“All right, whore, you can go,” Boris said roughly. Janessa got up. “Move!” he snapped. Janessa flinched. “Before I change my mind and bring you to the new ruler!”
Janessa didn’t need to be told again. She raced through the palace, this time remembering to use the secret passages. The secret exit took her to the royal stables. Janessa quickly mounted her favored steed, a pure black stallion named Fury. She had no time to put a saddle or bridle on, so she rode Fury away from the palace bareback, her hands gripping his mane.
Janessa rode through the streets of the city just beyond the palace, ignoring the shouts of strangers as she passed by. She knew she must look wild, fully nude and riding a horse with no saddle nor reins. But she cared not about how she appeared. She had to get to the gates before they closed. When they closed, who knew when they would open?
Thanks to Fury’s speed, she shot through the gates before they closed. Once outside the gates, Janessa guided Fury off the main road and through the woods. She knew of a secret cave by a stream and wild fruit trees. She and Fury could rest there for the night. In the morning, she would make her plans.
To Janessa’s relief, the secret, hidden cave was unoccupied, and judging by the vegetation growth nearby, had not been visited recently. Janessa dismounted Fury and whispered to him that he had done well. Fury, who recognized her as his owner despite the transformation, whickered softly. He dropped his head to drink and graze.
Janessa scooped water from the stream with her hands, guzzling thirstily. Once she was satiated, she laid down in the cave, praying for a better day tomorrow.