Chapter 38

Even as Frank finished securing the saddle on the second horse, he wasn't sure about this plan. He knew they had to do something. As irresponsible and annoying as he could be, Leo didn't deserve to be stuck in a dungeon until- well until whatever the king decided to do. It wouldn't be a release with a warning, that was for sure.

But what if something went wrong? The plan was careful to not put him in danger of being discovered as part of the whole thing, but the others? When the guards passed out, Hazel would be one of the first ones questioned about it. They were banking off the fact that she could pretend like she didn't know everyone that worked at the castle yet, but if the king didn't believe her…

Frank shook the thought away. It was too late to worry about that now anyway. Hazel was probably on her way down to the dungeons by now. Backing out would just put everyone at risk.

Letting out a breath, Frank stepped away. He'd picked the two calmest horses he could, not sure how well either of the boys could ride, though Hazel had assured her that they both could. The horse looked over at him curiously when he stepped out of the stall without grabbing the bridle, but Frank just smiled at him for a moment before securing the door.

"Frank?"

Immediately Frank turned to look, blinking in surprise when he saw one of the other stable boys, Butch, standing in the hallway. No one else should be there, and for a moment his brain spun to figure out why Butch was, but he pushed it away. It didn't matter. He had to get rid of him.

Smiling, Frank nodded a bit to the other boy "Butch? What are you doing here so late?"

"I was carrying some of the bridals back and dropped them in a puddle. I figured it would be better to stay and clean them than let Mathews come in and see them tomorrow," Butch explained, though his eyes were watching Frank suspiciously, clearly picking up on the fully saddled horse he was standing in front of "What are you doing?"

"Guido hasn't been out in a few days, I figured I would take him for a ride," Frank replied easily, the lie coming out before he could even really think about it "Matthews doesn't mind, he said I can exercise the horses as long as no one wants them."

"So you decided to do it this late at night?" Butch pressed, clearly not believing him, arms crossing over his chest "And are you planning to ride two horses at once?"

Frank tensed slightly at that. He had been hoping that Butch hadn't noticed that two stalls down Scipio was also ready for a rider. After a moment of hesitation he let out a sigh, an answer coming to him. He didn't like it a ton, but it was better than the truth "I may or may not be meeting a girl from town and taking her on a late night ride up to the hill to look at the stars."

To Frank's relief, Butch relaxed, letting his arms drop to his side again "Does Matthews know?"

"Technically no, but like I said, he's never cared if I take the horses as long as no one else needs them for something," Frank shrugged, more confident now that Butch seemed to believe him, and not wanting to push his luck by saying the master of horses knew something he didn't.

After a moment, Butch nodded, and to Frank's surprise moved towards Scipio's stable "I was just heading out, I'll help you walk the horses out of the gate."

"That's alright, you really don't have to. I'll be fine," Frank assured, moving to open up Guido's stable again to grab the bridle and appear like he was going to bring him out.

"It's easier with two." Butch was already heading away from him "It's no trouble, I was heading out anyway. Just let me grab my bag, I'll be back in a minute"

Frank wanted to protest, but what could he do? It was easier with two. Which now meant he was stuck taking both horses out of the gate, and not leaving them in the stable for Jason and Leo.

Slipping into the stall, Frank glanced around, trying to figure out what to do. His eyes darted around, searching for some way to give them a sign. He hesitated on a small pick, meant for getting dirt out of a horse's hooves, which was hanging on the wall. It had long been a tradition that when someone who worked at the stables left they would carve their name into the wood of one of the stalls. Why couldn't he do the same?

Frank grabbed the pick, kneeling down to start scratching. It wasn't as easy as he had expected, and with every letter he scrambled to come up with an explanation for what he was doing if Butch were to see him.

Meet pas-

Butch's heavy footsteps were walking towards him again. Than they stopped, presumably at Scipio's stall.

-t ga-

"Woah boy," Butch's voice was calm, in a way that someone who had never heard it before wouldn't expect. Scipio neighed. The door to his stall scrapped open.

-te

The clop of hooves. Jangle of the harness. Scipio coming to a stop, the door scraping closed.

FZ

With one final movement, Frank stabbed the pick into the wood. It made him cringe, knowing he had just probably ruined the pick, or that it would at least need to be sharpened. He didn't have time to think though, pushing himself up and moving to pat Guido just as Butch walked into the line of sight of where he was.

"Ready?" Frank asked, intentionally putting himself in his line of sight of the message and pick. At least, he hoped he was.

"Yeah, let's go," Butch agreed, smiling at him, and to Frank's relief kept his eyes on him, before moving out of the way, pulling Scipio farther down the stable hallway. Once he was past the stall, Frank let out a sigh of relief, before grabbing Guido's Reins and started to lead him out of the stall, leaving the door open as they head out of the stable.