a heavy head the next morning. I only had a few sips of champagne last night, so the headache and brain fog are surprising. Not letting the hangover slow me down, I quickly shower and dress in my formal riding clothes—fitted black jacket, collared shirt, tan breeches and tall boots—anxious to get going. Today, Edmund has organized a fox hunt for his guests.
Ash was up early to have coffee with his dad and discuss Westmoreland court business. Reg arrived at the house party this morning and is only staying for one night. They’re going to meet me down at the stables.
After gulping down the coffee that was delivered while I was in the shower, I grab my riding gloves and helmet and leave my bedroom to head outside.
The morning is sunny and clear with only a few fluffy clouds hanging in the sky—perfect for a hunt. Lush Irish countryside surrounds the yellow-stone castle. In keeping with the Tudor style, Kilkenny Keep has multiple steeply pitched rooflines, several prominent stone chimneys and a facade that features groups of tall rectangular windows.
At the stables, I find a large crowd of riders already mounted on their horses. I spot Ash and Reg on the lawn talking to Edmund and Elle while the other spectators enjoy refreshments from white-linen-covered tables.
“Good morning,” I call out on my approach.
“Good morning, Nina,” Reg responds and enfolds me in a one-armed paternal hug.
“Can I convince either of you to try riding today?” I ask both Ash and Reg. “You don’t have to jump. There’s always an alternate route around the obstacles.”
Ash laughs. “Horses don’t like to be ridden by our kind, so we’ll sit this one out.”
“Too dense,” Reg agrees. “They can sense the weight of our magic, our dragons, and they don’t like it. Frankly, I don’t blame them. I wouldn’t want a dragon sitting on my back, either.”
“Do you ride, Elle?” I turn to her and take in her dress of soft, flowing fabric cinched at the waist that shows off her hourglass figure.
“No, I find horses to be rather intimidating, I’m afraid. Edmund wants me to learn, so maybe I’ll try, eventually. Best of luck to you, though. I’ll be cheering you on from the sidelines.”
“That’s all right.” Edmund rubs his hands together. “More fun for the rest of us. Come with me, Dolly. I’ve saved the best horse for you.”
“Be careful out there,” Ash says, sliding an arm around my waist.
“If there’s one place I’m perfectly safe, it’s on the back of a horse.” I kiss Ash good-bye and follow Edmund into the stables where a stable boy is holding the reins of a chestnut with a gleaming coat over tight muscles, and white socks.
“This is Flynn. He’s a born hunter, this one. Bred for the job. He’s three-quarters English thoroughbred with the rest Irish Draught. Perfect for racing across the open fields, and jumping the hedges and fences.” Edmund smiles proudly at the horse. “He’s cheeky to boot.”
“Hello, Flynn. We’re going to be partners today. I’ll take care of you, and you’ll take care of me.” I run my hands over his shoulder and flank before petting him high on his nose. Once I’ve introduced myself, I take the reins from the stable boy and lead Flynn outside.
“Let’s get started,” I say eagerly to Edmund as I put on my riding helmet and gloves and then swing up on Flynn’s back.
Edmund unties his horse from a nearby post, mounts up and shouts over the din of assembled riders and spectators. “This is a drag hunt. We won’t be hunting a live fox. Instead, the hounds will be following the scent of a fox laid over a route chosen by one of the field masters earlier this morning.” Edmund gestures to the two men in red riding jackets who are mounted on jet-black horses at the head of the field of riders. “At the end of the route, there’s a prize, and bragging rights for the first to find it. As always, wagering is encouraged, and using magic is strictly prohibited.”
Live fox hunting is banned in most of Earthside, but I wonder whether this decision has more to do with the presence of Kyoko and her fox magic. She’s mounted up only a few horses away from me. Like me, Edmund has sovereign immunity and has never struck me as someone who plays by the rules. And if the heads mounted on the walls of his office are any indication, he has no problem hunting live prey.
Kyoko catches my eye with a lift of her chin. “Let’s see what you’re made of. See if there’s any grit behind the pretty package. I don’t think you have the backbone to run with this crowd,” she says with a twist of her painted red lips. “May the best rider win.”
I nod back, silently accepting the challenge. This isn’t merely a hunt. It’s a battle—a chance for me to prove I belong or an opportunity for her to show that I don’t.
A third field master in a red coat brings out the hounds whose barks and baying suggest they’re ready to get going. When he sets them free, they nose around in the grass for a couple of seconds before picking up the scent and dashing across the open field. We all wait patiently for the third field master to mount his horse and join his fellow red coats. It’s bad form to pass a field master. They direct the hounds and the hunt. When they signal, and all three ride off after the hounds, the hunt is on.
Flynn and I start out in the middle of the thundering pack of riders, but before long, we’re overtaking the others and are near the front of the pack. The meadows are smooth and flat with almost no boggy patches, and Flynn practically flies over them.
The field masters lead us toward a tree line, and I pull up a little on Flynn to slow him down so we can carefully navigate the trees. The ground is a little softer in the brush and will no doubt be a muddy mess when the last rider passes through. Once we break through the tree line, we’re faced with a wide ditch. Flynn jumps it with ease, but it’s going to slow down less experienced riders.
On the other side of the ditch, another open field stretches before us. Flynn and I take off again when I hear another rider charge up behind us. It’s Kyoko. She shoots past me on her horse and gives me a smirk on her way by. She’s trying to beat me to the jump up ahead. I loosen the reins and let Flynn have his head as we pound after her. We’re not fast enough though. Kyoko jumps and clears the fence first.
While keeping the field masters red jackets in sight, we dash across the next open field. This time, Flynn and I are victorious and make it to the next jump, a hedgerow, before Kyoko and her mount. In this field, there are several hurdles set up for jumping, along with a clear path for those too novice or not interested in taking the jumps. Kyoko and I bound over the obstacles side by side, neither one of us giving an inch.
The red jackets disappear into a stand of trees, and I rein in Flynn on our approach. Kyoko doesn’t alter her speed at all and barrels straight into the woods. There’s a trail to follow with several obstacles. Flynn and I take each of the jumps in stride and clear them easily. I don’t see Kyoko up ahead anywhere. Did she blast right through? If she doesn’t care about her own safety, she should at least consider the horse’s health and well-being. I hear the rest of the field of riders start to gain on me from behind.
Catching a glimpse of a red coat up ahead on a side trail, I follow it. The side trail quickly becomes rougher and narrower, the trees crowding in. It becomes darker as the woods get denser, and the riding is slower and more technical.
Dogs howl up ahead. Not far now.
The trail opens into a small clearing, and I scan it to find a connecting trail. There isn’t one. Damn it. I’m going to have to backtrack. This is costing me precious time. I turn Flynn to go back the way I came when a red fox jumps into the path, startling Flynn. He rears back on his hind legs. Although I try to soothe him, he doesn’t know me very well and won’t be calmed.
Flynn yanks his head down and to the side. With the reins gripped tightly in my hand, I’m pulled off balance and fall to the ground, landing with a thump. The air is knocked out of me, and I lie there for a minute, trying to remember how to do the whole breathing in and out thing. Flynn circles the clearing nervously. The red fox stares at me across the clearing before flouncing off down the trail. That’s when I notice it has seven tails. Kyoko.
After the fox leaves, Flynn is less skittish. I’m still sitting on the ground when I hear the pack of riders pound past us on the main path. Rolling onto my side with a grunt, I get up, dust myself off and slowly approach Flynn using my softest voice to reassure him everything’s okay. After giving Flynn a thorough check to make sure he’s not hurt, I settle on his back once again. We’re heading back down the main trail in the forest when I hear the horn sound signaling the end of the hunt. Flynn and I stay on the main path until we clear the forest and are back out in an open meadow. The riders are assembled around Kyoko, Edmund and the field masters. The hounds mill around quietly now that the chase is done.
Kyoko holds a stuffed fox in her hand. The toy is wearing a wide diamond collar. The prize.
She can have the diamonds; it’s the bragging rights I was after. “The cream rises to the top, as it always does.” She gives me a gloating smile and lifts the fox in the air for all to see. The crowd claps and shouts for her win. A win she cheated to get. She used her magic to impersonate a red-coated field master and lead me off the trail, which was against the rules of the hunt.
When the crowd around her breaks up, she trots past me with several riders accompanying her. “Disappointing finish for you, Nina. No intestinal fortitude. Not willing to do what it takes. Just as I thought,” she shoots over her shoulder, not slowing down. The others chuckle and follow in her wake.
I fume. She could have seriously injured Flynn or me with that stunt. Several waitstaff walk between the horses, offering the riders water or a hot drink from large silver serving trays. I accept a bottle of water and take a big swig, rinsing the dust out of my mouth.
Edmund makes his way toward me on horseback. “What happened to you out there?”
“I took the path less traveled and ended up on my ass,” I say with a scowl.
“No point in whinging about it. Kyoko won the day. I thought for sure you’d take it. I had money riding on you. I even stacked the deck in your favor. Gave you the best horse.”
Betting on a hunt he organized—sounds like Edmund. “Someone else stacked the deck in their favor, too,” I say matter of factly, giving Flynn a pat on the neck and then looking across the field at Kyoko.
“There’s nothing in this world for free, Dolly. Not even for you. It’s bloody well time you learned how to fight like the rest of us. Be wily. You’re not trying if you’re not cheating. You have to kick, scratch and bite—fight dirty—to get what you want in this life.”
“Fight dirty, huh. I’ll have to remember that,” I say.
“Tell me what happened. How did she best you?”
“I won’t bore you with the details. It’s a dull fox tale.” I take another long drink of water and think about Edmund’s advice. And the fact he knows Kyoko cheated me out of the win. Has he already formed an alliance with her?
