Fleet Goddess could make the trip in six days if Eirian pushed her, but the fastest Lord Blue could manage and not die was nine. Chenzhou briefly considered picking up a new horse at each of the posts along the way, but even a fresh standard was unlikely to keep up with Eirian's speed demon of a mount.
Not to mention rushing on the steep mountain passes was guaranteed to see one or both of them plunge thousands of feet to their deaths.
It took Chenzhou and Mingzhe together to convince Eirian to make the slower trip.
Well…
In truth, Yuze had convinced her by offering to write her eulogy so she and the King could be buried together, and she'd gotten so angry she'd argued herself into agreeing with Chenzhou and Mingzhe.
Eirian had been too worked up to sleep and spent the hours until first light packing and repacking her bags and then oiling and checking Fleet Goddess' tact.
She'd brushed the excited horse until she gleamed, and Chenzhou was finally ready.
They were both traveling light, nothing but saddlebags, as Eirian had convinced him they could get anything they needed in the capital and that Eric and the Queen would ensure they were dressed appropriately for any ceremonies.
Yuze had sent a message with his fastest hawk to tell Eric that they were on their way and expected to arrive midday, eight days after the letter arrived.
Eirian had barely remembered to say goodbye to anyone; it had taken Mingzhe, Finn, and Marian hugging her goodbye to hold her in place a few seconds. A second of them seemed to take it personally when she pulled away.
Too focused on getting on the road to spare a thought for anything else.
First light was technically still rising as they rode out, loaded with just enough supplies to get them to the next post. Fleet Goddess was eager to stretch her legs, and Chenzhou's Lord Blue seemed game to keep up.
Eirian settled into the rhythm of Fleet Goddess's gait, the steady beat of her hooves against the hard-packed dirt. With the wind in her ears, it was almost like music, a pounding drum and a long whistling flute. Too loud to hear anything over, even her own thoughts, and she embraced the silence it forced.
The wind dried the tears before they could make it halfway down her cheeks.
The summer heat that plagued the Camelia and the prairie lands was relieved by the wind and mountains, allowing them to continue through the afternoon when the heat would have been the worst.
They stopped at every watering hole they found, resting the horses long enough to eat a small meal and let the horses digest before pushing on until they lost the light.
They slept only when there was no light to travel under, too exhausted to talk even when they could.
And they kept it up for eight more days.
On the seventh day, they took a shortcut only horses could make to cut in front of her father's party. The pass took them over a ridge too steep for wagons, and Eirian had paused just for a moment to look down at the slow-moving caravan from a thousand feet above.
By the time they arrived at the bridge to Aontacht on the morning of the ninth day, they were both exhausted and sore and hadn't exchanged more than a few words. There was a company from the Imperial Army waiting for them, with fresh horses to get them across the longest bridge on the rock as fast as possible. They promised to bring Fleet Goddess and Lord Blue right after them, but Eric wanted them at the palace as quickly as possible.
It took three more hours to cross the bridge and make their way up the main street to the palace. They didn't pass a single person on the street. The Imperial Army had cleared the road ahead of them, and Will was waiting on the steps.
"Word got out two days ago that the King is unlikely to survive." He explained, escorting them inside. "The Imperial Army had to step in and close the main streets. People were rioting."
"Did someone make a statement? Try to calm them down?" Chenzhou considered himself lucky to deal with an estate full of soldiers and their families. Riots were rare, and almost every member of the public had some experience with emergencies.
"The High Court issued a statement on behalf of the Queen, but neither she nor the Prince has been willing to leave the King's side." The palace hallways were empty save for guards at every corner. "How far behind you is your father?"
"Tomorrow evening at the earliest." Eirian estimated.
Will shook his head in disappointment. "He won't make it in time then."
Eirian's gaze shot to him. "You're sure?"
"You should prepare yourself," Will said, instead of answering. "It came on fast and has resisted all treatment." He glanced at Chenzhou. "They are aware you are here, but I would expect little fanfare."
"I expect none given the circumstances," Chenzhou assured him, and Will seemed to relax a little.
He looked more stressed than Eirian had ever seen him; it usually took a great deal to frazzle Eric's right hand.
But it wasn't every day the King died, and the person you chose to serve was next to take over. That could shake even Will's eternal calm.
The hallway of the King's Residence was filled with soldiers, and if Eirian had been paying attention, she would have noticed the Captain of the Guard with one of Finn's older sisters.
"Make way for the Princess." Will snapped, and the crowd shifted and cleared a path, dropping into bows as Eirian passed.
Eirian took a deep breath, swallowing was painful, like grief was a spike in her throat she couldn't get down, as he opened the door.
Helena and Eric looked up as she entered, tear-stained faces rarely shown to the rest of the world.
"Eirian, come quick. He's asking for you."
~ tbc