There were times when I thought I would never finish, but I finally have.
It's not a terrific ending, but there are sequels to come. The location and
some of the characters belong to Tamora Pierce.
As they snuck into a side entrance of the palace that evening (Alanna wanted to keep Stella out of the public view until she had spoken with Numair), Stella thought she might actually be missing Lord Lucas—or maybe it was just that she thought anything would be better than standing before the king and admitting she had stolen a horse.
....
"So, you've come to return my horse have you?" King Jon grinned.
"Well, actually I was hoping to speak to you about a threat to the kingdom before you find be guilt of horse thievery."
"Well then, let's sit down to tea and discuss it in a civilized manner," the King gestured to a table. Stella nodded blankly. "I have a number of things to discuss with you as well," he continued as he spread a napkin over his lap.
"First of all, your upcoming trial: I'm under strict orders from Numair to pardon you for saving the kingdom from ancient evil wizards."
Fortunately, at this moment a servant had just pulled out a chair for Stella, she fell into it gratefully. Her companions chose to ignore her shock. Alanna poured tea in a lady-like manner, while Neal helped himself to several pastries. After a few minutes, Stella managed to say, "oh, good, so he knows then."
"yes and no," the king answered. "He has gone off to investigate the situation further, but I imagine he will want to have a long talk with you when he returns. He muttered something about the implications of a "wild magic life force"; it was all too technical for me."
"Second, Thayet has commanded you to join the Riders," he told her. "I however, am adding the caveat that you have to gain some weight first so we don't have you slipping off a pony from exhaustion and undernourishment."
Stella nodded and promptly set to work on a plate of custard tarts and apple turnovers as diligently as if they were a row of horses to be groomed.
"You know," Jon said, to no one in particular, "Stella reminds me of a young woman I once knew. She has the same knack of following her destiny and getting her way at the same time."
Alanna gave a delicate cough into her chamomile tea. "yes, its quite a talent, she has."
Suddenly, Stella thought of something. She dropped her custard tart to her plate and stammered, "I'm not going to be charged with kidnapping Lord Lucas am I?"
"Sir," said Neal, "I propose that you give her a medal of honor for rescuing the child from growing up into a spoiled conservative identical to her father."
They all burst into laughter. "An excellent idea, Squire. But I have a better one. I am going to give her Pinecone."
"Really?" Stella squeaked. "I mean I know Lord Lucas is obnoxious but.."
"The truth," Jon interrupted, "is that I don't think Pinecone likes me very much. He's always clumsy and ornery when I ride him, but he seems to have taken to you."
Stella grinned widely around a mouthful of custard tart.
Quote: ...when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable must be the truth Sherlock Holmes
Thank you for reading and please review. I can't access my email right now so feel free to insert suggestions for the sequel, Rider , into your reviews. I may or may not follow your plot requests but your welcome to offer them. I am very open to bringing Lord Lucas and Neal back into the story at intervals as comic relief.
As they snuck into a side entrance of the palace that evening (Alanna wanted to keep Stella out of the public view until she had spoken with Numair), Stella thought she might actually be missing Lord Lucas—or maybe it was just that she thought anything would be better than standing before the king and admitting she had stolen a horse.
....
"So, you've come to return my horse have you?" King Jon grinned.
"Well, actually I was hoping to speak to you about a threat to the kingdom before you find be guilt of horse thievery."
"Well then, let's sit down to tea and discuss it in a civilized manner," the King gestured to a table. Stella nodded blankly. "I have a number of things to discuss with you as well," he continued as he spread a napkin over his lap.
"First of all, your upcoming trial: I'm under strict orders from Numair to pardon you for saving the kingdom from ancient evil wizards."
Fortunately, at this moment a servant had just pulled out a chair for Stella, she fell into it gratefully. Her companions chose to ignore her shock. Alanna poured tea in a lady-like manner, while Neal helped himself to several pastries. After a few minutes, Stella managed to say, "oh, good, so he knows then."
"yes and no," the king answered. "He has gone off to investigate the situation further, but I imagine he will want to have a long talk with you when he returns. He muttered something about the implications of a "wild magic life force"; it was all too technical for me."
"Second, Thayet has commanded you to join the Riders," he told her. "I however, am adding the caveat that you have to gain some weight first so we don't have you slipping off a pony from exhaustion and undernourishment."
Stella nodded and promptly set to work on a plate of custard tarts and apple turnovers as diligently as if they were a row of horses to be groomed.
"You know," Jon said, to no one in particular, "Stella reminds me of a young woman I once knew. She has the same knack of following her destiny and getting her way at the same time."
Alanna gave a delicate cough into her chamomile tea. "yes, its quite a talent, she has."
Suddenly, Stella thought of something. She dropped her custard tart to her plate and stammered, "I'm not going to be charged with kidnapping Lord Lucas am I?"
"Sir," said Neal, "I propose that you give her a medal of honor for rescuing the child from growing up into a spoiled conservative identical to her father."
They all burst into laughter. "An excellent idea, Squire. But I have a better one. I am going to give her Pinecone."
"Really?" Stella squeaked. "I mean I know Lord Lucas is obnoxious but.."
"The truth," Jon interrupted, "is that I don't think Pinecone likes me very much. He's always clumsy and ornery when I ride him, but he seems to have taken to you."
Stella grinned widely around a mouthful of custard tart.
Quote: ...when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable must be the truth Sherlock Holmes
Thank you for reading and please review. I can't access my email right now so feel free to insert suggestions for the sequel, Rider , into your reviews. I may or may not follow your plot requests but your welcome to offer them. I am very open to bringing Lord Lucas and Neal back into the story at intervals as comic relief.