Strange Bedfellows

For the first time in nearly a week, Shara felt a modicum of happiness. The horses were all clearly very well-behaved, but it was also clear that their spirits hadn't been broken either. They were curious and seemed quite happy for the most part, though a few merely looked bored.

Only one looked unsettled.

It was a younger filly of a good size for Shara to ride, but something about her looked... skittish. She seemed jumpy and nervous, quite unlike every other horse there. Shara walked up to her slowly, intentionally trying not to spook her. The moment their eyes met, she felt her heart go out to the horse.

The filly seemed to hesitate for a moment, then it took a small step towards her. It sniffed her from afar, then took another cautious step towards hers.

"Hi there." Shara said softly.

The filly took a step back, then sniffed again.

Shara smiled at her and the filly seemed to take comfort in that. The young horse took another couple of steps forward and stretched out her neck to bring her nose close to the princess. She didn't move, but let the filly get comfortable for a moment before slowly lifting her hand.

The filly took a step back.

She slowly lifted her hand so that the filly could sniff her. Apparently deciding that Shara's hand wouldn't strike her dead, the filly took another step closer. It was calm for a moment and then the young horse looked at something over her shoulder.

Shara turned to see a young woman who was probably no older than she was. She had long ash-blonde hair which framed a young face. She looked tough, like she could take care of herself, but also kind. Her smile was incredible and made Shara want to smile with her. Something about her seemed familiar for some reason, but the princess couldn't remember from where.

The girl was smiling and held an apple out to Shara. "She likes them; give her one and she'll be your friend for life."

Shara took the apple and held it in front of her. She didn't stretch her hand out, but rather held it somewhat close to her chest. The filly could come to get it but would have to move closer. After several seconds, it did. It took two slow steps forward and very carefully took the apple without so much as brushing Shara with its teeth. The moment the apple was in its mouth, it stepped back a bit.

"What's her name?"

"This is Misty." The girl replied.

"Why is she so skittish?"

"Nighttime thunderstorm a few weeks back." She explained. "She bolted at the first thunderclap and was separated from the herd. It took us a few hours to find her, poor thing."

"Aww." Shara's heart went out to the horse who seemed like a real sweetheart, just scared.

"Do you want me to saddle her up?" The girl asked.

"Will she be okay with that?"

The girl nodded. "I've been working with her. I wouldn't recommend riding her in a thunderstorm, but otherwise she's a good horse and very gentle."

"Okay. I'm Sh-- I mean, my name is Katia."

"Lyra; pleased to meet you." The girl beamed, and her smile was indeed magnificently joyful.

Not long after, Misty was saddled and Shara mounted her. The filly didn't seem to object, having become much more comfortable with the princess since the apple. Misty was a delight to ride. Her gait was smooth and she listened well. She actually seemed to enjoy having Shara on her back, a fact that made the princess smile. She'd done precious little of that in the past week or so.

Lyra rode around the huge grassy paddock with her and the girl looked like she had been born in a saddle. They chatted about horses and she turned out to be incredibly knowledgeable. She seemed to truly love horses and Shara really liked her. She had an easy confidence that was probably born of competence, having helped her father train horses since the time she could walk.

After about twenty minutes, Lyra looked at her and cocked her head to one side. "You really like Misty, don't you?"

She nodded. "I feel like we understand each other."

Lyra gave her an appraising look. "Recent trauma?"

"Something like that."

The girl nodded. "Misty is a good horse. I normally wouldn't suggest someone buy her until I've helped to calm her down a bit more, but she seems to have taken a liking to you."

"She's a good horse." Shara said as she gently rubbed the filly's soft neck.

"That she is; shall we go see my father?"

Shara nodded and they started heading back. As they did, she noticed a large-ish group of horses riding towards the barn. The banner almost looked like...

Oh no.

She felt her heart sink.

* * *

Kalus walked swiftly but calmly back through the barn towards the incoming riders. He recognized those standards and didn't doubt that trouble was coming.

It was.

King Tyso was heading the line of about a dozen of his personal bodyguards. These men were among the best warriors in the land and they followed him everywhere to protect him. They were hand-picked from the best warriors in the army, and Kalus was proud to say that fully three-quarters of them had come from his own men.

"Kalus my boy!" The king said with a huge smile that didn't reach his eyes. "What are you up to this far away from camp?"

"A horse for my wife sire." He said with a bow.

"Ah yes, word of you riding that mule has spread through the camp like wildfire."

Julian had followed him and gave him a confused look.

"He lent his horse to his wife so she wouldn't have to walk, and refused to requisition one from his own men to replace it." The king said shaking his head. "He instead rode an unused baggage mule for four days straight."

Julian looked at Kalus and gave him a nod of respect.

"Have you settled on an animal yet?" The king asked.

Kalus knew Tyso well enough to know that nothing good would come from this meeting. The king was spoiling for a fight -- or at least a little more revenge -- and probably wouldn't be denied.

"Not yet sire." He replied.

The king shrugged and -- ignoring Julian -- rode his horse through the barn to the edge of the paddock. Katia and Lyra were just arriving back at the barn. The moment Katia's horse saw the king, it stopped short. Kalus instantly took a liking to the filly; not only did it seem to like Katia, it apparently had excellent instincts about other people as well.

"Oh ho, who have we here?" The king said as he undressed Lyra with his eyes.

The girl gave him an icy stare, but made no reply.

"Oh, this one has spirit." Tyso said as he rode his own horse around Lyra's, completely ignoring Katia and even rudely forcing her to get out of the way. To his wife's credit, she expertly had her horse walk sideways to avoid the king's war horse as he looked at Lyra

"Good firm seat too." He said with a lewd grin.

No one would think he was talking about the ash-blonde girl's ability to remain in a saddle.

"I like a girl with a good firm seat." He said as he continued to circle her, ever closer. To the girl's credit, she was nearly ignoring him and her horse was also the picture of composure. Seemingly neither horse nor rider were perturbed by the king and enormous war horse that was far too close for decorum; not to mention where his eyes were.

"You, horse master." The king finally said to her father. "How long since she came of age?"

"I didn't say she was." Julian replied calmly, but coolly. Apparently he had the sense to keep his calm when faced with the king of an invading army.

The king didn't seem bothered that the horse master was insinuating that Lyra was under-aged, even though she wasn't of course. He rode over to Kalus and said in a 'whisper' that everyone could hear. "She'd look great in my bed, wouldn't she Kalus old boy?"

"That is possible." He replied diplomatically.

For years Kalus had been very careful to stay off the king's 'shit list' as the men called it. Tyso might be an excellent judge of character, but his own was severely lacking. The commander had seen countless men fall under his ire and none had come out of it well. A few hadn't come out of it at all.

"Nah, I have too many wives to keep up with anyway." Tyso said. "You want her Kalus? It seems a shame to leave such a nubile beauty un-bedded."

Kalus took a deep, calming breath before replying. "She is beautiful my king, but I already have a wife. Like you, I can barely keep up with who I have." He had briefly considered agreeing that he wanted her just so Tyso would drop the matter. However, lying to the king was a bad idea. He might be wicked, but he was also perceptive.

"Yes, but you only have one wife." Tyso pointed out, his wicked grin boding ill for the whole situation. "I hear your bitch isn't even a good wife and I feel partly to blame." His look of remorse fooled no one. "Perhaps I can do better a second time. A different flavor of wife perhaps? I swear, blondes are better in the sack anyway."

It took a moment for Kalus to realize what was going on.

When he did, he had to resist the urge to go for his sword.

While he had never credited his king with an abundance of morals, he was sharp. Kalus had certainly fallen for his young wife and apparently the king had figured that out somehow. He probably shouldn't have been surprised because Tyso was very good at finding someone's weak points, but Kalus was surprised at the king's reaction. Apparently, the king had decided to squeeze that pressure point. Most high-born women weren't too keen on the idea of sharing a husband and he guessed Katia would be no different.

The king was trying to drive them further apart.

He must be.

He probably hoped that Kalus marrying a second wife would forever drive a wedge between Katia and himself; a wedge that was as permanent as a marriage. It was a cruel, devious, and wicked plan... but he couldn't deny it was brilliant. Malicious, spiteful, and vindictive yes, but also brilliant. Tyso had a gift for finding someone's weak spot, jamming a knife into it, and twisting hard.

Again, he resisted the urge to go for his sword.

"Yes, I think she'd do just fine." Tyso said, then turned to Julian. "What say you horse master? What would a fair bride price be for your daughter there?"

"The world, for she is my world and all I have left of her mother; may Illuminar -- blessed be He -- rest her soul."

"I'm sorry for your loss." The king said without even an effort to make the lie convincing. "How better to soothe a grieving heart than a wedding celebration?"

"I apologize if I wasn't clear, and I must humbly beg your indulgence." Julian said with a graceful bow. "But there is no law in your land or mine, nor even Illuminar's Book of Light, that would allow my daughter to be forced into marriage against her father's will. I cannot grant her hand to either you or the good commander here." He nodded his head in respect to Kalus, who returned the nod.

"And are you familiar with the rules for marrying a captive in times of war?" The king replied without missing a beat.

Kalus was glad his sword was at his hip, for he would die before letting the King murder the man just to gain his daughter as a captive of war. That wasn't war; that was murder.

Julian didn't even blink. "If my life must be forfeit, O king, so be it; I shall not give her hand."

"Pa'pa." Lyra said quietly, almost pleadingly.

King Tyso gave Kalus a pointed look, then almost casually moved his hand to rest on the pommel of his sword.

"Sir Julian, a word if I may?" Kalus said.

"I'll not change my mind." The horse master replied.

"Then you need not fear my words." The commander countered.

Julian nodded.

* * *

Shara got the impression that Lyra was a fearless girl; that she would face down a tornado or stampeding herd of horses with calm and resolve without losing her head. But right now, the girl looked anxious. She kept looking from her father to Kalus, to King Tyso, and then at Shara herself.

"I can't lose Pa'pa." Lyra whispered.

"Kalus will think of something." Shara replied without thinking, and she was surprised at her own words. Did she really trust him that much?"

"Will he?" Lyra asked quietly.

"I think so."

The girl seemed to take comfort in that. "Is... is he a good man?"

"He is." Shara replied, her mouth again running ahead of her brain.

She really couldn't deny that it was true; not in any objective way. He was sterner than she would've liked, but there was no doubt that he was a good man who devotedly followed Illuminar and treated both his men and his wife well. Sternly, but well despite that.

* * *

Kalus knew exactly what he was going to say, but Julian turned with a stern look before he opened his mouth.

"I'll not be letting that abominable 'king' take my daughter by force to marry anyone. Ever." The horse master said firmly. "I've heard the stories and know what kind of king he is."

"He is worse." Kalus said.

"What?" Apparently the horse master was caught off guard by the admission

"I have been on campaign with him for a long time now and can testify that the stories fall short of his appetites. That is why I must ask a favor of you that I have no right to ask."

"You damn straight you have no right."

Kalus took a deep breath. "Take my wife with you."

Julian stared at him for a moment. "What?"

"I cannot stand idly by while the king openly flouts Illuminar's decrees in the Book of Light. He cannot overrule a father regarding his daughter's hand, and I cannot allow him to murder you either. I have my sword and it will delay them long enough for you to mount a horse and escape with your daughter."

Julian stared at him.

"I must ask something in return though; something I have no right to ask. Please take my wife with you, for the king will do horrible things to her in retribution if you do not. I ask not for my sake, for I will be dead before the hour is out, but I ask for hers. She is innocent in all of this and deserves better than the circumstances that life has dealt her."

Julian continued to stare at him, this time his eyes narrowed as he seemed to be deciding something.

"You're serious." He finally said after several moments.

"I am." Kalus sighed. "War is one thing, but murder and kidnapping are quite another. Illuminar would not stand for them so neither can I."

"How long will you be on the campaign trail?" Julian asked after another long pause.

"The last castle is but a few days' march away. Our scouts report that King Bracken won't leave because King Tyso has left him nowhere to go."

"You would give your life to protect a stranger and his daughter?"

Kalus nodded. "Illuminar -- blessed be He -- demands no less."

Julian scrutinized him for several seconds before taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. "Then I will give you my daughter's hand, but know this: I will pursue you to the very gates of Saidow's lair if any harm befalls her. You would not believe how much damage a well-trained herd of horses can do to a man without killing him."

"I would expect nothing less from a loving father." Kalus nodded.