The king’s mount had her own separate stable which she shared with Shadow, the grey gelding who was her companion horse and who had taken a liking to Felix immediately. The feeling was mutual.
It hadn’t been quite as easy with Blackbird, but after several days spent getting acquainted, Blackbird seemed to have accepted Felix as someone to be trusted, and now her head lifted and she let out a happy sound whenever Felix came into view. Of course, her affection could have been based purely on the fact that he always made sure to bring her an apple or a carrot when he came to see her, but Felix liked to think that she recognised him as a man of good character rather than just a source of treats.
Blackbird really did have a sweet nature, as Felix had discovered when taking her out in the mornings for her exercise. The first time he’d ridden her he’d been…not nervous, exactly, but aware that their relationship was new, so he’d made sure to start off slow, walking her sedately across the cobbled courtyard and giving her the chance to get a feel for the weight of him. But when they’d left the castle compound and she’d caught sight of the green fields in front of her, she’d huffed once, a shiver of restrained impatience running through her, and he’dknownthat she wanted to run.
Once he’d let her have her head, she’d proved an absolute joy to ride—fast, certainly, but also responsive, allowing Felix to guide her along the worn tracks that ran through the long grass without pulling on the reins even once. It was then that Felix had decided that if staying in His Majesty’s good graces meant sometimes getting to ride Blackbird, then even if upon meeting the king he discovered him to be an absolute twat, he’d still be on his politest behavior.
In truth, Felix was somewhat surprised that he hadn’t seen the king yet. His father had assured him that Leopold loved to ride, but it had been a week and Felix still hadn’t met him. Although therewerethose quarterly reports that Mattias had told him about, so maybe it wasn’t so surprising.
And it did mean that he had the pleasure of riding Blackbird most mornings. They’d started to go farther afield, and as far as Felix was concerned there was no more invigorating feeling in the world than galloping over open ground and through wooded trails with the crisp morning air fresh on his face as he rode for long miles, only turning back when the sun rose higher in the sky and Blackbird slowed to a trot, letting him know that she was ready to go home. Felix didn’t know how the king could own such a wonderful beast and not ride her every single day.
“His Majesty must be itching to go for a ride by now,” Mother said, as though reading his thoughts.
“Oh?” Felix patted at the damp skin of his arms with some rough towelling before draping it over the wooden railing enclosing the yard.
“Aye. He doesn’t normally go this long without getting a leg over.”
Felix smirked and raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? I’d heard stories.”
“Hishorse, without getting a leg over hishorse.” Mother sputtered, and Felix laughed. “Little shit.” Mother threw a wet rag at Felix, who caught it, still laughing.
It did remind him of something he’d meant to ask about, though. “Is it true what they say about the king?”
“Well, it depends,” Mother said with a wry smile. “Are you talking about the rumour that His Majesty is smarter than he lets on and has a plan for every circumstance, or the one where he’s nothing but a pretty man with an empty head and the chancellor’s the one who runs the kingdom? Maybe you mean the tale that he’ll bed anyone with a pulse—or perhaps that he’s never been kissed?”
“Oh.” Felix hadn’t realised there was such a selection. “Um…”
It was Mother’s turn to laugh. “There’s not a king born who doesn’t have tales told about him. But I feel that youactuallymean the one where he prefers a fine manly chest and a set of bollocks to a buxom wench?”
Felix swallowed. “That…yes.”
“I don’t know about the other stories, but that one has some truth to it. He’s discreet about it, but he’s had a lover or two over the years. And he’s charming enough that he doesn’t have any trouble finding willing bedmates.” He gave a soft smile. “Truth be told, I’m rather fond of His Majesty, even if he can be an arse at times.”
Felix sighed as he leaned against a stable door and folded his arms over his chest. “You call him an arse, yet you insist on using his title.”
“Aye, well. It’s about respect, isn’t it? It’s important, showing the proper respect.” Mother ducked his head in a tiny bow, and Felix wasn’t sure he even knew he was doing it. “He’s theking,after all.”
“Even if he’s an arse?”
“Even if he’ssometimesan arse,” Mother said. He tilted his head. “You must remember the king, lad. You grew up here.”
He shrugged. “Let’s just say that given my mouth’s tendency to run on, after I insulted Leopold once, it was decided that it was in my best interests not to be wherever he was. I haven’t seen him since I was twelve.”
“Ah,” Mother said, eyes sparkling with mirth. “You called him names, I remember now. I’d forgotten that.”
“Let’s just hope he has as well,” Felix said as they both walked into the stable. “Hopefully, he won’t recognise me as the boy who insulted him.”
Mother hummed. “You look nothing like the skinny little whelp you were as a child. I think you’re safe.”
“I was not a skinny little whelp!”
“You were,” Mother said with a grin. “You were built almost entirely of elbows and ribs.” He looked Felix up and down, appraising. “Not anymore, though. You’ve grown into a fine young man. If I were you, I’d take advantage of that and find yourself some company in the evenings. I’m sure there are plenty who’d be willing to help you sow your wild oats.” Mother’s smile widened. “Oh, that’s a good one! Oats, right? Because you’re a groom.” He prodded a nearby sack of feed with his boot just in case Felix had missed his meaning. “Oats, right? Feed?” He might have carried on in that vein indefinitely, but his attention was caught by something outside the door, and the next minute he was striding across the stable and out into the yard, bellowing as he went.“Davin!Where the blazes have you been?”
As the sound of shouting and Mother’s boots on the cobblestone receded, Felix fiddled idly with a set of reins that were looped over Blackbird’s stall and thought about what Mother had said. The problem was he didn’twantto sow any more wild oats. He’d done plenty of that. No, he was ready for something more settled in his life. But it wasn’t like someone was just going to fall into his lap, was it?
Perhaps he should just be satisfied with his casual liaisons for now. After all, he was good-looking enough and could be charming when the occasion called for it, and there was no denying that he was a talented lover. What was a one-time thing for him might turn out to be the night of his partner’s life, and really, it would be churlish of him to keep his talents to himself when there was an entire city of men out there, at least some of them desperate for cock.
Besides, Felixdidlove a tumble in the sheets, and he suspected he’d miss it if he gave it up completely. Maybe he’d continue to sow his oats after all, and if he was lucky, what started as a casual dalliance might grow into something more.
