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I hold up a hand to stop her, moving closer to her and the beast, who is obviously amused with himself.
“No, forgive me for laughing. He seems like quite theandskotinn,indeed,” I say, grinning.
She blanches at my understanding of her language before nodding in agreement with a smile of her own.
“He is, Lady. He is mad with me now, because I will not give more frosted sugar. I keep have to go out the side door when he gets too angry.”
I notice for the first time how my hestrinn’s stall is conveniently placed by a back entrance, making it far easier for her to make a quick getaway if he decides to kick.
“Frosted sugar?” I echo back. “What is that?”
Sarah Agnes smiles and opens a bag to reveal small wheat flakes coated in sugar.
“He likes these?” I ask, taking one out to examine it.
The hestrinn breathes out hard and looks at my hand eagerly. I hold up the treat for him, and his lips are covering my fingers immediately, threatening to take my whole hand into his mouth with the snack.
He makes an awful sort of chomping sound, his lips smacking loudly as he devours it.
We both laugh, and, while the noise is disgusting, somehow it also just endears me to the creature more. Once he is compliant again, we are able to brush and groom him with ease.
“I have want to ask,” Sarah speaks up after a moment. “Why do you choose him? There are so many better hestrinn here for you.” She tilts her head to the side, genuine curiosity in her features.
I reach to place a hand on his mane, and he leans into my touch as if he understands what I did for him.
Or more likely because he knows I will cave and give him more sugar.
“Because no one else would,” I answer simply, and she nods.
We finish grooming him in silence, and he seems happy with the two of us paying him so much attention. When we’re finished, we offer him some more frosted treats, and he once again devours them.
We can’t help but laugh at the sucking sounds he makes as he savors each piece. Drool comes pooling from his mouth, and he snorts in delight when he’s done, shaking his head and sending the droplets everywhere.
“Well, that was disgusting,” I say, thoroughly amused as I wipe the spit from my cheek.
“Aye.” Sarah laughs as well. “You chose crazy one, Lady. But it appears he is good sort of crazy.”
“Why does everyone keep saying that?” I finally ask. “Apart from the obvious mannerisms and temper he displays, everyone else seemed to know he was crazy from one glance.”
Sarah nods and wipes the sugar remnants on her pants before pointing to the white rim around his eye.
“There. That is sign he has crazy. When you see this, you stay away.” She studies me for a moment before continuing. “But not you. You invite him home. You are good to him. That says something about you in here.” She points to my chest.
“That I invite drama?” I ask playfully.
Sarah shakes her head.
“No. That you love deep, and you save helpless.” Her smile fades. “You save me, too. Thank you.”
My eyes begin to sting as I take in her words. I can’t be vulnerable here. Not here, not anywhere.
“No, you saved me,” I finally say. “I needed someone to help with this guy, and it was a favor you were doing me. That’s all.”
The corner of her mouth tilts up in understanding and she dips her head.
“Even this, I am never going back to him. I cannot.”
She doesn’t need to say anything else.
