Author's Note: The Knights belong to Ubisoft and Blue Byte. Thanks to ParchmentRose for proofreading and Rockerduck for a particular idea.

This story is set after Friendly Fire by ParchmentRose, so it contains spoilers for that.

Marcus and Alandra walked down the corridor of Castle Vestholm. The sun shone through the windows; the sound of birdsong could be heard. Marcus was feeling unusually cheerful; he hoped that it would last.

Kestral's voice interrupted Marcus' thoughts as it floated through the open door of the chart room. "Okay! We've got the whole thing worked out. It'll be arriving this afternoon. The plan is fool proof."

"Yes, and we know it will work because all your other plans have worked out perfectly." Hakim said sarcastically, then grunted in pain. "Kestral, kicking me in the shins is not an appropriate response to the situation."

Kestral's voice was really perky. "Anyway, all you guys have to do is make sure they don't find out."

"Make sure who doesn't find out?" Alandra asked as the pair walked through the door and looked at the conspiring knights. Hakim and Kestral were standing by the table and Crimson Sabatt was sitting on a chair next to it. Thordal and Elias were not there, as they were away on a diplomacy mission to Narlind. Kestral grabbed a piece of paper from the table, scrunched it up, and threw it on the fire.

"Nothing! What piece of paper?" Kestral blushed. She and Sabatt smiled innocently. Kestral elbowed Hakim and he kind of managed a lopsided grin.

"I thought you were checking Daria." Sabatt stood up and clinked her way over to the others.

"We were. Guess what? Daria is pregnant!" Alandra looked happy but confused. "But I don't know how it could have happened." She looked around the room for answers.

"Well." Marcus blushed. Everybody looked at him with surprise. "A couple of months ago I found Athos in Daria's paddock." Marcus was embarrassed even though he had had nothing to do with it.

"Wait." Kestral sounded like she was trying not to laugh. "You two are getting married and your horses are having a baby? Aww, that's so cute."

"Shut up, Kes." Marcus glared at her.

"Well," Alandra said. "The reason that we came up here was that I need a temporary horse while Daria is pregnant, and neither Marcus or I know much about buying horses, so, we thought ..." She looked hopefully at Hakim, who was by far the best with horses.

"So you want Wise Boy to help pick a horse?" Kestral shrugged. "Really, it's not that hard. Just pick the prettiest."

"I'm not even going to respond to that, Kestral," said Hakim dryly.

"You just did." Kestral smiled sweetly.

"Are you two done?" Marcus was getting rather impatient.

"Hakim?" asked Alandra.

"Certanly, I will help you pick a horse for its behaviour and abilities." Hakim looked significantly at Kestral and began to walk to the door. Marcus and Alandra began to follow him out.

"Make it a chestnut," Kestral called after them.

Sabatt walked over to Kestral. "Really? 'Nothing, what piece of paper?'" She bopped Kestral on the head.

…

After an hour at the market, the trio had managed to get a good horse that was an excellent jumper, great runner, and seemed well-behaved enough – and was a chestnut. Marcus was satisfied with a job well done and sure that it sounded like the perfect horse. They walked down the corridor towards the chart room for the second time today. Once again, they heard voices from within.

"They're coming! Move it, gypsy!" Marcus could hear Sabatt's voice and her cane clicking across the floor.

"I would, but this thing's kinda heavy. You could, I don't know, help me or something." Kestral sounded like she was struggling with something heavy.

"Stop complaining and hurry."

Marcus, Alandra and Hakim looked at each other, then walked into the chart room. Sabatt was standing by the desk at the far end of the room, looking at a piece of paper as if she were plotting something. That was normal. But Kestral in the armchair in the corner reading a book? Unthinkable.

Marcus walked over to a seat across from Kestral and sat down. "The book goes the other way up, Kes."

"Ha. Ha. Did you get a horse? Was it chestnut?" Kestral put the book down.

"Yes, we did get a horse, and yes, it was chestnut. Kestral, you can be so shallow sometimes." Alandra walked over to the desk where Sabatt was standing. Sabatt took the piece of paper, crumpled it up, and threw it in the fire.

"Stop doing that. You're going to use up all the paper." Alandra picked up the other pieces of paper on the table and walked to the door. "I have a meeting with the Queen," she explained as she disappeared.

"So, what's her name?" Kestral jumped to her feet and walked over to the cupboard in the corner.

"Her name is Rufina, which apparently means red headed in Guerannan." Marcus picked up the book Kestral had pretended to read. Gleanings in Bee Culture. Huh.

"Appropriate." Sabatt looked at the fireplace with a sigh.

"When do you think Daria will have her baby?" Kestral looked distracted.

"Hard to tell. Hakim, how long?" Marcus looked at Hakim expectantly.

"About nine months from now." Hakim sat at the desk. "But Daria will not be able to be ridden again for a few months after that."

Marcus put the book down. "So, Kes, tell me what you've learned about bees."

"What, bees? Oh, yeah, bees. Well, they make mead ... and they molenate flowers and trees." Kestral looked very pleased with herself.

"You mean polenate." Sabatt walked past Kestral to the empty seat.

"Yeah, that, polenate," Kestral said slowly.

"And how do you glean in bee culture, Kestral?" Marcus asked.

Kestral picked up the book from the table. "Well you, um, run up and grab all of the honey and ..."

Sabatt interrupted. "Stop embarrassing yourself, bandit. He's just messing with you."

Kestral looked at Marcus for a second, then threw the book at him.