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The stables of the palati were perhaps not where one might have thought to look for the new King of Taengea so early in the day. Helios had not long since brought the sun, the Queen was still abed, and yet Achilleas found himself leaning against the stall door of the far most stable, alone save for the two royal guards who had stationed themselves in the courtyard beyond.
Achilleas folded his arms along the top of the wooden door and surveyed the horse beyond with a resigned sort of expression. His father’s old warhorse had never been a kind-tempered beast, so he didn’t know why he was surprised at the animal’s reluctance to cross the space toward him. He had tried, unsuccessfully, to coax some life from the big grey gelding these past days, but much as when his father had lived, Aeneus was a one man sort of creature. Achilleas had been forced to admit that whatever sentimentality he indulged in trying to engage with the horse was wasted.
He had tried not to draw the obvious parallels when picking himself up and dodging out of the way of snaking teeth, that the animal thought about as highly of him as its master had done, had renewed his efforts, determined that he could convince the creature otherwise. But even Achilleas had to admit defeat sometimes.
The missive he had sent to the Leventi manor had been brief, requested that the Lady Evangelina attend him, and now Achilleas awaited her arrival, trying to stifle the feeling that he had failed.
“You should be glad that you are not being sacrificed to Poseidon as we sail for Egypt” he said, looking over at the hindquarters of the horse, noting how he flickered his ears back and whisked his tail as if annoyed that Achilleas even dared to speak to him. Fitting. “You can live out a quiet retirement now. No one to bother you”
He let his voice trail off, because the fact that he was speaking to Aenaeus as if he might another person did not escape him. There was a reason he came here early, so people would not think their new King mad. And perhaps because the quiet and solitude was a rarity in the life he now found himself leading.
His heart felt heavy as he stood in the stables, surrounded by only the occasional scrape of hoof against stone, and huffing of animal breath, his own thoughts for company. The horse had been his father’s ride for many years, and it was painful to think of him shipped off and packed away like the rest of Irakles’ effects had been. But Achilleas could hardly keep the creature around just to munch on stable hands and kick out stalls, and given that he had failed at mastering the horse, it seemed the only sensible course of action.
“And you needn’t look at me like that.” he admonished at what felt a judgemental stare from the animal. “You’ve had more than enough chances to take a piece of me”
He had considered asking Emilios to try- his brother was better with horses than he, but Achilleas had dismissed the idea, because having his younger brother succeed here where he had not would have been somehow unbearable. And so Aenaeus would be sent to the Leventi farms where he might eat good grass instead of grooms and Kings, and Achilleas would say goodbye to yet another bittersweet reminder of his father. Even in light of the man’s arrangements regarding the leadership of House Mikaelidas, revealed in the wake of his death by the Lord Fotios, Achilleas’ found it difficult to hold on to any one emotion with any clarity. He was angry yes - in the moments he allowed himself to feel anything concerning the man, anger was clear and present. But it was muddied with grief and guilt, and the feeling that it was not entirely real, that the man who had been such a dominating force in his life was not gone and would reappear to bark orders again at any moment.
This, getting rid of Aenaeus, was another step toward acknowledging the falsity in that belief, and so when he heard footsteps, Achilleas was careful to arrange his features into something akin to good humour. His new cousin- in-law did not need to be party to his conflicted feelings around what was a simple arrangement. He smiled at the young woman as she drew near, measured his tone and the simple nod of greeting.
“Good morning, Lady Evangelina”
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This character is currently a work in progress.
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The stables of the palati were perhaps not where one might have thought to look for the new King of Taengea so early in the day. Helios had not long since brought the sun, the Queen was still abed, and yet Achilleas found himself leaning against the stall door of the far most stable, alone save for the two royal guards who had stationed themselves in the courtyard beyond.
Achilleas folded his arms along the top of the wooden door and surveyed the horse beyond with a resigned sort of expression. His father’s old warhorse had never been a kind-tempered beast, so he didn’t know why he was surprised at the animal’s reluctance to cross the space toward him. He had tried, unsuccessfully, to coax some life from the big grey gelding these past days, but much as when his father had lived, Aeneus was a one man sort of creature. Achilleas had been forced to admit that whatever sentimentality he indulged in trying to engage with the horse was wasted.
He had tried not to draw the obvious parallels when picking himself up and dodging out of the way of snaking teeth, that the animal thought about as highly of him as its master had done, had renewed his efforts, determined that he could convince the creature otherwise. But even Achilleas had to admit defeat sometimes.
The missive he had sent to the Leventi manor had been brief, requested that the Lady Evangelina attend him, and now Achilleas awaited her arrival, trying to stifle the feeling that he had failed.
“You should be glad that you are not being sacrificed to Poseidon as we sail for Egypt” he said, looking over at the hindquarters of the horse, noting how he flickered his ears back and whisked his tail as if annoyed that Achilleas even dared to speak to him. Fitting. “You can live out a quiet retirement now. No one to bother you”
He let his voice trail off, because the fact that he was speaking to Aenaeus as if he might another person did not escape him. There was a reason he came here early, so people would not think their new King mad. And perhaps because the quiet and solitude was a rarity in the life he now found himself leading.
His heart felt heavy as he stood in the stables, surrounded by only the occasional scrape of hoof against stone, and huffing of animal breath, his own thoughts for company. The horse had been his father’s ride for many years, and it was painful to think of him shipped off and packed away like the rest of Irakles’ effects had been. But Achilleas could hardly keep the creature around just to munch on stable hands and kick out stalls, and given that he had failed at mastering the horse, it seemed the only sensible course of action.
“And you needn’t look at me like that.” he admonished at what felt a judgemental stare from the animal. “You’ve had more than enough chances to take a piece of me”
He had considered asking Emilios to try- his brother was better with horses than he, but Achilleas had dismissed the idea, because having his younger brother succeed here where he had not would have been somehow unbearable. And so Aenaeus would be sent to the Leventi farms where he might eat good grass instead of grooms and Kings, and Achilleas would say goodbye to yet another bittersweet reminder of his father. Even in light of the man’s arrangements regarding the leadership of House Mikaelidas, revealed in the wake of his death by the Lord Fotios, Achilleas’ found it difficult to hold on to any one emotion with any clarity. He was angry yes - in the moments he allowed himself to feel anything concerning the man, anger was clear and present. But it was muddied with grief and guilt, and the feeling that it was not entirely real, that the man who had been such a dominating force in his life was not gone and would reappear to bark orders again at any moment.
This, getting rid of Aenaeus, was another step toward acknowledging the falsity in that belief, and so when he heard footsteps, Achilleas was careful to arrange his features into something akin to good humour. His new cousin- in-law did not need to be party to his conflicted feelings around what was a simple arrangement. He smiled at the young woman as she drew near, measured his tone and the simple nod of greeting.
“Good morning, Lady Evangelina”
The stables of the palati were perhaps not where one might have thought to look for the new King of Taengea so early in the day. Helios had not long since brought the sun, the Queen was still abed, and yet Achilleas found himself leaning against the stall door of the far most stable, alone save for the two royal guards who had stationed themselves in the courtyard beyond.
Achilleas folded his arms along the top of the wooden door and surveyed the horse beyond with a resigned sort of expression. His father’s old warhorse had never been a kind-tempered beast, so he didn’t know why he was surprised at the animal’s reluctance to cross the space toward him. He had tried, unsuccessfully, to coax some life from the big grey gelding these past days, but much as when his father had lived, Aeneus was a one man sort of creature. Achilleas had been forced to admit that whatever sentimentality he indulged in trying to engage with the horse was wasted.
He had tried not to draw the obvious parallels when picking himself up and dodging out of the way of snaking teeth, that the animal thought about as highly of him as its master had done, had renewed his efforts, determined that he could convince the creature otherwise. But even Achilleas had to admit defeat sometimes.
The missive he had sent to the Leventi manor had been brief, requested that the Lady Evangelina attend him, and now Achilleas awaited her arrival, trying to stifle the feeling that he had failed.
“You should be glad that you are not being sacrificed to Poseidon as we sail for Egypt” he said, looking over at the hindquarters of the horse, noting how he flickered his ears back and whisked his tail as if annoyed that Achilleas even dared to speak to him. Fitting. “You can live out a quiet retirement now. No one to bother you”
He let his voice trail off, because the fact that he was speaking to Aenaeus as if he might another person did not escape him. There was a reason he came here early, so people would not think their new King mad. And perhaps because the quiet and solitude was a rarity in the life he now found himself leading.
His heart felt heavy as he stood in the stables, surrounded by only the occasional scrape of hoof against stone, and huffing of animal breath, his own thoughts for company. The horse had been his father’s ride for many years, and it was painful to think of him shipped off and packed away like the rest of Irakles’ effects had been. But Achilleas could hardly keep the creature around just to munch on stable hands and kick out stalls, and given that he had failed at mastering the horse, it seemed the only sensible course of action.
“And you needn’t look at me like that.” he admonished at what felt a judgemental stare from the animal. “You’ve had more than enough chances to take a piece of me”
He had considered asking Emilios to try- his brother was better with horses than he, but Achilleas had dismissed the idea, because having his younger brother succeed here where he had not would have been somehow unbearable. And so Aenaeus would be sent to the Leventi farms where he might eat good grass instead of grooms and Kings, and Achilleas would say goodbye to yet another bittersweet reminder of his father. Even in light of the man’s arrangements regarding the leadership of House Mikaelidas, revealed in the wake of his death by the Lord Fotios, Achilleas’ found it difficult to hold on to any one emotion with any clarity. He was angry yes - in the moments he allowed himself to feel anything concerning the man, anger was clear and present. But it was muddied with grief and guilt, and the feeling that it was not entirely real, that the man who had been such a dominating force in his life was not gone and would reappear to bark orders again at any moment.
This, getting rid of Aenaeus, was another step toward acknowledging the falsity in that belief, and so when he heard footsteps, Achilleas was careful to arrange his features into something akin to good humour. His new cousin- in-law did not need to be party to his conflicted feelings around what was a simple arrangement. He smiled at the young woman as she drew near, measured his tone and the simple nod of greeting.
“Good morning, Lady Evangelina”
The early morning sky’s greyness was brightening into a brilliant amber streaked with a tropical pink. It was like watching one of Imma’s painting going from a simple sketch to the bright colors as she brushed them in. Raising the small ceramic cup to her lips she sipped the hot mint tea that served to help her body come alive in the same way the sun illuminated the sky. Her morning routine here in Vasiliadon had developed its own sort of routine.
She dressed in a riding chiton that embraced a slightly higher than normal slit up the side to accommodate her lean toned leg over the back of a horse. The one she wore this morning was a vivid saffron yellow with a wild and flowy skirt. Her practical and worn pair of knee-length buskins were obviously a favorite pair of shoes from the soft broken-in leather that showed signs of wear. Her reddish-brown hair was pulled into a high ponytail and all wild tendrils had yet to of escaped but how long would that last?
The bustling sound of someone entering her Uncle Georgios’ solar room had her turning to look while one of the servants hurried forward with a piece of parchment containing the royal seal.
‘This just came for you, my lady.’ The woman who couldn’t have been much older than herself quickly disappeared without another word.
Evangelina watched her disappear before she moved to set the small cup of tea down and open it. Surprisingly it wasn’t from Theodora but rather Achilleas. Hmmm? Her brows came together as her dark eyes skimmed over the short missive requesting to see her in the stables of the palati at her earliest convenience. Folding the note up, she slipped it into the hidden pocket of the chiton and lifted the tea to her lips and finished it with a long sip.
It appeared her morning ride wouldn’t be along the coastline but rather short, as she rode over to the palace to suit the newly appointed King’s whimsical request. Leaving the cup whereupon one of the tables for the servants to take care of, she headed towards the stables where Della would be being prepared for her already. The back and forth motion of her ponytail swinging with each step, with her aunt and most of the girls out of the house there wasn’t much risk of running into anyone at this time of the morning allowing her to stride with purpose instead of being reprimanded for not gracefully and slowly gliding across the ground. Gliding took too much effort, she had places to go and people to see.
One of the slave boys saw her and rushed into the stable to bring out the small, fiery chestnut mare bred of the desert rather than of the Leventi stock. She’d been a present or rather a bribe from her father to perhaps giving up riding the beastly grey stallion, Altair. Not that it dissuaded her all that much, but the mare was such a beautiful gift that she’d had a hard time resisting enjoying her.
With no help from the servants, Evangelina easily swung up on the fidgeting mare who was giving her flowy bright dress a side-eye. There were many times and places where she hardly knew where her own feet were but near a horse whether it was upon them or standing next to them, Evangelina was someone entirely different. She was everything a Leventi should have been or could have been when she was with the horses. She was confident and calm and in control of her surroundings. She was commanding upon a horse. She wasn’t the sort to be overlooked on the dainty little fireball.
Just the gentle tightening of her legs caused the mare to peel forward in a lofty, high-kneed canter. There wouldn’t be any chance to let her unwind before she reached the Palati ensuring that the entire ride would keep her on her toes as Della danced and pressed against the bits. As they reached the more congested areas of the capital, their pace slowed even more and the mare’s disposition continued to dip into agitation. Della was the equine embodiment of a Leventi woman; beautiful, spirited, and very spoilt.
Her back arched a couple of times under Evangelina in a threatening hop, which was ignored. Della would just have to deal with it today. They had other things to do.
At the palati, Evangelina slid off the mare and passed her reins to one of the servants. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the poor boy wince as the mare’s head snaked out to gnash her teeth at him. Evangelina slowed wondering if Della was going to be too much for the boy but the mare’s ears flattened and her head started to snake again out at him but this time he quickly moved out of the way.
Sucking in a breath, she turned around to walk into the stable. Her eyes instantly landing on the massive bear of a man leaning against the door of a stall staring at a familiar face, Aenaeus. The long breath slowly left her body as she slowly approached King Achilleas and his father’s horse. He turned and offered a faint but polite smile.
‘Good morning, Lady Evangelina.’
Stepping up next to him, she peered around the side of him at the sulking grey gelding and then tilted her head to meet his face.
“Good morning to you too, your majesty,” Evangelina offered a sad smile, “How are you holding up?”
If he expected that his new position meant he was exempt from her impertinent nature he would be in for quite a surprise.
“My condolences to you and your family,” The words felt hollow like they weren’t enough, she bit her bottom lip and looked up at him from her bristly dark lashes, “I really am sorry about your father.”
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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The early morning sky’s greyness was brightening into a brilliant amber streaked with a tropical pink. It was like watching one of Imma’s painting going from a simple sketch to the bright colors as she brushed them in. Raising the small ceramic cup to her lips she sipped the hot mint tea that served to help her body come alive in the same way the sun illuminated the sky. Her morning routine here in Vasiliadon had developed its own sort of routine.
She dressed in a riding chiton that embraced a slightly higher than normal slit up the side to accommodate her lean toned leg over the back of a horse. The one she wore this morning was a vivid saffron yellow with a wild and flowy skirt. Her practical and worn pair of knee-length buskins were obviously a favorite pair of shoes from the soft broken-in leather that showed signs of wear. Her reddish-brown hair was pulled into a high ponytail and all wild tendrils had yet to of escaped but how long would that last?
The bustling sound of someone entering her Uncle Georgios’ solar room had her turning to look while one of the servants hurried forward with a piece of parchment containing the royal seal.
‘This just came for you, my lady.’ The woman who couldn’t have been much older than herself quickly disappeared without another word.
Evangelina watched her disappear before she moved to set the small cup of tea down and open it. Surprisingly it wasn’t from Theodora but rather Achilleas. Hmmm? Her brows came together as her dark eyes skimmed over the short missive requesting to see her in the stables of the palati at her earliest convenience. Folding the note up, she slipped it into the hidden pocket of the chiton and lifted the tea to her lips and finished it with a long sip.
It appeared her morning ride wouldn’t be along the coastline but rather short, as she rode over to the palace to suit the newly appointed King’s whimsical request. Leaving the cup whereupon one of the tables for the servants to take care of, she headed towards the stables where Della would be being prepared for her already. The back and forth motion of her ponytail swinging with each step, with her aunt and most of the girls out of the house there wasn’t much risk of running into anyone at this time of the morning allowing her to stride with purpose instead of being reprimanded for not gracefully and slowly gliding across the ground. Gliding took too much effort, she had places to go and people to see.
One of the slave boys saw her and rushed into the stable to bring out the small, fiery chestnut mare bred of the desert rather than of the Leventi stock. She’d been a present or rather a bribe from her father to perhaps giving up riding the beastly grey stallion, Altair. Not that it dissuaded her all that much, but the mare was such a beautiful gift that she’d had a hard time resisting enjoying her.
With no help from the servants, Evangelina easily swung up on the fidgeting mare who was giving her flowy bright dress a side-eye. There were many times and places where she hardly knew where her own feet were but near a horse whether it was upon them or standing next to them, Evangelina was someone entirely different. She was everything a Leventi should have been or could have been when she was with the horses. She was confident and calm and in control of her surroundings. She was commanding upon a horse. She wasn’t the sort to be overlooked on the dainty little fireball.
Just the gentle tightening of her legs caused the mare to peel forward in a lofty, high-kneed canter. There wouldn’t be any chance to let her unwind before she reached the Palati ensuring that the entire ride would keep her on her toes as Della danced and pressed against the bits. As they reached the more congested areas of the capital, their pace slowed even more and the mare’s disposition continued to dip into agitation. Della was the equine embodiment of a Leventi woman; beautiful, spirited, and very spoilt.
Her back arched a couple of times under Evangelina in a threatening hop, which was ignored. Della would just have to deal with it today. They had other things to do.
At the palati, Evangelina slid off the mare and passed her reins to one of the servants. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the poor boy wince as the mare’s head snaked out to gnash her teeth at him. Evangelina slowed wondering if Della was going to be too much for the boy but the mare’s ears flattened and her head started to snake again out at him but this time he quickly moved out of the way.
Sucking in a breath, she turned around to walk into the stable. Her eyes instantly landing on the massive bear of a man leaning against the door of a stall staring at a familiar face, Aenaeus. The long breath slowly left her body as she slowly approached King Achilleas and his father’s horse. He turned and offered a faint but polite smile.
‘Good morning, Lady Evangelina.’
Stepping up next to him, she peered around the side of him at the sulking grey gelding and then tilted her head to meet his face.
“Good morning to you too, your majesty,” Evangelina offered a sad smile, “How are you holding up?”
If he expected that his new position meant he was exempt from her impertinent nature he would be in for quite a surprise.
“My condolences to you and your family,” The words felt hollow like they weren’t enough, she bit her bottom lip and looked up at him from her bristly dark lashes, “I really am sorry about your father.”
The early morning sky’s greyness was brightening into a brilliant amber streaked with a tropical pink. It was like watching one of Imma’s painting going from a simple sketch to the bright colors as she brushed them in. Raising the small ceramic cup to her lips she sipped the hot mint tea that served to help her body come alive in the same way the sun illuminated the sky. Her morning routine here in Vasiliadon had developed its own sort of routine.
She dressed in a riding chiton that embraced a slightly higher than normal slit up the side to accommodate her lean toned leg over the back of a horse. The one she wore this morning was a vivid saffron yellow with a wild and flowy skirt. Her practical and worn pair of knee-length buskins were obviously a favorite pair of shoes from the soft broken-in leather that showed signs of wear. Her reddish-brown hair was pulled into a high ponytail and all wild tendrils had yet to of escaped but how long would that last?
The bustling sound of someone entering her Uncle Georgios’ solar room had her turning to look while one of the servants hurried forward with a piece of parchment containing the royal seal.
‘This just came for you, my lady.’ The woman who couldn’t have been much older than herself quickly disappeared without another word.
Evangelina watched her disappear before she moved to set the small cup of tea down and open it. Surprisingly it wasn’t from Theodora but rather Achilleas. Hmmm? Her brows came together as her dark eyes skimmed over the short missive requesting to see her in the stables of the palati at her earliest convenience. Folding the note up, she slipped it into the hidden pocket of the chiton and lifted the tea to her lips and finished it with a long sip.
It appeared her morning ride wouldn’t be along the coastline but rather short, as she rode over to the palace to suit the newly appointed King’s whimsical request. Leaving the cup whereupon one of the tables for the servants to take care of, she headed towards the stables where Della would be being prepared for her already. The back and forth motion of her ponytail swinging with each step, with her aunt and most of the girls out of the house there wasn’t much risk of running into anyone at this time of the morning allowing her to stride with purpose instead of being reprimanded for not gracefully and slowly gliding across the ground. Gliding took too much effort, she had places to go and people to see.
One of the slave boys saw her and rushed into the stable to bring out the small, fiery chestnut mare bred of the desert rather than of the Leventi stock. She’d been a present or rather a bribe from her father to perhaps giving up riding the beastly grey stallion, Altair. Not that it dissuaded her all that much, but the mare was such a beautiful gift that she’d had a hard time resisting enjoying her.
With no help from the servants, Evangelina easily swung up on the fidgeting mare who was giving her flowy bright dress a side-eye. There were many times and places where she hardly knew where her own feet were but near a horse whether it was upon them or standing next to them, Evangelina was someone entirely different. She was everything a Leventi should have been or could have been when she was with the horses. She was confident and calm and in control of her surroundings. She was commanding upon a horse. She wasn’t the sort to be overlooked on the dainty little fireball.
Just the gentle tightening of her legs caused the mare to peel forward in a lofty, high-kneed canter. There wouldn’t be any chance to let her unwind before she reached the Palati ensuring that the entire ride would keep her on her toes as Della danced and pressed against the bits. As they reached the more congested areas of the capital, their pace slowed even more and the mare’s disposition continued to dip into agitation. Della was the equine embodiment of a Leventi woman; beautiful, spirited, and very spoilt.
Her back arched a couple of times under Evangelina in a threatening hop, which was ignored. Della would just have to deal with it today. They had other things to do.
At the palati, Evangelina slid off the mare and passed her reins to one of the servants. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the poor boy wince as the mare’s head snaked out to gnash her teeth at him. Evangelina slowed wondering if Della was going to be too much for the boy but the mare’s ears flattened and her head started to snake again out at him but this time he quickly moved out of the way.
Sucking in a breath, she turned around to walk into the stable. Her eyes instantly landing on the massive bear of a man leaning against the door of a stall staring at a familiar face, Aenaeus. The long breath slowly left her body as she slowly approached King Achilleas and his father’s horse. He turned and offered a faint but polite smile.
‘Good morning, Lady Evangelina.’
Stepping up next to him, she peered around the side of him at the sulking grey gelding and then tilted her head to meet his face.
“Good morning to you too, your majesty,” Evangelina offered a sad smile, “How are you holding up?”
If he expected that his new position meant he was exempt from her impertinent nature he would be in for quite a surprise.
“My condolences to you and your family,” The words felt hollow like they weren’t enough, she bit her bottom lip and looked up at him from her bristly dark lashes, “I really am sorry about your father.”
Achilleas had prepared himself for words of condolence. They fell easily from the mouths of those who looked to ingratiate themselves with the new monarch, and so he had grown used to letting them roll-off, in accepting them graciously but not setting much stock in the sincerity of them. This time, he wanted to think differently, and he was tempted for a moment to give an honest answer to the question Lady Evangeline threw at him.
How was he holding up? Well, he hadn’t fallen over. Had thrown himself into the demands of arranging a burial and then of preparing for war. He wore a crown and tried to embody everything that went along with that. But Achilleas had stumbled, once or twice. There had been that moment of stupidity with Briseis, thankfully private enough that he only had his own judgment to contend with. And then this: this foolish sentimentality that had seen him spend more time than he could afford with a stubborn old horse. Noone had dared question him aloud, but Achilleas had seen it on faces, and it was that which had seen him send the mote to Evangelina because he couldn’t afford to be seen as misusing his time when there were more serious things afoot. He had to hold up
The King blinked and turned to look at the Leventi woman, his gaze settling upon Evangelina’s for a moment, and he was not adept enough to guard the weariness present there, despite how curated the rest of his expression was. Achilleas seemed oblivious though, and gave a curt nod in response to Evangelina’s commiserations.
“Thank you. It has, as you can imagine, been rather a hectic time.” He should, by all rights, have been in Euttica, in some semblance of privacy with his new bride. But that had become just a wistful imagining after the wedding, the two of them instead thrust into the roles of monarchs and ensconced in the Palati. There had barely been a chance to take a breath since then.
“I appreciate you taking the time to come here” He said, aware that his missive had been brief and that he needed to explain, turning to look at the horse in the stall before them and trying to make his voice seem dispassionate as he began to speak. “This is” a brief pause and the flicker of a frown as he corrected himself “...was, my father’s horse. He’s a handful, and I have no use for him. It would be good if he could be turned out to pasture so I do not have to keep replacing stable boys”
Never mind that it was hardly a matter that the King should be concerning himself with. If it were truly just a case of a difficult animal then it would not be Achilleas here talking to Lady Evangelina, nor would it have been a thing even to trouble the Leventi lady. That Achilleas had sought to deal with this personally gave all the weight to the conversation that his offhand manner did not, and he knew it, not meeting Evangelina’s eyes as he explained.
“I had thought that perhaps your family might be able to find space for him?”
Because despite everything, Achilleas couldn’t bear the thought of the horse ending up pulling carts at the quarries or worse, wanted to give the animal a retirement befitting of how well his father had thought of the beast. It was just one small thing he could do to honour his father’s memory, and he trusted Evangelina not to make a fuss about it, at least not publicly. He had readied himself already for her speaking her mind to him, that was a thing he had come to expect of his new cousin-in-law.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
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Achilleas had prepared himself for words of condolence. They fell easily from the mouths of those who looked to ingratiate themselves with the new monarch, and so he had grown used to letting them roll-off, in accepting them graciously but not setting much stock in the sincerity of them. This time, he wanted to think differently, and he was tempted for a moment to give an honest answer to the question Lady Evangeline threw at him.
How was he holding up? Well, he hadn’t fallen over. Had thrown himself into the demands of arranging a burial and then of preparing for war. He wore a crown and tried to embody everything that went along with that. But Achilleas had stumbled, once or twice. There had been that moment of stupidity with Briseis, thankfully private enough that he only had his own judgment to contend with. And then this: this foolish sentimentality that had seen him spend more time than he could afford with a stubborn old horse. Noone had dared question him aloud, but Achilleas had seen it on faces, and it was that which had seen him send the mote to Evangelina because he couldn’t afford to be seen as misusing his time when there were more serious things afoot. He had to hold up
The King blinked and turned to look at the Leventi woman, his gaze settling upon Evangelina’s for a moment, and he was not adept enough to guard the weariness present there, despite how curated the rest of his expression was. Achilleas seemed oblivious though, and gave a curt nod in response to Evangelina’s commiserations.
“Thank you. It has, as you can imagine, been rather a hectic time.” He should, by all rights, have been in Euttica, in some semblance of privacy with his new bride. But that had become just a wistful imagining after the wedding, the two of them instead thrust into the roles of monarchs and ensconced in the Palati. There had barely been a chance to take a breath since then.
“I appreciate you taking the time to come here” He said, aware that his missive had been brief and that he needed to explain, turning to look at the horse in the stall before them and trying to make his voice seem dispassionate as he began to speak. “This is” a brief pause and the flicker of a frown as he corrected himself “...was, my father’s horse. He’s a handful, and I have no use for him. It would be good if he could be turned out to pasture so I do not have to keep replacing stable boys”
Never mind that it was hardly a matter that the King should be concerning himself with. If it were truly just a case of a difficult animal then it would not be Achilleas here talking to Lady Evangelina, nor would it have been a thing even to trouble the Leventi lady. That Achilleas had sought to deal with this personally gave all the weight to the conversation that his offhand manner did not, and he knew it, not meeting Evangelina’s eyes as he explained.
“I had thought that perhaps your family might be able to find space for him?”
Because despite everything, Achilleas couldn’t bear the thought of the horse ending up pulling carts at the quarries or worse, wanted to give the animal a retirement befitting of how well his father had thought of the beast. It was just one small thing he could do to honour his father’s memory, and he trusted Evangelina not to make a fuss about it, at least not publicly. He had readied himself already for her speaking her mind to him, that was a thing he had come to expect of his new cousin-in-law.
Achilleas had prepared himself for words of condolence. They fell easily from the mouths of those who looked to ingratiate themselves with the new monarch, and so he had grown used to letting them roll-off, in accepting them graciously but not setting much stock in the sincerity of them. This time, he wanted to think differently, and he was tempted for a moment to give an honest answer to the question Lady Evangeline threw at him.
How was he holding up? Well, he hadn’t fallen over. Had thrown himself into the demands of arranging a burial and then of preparing for war. He wore a crown and tried to embody everything that went along with that. But Achilleas had stumbled, once or twice. There had been that moment of stupidity with Briseis, thankfully private enough that he only had his own judgment to contend with. And then this: this foolish sentimentality that had seen him spend more time than he could afford with a stubborn old horse. Noone had dared question him aloud, but Achilleas had seen it on faces, and it was that which had seen him send the mote to Evangelina because he couldn’t afford to be seen as misusing his time when there were more serious things afoot. He had to hold up
The King blinked and turned to look at the Leventi woman, his gaze settling upon Evangelina’s for a moment, and he was not adept enough to guard the weariness present there, despite how curated the rest of his expression was. Achilleas seemed oblivious though, and gave a curt nod in response to Evangelina’s commiserations.
“Thank you. It has, as you can imagine, been rather a hectic time.” He should, by all rights, have been in Euttica, in some semblance of privacy with his new bride. But that had become just a wistful imagining after the wedding, the two of them instead thrust into the roles of monarchs and ensconced in the Palati. There had barely been a chance to take a breath since then.
“I appreciate you taking the time to come here” He said, aware that his missive had been brief and that he needed to explain, turning to look at the horse in the stall before them and trying to make his voice seem dispassionate as he began to speak. “This is” a brief pause and the flicker of a frown as he corrected himself “...was, my father’s horse. He’s a handful, and I have no use for him. It would be good if he could be turned out to pasture so I do not have to keep replacing stable boys”
Never mind that it was hardly a matter that the King should be concerning himself with. If it were truly just a case of a difficult animal then it would not be Achilleas here talking to Lady Evangelina, nor would it have been a thing even to trouble the Leventi lady. That Achilleas had sought to deal with this personally gave all the weight to the conversation that his offhand manner did not, and he knew it, not meeting Evangelina’s eyes as he explained.
“I had thought that perhaps your family might be able to find space for him?”
Because despite everything, Achilleas couldn’t bear the thought of the horse ending up pulling carts at the quarries or worse, wanted to give the animal a retirement befitting of how well his father had thought of the beast. It was just one small thing he could do to honour his father’s memory, and he trusted Evangelina not to make a fuss about it, at least not publicly. He had readied himself already for her speaking her mind to him, that was a thing he had come to expect of his new cousin-in-law.
There was something about a sudden death that seemed to cease normalcy. Sudden death didn’t give a person time to come to terms with what was happening. The opportunity to right wrongs was stolen and you were left with this emptiness inside. Not that Evangelina was an expert on death, sudden or otherwise, but that hadn’t meant she hadn’t observed it with others and seen the outcomes… and sadly, they very rarely varied any.
His too-blue of eyes settled upon her. It should have been a crime to have eyelashes as thick and wispy as his were, they should have looked feminine and out of place against the masculine hard angles of his face but instead, they only intensified his striking face. She was fairly certain the day he’d married Theo, thousands of hearts broke all across Taengea. Maybe he was rather modest about his good looks but that didn’t mean the rest of the country was blind to them. Lifting her own eyes, she looked up at him blinking softly. She’d always considered her eyes ordinary… pretty in their own way but nothing vivid or intensely alluring. They were brown… just brown. And though they were trimmed in thick, long lashes too, if you stared at them long enough they appeared just as ordinary as her brown eyes.
For a moment, she thought he might have given her an answer that was beyond the generic one that formed off his lips. ‘Thank you. It has, as you can imagine, been rather a hectic time.’ It was generic, but she couldn’t hold that against even if she’d wanted too. Her eyes dropped from him and settled upon the grey gelding still sulking in the back of his stall. She supposed she shouldn’t press him about how he was really doing, that wasn’t exactly her place. Instead of saying anything else, she simply gave a small nod of her head of understanding and let the conversation trickle on down to why he’d sent for her.
‘I appreciate you taking the time to come here.’
Still watching the gelding, she didn’t acknowledge his words immediately instead she was soaking up every tiny detail about the horse in front of her. The problem that seemed to be bothering their new king. It was something she’d never really considered, but what was a new king to do with a past king’s horse. One never expected their horse to outlive them… plans were never made for such a thing.
“It’s no trouble.” She murmured softly, her eyes shifting a quick glance up at him before looking back at the gelding and letting her companion get on with how she could help.
‘This is…’ Was that cracking noise the sound of an edge of her heart crumbling off a little? ‘...was, my father’s horse. He’s a handful, and I have no use for him. It would be good if he could be turned out to pasture so I do not have to keep replacing stable boys.’
Ordinary brown eyes drew themselves sideways back up to him, a hint of amusement was tinged with a bit of sadness. Did he really not realize she already knew who Aenaeus was? Not only had he been bred by the Leventis, but he’d been a common fixture along with his master at many of the Leventi functions over the years. With a small sigh, she pulled her eyes away from Achilleas to settle back on the gelding who was doing everything in his power to ignore them.
‘I had thought that perhaps your family might be able to find space for him?’
That caught her by surprise, her head jerked and she looked up at him. What were they supposed to do with Aenaeus? Find a space for him? Closing her eyes, she reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose as she softly let out the deep breath she’d been holding on too. How had this man moved through the ranks of the military the way he had and not know…
Slowly, her hand came down from the bridge of her nose and her eyes opened as she looked up at him as patiently as she could.
“You want me to take him home… retire him?” She waited for a head nod or something that meant that she understood his request before she spoke again. “If I am being frank, it appears that women are just one of the many things you do not quite understand very well… This horse will never be happy here or at the Leventi estates or anywhere else you decide to try and retire him too.”
Looking back at the grey gelding, she frowned. He was a warhorse. A campaigner. A soldier. What a sad thing… Before she’d thought about it, she was unlatching the door to the stall and scooting inside before anything could be said. Standing her ground, she didn’t reach out and offer her hand to the horse but clicked her tongue against her teeth to draw his attention.
“Your majesty, your problem isn’t retiring the horse. Your problem is the horse needs a job. He’s a warhorse, not a stable pet and if your stable boys can’t respect a soldier they have no business handling your horses, to begin with.” She spoke to the new King but her focus remained on the gelding as he slowly shifted around to size her up. Dipping her hand into the pocket of her chiton she produced a piece of dried apple and offered out to him, careful of not just her fingers but her entire arm. There was a pert tone as she asked, “Do you ride him?”
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There was something about a sudden death that seemed to cease normalcy. Sudden death didn’t give a person time to come to terms with what was happening. The opportunity to right wrongs was stolen and you were left with this emptiness inside. Not that Evangelina was an expert on death, sudden or otherwise, but that hadn’t meant she hadn’t observed it with others and seen the outcomes… and sadly, they very rarely varied any.
His too-blue of eyes settled upon her. It should have been a crime to have eyelashes as thick and wispy as his were, they should have looked feminine and out of place against the masculine hard angles of his face but instead, they only intensified his striking face. She was fairly certain the day he’d married Theo, thousands of hearts broke all across Taengea. Maybe he was rather modest about his good looks but that didn’t mean the rest of the country was blind to them. Lifting her own eyes, she looked up at him blinking softly. She’d always considered her eyes ordinary… pretty in their own way but nothing vivid or intensely alluring. They were brown… just brown. And though they were trimmed in thick, long lashes too, if you stared at them long enough they appeared just as ordinary as her brown eyes.
For a moment, she thought he might have given her an answer that was beyond the generic one that formed off his lips. ‘Thank you. It has, as you can imagine, been rather a hectic time.’ It was generic, but she couldn’t hold that against even if she’d wanted too. Her eyes dropped from him and settled upon the grey gelding still sulking in the back of his stall. She supposed she shouldn’t press him about how he was really doing, that wasn’t exactly her place. Instead of saying anything else, she simply gave a small nod of her head of understanding and let the conversation trickle on down to why he’d sent for her.
‘I appreciate you taking the time to come here.’
Still watching the gelding, she didn’t acknowledge his words immediately instead she was soaking up every tiny detail about the horse in front of her. The problem that seemed to be bothering their new king. It was something she’d never really considered, but what was a new king to do with a past king’s horse. One never expected their horse to outlive them… plans were never made for such a thing.
“It’s no trouble.” She murmured softly, her eyes shifting a quick glance up at him before looking back at the gelding and letting her companion get on with how she could help.
‘This is…’ Was that cracking noise the sound of an edge of her heart crumbling off a little? ‘...was, my father’s horse. He’s a handful, and I have no use for him. It would be good if he could be turned out to pasture so I do not have to keep replacing stable boys.’
Ordinary brown eyes drew themselves sideways back up to him, a hint of amusement was tinged with a bit of sadness. Did he really not realize she already knew who Aenaeus was? Not only had he been bred by the Leventis, but he’d been a common fixture along with his master at many of the Leventi functions over the years. With a small sigh, she pulled her eyes away from Achilleas to settle back on the gelding who was doing everything in his power to ignore them.
‘I had thought that perhaps your family might be able to find space for him?’
That caught her by surprise, her head jerked and she looked up at him. What were they supposed to do with Aenaeus? Find a space for him? Closing her eyes, she reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose as she softly let out the deep breath she’d been holding on too. How had this man moved through the ranks of the military the way he had and not know…
Slowly, her hand came down from the bridge of her nose and her eyes opened as she looked up at him as patiently as she could.
“You want me to take him home… retire him?” She waited for a head nod or something that meant that she understood his request before she spoke again. “If I am being frank, it appears that women are just one of the many things you do not quite understand very well… This horse will never be happy here or at the Leventi estates or anywhere else you decide to try and retire him too.”
Looking back at the grey gelding, she frowned. He was a warhorse. A campaigner. A soldier. What a sad thing… Before she’d thought about it, she was unlatching the door to the stall and scooting inside before anything could be said. Standing her ground, she didn’t reach out and offer her hand to the horse but clicked her tongue against her teeth to draw his attention.
“Your majesty, your problem isn’t retiring the horse. Your problem is the horse needs a job. He’s a warhorse, not a stable pet and if your stable boys can’t respect a soldier they have no business handling your horses, to begin with.” She spoke to the new King but her focus remained on the gelding as he slowly shifted around to size her up. Dipping her hand into the pocket of her chiton she produced a piece of dried apple and offered out to him, careful of not just her fingers but her entire arm. There was a pert tone as she asked, “Do you ride him?”
There was something about a sudden death that seemed to cease normalcy. Sudden death didn’t give a person time to come to terms with what was happening. The opportunity to right wrongs was stolen and you were left with this emptiness inside. Not that Evangelina was an expert on death, sudden or otherwise, but that hadn’t meant she hadn’t observed it with others and seen the outcomes… and sadly, they very rarely varied any.
His too-blue of eyes settled upon her. It should have been a crime to have eyelashes as thick and wispy as his were, they should have looked feminine and out of place against the masculine hard angles of his face but instead, they only intensified his striking face. She was fairly certain the day he’d married Theo, thousands of hearts broke all across Taengea. Maybe he was rather modest about his good looks but that didn’t mean the rest of the country was blind to them. Lifting her own eyes, she looked up at him blinking softly. She’d always considered her eyes ordinary… pretty in their own way but nothing vivid or intensely alluring. They were brown… just brown. And though they were trimmed in thick, long lashes too, if you stared at them long enough they appeared just as ordinary as her brown eyes.
For a moment, she thought he might have given her an answer that was beyond the generic one that formed off his lips. ‘Thank you. It has, as you can imagine, been rather a hectic time.’ It was generic, but she couldn’t hold that against even if she’d wanted too. Her eyes dropped from him and settled upon the grey gelding still sulking in the back of his stall. She supposed she shouldn’t press him about how he was really doing, that wasn’t exactly her place. Instead of saying anything else, she simply gave a small nod of her head of understanding and let the conversation trickle on down to why he’d sent for her.
‘I appreciate you taking the time to come here.’
Still watching the gelding, she didn’t acknowledge his words immediately instead she was soaking up every tiny detail about the horse in front of her. The problem that seemed to be bothering their new king. It was something she’d never really considered, but what was a new king to do with a past king’s horse. One never expected their horse to outlive them… plans were never made for such a thing.
“It’s no trouble.” She murmured softly, her eyes shifting a quick glance up at him before looking back at the gelding and letting her companion get on with how she could help.
‘This is…’ Was that cracking noise the sound of an edge of her heart crumbling off a little? ‘...was, my father’s horse. He’s a handful, and I have no use for him. It would be good if he could be turned out to pasture so I do not have to keep replacing stable boys.’
Ordinary brown eyes drew themselves sideways back up to him, a hint of amusement was tinged with a bit of sadness. Did he really not realize she already knew who Aenaeus was? Not only had he been bred by the Leventis, but he’d been a common fixture along with his master at many of the Leventi functions over the years. With a small sigh, she pulled her eyes away from Achilleas to settle back on the gelding who was doing everything in his power to ignore them.
‘I had thought that perhaps your family might be able to find space for him?’
That caught her by surprise, her head jerked and she looked up at him. What were they supposed to do with Aenaeus? Find a space for him? Closing her eyes, she reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose as she softly let out the deep breath she’d been holding on too. How had this man moved through the ranks of the military the way he had and not know…
Slowly, her hand came down from the bridge of her nose and her eyes opened as she looked up at him as patiently as she could.
“You want me to take him home… retire him?” She waited for a head nod or something that meant that she understood his request before she spoke again. “If I am being frank, it appears that women are just one of the many things you do not quite understand very well… This horse will never be happy here or at the Leventi estates or anywhere else you decide to try and retire him too.”
Looking back at the grey gelding, she frowned. He was a warhorse. A campaigner. A soldier. What a sad thing… Before she’d thought about it, she was unlatching the door to the stall and scooting inside before anything could be said. Standing her ground, she didn’t reach out and offer her hand to the horse but clicked her tongue against her teeth to draw his attention.
“Your majesty, your problem isn’t retiring the horse. Your problem is the horse needs a job. He’s a warhorse, not a stable pet and if your stable boys can’t respect a soldier they have no business handling your horses, to begin with.” She spoke to the new King but her focus remained on the gelding as he slowly shifted around to size her up. Dipping her hand into the pocket of her chiton she produced a piece of dried apple and offered out to him, careful of not just her fingers but her entire arm. There was a pert tone as she asked, “Do you ride him?”
Unsurprised by the Leventi woman’s focus upon the horse rather than himself, it made it a little easier for Achilleas to explain why he had summoned her, and so he ploughed on, giving some flimsy reason about not wishing to deal with more savaged stable hands. He didn’t think it was that flimsy, however, and so looked sharply at her when she turned her head, brows drawing low into a frown as the young woman made no secret of some exasperation. He was still scowling at her when she looked back up at him.
“Yes” Achilleas stated slowly as if she were being particularly dumb. Had he not been clear? Perhaps this had been a mistake. Maybe he didn't have the patience for Lady Evangelina. He watched with an increasingly unhappy expression as the young woman proceeded to rake over nerves that were already raw and Achilleas let her lecture him on what he needed to do until he could bear it no longer.
“You think I don’t know that?” he said, his tone unusually sharp.”You think I don’t know my father’s own horse?”
He knew Aenaeus would not be content plodding around a field, but what was he supposed to do. He had tried, and now the best he could do for the creature was to ensure he didn't end up on the wrong end of a whip. This whole thing was difficult enough without being chided about his decision. With a press of his lips, the King shook his head at how the Lady Evangelina had let herself into the stall, his eyes lifting toward the horse and then back toward the girl uneasily. “Be careful”
Swallowing what he hoped was an irrational fear that he was about to watch his wife’s cousin get chewed on by an antisocial horse, Achilleas was watching the gelding too when Evangelina asked if he had ridden the animal. He paused a moment, because he really had not wanted to get into this, and now she had just asked him and he would have to outright lie which he didn't like to do either.
“I...tried” he admitted after a beat’s silence in which he held his breath as the gelding nosed forward to lip the offered treat from the Leventi woman, before retreating to the far corner of the stall and scraping his hoof noisily. “He likes me about as much as my father did” And what he had meant to sound lighthearted and flippant was spoiled by the way his throat tightened up and made his words clipped and short.
“Will you come out of there please?” Achilleas said stiffly, not wanting to explain to Theodora how he’d gotten her cousin bitten or kicked or worse. “I didn’t ask you here for a consultation, I asked you here so you can find a space for him. He’s served his time, earned his rest, and as he will bear no other rider I can’t think of an alternative”
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Unsurprised by the Leventi woman’s focus upon the horse rather than himself, it made it a little easier for Achilleas to explain why he had summoned her, and so he ploughed on, giving some flimsy reason about not wishing to deal with more savaged stable hands. He didn’t think it was that flimsy, however, and so looked sharply at her when she turned her head, brows drawing low into a frown as the young woman made no secret of some exasperation. He was still scowling at her when she looked back up at him.
“Yes” Achilleas stated slowly as if she were being particularly dumb. Had he not been clear? Perhaps this had been a mistake. Maybe he didn't have the patience for Lady Evangelina. He watched with an increasingly unhappy expression as the young woman proceeded to rake over nerves that were already raw and Achilleas let her lecture him on what he needed to do until he could bear it no longer.
“You think I don’t know that?” he said, his tone unusually sharp.”You think I don’t know my father’s own horse?”
He knew Aenaeus would not be content plodding around a field, but what was he supposed to do. He had tried, and now the best he could do for the creature was to ensure he didn't end up on the wrong end of a whip. This whole thing was difficult enough without being chided about his decision. With a press of his lips, the King shook his head at how the Lady Evangelina had let herself into the stall, his eyes lifting toward the horse and then back toward the girl uneasily. “Be careful”
Swallowing what he hoped was an irrational fear that he was about to watch his wife’s cousin get chewed on by an antisocial horse, Achilleas was watching the gelding too when Evangelina asked if he had ridden the animal. He paused a moment, because he really had not wanted to get into this, and now she had just asked him and he would have to outright lie which he didn't like to do either.
“I...tried” he admitted after a beat’s silence in which he held his breath as the gelding nosed forward to lip the offered treat from the Leventi woman, before retreating to the far corner of the stall and scraping his hoof noisily. “He likes me about as much as my father did” And what he had meant to sound lighthearted and flippant was spoiled by the way his throat tightened up and made his words clipped and short.
“Will you come out of there please?” Achilleas said stiffly, not wanting to explain to Theodora how he’d gotten her cousin bitten or kicked or worse. “I didn’t ask you here for a consultation, I asked you here so you can find a space for him. He’s served his time, earned his rest, and as he will bear no other rider I can’t think of an alternative”
Unsurprised by the Leventi woman’s focus upon the horse rather than himself, it made it a little easier for Achilleas to explain why he had summoned her, and so he ploughed on, giving some flimsy reason about not wishing to deal with more savaged stable hands. He didn’t think it was that flimsy, however, and so looked sharply at her when she turned her head, brows drawing low into a frown as the young woman made no secret of some exasperation. He was still scowling at her when she looked back up at him.
“Yes” Achilleas stated slowly as if she were being particularly dumb. Had he not been clear? Perhaps this had been a mistake. Maybe he didn't have the patience for Lady Evangelina. He watched with an increasingly unhappy expression as the young woman proceeded to rake over nerves that were already raw and Achilleas let her lecture him on what he needed to do until he could bear it no longer.
“You think I don’t know that?” he said, his tone unusually sharp.”You think I don’t know my father’s own horse?”
He knew Aenaeus would not be content plodding around a field, but what was he supposed to do. He had tried, and now the best he could do for the creature was to ensure he didn't end up on the wrong end of a whip. This whole thing was difficult enough without being chided about his decision. With a press of his lips, the King shook his head at how the Lady Evangelina had let herself into the stall, his eyes lifting toward the horse and then back toward the girl uneasily. “Be careful”
Swallowing what he hoped was an irrational fear that he was about to watch his wife’s cousin get chewed on by an antisocial horse, Achilleas was watching the gelding too when Evangelina asked if he had ridden the animal. He paused a moment, because he really had not wanted to get into this, and now she had just asked him and he would have to outright lie which he didn't like to do either.
“I...tried” he admitted after a beat’s silence in which he held his breath as the gelding nosed forward to lip the offered treat from the Leventi woman, before retreating to the far corner of the stall and scraping his hoof noisily. “He likes me about as much as my father did” And what he had meant to sound lighthearted and flippant was spoiled by the way his throat tightened up and made his words clipped and short.
“Will you come out of there please?” Achilleas said stiffly, not wanting to explain to Theodora how he’d gotten her cousin bitten or kicked or worse. “I didn’t ask you here for a consultation, I asked you here so you can find a space for him. He’s served his time, earned his rest, and as he will bear no other rider I can’t think of an alternative”
Unphased by his irritability, Evangelina let it roll over her like water on a duck’s back. He was lost and at the end of his rope. The pressure of the sudden death of his father and the newness of the position thrust upon him mixed with the country’s fragile political climate and the impending war with Egypt. She didn’t take it personally as he snapped at her.
‘You think I don’t know that? You think I don’t know my father’s own horse?’ The words were out of his mouth at the same time as the gelding stepped towards her, his nose reaching out and snatching the piece of apple from her hand. Using the side of her index finger she, softly stroked the very end of the grey’s nose. It was a movement that comforted her as much as it was meant to the horse in the stall.
The truth was she didn’t think he did understand the horse, not really anyway. When he looked at the gelding he saw something that he didn’t want to be reminded of. His father was dead. He also was to blind to see that the gelding had lost as much as King Achilleas had. Horses were herd animals and King Irakles had been the gelding’s herd. He’d been the horse’s leader, defender… he’d been Aenaeus’ everything. That was all gone now and Aenaeus was as lost and confused as King Irakles’ son was. The gelding’s lips opened with an unexpected gentleness and lipped at her fingers and she sighed, there were a lot of things in this world that she couldn’t make much of a difference with but this was something she could.
‘Be careful.’ King Achilleas cared about the horse even if he didn’t want to admit it, there was simply a communication gap here between the two.
At her question about whether he rode the horse, his answer was exactly as she’d expected. If she had to guess, King Achilleas had been prepared for a battle with the horse. He’d not put the work into wooing the gelding.
‘He likes me about as much as my father did.’ The pain in those words caused her to wince just a little, thankfully she was facing the gelding rather than him. Her fingers stroked those velvet lips of the gelding with as much gentleness as she might have used on a newborn foal as a plan formed in her mind.
‘Will you come out of there please?’ She ignored that and instead as the gelding’s teeth gnashed light at her hand she smiled sadly and used her fingers to lightly pinch him on the tender spot on the nose in the same way another horse would play with him. ‘I didn’t ask you here for a consultation, I asked you here so you can find a space for him. He’s served his time, earned his rest, and as he will bear no other rider I can’t think of an alternative.’
One last stroke on the bridge of Aenaeus’ nose before she backed to the door and stepped outside the stall leaving the gelding to stare at her for a moment before he sighed and turned back to his corner. Evie’s heart broke for him, but she couldn’t turn her attention fully to King Achilleas as long as she stood in the stall with the capricious gelding.
Straightening her spine she put her hands on her hips and pinned the new king with a look. He was lying to them both when he’d said he hadn’t asked her there for a consultation. That was exactly why he’d asked her there… if this was a simple order from King to countrymen about finding space for the horse… he would have gone to one of her uncles or to her father.
“Well, I am sorry but you are getting a consultation and I won’t agree to help you find a space for him unless you make an attempt at letting me find a better solution for Aenaeus first.” She unflinchingly said, her eyes blinked and she added. “Besides we both know you wanted that consultation, otherwise you’d simply asked Uncle Fotios to have someone pick him up and take him to one of the estates.”
Taking a deep breath, she hazarded a glance back at the gelding and let the softest sigh out before she turned back to King Achilleas, “You happen to be in luck. I can fix your problem with Aenaeus and I know exactly the right rider for him, but you are going to have to trust me. Can you do that?”
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Unphased by his irritability, Evangelina let it roll over her like water on a duck’s back. He was lost and at the end of his rope. The pressure of the sudden death of his father and the newness of the position thrust upon him mixed with the country’s fragile political climate and the impending war with Egypt. She didn’t take it personally as he snapped at her.
‘You think I don’t know that? You think I don’t know my father’s own horse?’ The words were out of his mouth at the same time as the gelding stepped towards her, his nose reaching out and snatching the piece of apple from her hand. Using the side of her index finger she, softly stroked the very end of the grey’s nose. It was a movement that comforted her as much as it was meant to the horse in the stall.
The truth was she didn’t think he did understand the horse, not really anyway. When he looked at the gelding he saw something that he didn’t want to be reminded of. His father was dead. He also was to blind to see that the gelding had lost as much as King Achilleas had. Horses were herd animals and King Irakles had been the gelding’s herd. He’d been the horse’s leader, defender… he’d been Aenaeus’ everything. That was all gone now and Aenaeus was as lost and confused as King Irakles’ son was. The gelding’s lips opened with an unexpected gentleness and lipped at her fingers and she sighed, there were a lot of things in this world that she couldn’t make much of a difference with but this was something she could.
‘Be careful.’ King Achilleas cared about the horse even if he didn’t want to admit it, there was simply a communication gap here between the two.
At her question about whether he rode the horse, his answer was exactly as she’d expected. If she had to guess, King Achilleas had been prepared for a battle with the horse. He’d not put the work into wooing the gelding.
‘He likes me about as much as my father did.’ The pain in those words caused her to wince just a little, thankfully she was facing the gelding rather than him. Her fingers stroked those velvet lips of the gelding with as much gentleness as she might have used on a newborn foal as a plan formed in her mind.
‘Will you come out of there please?’ She ignored that and instead as the gelding’s teeth gnashed light at her hand she smiled sadly and used her fingers to lightly pinch him on the tender spot on the nose in the same way another horse would play with him. ‘I didn’t ask you here for a consultation, I asked you here so you can find a space for him. He’s served his time, earned his rest, and as he will bear no other rider I can’t think of an alternative.’
One last stroke on the bridge of Aenaeus’ nose before she backed to the door and stepped outside the stall leaving the gelding to stare at her for a moment before he sighed and turned back to his corner. Evie’s heart broke for him, but she couldn’t turn her attention fully to King Achilleas as long as she stood in the stall with the capricious gelding.
Straightening her spine she put her hands on her hips and pinned the new king with a look. He was lying to them both when he’d said he hadn’t asked her there for a consultation. That was exactly why he’d asked her there… if this was a simple order from King to countrymen about finding space for the horse… he would have gone to one of her uncles or to her father.
“Well, I am sorry but you are getting a consultation and I won’t agree to help you find a space for him unless you make an attempt at letting me find a better solution for Aenaeus first.” She unflinchingly said, her eyes blinked and she added. “Besides we both know you wanted that consultation, otherwise you’d simply asked Uncle Fotios to have someone pick him up and take him to one of the estates.”
Taking a deep breath, she hazarded a glance back at the gelding and let the softest sigh out before she turned back to King Achilleas, “You happen to be in luck. I can fix your problem with Aenaeus and I know exactly the right rider for him, but you are going to have to trust me. Can you do that?”
Unphased by his irritability, Evangelina let it roll over her like water on a duck’s back. He was lost and at the end of his rope. The pressure of the sudden death of his father and the newness of the position thrust upon him mixed with the country’s fragile political climate and the impending war with Egypt. She didn’t take it personally as he snapped at her.
‘You think I don’t know that? You think I don’t know my father’s own horse?’ The words were out of his mouth at the same time as the gelding stepped towards her, his nose reaching out and snatching the piece of apple from her hand. Using the side of her index finger she, softly stroked the very end of the grey’s nose. It was a movement that comforted her as much as it was meant to the horse in the stall.
The truth was she didn’t think he did understand the horse, not really anyway. When he looked at the gelding he saw something that he didn’t want to be reminded of. His father was dead. He also was to blind to see that the gelding had lost as much as King Achilleas had. Horses were herd animals and King Irakles had been the gelding’s herd. He’d been the horse’s leader, defender… he’d been Aenaeus’ everything. That was all gone now and Aenaeus was as lost and confused as King Irakles’ son was. The gelding’s lips opened with an unexpected gentleness and lipped at her fingers and she sighed, there were a lot of things in this world that she couldn’t make much of a difference with but this was something she could.
‘Be careful.’ King Achilleas cared about the horse even if he didn’t want to admit it, there was simply a communication gap here between the two.
At her question about whether he rode the horse, his answer was exactly as she’d expected. If she had to guess, King Achilleas had been prepared for a battle with the horse. He’d not put the work into wooing the gelding.
‘He likes me about as much as my father did.’ The pain in those words caused her to wince just a little, thankfully she was facing the gelding rather than him. Her fingers stroked those velvet lips of the gelding with as much gentleness as she might have used on a newborn foal as a plan formed in her mind.
‘Will you come out of there please?’ She ignored that and instead as the gelding’s teeth gnashed light at her hand she smiled sadly and used her fingers to lightly pinch him on the tender spot on the nose in the same way another horse would play with him. ‘I didn’t ask you here for a consultation, I asked you here so you can find a space for him. He’s served his time, earned his rest, and as he will bear no other rider I can’t think of an alternative.’
One last stroke on the bridge of Aenaeus’ nose before she backed to the door and stepped outside the stall leaving the gelding to stare at her for a moment before he sighed and turned back to his corner. Evie’s heart broke for him, but she couldn’t turn her attention fully to King Achilleas as long as she stood in the stall with the capricious gelding.
Straightening her spine she put her hands on her hips and pinned the new king with a look. He was lying to them both when he’d said he hadn’t asked her there for a consultation. That was exactly why he’d asked her there… if this was a simple order from King to countrymen about finding space for the horse… he would have gone to one of her uncles or to her father.
“Well, I am sorry but you are getting a consultation and I won’t agree to help you find a space for him unless you make an attempt at letting me find a better solution for Aenaeus first.” She unflinchingly said, her eyes blinked and she added. “Besides we both know you wanted that consultation, otherwise you’d simply asked Uncle Fotios to have someone pick him up and take him to one of the estates.”
Taking a deep breath, she hazarded a glance back at the gelding and let the softest sigh out before she turned back to King Achilleas, “You happen to be in luck. I can fix your problem with Aenaeus and I know exactly the right rider for him, but you are going to have to trust me. Can you do that?”
Achilleas was hard-pressed not to roll his eyes as Evangeline proceeded to ignore his request that she step out of the stable. He was the King for crying out loud, and he was quite certain that meant people were supposed to do as he told them to do. Scrubbing a hand over his face in exasperation, he was doubting his wisdom in asking Lady Evangelina to come, a feeling that did not lessen as she squared up to him upon leaving the stall, a laughable sight as he stood over her by a head and was easily twice as broad.
Still, he could not his lay hands upon an argument as to why he had not done as she said and gone to one of her Uncles, his own father in law even, and so Achilleas narrowed his gaze and stared her down for a few moments, before eventually conceding with an irritated huff.
“Well if you are so confident in your abilities, then I should have no reason not to trust you, should I” he said, and though the words were snippy, they lacked any real bite. He turned his gaze back toward the horse, brow furrowing as he observed the creature. The new king sighed. “He has never taken to anyone else,” he muttered. “I think my father preferred it that way, but now look at where it has left him. He has no idea what he is doing”
There was a silence afterwards where Achilleas continued to gaze at the horse, though his thoughts appeared to have taken him elsewhere. Perhaps considering how Aenaeus was not the only one who was struggling a little with his sudden shift in circumstances. It was not the crown...despite not being born a Prince, the Mikaelidas lord had been raised for leadership, molded into that which was deemed fit for purpose since he was but a boy. So whilst an upgrade from what he was used to, Achilleas knew he could do what was needed. But the manner in which the crown had fallen to him? That was a different matter, and one that he was finding more difficult to set aside.
It was a few moments before he blinked and looked back to Evangelina, smoothing over his distraction by firing a haughty question at the Leventi woman. “What do you have in mind then, my lady? I hope you’re not considering trying to ride him yourself?”
Accompanied by a skeptical lift of an eyebrow, Achilleas nevertheless did not quite manage to disguise the genuine concern that was threaded through the question. What little time he had spent with Evangelina had shown her to be a headstrong little thing, and he wouldn’t put it past her to take on such a challenge just to prove that she could. He didn’t want that.
“You will not” he said firmly. “I refuse to be responsible for sending my wife’s cousin to the physician. I’ll have your word on this, Lady Evangelina, before this goes any further?”
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Achilleas was hard-pressed not to roll his eyes as Evangeline proceeded to ignore his request that she step out of the stable. He was the King for crying out loud, and he was quite certain that meant people were supposed to do as he told them to do. Scrubbing a hand over his face in exasperation, he was doubting his wisdom in asking Lady Evangelina to come, a feeling that did not lessen as she squared up to him upon leaving the stall, a laughable sight as he stood over her by a head and was easily twice as broad.
Still, he could not his lay hands upon an argument as to why he had not done as she said and gone to one of her Uncles, his own father in law even, and so Achilleas narrowed his gaze and stared her down for a few moments, before eventually conceding with an irritated huff.
“Well if you are so confident in your abilities, then I should have no reason not to trust you, should I” he said, and though the words were snippy, they lacked any real bite. He turned his gaze back toward the horse, brow furrowing as he observed the creature. The new king sighed. “He has never taken to anyone else,” he muttered. “I think my father preferred it that way, but now look at where it has left him. He has no idea what he is doing”
There was a silence afterwards where Achilleas continued to gaze at the horse, though his thoughts appeared to have taken him elsewhere. Perhaps considering how Aenaeus was not the only one who was struggling a little with his sudden shift in circumstances. It was not the crown...despite not being born a Prince, the Mikaelidas lord had been raised for leadership, molded into that which was deemed fit for purpose since he was but a boy. So whilst an upgrade from what he was used to, Achilleas knew he could do what was needed. But the manner in which the crown had fallen to him? That was a different matter, and one that he was finding more difficult to set aside.
It was a few moments before he blinked and looked back to Evangelina, smoothing over his distraction by firing a haughty question at the Leventi woman. “What do you have in mind then, my lady? I hope you’re not considering trying to ride him yourself?”
Accompanied by a skeptical lift of an eyebrow, Achilleas nevertheless did not quite manage to disguise the genuine concern that was threaded through the question. What little time he had spent with Evangelina had shown her to be a headstrong little thing, and he wouldn’t put it past her to take on such a challenge just to prove that she could. He didn’t want that.
“You will not” he said firmly. “I refuse to be responsible for sending my wife’s cousin to the physician. I’ll have your word on this, Lady Evangelina, before this goes any further?”
Achilleas was hard-pressed not to roll his eyes as Evangeline proceeded to ignore his request that she step out of the stable. He was the King for crying out loud, and he was quite certain that meant people were supposed to do as he told them to do. Scrubbing a hand over his face in exasperation, he was doubting his wisdom in asking Lady Evangelina to come, a feeling that did not lessen as she squared up to him upon leaving the stall, a laughable sight as he stood over her by a head and was easily twice as broad.
Still, he could not his lay hands upon an argument as to why he had not done as she said and gone to one of her Uncles, his own father in law even, and so Achilleas narrowed his gaze and stared her down for a few moments, before eventually conceding with an irritated huff.
“Well if you are so confident in your abilities, then I should have no reason not to trust you, should I” he said, and though the words were snippy, they lacked any real bite. He turned his gaze back toward the horse, brow furrowing as he observed the creature. The new king sighed. “He has never taken to anyone else,” he muttered. “I think my father preferred it that way, but now look at where it has left him. He has no idea what he is doing”
There was a silence afterwards where Achilleas continued to gaze at the horse, though his thoughts appeared to have taken him elsewhere. Perhaps considering how Aenaeus was not the only one who was struggling a little with his sudden shift in circumstances. It was not the crown...despite not being born a Prince, the Mikaelidas lord had been raised for leadership, molded into that which was deemed fit for purpose since he was but a boy. So whilst an upgrade from what he was used to, Achilleas knew he could do what was needed. But the manner in which the crown had fallen to him? That was a different matter, and one that he was finding more difficult to set aside.
It was a few moments before he blinked and looked back to Evangelina, smoothing over his distraction by firing a haughty question at the Leventi woman. “What do you have in mind then, my lady? I hope you’re not considering trying to ride him yourself?”
Accompanied by a skeptical lift of an eyebrow, Achilleas nevertheless did not quite manage to disguise the genuine concern that was threaded through the question. What little time he had spent with Evangelina had shown her to be a headstrong little thing, and he wouldn’t put it past her to take on such a challenge just to prove that she could. He didn’t want that.
“You will not” he said firmly. “I refuse to be responsible for sending my wife’s cousin to the physician. I’ll have your word on this, Lady Evangelina, before this goes any further?”
The man before her had been overindulged; perhaps he’d been raised for leadership and to issue orders but he’d never had to work his way up to those positions because he was a son of a prince after all. In the military, he was the son of not only a prince but of a general. Possibly he’d encountered a few fools that had tried to buck against his orders but for the most part, it was fairly obvious that he wasn’t accustomed to having his command challenged.
At that very moment, his intense blue eyes glowered down at her as he tried to formulate an argument against her reasoning. She didn’t waver under his stare and didn’t negotiate with someone trying to bully her into following his orders blindly without a second thought. Her pointed little chin jutted out if he wanted he could order her to take the gelding home but it would definitely draw some questions as to why he’d not entrusted the horse to one of her uncles or father. It gave her the power in this situation, he could take her suggestion or she would turn around and leave… leaving the beastly gelding for him to sort out. Her lips lifted on one corner and her eyes softened as he conceded with an irritated huff. ‘Well if you are so confident in your abilities, then I should have no reason not to trust you, should I?’ The snippiness in his words. Her infuriating dimple appeared as she smiled but didn’t contradict him. She was confident in her abilities. The only time she ever truly felt connected to this world was when she was with the horses. Liquid dark eyes followed his gaze back to the gelding though, ‘He has never taken to anyone else. I think my father preferred it that way, but now look at where it has left him. He has no idea what he is doing.’ Shifting her too knowing eyes back to him, she studied him for a long moment as the smile slipped from her lips.
“You are giving yourself too much credit in your unpleasantness.” She offered wryly, “It isn’t a matter of him taking to you or anyone else or whether he likes you or not. It’s a matter of whether or not you meet his needs.” Evangelina found herself looking back at the grey gelding as she continued, “If you meet his needs he’ll take to you because he needs you just as you need him.” As if sensing he was being talked about Aenaeus turned his head to stare at them before he snorted and turned to ignore them again. She smiled sadly at the action and turned back to King Achilleas. “Your father understood that just as he understood Aenaeus was bred to be a warhorse. He isn’t for the faint-hearted…”
The king blinked and shot off a haughty question at her, ‘What do you have in mind then, my lady? I hope you’re not considering trying to ride him yourself?’ She blinked and then smiled, he was far too close to all of this to see that the big picture wasn’t for her to ride Aenaeus. His equally haughty eyebrow lifted before she could answer, ‘You will not. I refuse to be responsible for sending my wife’s cousin to the physician. I’ll have your word on this, Lady Evangelina before this goes any further?’
That drew a laugh out of her, the corners of her eyes crinkling in amusement.
“Oh no! Not me… I don’t have any use for a warhorse. I meant you.” She flashed him another cheeky smile and added as she pivoted and sashayed back down the aisle of the barn, “Catch him up and saddle him and meet me over in the breaking pen… it’s far enough away we shouldn’t have any distractions for the two of you to learn to properly communicate with one another.”
Maybe the new King and the old warhorse would have some bonding time during the saddling? Then again, maybe one of them would kill the other and then her problem would be solved.
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The man before her had been overindulged; perhaps he’d been raised for leadership and to issue orders but he’d never had to work his way up to those positions because he was a son of a prince after all. In the military, he was the son of not only a prince but of a general. Possibly he’d encountered a few fools that had tried to buck against his orders but for the most part, it was fairly obvious that he wasn’t accustomed to having his command challenged.
At that very moment, his intense blue eyes glowered down at her as he tried to formulate an argument against her reasoning. She didn’t waver under his stare and didn’t negotiate with someone trying to bully her into following his orders blindly without a second thought. Her pointed little chin jutted out if he wanted he could order her to take the gelding home but it would definitely draw some questions as to why he’d not entrusted the horse to one of her uncles or father. It gave her the power in this situation, he could take her suggestion or she would turn around and leave… leaving the beastly gelding for him to sort out. Her lips lifted on one corner and her eyes softened as he conceded with an irritated huff. ‘Well if you are so confident in your abilities, then I should have no reason not to trust you, should I?’ The snippiness in his words. Her infuriating dimple appeared as she smiled but didn’t contradict him. She was confident in her abilities. The only time she ever truly felt connected to this world was when she was with the horses. Liquid dark eyes followed his gaze back to the gelding though, ‘He has never taken to anyone else. I think my father preferred it that way, but now look at where it has left him. He has no idea what he is doing.’ Shifting her too knowing eyes back to him, she studied him for a long moment as the smile slipped from her lips.
“You are giving yourself too much credit in your unpleasantness.” She offered wryly, “It isn’t a matter of him taking to you or anyone else or whether he likes you or not. It’s a matter of whether or not you meet his needs.” Evangelina found herself looking back at the grey gelding as she continued, “If you meet his needs he’ll take to you because he needs you just as you need him.” As if sensing he was being talked about Aenaeus turned his head to stare at them before he snorted and turned to ignore them again. She smiled sadly at the action and turned back to King Achilleas. “Your father understood that just as he understood Aenaeus was bred to be a warhorse. He isn’t for the faint-hearted…”
The king blinked and shot off a haughty question at her, ‘What do you have in mind then, my lady? I hope you’re not considering trying to ride him yourself?’ She blinked and then smiled, he was far too close to all of this to see that the big picture wasn’t for her to ride Aenaeus. His equally haughty eyebrow lifted before she could answer, ‘You will not. I refuse to be responsible for sending my wife’s cousin to the physician. I’ll have your word on this, Lady Evangelina before this goes any further?’
That drew a laugh out of her, the corners of her eyes crinkling in amusement.
“Oh no! Not me… I don’t have any use for a warhorse. I meant you.” She flashed him another cheeky smile and added as she pivoted and sashayed back down the aisle of the barn, “Catch him up and saddle him and meet me over in the breaking pen… it’s far enough away we shouldn’t have any distractions for the two of you to learn to properly communicate with one another.”
Maybe the new King and the old warhorse would have some bonding time during the saddling? Then again, maybe one of them would kill the other and then her problem would be solved.
The man before her had been overindulged; perhaps he’d been raised for leadership and to issue orders but he’d never had to work his way up to those positions because he was a son of a prince after all. In the military, he was the son of not only a prince but of a general. Possibly he’d encountered a few fools that had tried to buck against his orders but for the most part, it was fairly obvious that he wasn’t accustomed to having his command challenged.
At that very moment, his intense blue eyes glowered down at her as he tried to formulate an argument against her reasoning. She didn’t waver under his stare and didn’t negotiate with someone trying to bully her into following his orders blindly without a second thought. Her pointed little chin jutted out if he wanted he could order her to take the gelding home but it would definitely draw some questions as to why he’d not entrusted the horse to one of her uncles or father. It gave her the power in this situation, he could take her suggestion or she would turn around and leave… leaving the beastly gelding for him to sort out. Her lips lifted on one corner and her eyes softened as he conceded with an irritated huff. ‘Well if you are so confident in your abilities, then I should have no reason not to trust you, should I?’ The snippiness in his words. Her infuriating dimple appeared as she smiled but didn’t contradict him. She was confident in her abilities. The only time she ever truly felt connected to this world was when she was with the horses. Liquid dark eyes followed his gaze back to the gelding though, ‘He has never taken to anyone else. I think my father preferred it that way, but now look at where it has left him. He has no idea what he is doing.’ Shifting her too knowing eyes back to him, she studied him for a long moment as the smile slipped from her lips.
“You are giving yourself too much credit in your unpleasantness.” She offered wryly, “It isn’t a matter of him taking to you or anyone else or whether he likes you or not. It’s a matter of whether or not you meet his needs.” Evangelina found herself looking back at the grey gelding as she continued, “If you meet his needs he’ll take to you because he needs you just as you need him.” As if sensing he was being talked about Aenaeus turned his head to stare at them before he snorted and turned to ignore them again. She smiled sadly at the action and turned back to King Achilleas. “Your father understood that just as he understood Aenaeus was bred to be a warhorse. He isn’t for the faint-hearted…”
The king blinked and shot off a haughty question at her, ‘What do you have in mind then, my lady? I hope you’re not considering trying to ride him yourself?’ She blinked and then smiled, he was far too close to all of this to see that the big picture wasn’t for her to ride Aenaeus. His equally haughty eyebrow lifted before she could answer, ‘You will not. I refuse to be responsible for sending my wife’s cousin to the physician. I’ll have your word on this, Lady Evangelina before this goes any further?’
That drew a laugh out of her, the corners of her eyes crinkling in amusement.
“Oh no! Not me… I don’t have any use for a warhorse. I meant you.” She flashed him another cheeky smile and added as she pivoted and sashayed back down the aisle of the barn, “Catch him up and saddle him and meet me over in the breaking pen… it’s far enough away we shouldn’t have any distractions for the two of you to learn to properly communicate with one another.”
Maybe the new King and the old warhorse would have some bonding time during the saddling? Then again, maybe one of them would kill the other and then her problem would be solved.
Achilleas wasn’t certain that he was prepared for a lecture from Evangelina. He had felt moved to at least [itry[/i] with the horse because it was a living connection to his father, and despite his mixed feelings about the man, there was denying the hole he had left in crossing the river. But that did not mean that the son was willing to acknowledge such sentimentality to another, or to discuss his failings in reaching an accord with the creature, and so his face was impassive when Lady Evangelina began bestowing her unsought opinion.
His gaze flickered toward her and then away again before he looked to deflect the line of conversation back toward her, his question and subsequent order perhaps more brusque than required. For all the good that it did him.
Her laugh had the Mikaelidas man frown, an expression that did not soften when she just grinned at him and waltzed away, leaving some expectation that he would saddle the hellbeast himself and follow her?
“I have a horse” he said uselessly to her departing back, wondering exactly how this great plan of his to have Aeneaus given a fitting retirement had shifted into him embarrassing himself in trying to ride a creature that would sooner eat him than let him on its back. And as he looked in consternation after Lady Evangeline, he huffed out a plaintive “I don’t have time for this”, only to start when there was an answer from his left, the stable boy looking warily at the King as he trundled past with a barrow of sweet smelling straw. “Begging your pardon, your Majesty. Is something amiss?”
There were many things that Achilleas could have listed in response to that question, but he did not, staring at the young lad for a few beats before he sighed and shook his head.
“No. No thank you. But please have Aenaeus saddled and brought out to the breaking ring, and tell my steward that I need a couple of hours this morning.”
He had no idea what would be moved or shifted to allow him to play around at horsemanship, but for once Achilleas found it difficult to care. He was King, wasn’t he? And talk of war could wait just a little while could it not? If for no other reason than to give him the chance to prove that his plan for Aenaeus was the only logical and sound one to Lady Evangelina. Hopefully achievable without him needing to be humiliated in the process.
After a moment in which he questioned his own sanity, Achilleas wandered over to where the Leventi woman leant against the railings of the breaking pen, clearing his throat as he propped his elbows on the fence next to her. “I am only doing this so you will see my point and we can find a place for the horse that doesn't involve the destruction of the palati stables” he said, glancing askance at her. “You may not have noticed but I have more important things to be dealing with right now” And then because he’d promised his wife that he would not let her cousin go without first calling “Theodora asked that you take refreshments with her before you leave.”
He turned to look back toward the stable at the sound of an indignant squeal, looking dismayed as Aenaeus emerged leading the stable boy rather than the other way around. This seemed a fools errand before it had even been started.
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Achilleas wasn’t certain that he was prepared for a lecture from Evangelina. He had felt moved to at least [itry[/i] with the horse because it was a living connection to his father, and despite his mixed feelings about the man, there was denying the hole he had left in crossing the river. But that did not mean that the son was willing to acknowledge such sentimentality to another, or to discuss his failings in reaching an accord with the creature, and so his face was impassive when Lady Evangelina began bestowing her unsought opinion.
His gaze flickered toward her and then away again before he looked to deflect the line of conversation back toward her, his question and subsequent order perhaps more brusque than required. For all the good that it did him.
Her laugh had the Mikaelidas man frown, an expression that did not soften when she just grinned at him and waltzed away, leaving some expectation that he would saddle the hellbeast himself and follow her?
“I have a horse” he said uselessly to her departing back, wondering exactly how this great plan of his to have Aeneaus given a fitting retirement had shifted into him embarrassing himself in trying to ride a creature that would sooner eat him than let him on its back. And as he looked in consternation after Lady Evangeline, he huffed out a plaintive “I don’t have time for this”, only to start when there was an answer from his left, the stable boy looking warily at the King as he trundled past with a barrow of sweet smelling straw. “Begging your pardon, your Majesty. Is something amiss?”
There were many things that Achilleas could have listed in response to that question, but he did not, staring at the young lad for a few beats before he sighed and shook his head.
“No. No thank you. But please have Aenaeus saddled and brought out to the breaking ring, and tell my steward that I need a couple of hours this morning.”
He had no idea what would be moved or shifted to allow him to play around at horsemanship, but for once Achilleas found it difficult to care. He was King, wasn’t he? And talk of war could wait just a little while could it not? If for no other reason than to give him the chance to prove that his plan for Aenaeus was the only logical and sound one to Lady Evangelina. Hopefully achievable without him needing to be humiliated in the process.
After a moment in which he questioned his own sanity, Achilleas wandered over to where the Leventi woman leant against the railings of the breaking pen, clearing his throat as he propped his elbows on the fence next to her. “I am only doing this so you will see my point and we can find a place for the horse that doesn't involve the destruction of the palati stables” he said, glancing askance at her. “You may not have noticed but I have more important things to be dealing with right now” And then because he’d promised his wife that he would not let her cousin go without first calling “Theodora asked that you take refreshments with her before you leave.”
He turned to look back toward the stable at the sound of an indignant squeal, looking dismayed as Aenaeus emerged leading the stable boy rather than the other way around. This seemed a fools errand before it had even been started.
Achilleas wasn’t certain that he was prepared for a lecture from Evangelina. He had felt moved to at least [itry[/i] with the horse because it was a living connection to his father, and despite his mixed feelings about the man, there was denying the hole he had left in crossing the river. But that did not mean that the son was willing to acknowledge such sentimentality to another, or to discuss his failings in reaching an accord with the creature, and so his face was impassive when Lady Evangelina began bestowing her unsought opinion.
His gaze flickered toward her and then away again before he looked to deflect the line of conversation back toward her, his question and subsequent order perhaps more brusque than required. For all the good that it did him.
Her laugh had the Mikaelidas man frown, an expression that did not soften when she just grinned at him and waltzed away, leaving some expectation that he would saddle the hellbeast himself and follow her?
“I have a horse” he said uselessly to her departing back, wondering exactly how this great plan of his to have Aeneaus given a fitting retirement had shifted into him embarrassing himself in trying to ride a creature that would sooner eat him than let him on its back. And as he looked in consternation after Lady Evangeline, he huffed out a plaintive “I don’t have time for this”, only to start when there was an answer from his left, the stable boy looking warily at the King as he trundled past with a barrow of sweet smelling straw. “Begging your pardon, your Majesty. Is something amiss?”
There were many things that Achilleas could have listed in response to that question, but he did not, staring at the young lad for a few beats before he sighed and shook his head.
“No. No thank you. But please have Aenaeus saddled and brought out to the breaking ring, and tell my steward that I need a couple of hours this morning.”
He had no idea what would be moved or shifted to allow him to play around at horsemanship, but for once Achilleas found it difficult to care. He was King, wasn’t he? And talk of war could wait just a little while could it not? If for no other reason than to give him the chance to prove that his plan for Aenaeus was the only logical and sound one to Lady Evangelina. Hopefully achievable without him needing to be humiliated in the process.
After a moment in which he questioned his own sanity, Achilleas wandered over to where the Leventi woman leant against the railings of the breaking pen, clearing his throat as he propped his elbows on the fence next to her. “I am only doing this so you will see my point and we can find a place for the horse that doesn't involve the destruction of the palati stables” he said, glancing askance at her. “You may not have noticed but I have more important things to be dealing with right now” And then because he’d promised his wife that he would not let her cousin go without first calling “Theodora asked that you take refreshments with her before you leave.”
He turned to look back toward the stable at the sound of an indignant squeal, looking dismayed as Aenaeus emerged leading the stable boy rather than the other way around. This seemed a fools errand before it had even been started.
He’d follow her and the sooner he accepted that the less time he would have wasted. She didn’t deign to turn around at his petulant little tantrum of excuses. Of course, he had a horse. But was there a law that he could only have one? And of course, he didn’t have time for this. Neither did she and the sooner he got that beast saddled and brought out the sooner they could both get back to fixing the other problems that had popped up in the lives.
Evangelina stepped into the glaring morning light, a shiver ran down her spine as the breeze blew in against the nape of her neck and causing the tips of her ponytail to tease her. Lifting her hand she shielded her eyes and glanced over at Della and the stable boy holding her. They’d resigned to Della grazing on the lawn and the boy standing at the end of the rope staring at the chestnut hellcat. Della lifted her head in recognition of Evie watching her with more catlike eyes than soft gentle horse eyes. Evie pursed her lips and turned away to walk down the lane to the breaking ring.
It was circular with a tall wooden rail fence and set far enough for no distractions of the horse or horseman. Letting out a sigh, she leaned her softly curved frame against the railing and thinking about how best to go about achieving the things she wanted to achieve with the King and the gelding. There were many ways, possibly too many ways, but she was on a time limit. She had to see the results immediately not tomorrow or next week. This was an opportunity, an open door that she couldn’t risk. There in the back of her mind, she’d dreamed… had been waiting to prove her worth as a trainer and possibly seller of horses. If she could convince King Achilleas of her skills it was conceivable that she would draw some more business.
She’d lost herself in her thoughts but was brought back to the here and now with the clearing of a throat. Straightening, she turned her head and met the gaze of King Achilleas as he leaned himself against the rail of the fence next to her.
‘I am only doing this so you will see my point and we can find a place for the horse that doesn't involve the destruction of the palati stables.’
A wry smile touched her lips. Lies. He was getting better at telling them.
‘You may not have noticed but I have more important things to be dealing with right now.’
Evangelina rolled her dark eyes and pulled them back to the center of the empty ring. They both had more important things to be dealing with and his whining proved just have singularly minded he was. He had important things to do. He was worried about his stables. He had a horse. And he wondered why his father’s gelding would have liked to rip the new king’s arms limb from limb. She bit her tongue though and continued to look off into the ring.
‘Theodora asked that you take refreshments with her before you leave.’ Turning her head just a little she slid a glance at him, another small sigh escaped. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
An angry squeal had her turning to see Aenaeus dragging the poor boy across the grass. Oh! Good Gracious! Did she have to do everything around here? This was why she’d asked the man next to her to see to the saddling. He wanted to be a leader but he didn’t want to put the work into leading. Turning to Achilleas, she straightened pinning him a look she’d learned from sternest governess she’d ever had… and she’d had quite a few stern ones to put up with her mischief.
“Perhaps you should give the poor boy a hand.” It was a strange accomplishment in the way she managed to look down the bridge of her nose and up from under her lashes at him at the same time. “Or am I going to have to fetch that poor horse before there is nothing left of the boy?”
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He’d follow her and the sooner he accepted that the less time he would have wasted. She didn’t deign to turn around at his petulant little tantrum of excuses. Of course, he had a horse. But was there a law that he could only have one? And of course, he didn’t have time for this. Neither did she and the sooner he got that beast saddled and brought out the sooner they could both get back to fixing the other problems that had popped up in the lives.
Evangelina stepped into the glaring morning light, a shiver ran down her spine as the breeze blew in against the nape of her neck and causing the tips of her ponytail to tease her. Lifting her hand she shielded her eyes and glanced over at Della and the stable boy holding her. They’d resigned to Della grazing on the lawn and the boy standing at the end of the rope staring at the chestnut hellcat. Della lifted her head in recognition of Evie watching her with more catlike eyes than soft gentle horse eyes. Evie pursed her lips and turned away to walk down the lane to the breaking ring.
It was circular with a tall wooden rail fence and set far enough for no distractions of the horse or horseman. Letting out a sigh, she leaned her softly curved frame against the railing and thinking about how best to go about achieving the things she wanted to achieve with the King and the gelding. There were many ways, possibly too many ways, but she was on a time limit. She had to see the results immediately not tomorrow or next week. This was an opportunity, an open door that she couldn’t risk. There in the back of her mind, she’d dreamed… had been waiting to prove her worth as a trainer and possibly seller of horses. If she could convince King Achilleas of her skills it was conceivable that she would draw some more business.
She’d lost herself in her thoughts but was brought back to the here and now with the clearing of a throat. Straightening, she turned her head and met the gaze of King Achilleas as he leaned himself against the rail of the fence next to her.
‘I am only doing this so you will see my point and we can find a place for the horse that doesn't involve the destruction of the palati stables.’
A wry smile touched her lips. Lies. He was getting better at telling them.
‘You may not have noticed but I have more important things to be dealing with right now.’
Evangelina rolled her dark eyes and pulled them back to the center of the empty ring. They both had more important things to be dealing with and his whining proved just have singularly minded he was. He had important things to do. He was worried about his stables. He had a horse. And he wondered why his father’s gelding would have liked to rip the new king’s arms limb from limb. She bit her tongue though and continued to look off into the ring.
‘Theodora asked that you take refreshments with her before you leave.’ Turning her head just a little she slid a glance at him, another small sigh escaped. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
An angry squeal had her turning to see Aenaeus dragging the poor boy across the grass. Oh! Good Gracious! Did she have to do everything around here? This was why she’d asked the man next to her to see to the saddling. He wanted to be a leader but he didn’t want to put the work into leading. Turning to Achilleas, she straightened pinning him a look she’d learned from sternest governess she’d ever had… and she’d had quite a few stern ones to put up with her mischief.
“Perhaps you should give the poor boy a hand.” It was a strange accomplishment in the way she managed to look down the bridge of her nose and up from under her lashes at him at the same time. “Or am I going to have to fetch that poor horse before there is nothing left of the boy?”
He’d follow her and the sooner he accepted that the less time he would have wasted. She didn’t deign to turn around at his petulant little tantrum of excuses. Of course, he had a horse. But was there a law that he could only have one? And of course, he didn’t have time for this. Neither did she and the sooner he got that beast saddled and brought out the sooner they could both get back to fixing the other problems that had popped up in the lives.
Evangelina stepped into the glaring morning light, a shiver ran down her spine as the breeze blew in against the nape of her neck and causing the tips of her ponytail to tease her. Lifting her hand she shielded her eyes and glanced over at Della and the stable boy holding her. They’d resigned to Della grazing on the lawn and the boy standing at the end of the rope staring at the chestnut hellcat. Della lifted her head in recognition of Evie watching her with more catlike eyes than soft gentle horse eyes. Evie pursed her lips and turned away to walk down the lane to the breaking ring.
It was circular with a tall wooden rail fence and set far enough for no distractions of the horse or horseman. Letting out a sigh, she leaned her softly curved frame against the railing and thinking about how best to go about achieving the things she wanted to achieve with the King and the gelding. There were many ways, possibly too many ways, but she was on a time limit. She had to see the results immediately not tomorrow or next week. This was an opportunity, an open door that she couldn’t risk. There in the back of her mind, she’d dreamed… had been waiting to prove her worth as a trainer and possibly seller of horses. If she could convince King Achilleas of her skills it was conceivable that she would draw some more business.
She’d lost herself in her thoughts but was brought back to the here and now with the clearing of a throat. Straightening, she turned her head and met the gaze of King Achilleas as he leaned himself against the rail of the fence next to her.
‘I am only doing this so you will see my point and we can find a place for the horse that doesn't involve the destruction of the palati stables.’
A wry smile touched her lips. Lies. He was getting better at telling them.
‘You may not have noticed but I have more important things to be dealing with right now.’
Evangelina rolled her dark eyes and pulled them back to the center of the empty ring. They both had more important things to be dealing with and his whining proved just have singularly minded he was. He had important things to do. He was worried about his stables. He had a horse. And he wondered why his father’s gelding would have liked to rip the new king’s arms limb from limb. She bit her tongue though and continued to look off into the ring.
‘Theodora asked that you take refreshments with her before you leave.’ Turning her head just a little she slid a glance at him, another small sigh escaped. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
An angry squeal had her turning to see Aenaeus dragging the poor boy across the grass. Oh! Good Gracious! Did she have to do everything around here? This was why she’d asked the man next to her to see to the saddling. He wanted to be a leader but he didn’t want to put the work into leading. Turning to Achilleas, she straightened pinning him a look she’d learned from sternest governess she’d ever had… and she’d had quite a few stern ones to put up with her mischief.
“Perhaps you should give the poor boy a hand.” It was a strange accomplishment in the way she managed to look down the bridge of her nose and up from under her lashes at him at the same time. “Or am I going to have to fetch that poor horse before there is nothing left of the boy?”
There was something in the Leventi water, he was sure of it. Something that made their women frustrating and yet hard to ignore in the same instance. Lady Evangelina was looking at him in that maddening way that suggested she thought she knew something he did not, and he found it unsettling but tried not to let it show. Achilleas could only stare back at her until she looked away, only deigning to offer him a verbal response when he mentioned his wife’s request.
Right yes. Because apparently sometimes he said things that she did listen to. He refused to acknowledge the fact that it was Theodora’s instruction rather than his own. But though Evangelina might try his patience, she had done enough to prove her worth, and so perhaps he could make allowances for her insufferable attitude. About to inform her of such a decision, the king instead turned to see another one with an insufferable attitude, and he slid a sideways glance toward the Leventi woman only to find her scowling at him.
He set his teeth, not gracing her with a response before he stalked across the grass towards the stroppy horse and the clearly unhappy stable boy. “S..sorry your majesty...he is a little fresh it seems..” the lad said breathlessly, leaning his fairly insubstantial weight back to try and slow the gelding’s forward progress. Achilleas waved him off and focused himself on Aenaeus, reaching out to take the reins and giving them a little shake to get the horse’s attention.
So here they were again.
He eyed the gelding, a little wary because he had no desire to be bitten again, before leaning into Aenaeus’ shoulder with his own and planting his feet. He wasn’t about to be dragged around by the beast. “You can stop that” he muttered, giving another yank on the reins. And by some miracle, the horse paid some attention, swapping his forward charge for an annoying sideways, snorting jog, that had Achilleas sigh and wonder why he was entertaining this idea again. Why bother? Still, the King led the warhorse over toward the fenced paddock, knowing why he did it. Because in his irascible attitude, Aenaeus reminded Achilleas of Irakles, and the horse would forever be tied with memories of the man. Such a thing was not easily set aside, no matter how the son’s feelings about his father swung from one extreme to another.
He shook his head minutely and shot an exasperated look at Evangelina as the horse snatched at the bit and threw his head about again. “Well?” he grumbled, ducking out of the way, and giving Aenaeus a dirty look. “Perhaps now you will share your grand plan?”
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There was something in the Leventi water, he was sure of it. Something that made their women frustrating and yet hard to ignore in the same instance. Lady Evangelina was looking at him in that maddening way that suggested she thought she knew something he did not, and he found it unsettling but tried not to let it show. Achilleas could only stare back at her until she looked away, only deigning to offer him a verbal response when he mentioned his wife’s request.
Right yes. Because apparently sometimes he said things that she did listen to. He refused to acknowledge the fact that it was Theodora’s instruction rather than his own. But though Evangelina might try his patience, she had done enough to prove her worth, and so perhaps he could make allowances for her insufferable attitude. About to inform her of such a decision, the king instead turned to see another one with an insufferable attitude, and he slid a sideways glance toward the Leventi woman only to find her scowling at him.
He set his teeth, not gracing her with a response before he stalked across the grass towards the stroppy horse and the clearly unhappy stable boy. “S..sorry your majesty...he is a little fresh it seems..” the lad said breathlessly, leaning his fairly insubstantial weight back to try and slow the gelding’s forward progress. Achilleas waved him off and focused himself on Aenaeus, reaching out to take the reins and giving them a little shake to get the horse’s attention.
So here they were again.
He eyed the gelding, a little wary because he had no desire to be bitten again, before leaning into Aenaeus’ shoulder with his own and planting his feet. He wasn’t about to be dragged around by the beast. “You can stop that” he muttered, giving another yank on the reins. And by some miracle, the horse paid some attention, swapping his forward charge for an annoying sideways, snorting jog, that had Achilleas sigh and wonder why he was entertaining this idea again. Why bother? Still, the King led the warhorse over toward the fenced paddock, knowing why he did it. Because in his irascible attitude, Aenaeus reminded Achilleas of Irakles, and the horse would forever be tied with memories of the man. Such a thing was not easily set aside, no matter how the son’s feelings about his father swung from one extreme to another.
He shook his head minutely and shot an exasperated look at Evangelina as the horse snatched at the bit and threw his head about again. “Well?” he grumbled, ducking out of the way, and giving Aenaeus a dirty look. “Perhaps now you will share your grand plan?”
There was something in the Leventi water, he was sure of it. Something that made their women frustrating and yet hard to ignore in the same instance. Lady Evangelina was looking at him in that maddening way that suggested she thought she knew something he did not, and he found it unsettling but tried not to let it show. Achilleas could only stare back at her until she looked away, only deigning to offer him a verbal response when he mentioned his wife’s request.
Right yes. Because apparently sometimes he said things that she did listen to. He refused to acknowledge the fact that it was Theodora’s instruction rather than his own. But though Evangelina might try his patience, she had done enough to prove her worth, and so perhaps he could make allowances for her insufferable attitude. About to inform her of such a decision, the king instead turned to see another one with an insufferable attitude, and he slid a sideways glance toward the Leventi woman only to find her scowling at him.
He set his teeth, not gracing her with a response before he stalked across the grass towards the stroppy horse and the clearly unhappy stable boy. “S..sorry your majesty...he is a little fresh it seems..” the lad said breathlessly, leaning his fairly insubstantial weight back to try and slow the gelding’s forward progress. Achilleas waved him off and focused himself on Aenaeus, reaching out to take the reins and giving them a little shake to get the horse’s attention.
So here they were again.
He eyed the gelding, a little wary because he had no desire to be bitten again, before leaning into Aenaeus’ shoulder with his own and planting his feet. He wasn’t about to be dragged around by the beast. “You can stop that” he muttered, giving another yank on the reins. And by some miracle, the horse paid some attention, swapping his forward charge for an annoying sideways, snorting jog, that had Achilleas sigh and wonder why he was entertaining this idea again. Why bother? Still, the King led the warhorse over toward the fenced paddock, knowing why he did it. Because in his irascible attitude, Aenaeus reminded Achilleas of Irakles, and the horse would forever be tied with memories of the man. Such a thing was not easily set aside, no matter how the son’s feelings about his father swung from one extreme to another.
He shook his head minutely and shot an exasperated look at Evangelina as the horse snatched at the bit and threw his head about again. “Well?” he grumbled, ducking out of the way, and giving Aenaeus a dirty look. “Perhaps now you will share your grand plan?”
Horses like Aenaeus were too often villainized because they wouldn’t fit into the neat little box that was expected of them. People too often said they wanted a fiery, independent, wild creature… until they realized that the fiery independence that was so beautiful at a distance was not as beautiful up close. Aenaeus had a mind of his own, he wasn’t a simpleton beast and yet that was what he was expected to behave like.
Evangelina’s restrained dark eyes followed every movement the king made, from the way his jaw was set to the way he stalked over to the horse. Did he think that Aenaeus couldn’t sense his irritation at him? She had to remind herself that King Achilleas didn’t know differently. She inhaled a slow breath and let it out. Aenaeus could read Achilleas presence, his mood, his expression all of that before Achilleas took the reins and giving them a yank. The soldier in the king was coming out. Aenaeus wasn’t something to conquer.
Her lips tightened into a fine line as he drew up next to her.
‘Well?’ The tone of his voice was enough to make the pint-sized Leventi want to slap him upside the head. It must have irritated the big grey gelding too as he took another swipe with his teeth at the man who was now to lead the country. ‘Perhaps now you will share your grand plan?’
Evangelina wasn’t quick to answer, instead, she reached out and carefully stroked the nose of the gelding. In a silent apology for the big oaf’s lack of respect. She could have spotted this problem all the way from Acharist but still, she wanted a confirmation that it was the problem she suspected rather than something else.
Raising the rope latch off the post she opened the gate and motioned them inside before she closed the gate again, slipping the hairy rope back over the post.
“I could ask you to climb up on him already, but that would be a complete failure… we have to fix you before we can help him.” Her voice was calm, slow, and melodic as her hand reached up and covered his on the reins. Meeting his gaze, she softly pried his hands away from the reins and let the gelding loose. As she continued, “Whether you believe it or not, Aenaeus is not your enemy. He is not a simpleton beast. And he is not one of your soldiers or subjects.”
“Granted, you could hire people to ‘fix’ him but you can never trust anyone taught with fear. I don’t care what anyone says. The instant, the moment, he feels he can… he’ll destroy you if you tried that.” She knew that wasn’t what King Achilleas wanted but she needed to explain before she went further. “You will never win trying to manhandle him.” A slow seductive smile touched her lips, “Woo him. Charm him. You want him soft and responsive. If you treated Theodora with the same sort of contempt as I’ve seen you handle Aenaeus she’d have hurled the nearest vase at your head.”
Tilting her head, she looked up at him hoping he was understanding what she was saying. “If horses can feel a fly tickle their belly, do you think he is only behaving because he couldn’t have felt a lighter touch? Horses are never wrong, your majesty. Everything they do is for a reason. Something as simple as trying to bite you… that’s not wrong for him. That is his form of communication… that is how he communicates with other horses. Same when he kicks out. It’s up to you to figure out what it means.”
She pulled her gaze over to the grey gelding who’d moved over to the opposite side of the ring as he moved back and forth along the fenceline obviously uncomfortable being left in the ring with the two humans. She bit her bottom lip, she needed to show Achilleas what she was talking about… he needed to develop a feel. A quick glance at him and an idea struck her, “Your majesty, bear with me a moment here as I show you an example.” She stepped around behind and placed her hands at the narrowing of his waist.
In an instant, she stiffened her fingers so that her nails were digging into his side. She locked the joints in her arms, leaving nowhere for him to go. There was nowhere to go to escape the pressure she was creating. If he stepped forward, he’d run further into her fingernails. The way her elbows were locked he couldn’t move backward either towards her, “How does that make you feel? Do you feel comfortable?” Her nails dug in just a little more with her pointy fingers.
As soon as she saw a reaction from him, she softened her fingers gently soothing with lazy circles where they’d been digging in at.
“Trust requires comfort. He’ll never trust you unless you can meet his needs and his needs aren’t simply food and water and air to breath and space to run in.” Her voice was soft, sultry and lazy as her fingers continued the gentle hypnotizing circles at his side. “He has a brain that is constantly working. That brain of his needs a purpose. Left unattended he’ll find all sorts of ways to amuse himself.” When she felt that Achilleas couldn’t be any more relaxed in the palms of her hands, she leaned close to him just a little and smiled. “More comfortable now?”
Her hands stilled the softly gave him a sharp pat on the back as she stepped back around to the front of him with her hands on her hips.
“Catch Aenaeus and remember he can feel what you are feeling even before you put your hands on him. Be his leader not through force but through respect, guidance, and doing what is best for him. If he needs you to move slow, move slow. If he needs you to seduce his mind, woo him… Show him that you are a worthy partner.” She wet her lip and looked to the big gelding her voice softening, “You are a worthy partner for him. If you don’t doubt that… he’ll never doubt that. Be his partner, your majesty. Not his master.”
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Horses like Aenaeus were too often villainized because they wouldn’t fit into the neat little box that was expected of them. People too often said they wanted a fiery, independent, wild creature… until they realized that the fiery independence that was so beautiful at a distance was not as beautiful up close. Aenaeus had a mind of his own, he wasn’t a simpleton beast and yet that was what he was expected to behave like.
Evangelina’s restrained dark eyes followed every movement the king made, from the way his jaw was set to the way he stalked over to the horse. Did he think that Aenaeus couldn’t sense his irritation at him? She had to remind herself that King Achilleas didn’t know differently. She inhaled a slow breath and let it out. Aenaeus could read Achilleas presence, his mood, his expression all of that before Achilleas took the reins and giving them a yank. The soldier in the king was coming out. Aenaeus wasn’t something to conquer.
Her lips tightened into a fine line as he drew up next to her.
‘Well?’ The tone of his voice was enough to make the pint-sized Leventi want to slap him upside the head. It must have irritated the big grey gelding too as he took another swipe with his teeth at the man who was now to lead the country. ‘Perhaps now you will share your grand plan?’
Evangelina wasn’t quick to answer, instead, she reached out and carefully stroked the nose of the gelding. In a silent apology for the big oaf’s lack of respect. She could have spotted this problem all the way from Acharist but still, she wanted a confirmation that it was the problem she suspected rather than something else.
Raising the rope latch off the post she opened the gate and motioned them inside before she closed the gate again, slipping the hairy rope back over the post.
“I could ask you to climb up on him already, but that would be a complete failure… we have to fix you before we can help him.” Her voice was calm, slow, and melodic as her hand reached up and covered his on the reins. Meeting his gaze, she softly pried his hands away from the reins and let the gelding loose. As she continued, “Whether you believe it or not, Aenaeus is not your enemy. He is not a simpleton beast. And he is not one of your soldiers or subjects.”
“Granted, you could hire people to ‘fix’ him but you can never trust anyone taught with fear. I don’t care what anyone says. The instant, the moment, he feels he can… he’ll destroy you if you tried that.” She knew that wasn’t what King Achilleas wanted but she needed to explain before she went further. “You will never win trying to manhandle him.” A slow seductive smile touched her lips, “Woo him. Charm him. You want him soft and responsive. If you treated Theodora with the same sort of contempt as I’ve seen you handle Aenaeus she’d have hurled the nearest vase at your head.”
Tilting her head, she looked up at him hoping he was understanding what she was saying. “If horses can feel a fly tickle their belly, do you think he is only behaving because he couldn’t have felt a lighter touch? Horses are never wrong, your majesty. Everything they do is for a reason. Something as simple as trying to bite you… that’s not wrong for him. That is his form of communication… that is how he communicates with other horses. Same when he kicks out. It’s up to you to figure out what it means.”
She pulled her gaze over to the grey gelding who’d moved over to the opposite side of the ring as he moved back and forth along the fenceline obviously uncomfortable being left in the ring with the two humans. She bit her bottom lip, she needed to show Achilleas what she was talking about… he needed to develop a feel. A quick glance at him and an idea struck her, “Your majesty, bear with me a moment here as I show you an example.” She stepped around behind and placed her hands at the narrowing of his waist.
In an instant, she stiffened her fingers so that her nails were digging into his side. She locked the joints in her arms, leaving nowhere for him to go. There was nowhere to go to escape the pressure she was creating. If he stepped forward, he’d run further into her fingernails. The way her elbows were locked he couldn’t move backward either towards her, “How does that make you feel? Do you feel comfortable?” Her nails dug in just a little more with her pointy fingers.
As soon as she saw a reaction from him, she softened her fingers gently soothing with lazy circles where they’d been digging in at.
“Trust requires comfort. He’ll never trust you unless you can meet his needs and his needs aren’t simply food and water and air to breath and space to run in.” Her voice was soft, sultry and lazy as her fingers continued the gentle hypnotizing circles at his side. “He has a brain that is constantly working. That brain of his needs a purpose. Left unattended he’ll find all sorts of ways to amuse himself.” When she felt that Achilleas couldn’t be any more relaxed in the palms of her hands, she leaned close to him just a little and smiled. “More comfortable now?”
Her hands stilled the softly gave him a sharp pat on the back as she stepped back around to the front of him with her hands on her hips.
“Catch Aenaeus and remember he can feel what you are feeling even before you put your hands on him. Be his leader not through force but through respect, guidance, and doing what is best for him. If he needs you to move slow, move slow. If he needs you to seduce his mind, woo him… Show him that you are a worthy partner.” She wet her lip and looked to the big gelding her voice softening, “You are a worthy partner for him. If you don’t doubt that… he’ll never doubt that. Be his partner, your majesty. Not his master.”
Horses like Aenaeus were too often villainized because they wouldn’t fit into the neat little box that was expected of them. People too often said they wanted a fiery, independent, wild creature… until they realized that the fiery independence that was so beautiful at a distance was not as beautiful up close. Aenaeus had a mind of his own, he wasn’t a simpleton beast and yet that was what he was expected to behave like.
Evangelina’s restrained dark eyes followed every movement the king made, from the way his jaw was set to the way he stalked over to the horse. Did he think that Aenaeus couldn’t sense his irritation at him? She had to remind herself that King Achilleas didn’t know differently. She inhaled a slow breath and let it out. Aenaeus could read Achilleas presence, his mood, his expression all of that before Achilleas took the reins and giving them a yank. The soldier in the king was coming out. Aenaeus wasn’t something to conquer.
Her lips tightened into a fine line as he drew up next to her.
‘Well?’ The tone of his voice was enough to make the pint-sized Leventi want to slap him upside the head. It must have irritated the big grey gelding too as he took another swipe with his teeth at the man who was now to lead the country. ‘Perhaps now you will share your grand plan?’
Evangelina wasn’t quick to answer, instead, she reached out and carefully stroked the nose of the gelding. In a silent apology for the big oaf’s lack of respect. She could have spotted this problem all the way from Acharist but still, she wanted a confirmation that it was the problem she suspected rather than something else.
Raising the rope latch off the post she opened the gate and motioned them inside before she closed the gate again, slipping the hairy rope back over the post.
“I could ask you to climb up on him already, but that would be a complete failure… we have to fix you before we can help him.” Her voice was calm, slow, and melodic as her hand reached up and covered his on the reins. Meeting his gaze, she softly pried his hands away from the reins and let the gelding loose. As she continued, “Whether you believe it or not, Aenaeus is not your enemy. He is not a simpleton beast. And he is not one of your soldiers or subjects.”
“Granted, you could hire people to ‘fix’ him but you can never trust anyone taught with fear. I don’t care what anyone says. The instant, the moment, he feels he can… he’ll destroy you if you tried that.” She knew that wasn’t what King Achilleas wanted but she needed to explain before she went further. “You will never win trying to manhandle him.” A slow seductive smile touched her lips, “Woo him. Charm him. You want him soft and responsive. If you treated Theodora with the same sort of contempt as I’ve seen you handle Aenaeus she’d have hurled the nearest vase at your head.”
Tilting her head, she looked up at him hoping he was understanding what she was saying. “If horses can feel a fly tickle their belly, do you think he is only behaving because he couldn’t have felt a lighter touch? Horses are never wrong, your majesty. Everything they do is for a reason. Something as simple as trying to bite you… that’s not wrong for him. That is his form of communication… that is how he communicates with other horses. Same when he kicks out. It’s up to you to figure out what it means.”
She pulled her gaze over to the grey gelding who’d moved over to the opposite side of the ring as he moved back and forth along the fenceline obviously uncomfortable being left in the ring with the two humans. She bit her bottom lip, she needed to show Achilleas what she was talking about… he needed to develop a feel. A quick glance at him and an idea struck her, “Your majesty, bear with me a moment here as I show you an example.” She stepped around behind and placed her hands at the narrowing of his waist.
In an instant, she stiffened her fingers so that her nails were digging into his side. She locked the joints in her arms, leaving nowhere for him to go. There was nowhere to go to escape the pressure she was creating. If he stepped forward, he’d run further into her fingernails. The way her elbows were locked he couldn’t move backward either towards her, “How does that make you feel? Do you feel comfortable?” Her nails dug in just a little more with her pointy fingers.
As soon as she saw a reaction from him, she softened her fingers gently soothing with lazy circles where they’d been digging in at.
“Trust requires comfort. He’ll never trust you unless you can meet his needs and his needs aren’t simply food and water and air to breath and space to run in.” Her voice was soft, sultry and lazy as her fingers continued the gentle hypnotizing circles at his side. “He has a brain that is constantly working. That brain of his needs a purpose. Left unattended he’ll find all sorts of ways to amuse himself.” When she felt that Achilleas couldn’t be any more relaxed in the palms of her hands, she leaned close to him just a little and smiled. “More comfortable now?”
Her hands stilled the softly gave him a sharp pat on the back as she stepped back around to the front of him with her hands on her hips.
“Catch Aenaeus and remember he can feel what you are feeling even before you put your hands on him. Be his leader not through force but through respect, guidance, and doing what is best for him. If he needs you to move slow, move slow. If he needs you to seduce his mind, woo him… Show him that you are a worthy partner.” She wet her lip and looked to the big gelding her voice softening, “You are a worthy partner for him. If you don’t doubt that… he’ll never doubt that. Be his partner, your majesty. Not his master.”
"I could ask you to climb up on him already, but that would be a complete failure… we have to fix you before we can help him."
Achilleas had not expected to find himself part of this puzzle. He blinked at Evangelina. Gaze narrowing infinitesimally as he absorbed the meaning that she thought he somehow needed to be fixed, he nevertheless let her unfurl his fingers from around the reins, turning to watch Aenaeus pull away from them.
“You say he is not my enemy because you have not yet witnessed him trying to kill me” the man said, almost defensively. “I have tried…” But the Leventi woman continued with her explanation and he fell silent, and he did not interrupt again as she went on, only thinning his lips a little as Evangelina went on to liken his efforts with the horse to a clumsy seduction attempt. Or perhaps not that, but he wasn’t entirely sure that he followed.
Horses were. Beasts of burden, weapons. They had to be shown who was the master. He had witnessed his own father handling Aenaeus enough to know that like in everything the man had done, there was little gentleness. Frowning slightly, he looked down at where Evangelina peered up at him, shaking his head a little. “I will not handle a horse as I would handle my wife, Lady Evangelina.” But even in spite of that, Achilleas could find some merit in what she said next. He was a man of logic, and there was a path of logic in her words that he could follow. Only, he had just decided that the big gelding was being deliberately obtuse and stubborn and disagreeable. As his master had been. His gaze lifted away to follow hers to where Aenaeus paced the fenceline and the king chewed on the inside of his cheek, able to admit to himself that perhaps some of his difficulty with the creature came from whose horse he had been, and with that pressing on his conscience, he waved a distracted hand at Evangelina’s request.
“Proceed,” he said irritably, still watching the warhorse. Would that he had never conceived the ridiculous idea of taking Aenaeus on. It had brought him more grief than it had offset and more time than he could afford. If he had just…
The sudden bite of pointed fingers at his waist shocked the man from his musings, reminded with a jolt that the woman was still with him, and Achilleas had to calm the instincts that sprung to life, telling him to free himself. Reflexively, he drew a breath in, trying to evade the unexpected touch, half considering scolding Evangelina for being so over-familiar. “ Of course it is not comfortable,” he said, twisting his neck to look over his shoulder at the Leventi woman. He didn’t know where she was going with this little game, but his patience for it was scant, his tension as visible as that in the great horse who flickered his ears towards the humans.
And the king wished it was so easy to relax under the softer touch that Evangelina pressed into his sides now, closing his and resisting the urge to shrug out from under her hands. He focused instead of what she was saying, and that resonated a little. Had he not been better when he was busy? With distraction, he could most ignore niggling pulls of emotion that left him weak. It was when it was quiet that it became harder to ignore. Foolish, perhaps, but when he looked at the old horse he thought maybe there could be some kinship in that.
Large, warm hands settled atop Evangelina’s briefly, removed them gently from his person, and Achilleas gave a non commital grunt in response to her question. Comfortable was probably not the right word, but they could find some accord perhaps. He turned to the dark-haired woman with a half smile.
“Your methods are...unorthodox, my lady. But I believe I begin to appreciate what you are saying”
There was a lift of his eyebrows at her order, and Achilleas moved toward the gelding, trying to blanket all of his own feelings. He was well-practiced at it, and maybe it helped, for the horse did not immediately snake his teeth at him. If he felt a bit of a fool pausing a couple of feet away and waiting to see if Aenaeus would come to him, then he told himself he had a habit of making a fool of himself in front of Leventi women and horses, and it was only tradition.
But to his immense surprise and consternation, there did appear to be some merit in Evangelina’s teachings, for Aenaeus seemed as much confused by the king’s reticence as anything, to the point where he eventually took a step forward, and then another, before giving Achilleas a shove with his nose as if to check he was still alive.
The man was so surprised that he gave a laugh which sent the horse skittering away again, but Achilleas had caught a hold of the reins and laid a hand on the thick neck of the beast, not quite holding his breath but close to it. Half-expecting to be eaten, he shot a disbelieving look over his shoulder at Evangelina. This was more tolerant of his presence that Aenaeus had ever been. Never one to miss capitalising on a strategic opportunity, the King gathered the reins in one hand and readied himself to swing aboard, a move that was perhaps a step too far for the old gelding, who swung his hindquarters away from Achilleas, leaving the man hopping awkwardly on one foot.
Feeling his frustration returning again, Achilleas gave up, unwilling to make a fool of himself for the sake of a horse that did not wish to be ridden. The Leventi girl was no miracle worker, and he had a horrible feeling she was going to say it would take time, a thing he did not have.
“So, I have an old horse who now at least will deign to let me touch him, if not sit upon his back” he said, loud enough for it carry back to Evangelina, even as he gave Aenaeus an exasperated look.
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"I could ask you to climb up on him already, but that would be a complete failure… we have to fix you before we can help him."
Achilleas had not expected to find himself part of this puzzle. He blinked at Evangelina. Gaze narrowing infinitesimally as he absorbed the meaning that she thought he somehow needed to be fixed, he nevertheless let her unfurl his fingers from around the reins, turning to watch Aenaeus pull away from them.
“You say he is not my enemy because you have not yet witnessed him trying to kill me” the man said, almost defensively. “I have tried…” But the Leventi woman continued with her explanation and he fell silent, and he did not interrupt again as she went on, only thinning his lips a little as Evangelina went on to liken his efforts with the horse to a clumsy seduction attempt. Or perhaps not that, but he wasn’t entirely sure that he followed.
Horses were. Beasts of burden, weapons. They had to be shown who was the master. He had witnessed his own father handling Aenaeus enough to know that like in everything the man had done, there was little gentleness. Frowning slightly, he looked down at where Evangelina peered up at him, shaking his head a little. “I will not handle a horse as I would handle my wife, Lady Evangelina.” But even in spite of that, Achilleas could find some merit in what she said next. He was a man of logic, and there was a path of logic in her words that he could follow. Only, he had just decided that the big gelding was being deliberately obtuse and stubborn and disagreeable. As his master had been. His gaze lifted away to follow hers to where Aenaeus paced the fenceline and the king chewed on the inside of his cheek, able to admit to himself that perhaps some of his difficulty with the creature came from whose horse he had been, and with that pressing on his conscience, he waved a distracted hand at Evangelina’s request.
“Proceed,” he said irritably, still watching the warhorse. Would that he had never conceived the ridiculous idea of taking Aenaeus on. It had brought him more grief than it had offset and more time than he could afford. If he had just…
The sudden bite of pointed fingers at his waist shocked the man from his musings, reminded with a jolt that the woman was still with him, and Achilleas had to calm the instincts that sprung to life, telling him to free himself. Reflexively, he drew a breath in, trying to evade the unexpected touch, half considering scolding Evangelina for being so over-familiar. “ Of course it is not comfortable,” he said, twisting his neck to look over his shoulder at the Leventi woman. He didn’t know where she was going with this little game, but his patience for it was scant, his tension as visible as that in the great horse who flickered his ears towards the humans.
And the king wished it was so easy to relax under the softer touch that Evangelina pressed into his sides now, closing his and resisting the urge to shrug out from under her hands. He focused instead of what she was saying, and that resonated a little. Had he not been better when he was busy? With distraction, he could most ignore niggling pulls of emotion that left him weak. It was when it was quiet that it became harder to ignore. Foolish, perhaps, but when he looked at the old horse he thought maybe there could be some kinship in that.
Large, warm hands settled atop Evangelina’s briefly, removed them gently from his person, and Achilleas gave a non commital grunt in response to her question. Comfortable was probably not the right word, but they could find some accord perhaps. He turned to the dark-haired woman with a half smile.
“Your methods are...unorthodox, my lady. But I believe I begin to appreciate what you are saying”
There was a lift of his eyebrows at her order, and Achilleas moved toward the gelding, trying to blanket all of his own feelings. He was well-practiced at it, and maybe it helped, for the horse did not immediately snake his teeth at him. If he felt a bit of a fool pausing a couple of feet away and waiting to see if Aenaeus would come to him, then he told himself he had a habit of making a fool of himself in front of Leventi women and horses, and it was only tradition.
But to his immense surprise and consternation, there did appear to be some merit in Evangelina’s teachings, for Aenaeus seemed as much confused by the king’s reticence as anything, to the point where he eventually took a step forward, and then another, before giving Achilleas a shove with his nose as if to check he was still alive.
The man was so surprised that he gave a laugh which sent the horse skittering away again, but Achilleas had caught a hold of the reins and laid a hand on the thick neck of the beast, not quite holding his breath but close to it. Half-expecting to be eaten, he shot a disbelieving look over his shoulder at Evangelina. This was more tolerant of his presence that Aenaeus had ever been. Never one to miss capitalising on a strategic opportunity, the King gathered the reins in one hand and readied himself to swing aboard, a move that was perhaps a step too far for the old gelding, who swung his hindquarters away from Achilleas, leaving the man hopping awkwardly on one foot.
Feeling his frustration returning again, Achilleas gave up, unwilling to make a fool of himself for the sake of a horse that did not wish to be ridden. The Leventi girl was no miracle worker, and he had a horrible feeling she was going to say it would take time, a thing he did not have.
“So, I have an old horse who now at least will deign to let me touch him, if not sit upon his back” he said, loud enough for it carry back to Evangelina, even as he gave Aenaeus an exasperated look.
"I could ask you to climb up on him already, but that would be a complete failure… we have to fix you before we can help him."
Achilleas had not expected to find himself part of this puzzle. He blinked at Evangelina. Gaze narrowing infinitesimally as he absorbed the meaning that she thought he somehow needed to be fixed, he nevertheless let her unfurl his fingers from around the reins, turning to watch Aenaeus pull away from them.
“You say he is not my enemy because you have not yet witnessed him trying to kill me” the man said, almost defensively. “I have tried…” But the Leventi woman continued with her explanation and he fell silent, and he did not interrupt again as she went on, only thinning his lips a little as Evangelina went on to liken his efforts with the horse to a clumsy seduction attempt. Or perhaps not that, but he wasn’t entirely sure that he followed.
Horses were. Beasts of burden, weapons. They had to be shown who was the master. He had witnessed his own father handling Aenaeus enough to know that like in everything the man had done, there was little gentleness. Frowning slightly, he looked down at where Evangelina peered up at him, shaking his head a little. “I will not handle a horse as I would handle my wife, Lady Evangelina.” But even in spite of that, Achilleas could find some merit in what she said next. He was a man of logic, and there was a path of logic in her words that he could follow. Only, he had just decided that the big gelding was being deliberately obtuse and stubborn and disagreeable. As his master had been. His gaze lifted away to follow hers to where Aenaeus paced the fenceline and the king chewed on the inside of his cheek, able to admit to himself that perhaps some of his difficulty with the creature came from whose horse he had been, and with that pressing on his conscience, he waved a distracted hand at Evangelina’s request.
“Proceed,” he said irritably, still watching the warhorse. Would that he had never conceived the ridiculous idea of taking Aenaeus on. It had brought him more grief than it had offset and more time than he could afford. If he had just…
The sudden bite of pointed fingers at his waist shocked the man from his musings, reminded with a jolt that the woman was still with him, and Achilleas had to calm the instincts that sprung to life, telling him to free himself. Reflexively, he drew a breath in, trying to evade the unexpected touch, half considering scolding Evangelina for being so over-familiar. “ Of course it is not comfortable,” he said, twisting his neck to look over his shoulder at the Leventi woman. He didn’t know where she was going with this little game, but his patience for it was scant, his tension as visible as that in the great horse who flickered his ears towards the humans.
And the king wished it was so easy to relax under the softer touch that Evangelina pressed into his sides now, closing his and resisting the urge to shrug out from under her hands. He focused instead of what she was saying, and that resonated a little. Had he not been better when he was busy? With distraction, he could most ignore niggling pulls of emotion that left him weak. It was when it was quiet that it became harder to ignore. Foolish, perhaps, but when he looked at the old horse he thought maybe there could be some kinship in that.
Large, warm hands settled atop Evangelina’s briefly, removed them gently from his person, and Achilleas gave a non commital grunt in response to her question. Comfortable was probably not the right word, but they could find some accord perhaps. He turned to the dark-haired woman with a half smile.
“Your methods are...unorthodox, my lady. But I believe I begin to appreciate what you are saying”
There was a lift of his eyebrows at her order, and Achilleas moved toward the gelding, trying to blanket all of his own feelings. He was well-practiced at it, and maybe it helped, for the horse did not immediately snake his teeth at him. If he felt a bit of a fool pausing a couple of feet away and waiting to see if Aenaeus would come to him, then he told himself he had a habit of making a fool of himself in front of Leventi women and horses, and it was only tradition.
But to his immense surprise and consternation, there did appear to be some merit in Evangelina’s teachings, for Aenaeus seemed as much confused by the king’s reticence as anything, to the point where he eventually took a step forward, and then another, before giving Achilleas a shove with his nose as if to check he was still alive.
The man was so surprised that he gave a laugh which sent the horse skittering away again, but Achilleas had caught a hold of the reins and laid a hand on the thick neck of the beast, not quite holding his breath but close to it. Half-expecting to be eaten, he shot a disbelieving look over his shoulder at Evangelina. This was more tolerant of his presence that Aenaeus had ever been. Never one to miss capitalising on a strategic opportunity, the King gathered the reins in one hand and readied himself to swing aboard, a move that was perhaps a step too far for the old gelding, who swung his hindquarters away from Achilleas, leaving the man hopping awkwardly on one foot.
Feeling his frustration returning again, Achilleas gave up, unwilling to make a fool of himself for the sake of a horse that did not wish to be ridden. The Leventi girl was no miracle worker, and he had a horrible feeling she was going to say it would take time, a thing he did not have.
“So, I have an old horse who now at least will deign to let me touch him, if not sit upon his back” he said, loud enough for it carry back to Evangelina, even as he gave Aenaeus an exasperated look.
Evangelina couldn’t shake the feeling that she was throwing too much at the king all at one time. Granted, he was a capable rider perhaps even a great rider but there was a difference between being a rider and being a horseman; just as there was a difference in being capable with a sword and being swordsman. The more she watched and listened too him the more she got the distinct feeling the man might not have been a horseman. Horses and children were very similar so… She supposed it shouldn’t have been that large of a surprise that the man in front of her struggled at dealing with both.
The defensiveness in his tone created an urge to roll her eyes at him, one that she barely managed to fight; however, a sigh did escape as she stared at him for a moment. Horses were not predator animals. They didn’t stalk, hunt, or kill. It went against every instinct they had. If the grey gelding had attempted to attack him then the horse had felt threatened. That was a pocket full of worms there. Had the gelding felt cornered? Perhaps, forced to do something? Restrained? Pain? Had he thought Achilleas was encroaching upon his territory and going to take food or water? King Achilleas could stand there all day and tell her of the woos and dastardly deeds the horse had done, but Evangelina knew that the gelding wouldn’t have reacted that way without some reason. What had set the reaction into motion? ‘I will not handle a horse as I would handle my wife, Lady Evangelina.’ Her eyes crinkled at the corners and she shook her head as a laugh bubbled out, “I am not telling you how to handle your horse or your wife. I am simply saying if you’d handled your wife the way you handle him… you wouldn’t have a wife.”
As she was given permission to proceed. He squirmed and twisted as her fingers dug into him, and there was only a brief moment of relaxation from him before he was pulling away, his hands covering hers and removing them. It was another perfect example of what the gelding was going through. Even if the pressure was removed and comfort being given… King Achilleas didn’t know Evangelina that well. He didn’t quite trust her manipulation of the situation and instead of blindly following along, as Achilleas no doubt hoped Aenaeus would do with him, he chose to remain separate and unattached.
Sucking in a breath as Achilleas arched an eyebrow and was moving off towards the horse with his fresh outlook. Licking her lips, Evangelina called out to his retreating form. “Listen, Aenaeus doesn’t know you from that crazy old leecher that likes to lurk near Nao’s of Aphrodite. He doesn’t know if you are a friend or foe or that you are a king or anyone important. Quite honestly, I doubt he cares how important you are because you quite simply don’t impress him that much.”
Her eyes followed every movement the gelding made, soaking in the softening of the eye and the twitching of the ears as interest was being born in the man. It was always a magical moment when that first touch was made. There was touching and then… there was touching. You could touch a horse and not understand. Not feel. Enlightenment... though, that was what made the two different. After you were enlightened, you never quite saw things the same way again. Instead of trying to fix the horse, you begin to try and fix the problem; which, more often than not was you to begin with. You couldn’t ever go back after the enlightenment and that first touch… it was simply a hook that would sink into you. That instant, that humbled touch.
Aenaeus might have been a simple horse, a beast of burden, but it was still a privilege to borrow from him, to ride him, to touch him. Perhaps, some horses were not as prideful but Aenaeus was a Leventi through and through.
Evangelina watched silently, just letting the hulk of a man stumble his way through the baby steps of the art of becoming a horseman. Her hand came up to her mouth and her brows furrowed slightly as the king tried to go straight from crawling to running and bounce up onto the gelding. With a simple swing of his hips, the great grey animal swung his hips away leaving Achilleas bouncing on awkwardly on one foot in the middle of nowhere.
‘So, I have an old horse who now at least will deign to let me touch him, if not sit upon his back.’
“Firstly, let me just say… a few moments ago you were complaining because he was trying to kill you and now you are going to complain because he won’t let you sit upon his back. While I realize this is time-sensitive, I can not chant some hidden lyric and throw some dirt into the air and fix everything wrong in a matter of moments.” She sighed. “Here is a helpful hint. If you approach a horse like you have only an hour to get something done, it’ll take you all day; but, if you approach a horse as if you have all day, it’ll usually only take you an hour to get it accomplished.”
Turning she ambled back over to the railing of the ring and climbed and sat down at the top rail as if they might be there for a little while. It gave Achilleas and the gelding time to square off and stare at each other and consider what she was saying, and how things might have been done differently with the knowledge she was offering.
After a moment, she wet her lips and spoke again. “Aenaeus has you figured out. He knows what you are going to ask before you ask it and he knows just what to do to leave you frustrated. The sad thing is: I think he’s training you faster then you are training him." She bit her lip, her hands gripping the rail she was sitting on, on each side of her as she leaned forward a little and continued watching from her place on the fence. "Remember what I said about wooing him? This is where wooing him comes in, you’ll want to do that by surprising him. And make him move his feet around you. He doesn’t have to go fast, just so long as he’s moving more then you are. It’ll help him think… Um… it’s like people who pace when they are trying to think. And it also establishes you as being above him in the order of rank. Rule #1: Loser does all the work.”
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Evangelina couldn’t shake the feeling that she was throwing too much at the king all at one time. Granted, he was a capable rider perhaps even a great rider but there was a difference between being a rider and being a horseman; just as there was a difference in being capable with a sword and being swordsman. The more she watched and listened too him the more she got the distinct feeling the man might not have been a horseman. Horses and children were very similar so… She supposed it shouldn’t have been that large of a surprise that the man in front of her struggled at dealing with both.
The defensiveness in his tone created an urge to roll her eyes at him, one that she barely managed to fight; however, a sigh did escape as she stared at him for a moment. Horses were not predator animals. They didn’t stalk, hunt, or kill. It went against every instinct they had. If the grey gelding had attempted to attack him then the horse had felt threatened. That was a pocket full of worms there. Had the gelding felt cornered? Perhaps, forced to do something? Restrained? Pain? Had he thought Achilleas was encroaching upon his territory and going to take food or water? King Achilleas could stand there all day and tell her of the woos and dastardly deeds the horse had done, but Evangelina knew that the gelding wouldn’t have reacted that way without some reason. What had set the reaction into motion? ‘I will not handle a horse as I would handle my wife, Lady Evangelina.’ Her eyes crinkled at the corners and she shook her head as a laugh bubbled out, “I am not telling you how to handle your horse or your wife. I am simply saying if you’d handled your wife the way you handle him… you wouldn’t have a wife.”
As she was given permission to proceed. He squirmed and twisted as her fingers dug into him, and there was only a brief moment of relaxation from him before he was pulling away, his hands covering hers and removing them. It was another perfect example of what the gelding was going through. Even if the pressure was removed and comfort being given… King Achilleas didn’t know Evangelina that well. He didn’t quite trust her manipulation of the situation and instead of blindly following along, as Achilleas no doubt hoped Aenaeus would do with him, he chose to remain separate and unattached.
Sucking in a breath as Achilleas arched an eyebrow and was moving off towards the horse with his fresh outlook. Licking her lips, Evangelina called out to his retreating form. “Listen, Aenaeus doesn’t know you from that crazy old leecher that likes to lurk near Nao’s of Aphrodite. He doesn’t know if you are a friend or foe or that you are a king or anyone important. Quite honestly, I doubt he cares how important you are because you quite simply don’t impress him that much.”
Her eyes followed every movement the gelding made, soaking in the softening of the eye and the twitching of the ears as interest was being born in the man. It was always a magical moment when that first touch was made. There was touching and then… there was touching. You could touch a horse and not understand. Not feel. Enlightenment... though, that was what made the two different. After you were enlightened, you never quite saw things the same way again. Instead of trying to fix the horse, you begin to try and fix the problem; which, more often than not was you to begin with. You couldn’t ever go back after the enlightenment and that first touch… it was simply a hook that would sink into you. That instant, that humbled touch.
Aenaeus might have been a simple horse, a beast of burden, but it was still a privilege to borrow from him, to ride him, to touch him. Perhaps, some horses were not as prideful but Aenaeus was a Leventi through and through.
Evangelina watched silently, just letting the hulk of a man stumble his way through the baby steps of the art of becoming a horseman. Her hand came up to her mouth and her brows furrowed slightly as the king tried to go straight from crawling to running and bounce up onto the gelding. With a simple swing of his hips, the great grey animal swung his hips away leaving Achilleas bouncing on awkwardly on one foot in the middle of nowhere.
‘So, I have an old horse who now at least will deign to let me touch him, if not sit upon his back.’
“Firstly, let me just say… a few moments ago you were complaining because he was trying to kill you and now you are going to complain because he won’t let you sit upon his back. While I realize this is time-sensitive, I can not chant some hidden lyric and throw some dirt into the air and fix everything wrong in a matter of moments.” She sighed. “Here is a helpful hint. If you approach a horse like you have only an hour to get something done, it’ll take you all day; but, if you approach a horse as if you have all day, it’ll usually only take you an hour to get it accomplished.”
Turning she ambled back over to the railing of the ring and climbed and sat down at the top rail as if they might be there for a little while. It gave Achilleas and the gelding time to square off and stare at each other and consider what she was saying, and how things might have been done differently with the knowledge she was offering.
After a moment, she wet her lips and spoke again. “Aenaeus has you figured out. He knows what you are going to ask before you ask it and he knows just what to do to leave you frustrated. The sad thing is: I think he’s training you faster then you are training him." She bit her lip, her hands gripping the rail she was sitting on, on each side of her as she leaned forward a little and continued watching from her place on the fence. "Remember what I said about wooing him? This is where wooing him comes in, you’ll want to do that by surprising him. And make him move his feet around you. He doesn’t have to go fast, just so long as he’s moving more then you are. It’ll help him think… Um… it’s like people who pace when they are trying to think. And it also establishes you as being above him in the order of rank. Rule #1: Loser does all the work.”
Evangelina couldn’t shake the feeling that she was throwing too much at the king all at one time. Granted, he was a capable rider perhaps even a great rider but there was a difference between being a rider and being a horseman; just as there was a difference in being capable with a sword and being swordsman. The more she watched and listened too him the more she got the distinct feeling the man might not have been a horseman. Horses and children were very similar so… She supposed it shouldn’t have been that large of a surprise that the man in front of her struggled at dealing with both.
The defensiveness in his tone created an urge to roll her eyes at him, one that she barely managed to fight; however, a sigh did escape as she stared at him for a moment. Horses were not predator animals. They didn’t stalk, hunt, or kill. It went against every instinct they had. If the grey gelding had attempted to attack him then the horse had felt threatened. That was a pocket full of worms there. Had the gelding felt cornered? Perhaps, forced to do something? Restrained? Pain? Had he thought Achilleas was encroaching upon his territory and going to take food or water? King Achilleas could stand there all day and tell her of the woos and dastardly deeds the horse had done, but Evangelina knew that the gelding wouldn’t have reacted that way without some reason. What had set the reaction into motion? ‘I will not handle a horse as I would handle my wife, Lady Evangelina.’ Her eyes crinkled at the corners and she shook her head as a laugh bubbled out, “I am not telling you how to handle your horse or your wife. I am simply saying if you’d handled your wife the way you handle him… you wouldn’t have a wife.”
As she was given permission to proceed. He squirmed and twisted as her fingers dug into him, and there was only a brief moment of relaxation from him before he was pulling away, his hands covering hers and removing them. It was another perfect example of what the gelding was going through. Even if the pressure was removed and comfort being given… King Achilleas didn’t know Evangelina that well. He didn’t quite trust her manipulation of the situation and instead of blindly following along, as Achilleas no doubt hoped Aenaeus would do with him, he chose to remain separate and unattached.
Sucking in a breath as Achilleas arched an eyebrow and was moving off towards the horse with his fresh outlook. Licking her lips, Evangelina called out to his retreating form. “Listen, Aenaeus doesn’t know you from that crazy old leecher that likes to lurk near Nao’s of Aphrodite. He doesn’t know if you are a friend or foe or that you are a king or anyone important. Quite honestly, I doubt he cares how important you are because you quite simply don’t impress him that much.”
Her eyes followed every movement the gelding made, soaking in the softening of the eye and the twitching of the ears as interest was being born in the man. It was always a magical moment when that first touch was made. There was touching and then… there was touching. You could touch a horse and not understand. Not feel. Enlightenment... though, that was what made the two different. After you were enlightened, you never quite saw things the same way again. Instead of trying to fix the horse, you begin to try and fix the problem; which, more often than not was you to begin with. You couldn’t ever go back after the enlightenment and that first touch… it was simply a hook that would sink into you. That instant, that humbled touch.
Aenaeus might have been a simple horse, a beast of burden, but it was still a privilege to borrow from him, to ride him, to touch him. Perhaps, some horses were not as prideful but Aenaeus was a Leventi through and through.
Evangelina watched silently, just letting the hulk of a man stumble his way through the baby steps of the art of becoming a horseman. Her hand came up to her mouth and her brows furrowed slightly as the king tried to go straight from crawling to running and bounce up onto the gelding. With a simple swing of his hips, the great grey animal swung his hips away leaving Achilleas bouncing on awkwardly on one foot in the middle of nowhere.
‘So, I have an old horse who now at least will deign to let me touch him, if not sit upon his back.’
“Firstly, let me just say… a few moments ago you were complaining because he was trying to kill you and now you are going to complain because he won’t let you sit upon his back. While I realize this is time-sensitive, I can not chant some hidden lyric and throw some dirt into the air and fix everything wrong in a matter of moments.” She sighed. “Here is a helpful hint. If you approach a horse like you have only an hour to get something done, it’ll take you all day; but, if you approach a horse as if you have all day, it’ll usually only take you an hour to get it accomplished.”
Turning she ambled back over to the railing of the ring and climbed and sat down at the top rail as if they might be there for a little while. It gave Achilleas and the gelding time to square off and stare at each other and consider what she was saying, and how things might have been done differently with the knowledge she was offering.
After a moment, she wet her lips and spoke again. “Aenaeus has you figured out. He knows what you are going to ask before you ask it and he knows just what to do to leave you frustrated. The sad thing is: I think he’s training you faster then you are training him." She bit her lip, her hands gripping the rail she was sitting on, on each side of her as she leaned forward a little and continued watching from her place on the fence. "Remember what I said about wooing him? This is where wooing him comes in, you’ll want to do that by surprising him. And make him move his feet around you. He doesn’t have to go fast, just so long as he’s moving more then you are. It’ll help him think… Um… it’s like people who pace when they are trying to think. And it also establishes you as being above him in the order of rank. Rule #1: Loser does all the work.”
In spite of Evangelina’s concerns, there was something a little freeing about the nature of the task before him. His past days had been spent surrounded by important men talking about important things and requiring a different kind of focus from that which was being asked of him now. And whilst his exasperation might have shown, it said something that he even acknowledged his failure before the Leventi woman, and something more that he was willing to place himself in her hands in order to make some progress.
But Achilleas was nothing if not tenacious. He had achieved much, and it was not all down to natural talent, not even to the benefit of the advantages he’d been gifted in life. The new King worked. When he did not succeed, he persevered until he did, until he could say he had conquered a thing. And whilst it may have been a trait born out of a father who was never satisfied, there were times when it stood him in good stead.
Even so, that willingness did not mean that the King would take all of Lady Evangelina’s comments without biting, and he was more than a little prickly when Evangelina brought her cousin into the matter. He frowned at her attempt at further justification but made no further comment. It was not the only thing she said that had him press his lips together to stifle some retort. Perhaps Aenaues didn't impress him that much either, he thought unkindly, before shoving the thought away and concentrating on approaching the horse with an air of calm.
And it paid off, for a moment at least, Achilleas realising a little too late how petulant and impatient he had sounded when Evangelina reminded him sharply of what progress had already been paid. Turning to look at her with an expression approaching sheepishness, he let the reins go slack in his hand and paused for a moment.
“Fair” he admitted, tipping a glance back towards the horse who was looking unsettled again before sighing. “How about if I don't have an hour. Or even half an hour, really.” He was indulging himself even being there now, and it did not sit well with him even with his earlier resolution. But turning his back on the familiar old horse was not easy either, and the King felt some sense of obligation..fondness..or something that kept him there, in the fenced paddock trying to convince an animal to like him.
Lady Evangelina’s voice reached him again, and this time Achilleas laughed softly. “Is that so?” he asked, not looking at the woman, but instead eyeing the cantankerous gelding skeptically. He wasn’t sure about what she was instructing now, felt a bit foolish at the idea of attempting what she suggested. How to surprise a horse?. He was still, the reins loose in his hand, standing a couple of paces away from the animal who seemed to be eyeing him right back. Woo him indeed.
After a pause, Achilleas reached a hand out to brush down Aenaeus’ flank, and the horse gave an indignant shiver. The man did it again, only now he stepped forward and sure enough, the gelding shifted too. Was that right? His face had set into an expression that was somewhere between concentration and confusion because this was not like anything he’d tried before. Did it look as stupid as it felt?
“Like this?” he muttered a moment later when the strange little dance had continued.
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In spite of Evangelina’s concerns, there was something a little freeing about the nature of the task before him. His past days had been spent surrounded by important men talking about important things and requiring a different kind of focus from that which was being asked of him now. And whilst his exasperation might have shown, it said something that he even acknowledged his failure before the Leventi woman, and something more that he was willing to place himself in her hands in order to make some progress.
But Achilleas was nothing if not tenacious. He had achieved much, and it was not all down to natural talent, not even to the benefit of the advantages he’d been gifted in life. The new King worked. When he did not succeed, he persevered until he did, until he could say he had conquered a thing. And whilst it may have been a trait born out of a father who was never satisfied, there were times when it stood him in good stead.
Even so, that willingness did not mean that the King would take all of Lady Evangelina’s comments without biting, and he was more than a little prickly when Evangelina brought her cousin into the matter. He frowned at her attempt at further justification but made no further comment. It was not the only thing she said that had him press his lips together to stifle some retort. Perhaps Aenaues didn't impress him that much either, he thought unkindly, before shoving the thought away and concentrating on approaching the horse with an air of calm.
And it paid off, for a moment at least, Achilleas realising a little too late how petulant and impatient he had sounded when Evangelina reminded him sharply of what progress had already been paid. Turning to look at her with an expression approaching sheepishness, he let the reins go slack in his hand and paused for a moment.
“Fair” he admitted, tipping a glance back towards the horse who was looking unsettled again before sighing. “How about if I don't have an hour. Or even half an hour, really.” He was indulging himself even being there now, and it did not sit well with him even with his earlier resolution. But turning his back on the familiar old horse was not easy either, and the King felt some sense of obligation..fondness..or something that kept him there, in the fenced paddock trying to convince an animal to like him.
Lady Evangelina’s voice reached him again, and this time Achilleas laughed softly. “Is that so?” he asked, not looking at the woman, but instead eyeing the cantankerous gelding skeptically. He wasn’t sure about what she was instructing now, felt a bit foolish at the idea of attempting what she suggested. How to surprise a horse?. He was still, the reins loose in his hand, standing a couple of paces away from the animal who seemed to be eyeing him right back. Woo him indeed.
After a pause, Achilleas reached a hand out to brush down Aenaeus’ flank, and the horse gave an indignant shiver. The man did it again, only now he stepped forward and sure enough, the gelding shifted too. Was that right? His face had set into an expression that was somewhere between concentration and confusion because this was not like anything he’d tried before. Did it look as stupid as it felt?
“Like this?” he muttered a moment later when the strange little dance had continued.
In spite of Evangelina’s concerns, there was something a little freeing about the nature of the task before him. His past days had been spent surrounded by important men talking about important things and requiring a different kind of focus from that which was being asked of him now. And whilst his exasperation might have shown, it said something that he even acknowledged his failure before the Leventi woman, and something more that he was willing to place himself in her hands in order to make some progress.
But Achilleas was nothing if not tenacious. He had achieved much, and it was not all down to natural talent, not even to the benefit of the advantages he’d been gifted in life. The new King worked. When he did not succeed, he persevered until he did, until he could say he had conquered a thing. And whilst it may have been a trait born out of a father who was never satisfied, there were times when it stood him in good stead.
Even so, that willingness did not mean that the King would take all of Lady Evangelina’s comments without biting, and he was more than a little prickly when Evangelina brought her cousin into the matter. He frowned at her attempt at further justification but made no further comment. It was not the only thing she said that had him press his lips together to stifle some retort. Perhaps Aenaues didn't impress him that much either, he thought unkindly, before shoving the thought away and concentrating on approaching the horse with an air of calm.
And it paid off, for a moment at least, Achilleas realising a little too late how petulant and impatient he had sounded when Evangelina reminded him sharply of what progress had already been paid. Turning to look at her with an expression approaching sheepishness, he let the reins go slack in his hand and paused for a moment.
“Fair” he admitted, tipping a glance back towards the horse who was looking unsettled again before sighing. “How about if I don't have an hour. Or even half an hour, really.” He was indulging himself even being there now, and it did not sit well with him even with his earlier resolution. But turning his back on the familiar old horse was not easy either, and the King felt some sense of obligation..fondness..or something that kept him there, in the fenced paddock trying to convince an animal to like him.
Lady Evangelina’s voice reached him again, and this time Achilleas laughed softly. “Is that so?” he asked, not looking at the woman, but instead eyeing the cantankerous gelding skeptically. He wasn’t sure about what she was instructing now, felt a bit foolish at the idea of attempting what she suggested. How to surprise a horse?. He was still, the reins loose in his hand, standing a couple of paces away from the animal who seemed to be eyeing him right back. Woo him indeed.
After a pause, Achilleas reached a hand out to brush down Aenaeus’ flank, and the horse gave an indignant shiver. The man did it again, only now he stepped forward and sure enough, the gelding shifted too. Was that right? His face had set into an expression that was somewhere between concentration and confusion because this was not like anything he’d tried before. Did it look as stupid as it felt?
“Like this?” he muttered a moment later when the strange little dance had continued.