Riley glared at the colorful ribbons braided through Sugarsnap’s mane and tail. The stable was perfumed, and it made her head hurt. She lifted a hoof, it had been filed and polished. Riley snorted, remembering what life was like for them on the road. Sugarsnap snorted back.
Lissie asked, “Where is Alexander?” She was admiring Peach’s matching ribbons.
Cora was trying to undo the clever knot at the end of one of Anvil’s braids. “I can’t believe they’d do this to him. Pink! It looks ridiculous.”
Riley looked at Anvil and thought of her father. She remembered Anvil in armor, with her father upon his back, in full plate.
He looks like a doll in a little girl’s toy cabinet, Riley thought.
The horse didn’t look displeased.
A high, fluting voice rang out. “Alex, you can’t leave me again! Not so soon.” The last part faded to a whine. Riley turned and saw Alexander crouching down at the stable’s entrance. A tiny boy, who must have been Tawn, had his arms wrapped around the bard’s neck.
Alexander swept the child into his arms and stood, carrying him over. Ruskin was fast on his heels. “Not before I introduce you to our new friends.” He walked over, the boy’s tiny face perched next to his own.
Cora ran to greet them, “You’re just precious! I could gobble you up!” She reached out a hand to the boy.
Tawn looked from Alexander’s face to Cora’s and extended his hand with some hesitation, “My name is Tawn, miss.”
Cora took the fragile hand in her own and pulled it to her lips, “And mine is Cora. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Riley followed Lissie over. She said, “I heard we have you to thank for Alexander’s life.”
The boy turned bright red and wriggled out of Alexander’s arms. “He was just layin’ in the mud!”
Lissie crouched down and introduced herself, and said, “Alexander told us you were very brave.”
“It wasn’t half as scary as going to school here.” He turned to Alexander. “I wanna go with you!”
Alexander frowned and asked Riley, “How many years of school did you have?”
Riley smiled and said, “Ten.”
Alexander turned back to Tawn, “How many weeks have you been enrolled now?”
Tawn counted on his fingers, and then ran out of fingers. “More than I can count!”
“It’s been twelve weeks, my child. I will be back for you soon, but I need you educated. I had many more years of school than even Riley. If you want to join the Ellium Company someday, you are going to need to study very hard,” Alexander said all this with patience and Tawn nodded soberly.
“Oh, my pretty darlings!” Lady Maribelle’s voice sang from the entranceway. “Before you leave with the second logistics envoy, I have gifts for you!” She made her way across the hay-strewn floor and it seemed as though every stalk avoided her.
Riley replied, “I already declined your sword.”
Lady Maribelle giggled. “Heavens no, dear. You already have a sword.” A trail of men were following her, clad in engineers’ garb.
“We aren’t being trotted around the castle again under the guise of getting gifts. We really must be off, Mother.” Cora did not approach.
“Alexander’s gift is already here. Sternright, would you tack up Monsieur d’Cirque for my adorable Lexi?” One of the men peeled off from the group.
“If the steed lives up to his name, he may be a fitting travel companion for Ruskin.” Alexander made a small gesture, and Ruskin did a backflip.
“For you, my sweet Riley.” Lady Maribelle turned to Riley. “Since you already have a sword, I could see nothing more fitting than something for the off-hand.” One of the engineers stepped forward and opened a wooden box.
Riley peered inside. There was a small sheath with a fawn branded into the caramel leather. She picked it up and unsheathed what she was expecting to be a dagger. It had a hilt, but attached was a fork of steel. It was curved, but not sharpened.
She began unbuckling her sword belt before she realized she had forgotten to thank Lady Maribelle. “This is wonderful, thank you so much. I’ve trained with both shield and breaker, but I always preferred the sword-breakers.”
Lady Maribelle kissed her on both cheeks before turning to Cora. “I have something small for you, to remember something big.” She clapped her hands, and another engineer stepped forward with a narrow velvet box.
“Mother, is it jewelry?” Cora sighed. She took the box and opened it. Her eyes went wide. Riley leaned over to see what was inside of it.
“You can wear it, but it is not jeweled. It is simply glass.” Lady Maribelle had a wide smile.
Cora held it up to the light. Riley saw it was a pendant made of blue faceted glass.
Alexander laughed and said, “That’s from the chandelier!”
Cora gasped, “It’s perfect.” She held it to her breast as her eyes filled with tears. Cora took a deep breath and walked over to her mother, sweeping her in a big hug. Riley realized it was the first time she had seen Cora hug her mother.
“Monsieur d’Cirque is ready.” Sternright had returned leading a stallion, piebald in black and white patches. Sternright clapped his hands and the stallion kneeled slowly, placing one hoof out in front and folding the other demurely under his belly. He bent his head, the red ribbons in his mane showing boldly against the black and white mane.
Alexander bowed in return, and Ruskin ran over and jumped in the horse’s saddle. Riley noticed that their coats matched almost perfectly.
Lady Maribelle said, “Lisandra Nauhecatl, I have something sacred for you. This was a gift given to my late husband, Cora’s father, after he negotiated the Coalescence Treaty.”
I can’t even pronounce her surname, Riley thought.
Lissie let Tawn’s hand fall, and walked over. “That’s not something I can take. I’m sure you understand.”
“Oh, nonsense. Wait until you see it!” She clapped her hands once more, and another man stepped forward, this one holding a small box made of ivory and mother-of-pearl resting upon a black satin pillow.
Lissie reached out a trembling hand and took it with finger and thumb. “There are no hinges or clasp?”
Lady Maribelle gave a small shrug, “The old woman who signed the Treaty said that it could be opened by one who knew how to honor the earth.”