5

Three days later Scott was standing in the living room as Ianto looked up from his book, alarmed by the man's pale face "Scotty?"

"It happened again. This time it was something in the horse's feed boxes" Scott said softly "Clearly this is not an accident."

"Oh my god, are they alright?"

"Luckily the camera not only records when there is motion, it also pings my phone so I was able to get there within minutes. I wouldn't think any of the horses ate any of it but... the vet is giving them all a bit of a clean out. Prepare for some messy stalls while the poor things are deliberately given loose bowel movements for the next few days." Scott grimaced at the thought of the mess, let alone the smell.

"Oh my god." Jack said from the other chair, rising like he was going to throttle someone "the cameras pick it up?"

"Yes"

Scot handed over his phone and the kings watched the video of someone sneaking in and tipping something in the feeder boxes in three of the stalls. Ianto watched the way the man walked, a slight hitch in one leg like an old injury. A good solder looks for weaknesses in a case of combat and this sure as hell felt like an attack to him.

"Same stalls as the glass. Why not all of them?" Jack muttered.

"What was normally in those stalls when we are not here with our horses. Is there someone annoyed that we are using them?" Ianto asked, handing the phone to Jack who wanted to watch it again. "We can't see a face but they are clearly tall and those wide shoulders suggests a man."

"Agreed. The door camera got it" Scott took his phone back and selected on another link, the face now recognizable.

"The neighbor. Mister Farrell, right?" Jack was aghast "I don't get it. He has never complained."

"He uses the stables when we are not using them. Seems he had to move some precedent mares during the refurbishment for this stay and he was vocal in his annoyance. There had never been a formal contact with him and he never paid for the stalls but he does seem to think he has a right to them based on usage."

"Well… I know if I go near him I shall throttle him. Jack?" Ianto looked at his love.

"I will go. Yes, maybe he needs to remember that this is not another homestead or something. Time he is reminded who we fucking are!" Jack snarled, his hackles rising.

Ianto nodded as he sat back don and considered this development. It did not sit well, the man willing and able to harm the horses over some sense of entitlement. That is just crazy.

Ianto did not like it one bit.

.

.

The man was standing in the middle of the lunging arena with a pretty bay running in a slow circle. He favored one leg, letting Ianto see it was the man he wanted. Ianto felt amusement nibbling up as he recognized the horse. Even from a distance he knew it was one of his yearlings he had sold at the last year's auction, the little skip in his step making him a favorite with the stable hands.

As Ianto got to the fence he whistled and the horse immediately skidded to a halt, swung to see him and took off, dragging the hapless man with him as he ran for Ianto at full speed.

Ianto laughed and clicked his tongue, making the horse skid low on it's haunches and the dust flew as it stopped on command. "Frodo... hup!"

The horse rose onto its hind legs and posed for Ianto, then he swept his hand and it lowered its hooves to the ground, bowing its head for him to caress its ears. "Naughty boy… yes you are."

"You're from the Royal Stables are ya?" the man snarled as he tried to get the rope from around his wrist.

"You never do that, you always keep a loose handgrip so if the horse bolts you don't get dragged along for the ride. That is on you, not Frodo. Getting pissy at him will not help here" Ianto scolded.

"think yer all high and mighty do yer, and the pofta horses with their la-da-dah bullshit ways. I had almost beaten it out of this one!" the man spat at Ianto's feet.

"I see. Right. I came over here to warn you that someone is trying to sabotage out stables, putting glass in the stalls and such. Clearly you do not care. Then I shall tell you in a way you WILL understand and care about" Ianto said as he raised his chin "You and yours stay this side of the fences. Come over my side again, I will put the fucking dogs on you. And believe you me, you do NOT want my dogs attached to your balls. From now on, they roam loose!"

"Well, don't' you speak nice" the man laughed "And who do I tell the Boss came a calling with his little threats and shiny boots?"

"His Majesty King Ifan came a calling and is not amused. Next attempt at pissing us off, you will hang. Still a thing ya know… hanging by royal decree." Ianto sniffed, turning on his heel to stomp off, the man leaving the office of the stables to slowly walk towards him looking confused as he looked at Ianto, then at his stable hand who was still standing stock still.

"Oh yeah. FRODO COME!" Ianto roared, slapping his thigh like he was calling a dog and the horse leapt over the barriers to run after him, the lunging rope dragging behind him. "As per the purchase agreement, any misuse or abuse of the animal and the purchase is forfeit!"

"Ma… majesty?" the man stammered as Ianto stormed past.

Ianto locked eyes, let the man feel the burn and moved on.

They did not deserve a Royal Horse.

He was going to find out if this place registered any others… and purge.

Let's see who loses horses over this!