“Ah, your highness, lovely to see you so soon.” The stable hand smiled warmly as he led a brown mare into her stall.
“What can I help you with today?”
“I’d like to take Eira out for a bit if that’s alright.”
“No need to ask, highness, if you give me a few minutes I will have her ready for you.”
He disappeared down the line of stalls and headed towards where the royal family's horses were kept. Hearing the young
apprentice curse under his breath as he stood in horse muck, I tried not to laugh. We’d all been there, and it wasn’t the most
pleasant of jobs.
“Oh, I—eh—sorry mam, I mean, majesty, I didn’t see ya there.”
No older than fourteen maybe, the apprentice opened the stall door and almost doubled over when he saw me standing
there. His poor uniform was covered in muck and mud all the way up to his thighs. Dirt coated his face, and he looked like he
needed a warm bath and a good night's sleep.
“That’s alright, John. I'd be annoyed if I had to do that job, too.”
His face lit up at the sound of his name. I made it a personal quest to know every member of staff's name within the castle.
It did help though that Isla would talk about John during our morning chats over a cup of warm tea on the balcony. Something I
was making sure we did every day, even if April found it odd.
“Better still, majesty, I must watch my words.”
He bowed before taking his tools over to the shed then picked up another set and went into the next stall. I guess this was
his job today, cleaning out the mess while the horses grazed in the fields.
Shortly after, the stable hand returned with Eira all dressed up ready to go for our ride. Brushing my hand down her muzzle,
she nuzzled her nose into my hand and a smile peeked on my lips. It had taken a few rides for us to get used to one another, so it
made me happy now that we’d become friends.
“If anyone asks for me, please tell them I will return before dinner.”
The stable hand bowed as he interlocked his fingers to help lift my foot up and onto the saddle I went, finding a
comfortable position before kicking my heels into Eira. We set off in a slow trot. Soon we were clear of the garden gates and
into the open fields surrounding the castle. The only place I seemed to be allowed to go without an escort. I kicked my heels,
and we began to run.
The wind whisked through my hair, untying the braid I’d done. We raced up onto one of the hillsides then downwards
towards the cliff's edge that overlooked the wondrous shoreline of Galled.
Feeling free and instantly relaxed, I let go of Eira’s reins as she continued to plod through the grass. Her heavy puffs came
out as she picked up speed. She was magnificent, the fastest mare I’d ever ridden. I had Nicholas to thank as she was the
