The Tiger Within 216 The Carriage Ride Part 1

"No not at all. My mind just wandered a bit." Kyera lied shamelessly. It would be difficult to explain a lady that doesn't like carriages or small enclosed s.p.a.ces. In the forest they never considered carriage travel. Motion inside a box was a interesting concept but a very contained way of travel. If there was one thing the Shifter Kin wasn't a huge fan of, it was being contained in small boxes, for obvious reasons.

"Oh, I see." He replied skeptically, his eyes having followed hers to see her looking at the carriage moments before. A thought crossed his mind and he looked at Raina who seemed to have just picked up that something was wrong.

"Are we going in the Carriage, Daddy?" Raina asked seeming a bit reluctant. He chuckled a bit and nodded.

"I planned on it, why?" He asked with a knowing grin. There was a teasing note to his voice that caused both daughter and companion to grin. Raina played along and put her little hands on her small waist and pretended to huff.

"You said you would teach me to ride." Raina replied and Kyera looked at him. There was a tone to that look that shocked him. It was a look of blant shock and disapproval, she didn't even try to hide the look wich made him slightly uncomfortable.

"You don't know how to ride, Princess?" Kyera asked wondering how they expected the child to travel in the future. Those carriages were nice but often broke down, a while snapped or get attacked by bandits and you have to flee. Fleeing, which is often best carried out on a four legged beast.

"No, Daddy hasn't had a chance to teach me." Raina replied with a small pout. It wasn't a true pout, the edges were curved up just a bit in amus.e.m.e.nt. Kyera however wasn't smiling. She turned to Clovis confused.

"That's an interesting choice, My Lord?" Kyera's comment was obviously a question that she didn't want to pose directly. He could understand that. Afterall, she wasn't use to her t.i.tle having those kinds of benefits.

"She's always been too small so I thought it was best to stick to carriages for the time being. Most the women at the palace don't know how to ride."He added as if that explained it and Kyera blinked slowly. She followed him to the carriage door which was opened by a footman. Clovis sat at one side, Kyera and Raina at the other. To the tiger's relief there was a open window beside her so she could see out. She had to resist the urge to put her head out it as they started moving.

It was obvious she was thinking about something. The look on her face was lost in thought, but her teeth lightly bit her lower lip. It was as though those two pearly white teeth were holding back a slew of things she wasn't supposed to say. At least, that is how it looked to Clovis, and in all honesty, he was right. 'This girl is so amusing…' he thought before lightly clearing his throat.

"Why does it seem like you place a lot of importance of horseback riding?" He asked finally. Kyera looked up, meeting his eyes and gauging if he could handle the answer.

"In all honesty, Fourth Prince, I do. Horseback riding is a skill everyone should have in my opinion, even if they don't own a horse. Princess Raina is a Seven year old Princess. She isn't fast, she's pet.i.te, and has no self defense skills." Kyera pointed out, her eyes still casually flicking to the window beside her as if to remind her the sky was still there. "If she is in a carriage, traveling to the next country and it's attacked by bandits, what is she to do? Fight? No she will be overpowered by the weakest of bandits. Run? Grown men or women can catch her with ease. Hide? She can try but let's be honest, that has less than a ten percent chance of working. Her knights can defend her but if they get overwhelmed or distracted in battle, she's a easy target. That or the Knight is focusing on keeping her safe and behind him and it results in him fighting distracted and a good man and her first line of defense getting killed."