Horse Charmer by Angelia Almos Read Free Book Online

were guards was because she'd seen them talking with her father many times. The crowd was completed by two ladies Cassia didn't recognize.
    The two guards stood, set their tea cups on the table, and bowed.
    "What do you have to report, Captain Kenrick?" Sarahann said without preamble.
    Kenrick, the senior of the two guards, glanced to the two strangers in the room. Sarahann followed his gaze to the two women standing nervously together.
    "How may I help you?" Sarahann asked.
    "I'm Madam Celeste, the seamstress," said the more elegant of the pair of red heads. "This is my assistant, Lola."
    "Of course." Sarahann gestured to her handmaiden. "Jenica, where would you suggest Madame Celeste set up?'
    "Cassia's bedchamber should do nicely," Jenica said, stepping from her customary position by the serving table. She traveled well just like her mistress and her simple green dress matched her eyes and looked like it had just been pressed.
    "Would you help her get ready?" Sarahann said. "You know where the dress is? I'll send Princess Cassia in a moment."
    "Yes, Your Highness," Jenica said as she headed back into the hallway. Celeste and Lola followed.
    "Witen," Sarahann said. "Perhaps you could settle the boys into one of the rooms." Sarahann turned to Ula and Yaffa. "Set up the princess's room."
    They bowed and hurried out of the small sitting room.
    "Now." Sarahann turned to Kenrick. "What have you learned?"
    "They know nothing for sure," Kenrick said, his command presence clearly showing he was a high ranking Captain within the Karahan Guard. "There's been no sign of Talent Westleigh. Both of us have searched the town and castle grounds to no avail. According to the gate guards they were unaware King Robet and Talent Westleigh had even left the grounds. Let alone why. We questioned and searched where it occurred."
    Cassia stepped closer. This was the first time she had heard anyone really discuss the circumstances of her father's death. She was shocked Sarahann hadn't sent her out of the room as well.
    "It's in the poorer section of the town," Kenrick reported. "The alley led to a seedy pub which isn't easy to find unless you're looking for it."
    "Why was he there?" Sarahann asked.
    "We haven't been able to ascertain that, Your Highness," Kenrick said. "We searched his rooms here in hopes of finding some information, but there was nothing by the time we got here."
    "Are you suggesting King Erich's people removed the information?" Sarahann asked.
    The two guards glanced at each other. "No, Your Highness. The Vesperan Guard, though slightly put out, has cooperated with us fully and we haven't been able to find any fault in their investigation. "
    "So, we still know nothing," Sarahann said in frustration.
    "You didn't find anything?" Cassia asked quietly.
    Sarahann looked at her in surprise like she'd forgotten Cassia was in the room.
    Kenrick shook his head. "There are no witnesses, we scoured the neighborhood and beyond, no one saw anything. We haven't even found anyone who saw them leave the castle grounds."
    "There's got to be something," Sarahann said.
    "Just the absence of Talent Westleigh," Guard Nolan said. His lean frame made Cassia wonder if he could even hold the massive sword hanging at his waist.
    "What do you make of that?' Sarahann asked.
    Kenrick was silent for a moment. "I don't know. We should have found him whether he's alive or dead. No one just vanishes. His horse is unaccounted for as well."
    "I wasn't aware of that," Sarahann said.
    "King Robet's was found tied to the hitching post closest to the pub," Kenrick said. "Talent Westleigh's was not and it wasn't in the castle stable. He must have taken it with him wherever he went."
    "Do we know for sure that Talent Westleigh was with His Majesty?" Sarahann asked.
    "No," Kenrick said.
    "What of the Karahan guards who were with him?" Sarahann asked.
    "They saw nothing," Kenrick said. "I questioned them extensively. I can find no hint of treachery."
    Sarahann paced away