A/N: Sorry I took so long. It may or may not start taking me a while to get stuff out because school has started and there may be some technical difficulties like I have been experiencing..
Chapter 7 The Green LadyIt was time for them to go find Daine a new horse. She didn't want to , though, because it just reminded her again of what she missed. Her getting a new horse would just confirm that she would never see her beloved Cloud again. Cloud was her very best friend in the whole world. Cloud was the one that had brought her back when she had gone to all fours and ran with the wolves. Cloud was the one that was always giving her good horse sense. Daine just didn't know how she could be expected to pick a new horse when none of them could compare to Cloud.
"Josephine! Josephine hurry up!" Ozorne's voice could be heard saying.
"Daine, I know that you are thinking of your pony, but you must not anger the Emperor by being late. You know what will happen if you do," Her new friend, Messa said.
"I know, I know. I just don't think I could easily pick a horse and that will anger him far more then my being a little late," Daine replied.
"Josephine!!!!"
"You'd better hurry," Stated Messa, putting the final touches on Daines outfit. Daine said her thanks as she rushed out the door.
Ozorne just gave her a look when she finally made it to him. "Where were you?" he asked in what he obviously though was a sweet voice.
"I was in the menagerie when the messenger told me that you wanted me to accompany you to the horse market to find me a horse. I assume you didn't want me going with animal spoils on me," She replied as they walked.
He sighed, a warning sign that his patience was thinning, "And that is what took you nearly an hour, my dear Josephine?"
"Yes, it is."
"Well then, let get going,"he said after giving her a look that said don't do it again.
They had been at the market for nearly an hour and Josephine still hadn't found a horse or pony she liked. No, that was wrong. It wasn't that she didn't like them, it was that none of them were her. It was exactly what Jospehine had been afraid of, she was comparing them all to Cloud and they were all failing.
She could tell that Ozorne was getting more upset by the minute. As much as she like to do that, she knew that once he reached a certain point that he would make her pay. Of course, in her opinion he was already punishing her by making her stay her with him, but she knew that he would make it worse. Josephine was just thankful to the amulet that kept her from becoming pregnant so that it prevented what he wanted to happen. She would never have his children, no matter how many times he 'punished' her.
Just after finishing with the last horse in the fifth stable they had entered, a lady in all green, including her veil, approached. "Excuse me, my lord, but did I her you were in search of a horse?"
"And if I was?"
"I have one that you may be interested in" she said in a voice that seemed so familiar to Josphine.
"I doubt it"
"Please my lord just look at her; you or your lady may be interested in her." As she finished speaking a hairy face appeared from around shoulder. Josephine was in shock; it just couldn't be.
'Cloud?' she said in her mind, now ignoring what was being said between the green lady and the Emperor.
'Daine!!' the mare came rushing over to smell her, 'I was so worried about you. Don't you ever leave the country without me again, okay? I mean, see what happens when I'm not around?'
'Okay Cloud,' she said hugging the animal, 'I missed you.'
'I missed you, too'
'How are you here, though. How'd you get here?'
'Don't you recognize the woman?'
'No' Daine answered truthfully.
'hmph, it is your dame so you ought to.'
'You mean that's my...'
"Right Josephine?" came a male voice.
'Mother'
"Josephine?!" came the voice again.
"Huh? What?" Josephine asked distractedly.
"You really should pay attention," Ozorne chided, "As I said, we don't want this animal right?"
"Actually, this is the one I want."
"But there are so many better ones. So many nobler ones." He replied turning toward her.
'This is the one I want"
"Are you sure?" he asked. When she nodded, he turned back around, "how much do you...want? Where is she? Where did she go?" He spent another half hour looking for the green lady before giving up and deciding to go back to the palace. Once there, he informed Josephine that he would be showing her to her cottage the next day.
A/N: I would like to thank the following for their reviews:
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