed it. Enjoy your breakfast, miss.”

With a nod of thanks, Carlia made her way to a table tucked near the kitchen, close to the small stage where the two young musicians she had noticed the night before were seated. The Sampson Twins, as Ozfel had called them, were polishing their instruments. The girl was running a cloth over the neck of her fiddle, while her brother tightened the strings on his guitar. They looked up as Carlia approached, and their faces lit up with admiration.

“Well, good morning,” the girl said warmly, setting her fiddle down beside her. She was slender and quick-eyed, her dark hair pulled back in a loose braid. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Tessa, and this is my brother, Jerrin.”

Jerrin gave a charming grin, his brown eyes twinkling with curiosity. “Morning, miss. We saw you arrive last night. You’ve got the whole town buzzing—two Black Horse Riders in as many days. That’s rare.”

Carlia blinked, caught off guard by the assumption. They think I’m a Black Horse Rider? she thought to herself. It was a curious mistake, but rather than correct them, she decided to play along. “It must be,” she said lightly, sliding into a chair at their table.

The twins exchanged glances, clearly impressed. Before they could ask more, a bar girl arrived with a tray, setting down a heaping plate of steak, potatoes, and eggs, along with fresh bread and butter. A tall mug of ale followed. Carlia’s stomach growled, and she gave the girl a grateful nod before turning her attention back to the twins.

“So, tell me,” Carlia asked between bites, ravenous after the long ride and deep sleep. “This other rider... what do you know about him?”

Tessa leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “He came in late two nights ago, just as we were wrapping up the evening,” she explained. “A quiet one—ate like he hadn’t seen food in a month.”

“A warrior, by the look of him,” Jerrin added. “Kept to himself. Watched us play as he ate, but didn’t say much. He left early the next morning before anyone else was up.”

Carlia nodded slowly, a sinking feeling settling in her chest. There was no doubt in her mind now—it had to be Alden. He was a full day ahead of her, riding another of the Black Horses. The thought made her heart quicken. She needed to move fast if she hoped to catch up.

“I see,” she said thoughtfully, taking another bite of her food. “Thank you for telling me.”

“You’re welcome,” Jerrin replied with a grin. “Say, what’s it like? Riding with the Black Horses?”

Carlia smiled at the twins, charmed by their eagerness. “It’s... exhilarating,” she said carefully, choosing her words as she finished off her meal. “There’s nothing quite like it.”

Tessa sighed dreamily. “I bet. You looked like you were born for that saddle.”

Carlia chuckled softly. “You’ve got sharp eyes.” She drained the last of her ale and stood, brushing crumbs from her hands. “Thank you for the company, and for the music last night.”

The twins beamed, delighted by the praise. “If you’re ever back this way,” Jerrin said, “you’ve got to come see us play again.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Carlia replied with a wink, slipping a few coins onto the table.

She made her way to the innkeeper’s desk once more, purchasing provisions for the road—bread, dried meat, fruit, and enough oats to keep ShadowMare content. With a nod of farewell to Ozfel, she stepped outside, squinting against the bright midday sun.

ShadowMare stood exactly where Carlia had left her, her glossy black coat shimmering in the light. It was as if the mare hadn’t moved a muscle all night, waiting patiently for her rider to return. But the moment ShadowMare saw Carlia emerge from the tavern, her ears perked up, and she gave a soft whicker of greeting.

Carlia smiled, her heart warming at the sight. “Miss me?” she asked, approaching the mare and stroking her sleek neck.

ShadowMare nuzzled her gently in response, and Carlia felt a strange sense of comfort wash over her. They were a team now, bound by more than just necessity.

With practiced ease, Carlia fastened the provisions to ShadowMare’s saddle, ensuring everything was secure. “We’ve got a lot of ground to cover,” she murmured. “Alden’s got a head start, but we’ll catch him.”

ShadowMare tossed her head as if in agreement, and Carlia chuckled. She swung herself into the saddle, settling in with a sense of purpose. The road stretched before them, long and winding, but it felt lighter now with the sun at their backs and the promise of adventure ahead.

“Let’s ride,” Carlia whispered, and with a gentle nudge of her heels, ShadowMare surged forward, her powerful hooves drumming against the earth.

The wind whipped through Carlia’s hair as they raced down the road, the village shrinking behind them. There was no turning back now—only the journey ahead, and the hope that they could close the distance between them and Alden.

Whatever awaited them on the road, they would face it together. Carlia leaned forward in the saddle, the bond between her and ShadowMare deepening with every stride. The chase was on.

Carlia and Ozfell at the Rugged Mule Tavern

The Ballad of Carlia Havannah