Author's Note: Thanks to ParchmentRose for proofreading and Rockerduck for ideas.


Marcus sneaked down the castle corridor. The night was silent and the moon was up, casting shadows on the floor. Marcus thought that how Kestral had been behaving – she was always standing in the corner – showed that whatever it was she was hiding was in the old liquor cabinet.

He slipped though the door into the chart room, then gave his eyes time to adjust to the light. When he could see the cupboard, he moved to the door and opened it with a creak. Inside, he could see a sheet covering up something. He moved to lift it, then there was a slam behind him. He turned. Kestral was standing by the closed door, as light seeped though the crack in the wood.

"What do you think you are doing, Lackbeard?" Kestral asked.

Marcus dropped the sheet and closed the door. "You can't call me that. I haven't shaved yet this morning."

"Oh, yeah! Yeah, I can see – no, no, actually not," Kestral teased.

"That cuts deep, Kes." Marcus stood up. "Well, what are you doing here?" he asked accusingly.

"I have the ears of a bandit." Kestral looked where she thought Marcus must have been standing, because she couldn't see very well with the door closed.

"Right. I'm going to bed to get a good night's sleep like sensible people." Marcus walked to the door and found the handle, then left. He heard the cupboard door close and thought that Kestral must have been checking to see that whatever it was untouched.

Marcus slumped down onto the chair at the kitchen table. Alandra looked at him from the other side.

"What's eating you?" she asked, concerned.

"Kestral. She and her cohorts are hiding something from us. Can't you see? I was so close to finding out what when she barged in on me this morning," he explained.

Alandra wasn't expecting that, but she seemed to take it in her stride. "Marcus, of course I can tell that they're up to something. But it can't be that bad, and we'll find out soon anyway. They're bored; let them have their fun."

Marcus looked at her. Alandra smiled at him before taking another mouthful of apple.

"Thanks, Alandra. I think I needed that." Marcus smiled at her fondly. Alandra returned the smile, then frowned.

"What's wrong?" Marcus asked.

"It's Rufina. She's great until I get on her, then she gets all skittish. She almost threw me again yesterday. She's a rascal, and I don't know what to do."

"Well, how about you turn her in circles when she's naughty?" Marcus suggested. "It works with Athos. Well, most of the time. Why not give it a go?"

"Hey, that might work. Thanks, Marcus." Alandra stood up. "Good luck with you know who." Alandra nodded to the door, then kissed Marcus on the cheek. Kestral was just walking in.

"Hey friends! And Marcus." Kestral walked over to the table and grabbed an apple from the bowl.

Marcus was going to say something snarky, but remembered what Alandra had said. They're bored, let them have their fun. He just smiled and said "Kestral." Then he followed Alandra – he wanted to see what would happen with Rufina.

Kestral was in her chair, looking as bored as possible. Sabatt was by the window with her book – well, Alandra's book that she was letting her finish. Hakim was – actually, it was hard to tell what Hakim was doing. He was just looking down at the paper on the desk and occasionally writing something down. Alandra was just back from training with Rufina. Apparently she was a lot better since Alandra started turning her in circles, but she was still a bit of a nuisance. And Marcus – Marcus was looking to see what everybody else was doing. They were waiting for Thordal and Elias to get back, but knowing Elias he wouldn't even come in to the chart room.

Finally, they heard Thordal come marching down the corridor. The door opened and the Viking came in.

"Ah, good to see you all." Thordal moved to the centre of the room where Sabatt was.

"Viking." Sabatt looked at Thordal.

He embraced Sabatt against her will, then turned to Alandra.

"How's the horse?" he asked.

"Well, I found out that Daria was pregnant, so I needed a temporary horse while she is unridable. So Hakim and Marcus helped me chose Rufina, who is great on the ground but at first was a rascal when I was on her. The first time I rode her she dumped me. Anyway, Marcus suggested that I turn her in circles and it has helped a lot," Alandra explained. "Wait, how did you know to ask?"

"The entire castle is talking about Rufina," he said with a laugh.

"How was Narlind?" Kestral asked.

"It might be cold, but it's a pretty place this time of year. The sun was shining and the flowers were out in some places – but in others the ground's caked with snow. And, well, the bread was ..."

"We get it," interrupted Sabatt. "What most of us want to know is: was your mission successful?" She sat back at the other end of the room.

"Oh yeah, that went great, but let me tell you about the bread –"

"You know that do have other places to be, right?" Kestral asked. "I mean, I have to train the bowmen in an hour, and I don't want to waste it talking about bread and mead – which, by the way, bees do not make. I looked it up."

"Fine." Thordal walked over to the liquor cabinet and opened the door. Sabatt, Kestral and Hakim cringed.

"Hey, what's this?" Thordal took the sheet and pulled it off the object.

"Noooooooooo!" Kestral lunged for Thordal, but didn't get there in time.

"That's the thing they were hiding!" Marcus ran over to the cupboard, followed by the others.

"It's a saddle," Alandra said blankly.

"It's a double saddle." Marcus didn't know what to think.

"With a handle for you, Lackbeard." Kestral pointed at the handle in the centre of the saddle.

"We were going to give it to you at your engagement party," Sabatt explained. "Thanks, Viking." She bopped him on the shoulder.

"My pleasure." Thordal grinned.

"Thanks, that's really nice of you." Alandra looked at Marcus. He was not quite sure what he had been expecting, but he was sure it was not that.

"Look at that leather." Thordal stroked the saddle.

"Hands off." Sabatt tapped his hand.

"Yeah, I practically broke my back moving this baby," Kestral added, grinning.

"I'm so touched." Marcus elbowed her.

"Don't let it get to your head, Lackbeard. I did it for Alandra."

"Ahem." Alandra raised an eyebrow looking amused. "Are you quite finished?"

"Yup." Marcus' smile broadened. "Thanks, guys. I'm sure it'll come in handy next time we have to flee for our lives."

Alandra looked at him with mock horror. "Please tell me you're joking. I am never going to gallop double on rough roads again, thank you very much.."

"Relax." He squeezed her hand. "No riding double away from life-threatening stuff, arrows in my leg, or any other horrible things are going to spoil our wedding."

Alandra smiled up at him. "Not if we can help it."

THE END