Cordelia
A knock on the door to Cordelia's quarters caught the knight off guard. She'd been instructed to wait there until further contact, and when met with silence for too long, she had become zoned out. Hastily she stood up and opened the door, and was met with Anna, the Commander herself.
"Hello, Cordelia! Today you've got a special mission."
"Alright," she agreed readily, "What is it?"
"This note is to be delivered to our base ten miles east from here," Anna said, outstretching her arm to hand off a letter.
"Ten miles? Got it," she affirmed, grabbing the letter. "That'll be easy even on foot."
"Oh, but why would you go on foot?" Anna asked, with a wink.
"Sorry, I'm not sure what you're getting at? We sold all the horses and pegasi, so-"
"I never said anything about a horse or pegasus."
Cordelia's eyebrows furrowed.
"Haven't you heard about our new Jockey and Mount program?"
"I apologize, but… I haven't."
"Oh. Well, it's super easy. Follow me," Anna said.
Anna pulled Cordelia out of her quarters and through the commons to the courtyard. Cordelia watched the Commander study the local subjects, then followed her to the training grounds, where she stopped at a blonde fellow who wielded a bow.
"Hello, Klein. Practicing archery?"
"Of course," he said, loosing another arrow, "I can't afford to get sloppy."
"Well," Anna said, briefly turning her head to make eye contact with Cordelia before looking back at the archer, "I have a job for you."
"Sure thing. What is it?" he inquired.
"Cordelia here is assigned to deliver a parcel to our eastern base, and she'd like to ride you there."
Cordelia's face turned as red as her hair as she tried to interject, "Wait, you, what? I mean, I said-"
Anna put a finger of her glove against to Cordelia's mouth, shushing her. "She's enrolling in the Jockey and Mount program."
Klein's face showed his confusion. "Sorry, I'm not sure I'm following?" He scratched the back of his head.
"Look. As your Commander, I've now placed you under Cordelia's orders. She is your jockey, and you're her mount, so you'll now carry her wherever she pleases."
Klein still didn't understand, and just blankly stared at her. Cordelia's face didn't get any less red.
"Alright, that's enough. Follow my orders," she said, producing a bit and reins out of nowhere. "Put this in your mouth," she instructed, while placing the bit in his mouth by herself. "Great, now get down on your hands and knees." Klein listened, and turned a bit red as he began to understand what was happening. He felt stirrups being laid across his back, and watched Anna adjust them behind him, before the Commander turned to the other girl and said, "Okay, now he's ready to ride."
"I'm sorry… you want me to ride him?" Cordelia stammered.
"Do I have to demonstrate?"
Confused, Cordelia stated, "maybe?"
"Alright. It's really simple," she said, straddling over Klein. Her gloves found the reins, and picked them up before she sat down on his back. "When you crack the reins, he's supposed to go. Like this!"
A crack of the reins brought Klein to motion. He'd not expected this kind of physical activity, and the weight on his back was that of another person, so he only got off to an awkwardly slow start. He felt the reins get tugged back, so he stopped.
"Simple," Anna said, dismounting. "Why don't you show me that you understand?" she said, beckoning for Cordelia to mount Klein.
"I'm… sorry…" the knight said as she allowed her butt to rest herself on Klein's upper back.
Klein was pleasantly surprised at the light nature of Cordelia, in comparison to Anna. Unsure what to do, Cordelia simply sat there for a minute, until Anna put the reins in her hand, and instructed her to whip them. Klein felt the motion flow throughout his face, and set off to a slightly faster pace than before.
"See? Now you're all set for a trip to the Eastern base!" Anna proudly proclaimed.
"I'm not sure about this," Cordelia said, her face red. Klein's face was nearly equal in tone, surprised that he somewhat enjoyed the feeling of being mounted by Cordelia.
"Nonsense! You've got mail to deliver." Anna said, walking up to them. She squatted down so she could look Klein in the eyes before instructing, "Let me repeat myself- you now must obey Cordelia. Carry her wherever she needs to ride you. Nod if you understand?"
Klein, trying to avoid eye contact, nodded.
"Good! Then off you go!"
Cordelia lightly tugged the reins in an effort to steer him towards the eastern exit. Slowly at first, but faster when she pulled harder, she led him out from the training grounds to the grassy hill just outside.
I could probably just dismount from here, Cordelia thought. I'm out of Anna's range, and I'm sure Klein doesn't enjoy being ridden like this… besides, I'm not sure how I'd feel if somebody saw me like this. Once she steered Klein behind a tree, she pulled on the reins to halt him. Then, she stood up from on top of him.
"Here," she said, "I, uh, don't need to ride you if you don't want."
Klein only tilted his head. Cordelia's face grew red again, as she assumed he'd simply stand up and walk. Instead, he remained on the ground, made eye contact for a few seconds, and then pulled the bit from his mouth so he could speak.
"I don't think I mind, actually," he said.
Cordelia turned a bright cherry shade.
Klein ended the silent moment, "I only mean that, well, I've been assigned to do this, and I take pride in carrying out my duties, so…"
Cordelia considered it. She'd never ridden another person like this before. It was definitely not what she was used to. However, the walk didn't sound like it'd be easy, and it seemed like Klein wanted to…
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"I'm to follow your orders," he affirmed.
Too flustered to speak, Cordelia silently took hold of the reins and mounted him once again. His back was a comfortable enough place to sit, but she still wasn't sure how she felt about her position.The two stood still for a moment until she remembered to crack the reins.
A mile was ridden, Cordelia's direction guiding the pair through the rolling hills. It was ridden in silence, both parties feeling a little bit awkward about their predicament. After another mile, Cordelia began to be at ease, and Klein realized that her waist and thighs no longer felt tense atop him. He also noticed that she became more comfortable giving him commands, and using the reins to steer him.
"Um…" she started to say, inadvertently squeezing him with her lower body, "you're doing a good job."
Klein received the encouragement well, as she noticed his back becoming straighter for her, as well as a slight increase in his pace. Cordelia appreciated this boost in speed, no matter how small it was. They still had quite a distance to travel, after all. Soon enough, they reached the top of an incline, and she pulled him to a stop before riding down a hill, something they hadn't experienced yet. Klein did his best to keep Cordelia stable, and she gripped him more tightly, wrapping her legs around his midsection to hold on. However, it wasn't long before they reached the bottom of the hill, and Cordelia instructed him to stop.
"That hill seems pretty steep. Do you want a chance to break?" she asked, looking down at him.
In response, he simply marched forward. He wasn't sure what inspired him to do it- was it because he was enjoying this? Did he wish to impress her? To serve her well? He couldn't put his finger on it, but he began up the hill anyways.
"Oh, wow, okay," she said, "we can try this then."
Cordelia hesitated to use the reins, as Klein was already going forward. In fact, she saw him steer himself left and right, and while she appreciated his effort, it was harder for her to stay balanced on him if she wasn't guiding him herself.
"Hold on, Klein, I can't balance unless I'm the one steering," she said, as she pulled the reins a bit. "Now, giddyup."
The climb up (as opposed to down) was easier for Cordelia, but not for Klein. She leaned forward a bit to keep stable, and held the reins with more intent. He worked his way up the hill, step by step, until he reached the top.
"Hold on a second," she said, pulling the reins to stop him. "Look at this view…"
Cordelia and Klein enjoyed a moment of rest, where the pair gazed to the other hills. Klein rotated upon his jockey's guidance, and they looked out where they had came from.
"I'm used to riding pegasi, and I enjoy views like this," she explained, "but we can get going now."
Cordelia directed Klein back so that he was facing east. After declining to the bottom of the hill, they reached a forest. Klein watched carefully to avoid stepping somewhere rocky, or rough, like on any of the roots.
They rode a few miles through the forest.
"I'm actually quite comfortable now. Don't tell anyone I said this, but… you make a pretty good mount," Cordelia said.
Her face turned red again, and she wondered if she should have said that. She failed to notice Klein's face turning just as red as hers.
Over the long miles ahead of them, Cordelia would share some of her other thoughts. She at times apologized for sharing so much, since she couldn't get a response, but she was unaware that Klein was fond of listening to her. Her words helped to spur him onward, and distract him from the tiring nature of his job carrying her weight upon his upper back. It also helped that Cordelia was fairly light, and her butt wasn't uncomfortable on top of him.
However, the long distance they'd traveled had begun to tire his body out. Seven miles in, the red-haired girl noticed his exhaustion when his speed had decreased. Klein was embarrassed, and disappointed that he couldn't keep up.
"Are you tired? Do you want to take a break?" she asked.
Klein shook his head "no" in response.
"Okay. Well, we can ride slower if you'd like."
Klein took this as a sort of challenge. He began to speed up, and surprised his rider with the short burst of speed. Once he stopped to catch his breath, she spoke to him again.
"Really, Klein. Don't tire yourself out. I don't imagine it's easy to be sat on for ten miles,"
Ten miles? he thought. No wonder…
"I think we're about three miles away. We've made good pace, so it's okay to take it easier."
Klein obliged, and maintained a slower speed. Cordelia saw the archer's head droop, and wondered if he still had wanted to do better.
"I-if it makes you feel any better," she said, flushed, "I'm enjoying the ride."
Klein forgot his disdain for going slower upon hearing those words from her. They seemed to melt in his ear. He didn't know why he had cared so much at doing a good job for her, but he didn't mind slowing down. His exhausted muscles felt worth it, and they didn't seem to matter. He still had distance to travel, so he continued, for however many hours it'd take them.
The last three miles took the pair about the same amount of time to traverse as the first seven, but neither of the two seemed to mind. Upon reaching the eastern fort's gate, Cordelia pulled her mount to a stop, and rose to her feet. It was an excellent moment for Klein- her dismount meant his job had been done, and it had been done well. She lowered her hand to him, and took his hand in hers to pull him to his feet. From there, he removed the bit from his mouth.
"Was that satisfactory?" he asked.
"Of course, Klein," she responded, "but are you tired?"
"I'm alright," he affirmed.
"Thank you for the ride."
"Simply following my orders."
"Oh. Right…"
"Is something the matter?"
"N-not exactly," she said, her complexion again turning red, "I j-just, well…"
"It's okay."
"You're to f-follow my orders, right?"
Klein nodded.
"Then tomorrow, I'll ride you back," she decreed. "...Is that okay?"
"I'm at your service," Klein said, holding back a smile.
The two split, and Cordelia delivered the parcel to Zephiel, who'd been given command of the eastern fort. After she left, the king read the letter-
We need a transfer of gold. Send as much as you can afford to back with Cordelia posthaste.
The sun was beginning to set, and Cordelia had already found somewhere to sleep. Tomorrow will do, the lavender king thought to himself.