<h4>Chapter 141: At Stormwind.</h4>


    One weekter, Sigrid finally set her eyes on Stormwind castle. After a slow journey in a carriage, nothing made her more d than her feet touching the ground.


    She had always wanted to see Stormwind castle, Rnd’s fief, his main home. It was just as the book described, a massive castle and horse farm built from weathered gray stone that seemed to rise from the cliffs themselves. A wave of cold wind blew past her, sweeping her cloak upwards. She tugged it closer in search of warmth.


    Arger cloak was draped over shoulders by Rnd and she grateful for it.


    "Aren’t you cold?" she asked.


    He shook his head, "This is my territory, I have long grown to the weather." He took her hand and they started a slow walk on the castle grounds.


    The scent of wild flowers and the sea mixed with an earthy aroma tickled her nose. The sound of the waves hitting the rocks was filtered in her ears, her eyes took in the sight of the wild grasnds, so massive like a green sea stretching towards the horizon.


    Because of itsrge size, she could take the entire tour on foot so Rnd put her on a horse and climbed on behind her. As it walked, he pointed out all the important features of the castle.


    They visited the famous stables, home to herds of magnificent horses famous through the kingdom. Some were inside, others were roaming freely on the grass. Even more were racing really fast as if the wind itself was theirpetition.


    A winding stone path took them to the Stormwind racetrack. It was built in the shape of a circle, like a bowl that was lined with ck wooden fences and nked by grandstands carved into the earth.


    It was noon and horses were already racing, and the roars of cheers from spectators mingled with the sound of the ocean and earth that was being stomped. The racetrack had a particrly tricky section that curved dangerously, every time horse approached that point, spectators held in their breath and sat on edge with their hearts pounds.


    "Is it always this crowded?" she tilted her head and questioned.


    Rnd bent his head lower to respond over the sound of the crowd. "Mostly, in winter the numbers dwindle. In the summer we are always at a maximum because of various activities. It’s not just horse racing, we also have stick ball which is yed on horse back, sword fights and other games."


    The horse moved suddenly and Sigrid’s body jolted forward. In a rush to steady her, Rnd quickly moved his hands aiming for her waist but instead they covered her breasts.


    She gasped and quickly pped them away. "Crazy!" Sigrid looked around with guilty eyes as if they had been caught in a crime. "We are in public, you should control yourself your highness."


    Rnd was flustered, he was innocent, the horse was to me. Before he could deny however, he realized that he liked the embarrassed shade of red on her face.


    His hands found their former position at her waist and tightened unnecessarily. He whispered to her, "You know, it would be..."


    "No." she hissed. "Whatever you are thinking, no."


    There were as many eyes on the horses as were on them. It was hard not to notice them when they were dressed expensively and had knights shadowing them on horseback and a dozen maids at least. In the era of newly invented cameras, many Eldorian’s had a passion for capturing others in embarrassing positions.


    If they had the inte, they would be as messy and gossipy as humans on earth.


    Heughed and turned the horse around and they continued their tour. They visited the arena which was used for show jumping, a hall of valiant riders which had portraits of all the great horse racers Stormwind castle had nurtured over the years.


    There were portraits of the horses too, all majestic and life like. Those that had died heroically had little remnants that were locked away in crystal cases like hair from their manes or bones. It was like a veryrge modern history museum.


    She paused by one portrait which of a familiar face. It was a boy at around the age of fifteen or sixteen, he was sitting shirtless on the back of a majestic white horse. They horse was standing at the edge of a cliff, the trees in the portrait looked like they were being ripped out of the ground by strong wind. Between the strong wind, the sea below and the cliff, the portrait screamed danger and yet the boy had a smile on his face.


    In his eyes was a glint of determination, almost as if he would dare the horse to jump off the cliff at any moment.


    "That was not one of my finest moments." Rndmented.


    Sigrid looked over her shoulder, he was standing right behind her.


    "Sometimes I look back and wonder how time flew by so quickly. I was once this young and daring, now I am older and..."


    "Wiser." she cut in andughed.


    "No that’s not it." heughed as well. "I was going to say careful. Back then, I was not afraid of death, I went out in a storm, shirtless and rode a horse to the edge of a cliff. Today, I ride inside a carriage because I am the crown prince and one injury on my body could result in the kingdom falling apart."


    "I think the painter was more daring than you." Shemented.


    A light breath mixed withughter came from his nose. In all honesty, that portrait was drawn on one of the saddest days of his life. He had just opened the horse racing track two months earlier. It was gaining momentum, bringing in more money than he had ever personally owned.


    He was to participate in his first horse race so he invited his father and mother. The queen did not show up, she did not approve of his involvement with horse racing, seeing it as something unworthy. His father epted the invitation but when he came, he brought Rina and Benjamin.


    When the race began, his father was in the stands, by the time it came to an end, he was gone. Benjamin wanted to y by the sea, so his father and Rina had left.


    Rnd recalled how his victory had felt so meaningless, worthless. He remembered how for the first time in a long time, he locked himself inside his chambers and cried.


    When the storm arrived that evening, madness had driven him to do what he did. His knights had followed him and one of them drew the portrait. Rnd disliked the portrait but he still disyed it. It was a reminder that he should never desire things that were not willingly given to him, like his father’s affection. A reminder that he was on his own despite having family.


    "Why does it look to me like you were sad?" Sigrid asked.


    She could see the redness in his eyes and the shadow beneath them, it spoke to a silent heaviness. It said so much more than the broad smile and youthful charm that suggested unbridled happiness.


    "There is a storm all around you, danger that could sweep you away at any moment and yet you must smile at all times." She mumbled. A mncholic smile appeared on her lips. "It describes the reality of a royal family perfectly."