Warrior Princess
Chapter three, The Stable Boy
Cat, Harlem, and Shadowdancer rode for 3 days straight after they got off the barge connected Carthak to Tortall. There was a dark, annoying itch in the back of her mind that told her she was being followed, but she knew she was just being paranoid. Even then, Cat felt safer traveling quickly and through back roads and the forest. By morning of the fourth day, all three of them were exhausted. The mare walked slowly with her head hung, and Harlem lagged behind them about 30 meters, which was fine with Cat as long as he stayed within her sight. Just as the sun began to set that night, they entered a small town. Leaning tiredly against her mare's neck, Cat looked up to spot a lively pub, surrounded by small houses and other little shops. At the end of the strip of buildings, she spotted a stable that was softly lit and friendly looking. "'Dancer," she murmured into the mare's mane. "Go there," she said, before completely passing out on her horse. Shadowdancer stopped, checking her friend's balance and then waiting for Harlem to catch up. When he did, the mare tiredly sniffed him over. He licked her muzzle appreciatively, and they headed slowly towards the stable. The Stable Boy was finishing up his chores for the night, sweeping the cobblestone path that led through the barn. He looked up when he heard hoof beats. He spotted a small dark mare with a person on her back and a large dog walking slowly beside her. The person, whomever he or she was, seemed to be having trouble staying on. Just as the mare reached him, the rider fell off and the Stable Boy caught her easily. "Gods," he cursed softly under his breath as he saw his occupant's face. Dumbfounded, he carried her to the small room where he slept and kept his things. He laid her gently on his bed, figuring that while she slept there he would sleep in the loft. As soon as he returned he found the dark mare and dog waiting for him patiently. The dog growled at him until he held out his hand for it to sniff. At this, the dog weakly wagged it's tail and retreated, lying down in a nearby pile of hay. The Stable Boy grinned, shaking his head, and began to untack and groom the mare. By the time he had led her into a vacant stall and brought a small flake of hay and water, she was curled up in a ball on the stall floor. The big black dog slowly got up and fell asleep outside of his friend's stall. Baffled, the Stable Boy shook his head and climbed the tall latter to the loft. He fell asleep quickly; he was used to strange visitors in his stable. Cat woke up in the middle of the night, oddly refreshed from her long journey. She found herself in a tiny room that was obviously in a barn, and she quickly jumped up. She pushed the door open quietly and walked into the dark alleyway of the stable. She found Shadowdancer's stall with ease, thanks to a dark lump by her stall (Harlem). Just before she reached the eager mare and dog, something heavy slammed into her with a strong force and held her. An arm wrapped roughly around her middle and a hand covered her mouth before she could scream. "Who are you?" a throaty voice demanded fiercely in her ear. The hand was pulled back far enough to allow her lips to move. "I. I rode here. Last night, I think. On the black mare." She said, trembling slightly from the scare she just had. Harlem was creeping slowly towards her captor, crouched low to the ground. His teeth were bared in a silent snarl. The arms released her, and she turned to see a young man in the shadows. He looked about 19 or 20, too young to own a stable. "Beg pardon," he said gruffly. Cat couldn't help but grin (still shaking slightly). "My name is Cat." She said, holding out her hand for him to kiss without thinking. Luckily, he misinterpreted her action and shook her hand. "Rahj," he said. Hearing his name, Cat realized that the Rahj's skin was darker than most people's in this area. Seeing the look on her face, he explained. "My father was Carthakan," he said. Cat nodded. Looking at her closely, he continued. "If you don't mind, I have a few things I was wondering about you. Like where you were going in such a hurry that you couldn't get enough time to rest." Cat quickly came up with a suitable lie. "My aunt is sick and my father sent me to care for her. He said to hurry, but I guess I shouldn't have hurried that much," she said. Rahj nodded. "This'll be slowing you down at least a few days- you've got to rest the mare and dog." He stole a quick look at her. "How old are you- for your father to be sending you so far?" he added the last part quickly. Cat blushed slightly, knowing she had to add to the lies. "I'm 16," she said. It wasn't quite a lie; she would be in a month. "And you? You seem too old to be a stable boy." Now it was Rahj's turn to blush. "Actually, I own the stable. My father died when I was 14 and left it to me. That was 6 years ago." Cat sat silently, thinking. Rahj had gone through almost the same thing she was going through now- only her situation was a little darker. She looked up at him. "I'm sorry," she whispered, voice choking in her throat. Rahj grinned, and Cat couldn't help but smile back. "Don't be. I barely knew the man." They smiled at each other until Cat realized she was staring. She turned away, her face red. Rahj was handsome and charming, which she knew was an acquired trait. When he smiled her heart melted and her legs felt wobbly. "So," Cat said briskly, suddenly taking back some of her royal confidence. "Where do you suggest I stay until Shadowdancer and Harlem are rested?" she asked. Rahj's face turned grim. "While most in town would suggest the inn, I know for a fact that even this barn would be safer for a young, pretty thing like you to stay in than that." He stared at her, his eyes never leaving her face. Once again, Cat lost the coolness and blushed brilliantly at his comment. She knew exactly what he meant, and while he was trying to look out for her well- being, there was a note of suggestiveness in his voice. Even if to him she were a farmer's daughter, she would make it clear that she was a respectable lady and would be treated like one. Getting herself under control, she raised her eyebrow at him. "Well, then, where shall I sleep should I stay here?" Rahj bowed deeply to her, all the while an ornery grin on his face. "I insist you stay in my room," he said. Before letting her guard down, Cat caught herself. "Then you will stay in the hay loft for the next few days?" she asked. Rahj nodded. "Of course. Where else could I sleep?" this time, there was no suggestive tinge to his voice. Cat smiled at him and took his hand. "Thank you, then, Sir Rahj. I am in your debt." She turned and walked away, Harlem once again at her heels. Rahj watched her go, shaking his head and biting back a grin as he climbed up that latter once more to fall asleep in the hay. The next day, Cat helped Rahj with all his barn chores. He had to admit, although running the entire stable by himself felt wonderfully self- dependant, having a helping hand didn't hurt. They were done an hour and a half early, and Rahj was happy for the extra time. "Seems like your mare needs at least another 12 hours of rest," he commented as they sat by Shadowdancer's stall. Cat nodded. "At least," she agreed, watching the tired mare snore softly. Harlem looked up at them and thumped his tail on the cobblestones. Rahj grinned down at him. "Harlem is an amazing dog. I've never met one so loyal- or so." he trailed off, looking for the word. "Black?" Cat supplied for him. He nodded. "I raised him from a pup, so that probably explains his loyalty." She said. "Yes, but I've never seen a Great Dane so dark. They must be really rare. I thought only royals got animals this rare." He commented, not meaning anything in particular. Cat inwardly panicked. Goddess, Goddess, Goddess, she cursed. Why did he have to ask me that?!? Why??? Does he suspect anything? "Er- yes, my father got a good deal on him." Cat said after a few moments. Rahj nodded and changed the subject, to Cat's relief. "So are you glad that soon you'll be back in your own bed?" Cat asked. Rahj laughed, sounding slightly surprised. It was good to hear him laugh, and it was contagious. Cat grinned. "Yes, that will be great but I'll miss a few things." He said. Cat sat down next to him on the hay bale. It was often easy to forget that she was a princess. "Like what?" she asked. Again, Rahj grinned. "Like. the help." He smiled gently down at her, and her heart skipped a beat. "Sleeping in the night air, watching the stars at night. The companionship." He smiled at her again. Stop it! She thought, but she caught his smile. "You know, Lady Cat-" Once again, Cat's heart skipped a beat, but this time it was for a different reason. Did he know? "-I think I've made a friend. You'll have to visit me on the way back from your aunt's place. And maybe come visit me after that, if you ever get the chance." He said, blushing slightly. To hide her embarrassment, she brought up his. "You're blushing, Master Rahj." She teased. His blush deepened, and he struggled to explain. "It's just. Cat, I've never. well. I've never really had any real friends. I was kind of shunned while I was younger and even now, because of my heritage and because I'm so young and I own this stable by myself." He said. Cat felt her sympathy for him and fought not to hug him. She took his hand, which turned out to be worse than hugging him, because they both turned red when their hands touched. She quickly let go and awkwardly patted his shoulder. "Of course I'll visit you. I'm glad I've made a friend too." She smiled at him, and, to her great surprise, he blushed and turned his head. That simple action deepened her growing attraction for him. "It's dark now," she whispered. Rahj nodded, but neither of them moved. Finally, Cat stood up. "Goodnight," she said softly. Rahj stood up after her, and kissed her hand. "Goodnight, m'lady," he said. Cat shivered at the tone in his voice. It was like nothing she'd ever heard before. Before she did anything rash, she smiled at him, turned, and went into his room. She closed the door after Harlem walked in. Rahj stared after her as she went, feeling urges to call her back or go after her, but he just let her go. A few minutes after she had gone, he turned and climbed up the ladder to his temporary bed.
Chapter three, The Stable Boy
Cat, Harlem, and Shadowdancer rode for 3 days straight after they got off the barge connected Carthak to Tortall. There was a dark, annoying itch in the back of her mind that told her she was being followed, but she knew she was just being paranoid. Even then, Cat felt safer traveling quickly and through back roads and the forest. By morning of the fourth day, all three of them were exhausted. The mare walked slowly with her head hung, and Harlem lagged behind them about 30 meters, which was fine with Cat as long as he stayed within her sight. Just as the sun began to set that night, they entered a small town. Leaning tiredly against her mare's neck, Cat looked up to spot a lively pub, surrounded by small houses and other little shops. At the end of the strip of buildings, she spotted a stable that was softly lit and friendly looking. "'Dancer," she murmured into the mare's mane. "Go there," she said, before completely passing out on her horse. Shadowdancer stopped, checking her friend's balance and then waiting for Harlem to catch up. When he did, the mare tiredly sniffed him over. He licked her muzzle appreciatively, and they headed slowly towards the stable. The Stable Boy was finishing up his chores for the night, sweeping the cobblestone path that led through the barn. He looked up when he heard hoof beats. He spotted a small dark mare with a person on her back and a large dog walking slowly beside her. The person, whomever he or she was, seemed to be having trouble staying on. Just as the mare reached him, the rider fell off and the Stable Boy caught her easily. "Gods," he cursed softly under his breath as he saw his occupant's face. Dumbfounded, he carried her to the small room where he slept and kept his things. He laid her gently on his bed, figuring that while she slept there he would sleep in the loft. As soon as he returned he found the dark mare and dog waiting for him patiently. The dog growled at him until he held out his hand for it to sniff. At this, the dog weakly wagged it's tail and retreated, lying down in a nearby pile of hay. The Stable Boy grinned, shaking his head, and began to untack and groom the mare. By the time he had led her into a vacant stall and brought a small flake of hay and water, she was curled up in a ball on the stall floor. The big black dog slowly got up and fell asleep outside of his friend's stall. Baffled, the Stable Boy shook his head and climbed the tall latter to the loft. He fell asleep quickly; he was used to strange visitors in his stable. Cat woke up in the middle of the night, oddly refreshed from her long journey. She found herself in a tiny room that was obviously in a barn, and she quickly jumped up. She pushed the door open quietly and walked into the dark alleyway of the stable. She found Shadowdancer's stall with ease, thanks to a dark lump by her stall (Harlem). Just before she reached the eager mare and dog, something heavy slammed into her with a strong force and held her. An arm wrapped roughly around her middle and a hand covered her mouth before she could scream. "Who are you?" a throaty voice demanded fiercely in her ear. The hand was pulled back far enough to allow her lips to move. "I. I rode here. Last night, I think. On the black mare." She said, trembling slightly from the scare she just had. Harlem was creeping slowly towards her captor, crouched low to the ground. His teeth were bared in a silent snarl. The arms released her, and she turned to see a young man in the shadows. He looked about 19 or 20, too young to own a stable. "Beg pardon," he said gruffly. Cat couldn't help but grin (still shaking slightly). "My name is Cat." She said, holding out her hand for him to kiss without thinking. Luckily, he misinterpreted her action and shook her hand. "Rahj," he said. Hearing his name, Cat realized that the Rahj's skin was darker than most people's in this area. Seeing the look on her face, he explained. "My father was Carthakan," he said. Cat nodded. Looking at her closely, he continued. "If you don't mind, I have a few things I was wondering about you. Like where you were going in such a hurry that you couldn't get enough time to rest." Cat quickly came up with a suitable lie. "My aunt is sick and my father sent me to care for her. He said to hurry, but I guess I shouldn't have hurried that much," she said. Rahj nodded. "This'll be slowing you down at least a few days- you've got to rest the mare and dog." He stole a quick look at her. "How old are you- for your father to be sending you so far?" he added the last part quickly. Cat blushed slightly, knowing she had to add to the lies. "I'm 16," she said. It wasn't quite a lie; she would be in a month. "And you? You seem too old to be a stable boy." Now it was Rahj's turn to blush. "Actually, I own the stable. My father died when I was 14 and left it to me. That was 6 years ago." Cat sat silently, thinking. Rahj had gone through almost the same thing she was going through now- only her situation was a little darker. She looked up at him. "I'm sorry," she whispered, voice choking in her throat. Rahj grinned, and Cat couldn't help but smile back. "Don't be. I barely knew the man." They smiled at each other until Cat realized she was staring. She turned away, her face red. Rahj was handsome and charming, which she knew was an acquired trait. When he smiled her heart melted and her legs felt wobbly. "So," Cat said briskly, suddenly taking back some of her royal confidence. "Where do you suggest I stay until Shadowdancer and Harlem are rested?" she asked. Rahj's face turned grim. "While most in town would suggest the inn, I know for a fact that even this barn would be safer for a young, pretty thing like you to stay in than that." He stared at her, his eyes never leaving her face. Once again, Cat lost the coolness and blushed brilliantly at his comment. She knew exactly what he meant, and while he was trying to look out for her well- being, there was a note of suggestiveness in his voice. Even if to him she were a farmer's daughter, she would make it clear that she was a respectable lady and would be treated like one. Getting herself under control, she raised her eyebrow at him. "Well, then, where shall I sleep should I stay here?" Rahj bowed deeply to her, all the while an ornery grin on his face. "I insist you stay in my room," he said. Before letting her guard down, Cat caught herself. "Then you will stay in the hay loft for the next few days?" she asked. Rahj nodded. "Of course. Where else could I sleep?" this time, there was no suggestive tinge to his voice. Cat smiled at him and took his hand. "Thank you, then, Sir Rahj. I am in your debt." She turned and walked away, Harlem once again at her heels. Rahj watched her go, shaking his head and biting back a grin as he climbed up that latter once more to fall asleep in the hay. The next day, Cat helped Rahj with all his barn chores. He had to admit, although running the entire stable by himself felt wonderfully self- dependant, having a helping hand didn't hurt. They were done an hour and a half early, and Rahj was happy for the extra time. "Seems like your mare needs at least another 12 hours of rest," he commented as they sat by Shadowdancer's stall. Cat nodded. "At least," she agreed, watching the tired mare snore softly. Harlem looked up at them and thumped his tail on the cobblestones. Rahj grinned down at him. "Harlem is an amazing dog. I've never met one so loyal- or so." he trailed off, looking for the word. "Black?" Cat supplied for him. He nodded. "I raised him from a pup, so that probably explains his loyalty." She said. "Yes, but I've never seen a Great Dane so dark. They must be really rare. I thought only royals got animals this rare." He commented, not meaning anything in particular. Cat inwardly panicked. Goddess, Goddess, Goddess, she cursed. Why did he have to ask me that?!? Why??? Does he suspect anything? "Er- yes, my father got a good deal on him." Cat said after a few moments. Rahj nodded and changed the subject, to Cat's relief. "So are you glad that soon you'll be back in your own bed?" Cat asked. Rahj laughed, sounding slightly surprised. It was good to hear him laugh, and it was contagious. Cat grinned. "Yes, that will be great but I'll miss a few things." He said. Cat sat down next to him on the hay bale. It was often easy to forget that she was a princess. "Like what?" she asked. Again, Rahj grinned. "Like. the help." He smiled gently down at her, and her heart skipped a beat. "Sleeping in the night air, watching the stars at night. The companionship." He smiled at her again. Stop it! She thought, but she caught his smile. "You know, Lady Cat-" Once again, Cat's heart skipped a beat, but this time it was for a different reason. Did he know? "-I think I've made a friend. You'll have to visit me on the way back from your aunt's place. And maybe come visit me after that, if you ever get the chance." He said, blushing slightly. To hide her embarrassment, she brought up his. "You're blushing, Master Rahj." She teased. His blush deepened, and he struggled to explain. "It's just. Cat, I've never. well. I've never really had any real friends. I was kind of shunned while I was younger and even now, because of my heritage and because I'm so young and I own this stable by myself." He said. Cat felt her sympathy for him and fought not to hug him. She took his hand, which turned out to be worse than hugging him, because they both turned red when their hands touched. She quickly let go and awkwardly patted his shoulder. "Of course I'll visit you. I'm glad I've made a friend too." She smiled at him, and, to her great surprise, he blushed and turned his head. That simple action deepened her growing attraction for him. "It's dark now," she whispered. Rahj nodded, but neither of them moved. Finally, Cat stood up. "Goodnight," she said softly. Rahj stood up after her, and kissed her hand. "Goodnight, m'lady," he said. Cat shivered at the tone in his voice. It was like nothing she'd ever heard before. Before she did anything rash, she smiled at him, turned, and went into his room. She closed the door after Harlem walked in. Rahj stared after her as she went, feeling urges to call her back or go after her, but he just let her go. A few minutes after she had gone, he turned and climbed up the ladder to his temporary bed.