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I found Edward in the lounge room, trying to push Loki off his lap. “You’re no lap cat! Loki, get off!” He panted, trying and failing to push the large animal away from him. Loki ignored his attempts entirely. I laughed from my place in the doorway, and Edward looked at me. A couple of other servants were in the lounge room talking amongst themselves, paying poor Edward’s struggles no mind, and an older man snored loudly on a large armchair in the far corner. “Help me, Percy, please,” Edward asked, waving his arms at the giant cat half lying across his legs.
“Okay,” I agreed, amused and walked over to him. “Loki, buddy boy, look here,” I called to the cat. He lazily lifted his head, purple eyes watching me. “Hi, come say hello,” I told him, patting my knees. He yawned, revealing large dangerous canines, before stretching out, causing Edward to groan in pain, and stepping down from the sofa. He paused to dig his claws into the floor's carpet before pushing his head into my stomach. I patted him, scratching behind his ears.
“Thank you, Percy. I was having a nap before lunch service and awoke being crushed under the weight of that stupid beast,” Edward muttered darkly as he stood and brushed cat fur from his trousers. “I need a lint roller. This will never do. I’m covered in hair,” he complained. He must have been quite upset; he generally spoke highly of Loki.
“Have you been told yet about our return to Sanguis Academy?” I asked him. He stopped picking at his clothes and looked up at me surprised.
“I have not been informed. I take it that I am to return too?” he asked. I nodded. “Thank goodness.” He sighed and reached out to stroke Loki. “I forgive you,” he told the cat.
“You’re happy to be returning?” I asked him.
“Yes. The Academy is like a holiday. I haven’t had a day off in over a week, with the Queen's funeral and all the nobles still within the castle. It’s been hectic. Classes will be a welcome reprieve,” he told me smiling. I noticed the dark circles under his eyes. I never realised how hard he had been working. I hadn’t seen him all week, I knew he and the other servants had been busy, so I had spent most of my free time within the greenhouses. Edward wasn’t the afternoon napping type. He must have been exhausted.
“You’ll be happy to know we’ll be back at the Academy tomorrow. At least the Princess said she and I will. Do you think you’ll travel back tomorrow too?” I asked.
“Yes, most likely,” he nodded. “I’m looking forward to seeing Jasper again,” he told me. “And Justin,” he added, almost as an afterthought embarrassedly. I nodded, smiling knowingly. He had mentioned Jasper in passing a few times, and I suspected they were more than friends.
“Maybe you can get out of lunch service. You’ll need time to pack, won’t you? If you speak to Gregory, I’m sure he’ll give you a pass,” I suggested, looking over Edward and noticing how bedraggled he looked. He smiled warmly.
“I think you’re right, Percy. I could use an afternoon to catch up on sleep,” he confessed. “I’m sorry, were you hoping to spend some time together?” he asked.
“Not really. I know you’ve been busy,” I told him. “I was going to spend some time in the greenhouses; let the gardeners know I’ll be leaving.”
“Thank you. I’m going to speak with Gregory. You should find Grams and say goodbye before you leave. She’ll be upset if you don’t,” he told me.
Old May found me later that afternoon in the greenhouses and gave me a homemade chocolate muffin wrapped in a napkin and a warning not to get in trouble and behave myself while at the Academy.
4. Riding Lessons
Persephone Flores
Before the sun had risen, the Princess woke me to begin our journey back to Sanguis Academy. I was tired and a little grumpy. Gregory held the door to the car open, and the Princess pushed me forward to enter first, pulling me back to her side when she had taken her seat.
“Why do we have to leave so early?” I asked her while pulling my legs up onto the seat and resting my head on her lap.
“I would like us to arrive by early afternoon so that I can visit the equestrian centre,” she told me as her fingers began to run through my hair.
“You ride?” I asked. I had assumed that she must, it seemed like a skill a princess would have, but I hadn’t seen her.
“Yes. Do you?” she questioned.
“No. We don’t have horses at the coast. Horseback fishing died out long ago. They used to be used to drag nets and catch shrimp, but that was long before I was born. The only horses I’ve been close to are further inland, in the farming villages. Even that use is dying out. Machinery has mostly taken over. I’ve never ridden.” I answered.
She hummed in thought. “Would you like to ride?” she asked.
“I’m not sure.” I hesitated. Horses had always scared me; they were big and powerful creatures, too intelligent. I was certain that no rider was truly in control, that they rode at the horse's discretion.
“You’ll be safe with me,” she replied, and I knew she could most likely smell my fear.
“What if I fall?”
“You can ride with me,” she told me.
“Like together, at the same time?” I asked.
“Yes, we’ll ride double. You can sit in front within my grasp, and I’ll take the reins,” she explained.
“And you won’t let me fall? Or be thrown off, or kicked to death, or trampled and squished?” I asked. She laughed lightly, her fingers tugging at my hair.
