I'm very sorry. College caught up with me, and I know that's a sad excuse, but it's the only one I have. You try understanding Ancient Greek.
Eleni could not believe the sheer size of Corus. Sure, Rajumat was a large and triving city, but this place was like nothing she had ever seen before. So many people were milling about, almost without purpose, that Eleni thought she might get lost, and there were plenty of people in back Rajumat.
Luckily, her dear Grandfather George had thought ahead, and had presented her with a sure mount, saying that he remembered the Lioness's first day in Corus. As he had said that, he'd chuckled and left Eleni in the stables to wonder about the Lioness' first day, but quickly turned to admire her new horse.
She was a dark bay mare, three years old, and already broken in for riding. The mare was a pretty thing, a golden butterscotch with white socks, mane, and tail. Eleni had approached the mare while holding out a piece of peppermint candy. Thanking the Goddess that the horse didn't bite her hand off, as some less well tempered horses were known to do, she contemplated what would be an appropriate and strong name for her new mount.
"Whoa," she said, as the horse nudged her for more treats. "You really liked that stuff, didn't you? Well, too bad, I don't have anymore." The horse nickered and nudged her again, this time much more forcefully, nearly knocking over the waif of a child. Eleni overcame her apprehension and took hold of the horse's long face and looked her square in the eye. "No more peppermints for you, girl. Didn't your ma ever teach you that too many treats are bad for you?"
A tiny glimmer lit up Eleni's eyes. "Candy," she whispered, slowly petting the mare's nose. "What do you think of it, girl?" The mare merely snorted into Eleni's hand and continued to look for treats.
A week later she was riding through the city gates, folowing her grandfather's dappled gray horse. The Lioness had been forced to stay behind at the Swoop for another fortnight, but would be arriving at the palace as soon as she could.
But Eleni was not thinking about the Swoop or her family, she was trying, and nearly succeeding, to take in all that there was for her eyes to feast on. It was a very busy market day, and the colors and sounds that whirled around the streets could make a girl dizzy from trying to follow.
Captivated by the city and its sights, Eleni missed the small child that had run in front of Candy. The mare reared backed on its hind legs, its eyes rolling to the back of its head. The people in the street had run out of the way of the horse's flailing hooves, but had stayed close enough to see if the incident could be used as decent gossip later. It was all Eleni could to wrap her small arms around the beast's neck and hold on for dear life.
George quickly jumped off his on horse and attempted to grab the reins that Eleni had dropped, but couldn't get close enough. What in the Mithros' name is happening? George still couldn't reach the reins and his usually calm demeanor was leaving him.
A young lad suddenly broke free of the growing crowd and managed to grab hold of the frightened mare. His hands began to glow a dark blue and slowly the glow spread over the horse's head, down its neck, and finally covered the whole body. Candy quieted down and returned to all fours. While the boy kept ahold of the horse, George moved to take the reins and to check of Eleni.
The small girl was hyperventilating and George had to pry her hands apart. It dawned on Eleni that Candy was finally still, and that was all it took. "I thought you said the horse was broken in!" The small girl's voice easily carried through the silent crowd, much to George's embarassment. His face turned an ugly shade of red, but he could of easily attributed it to his anger at Candy's behaviour and not Eleni's.
Silently taking hold of Candy's reins, he returned to his horse and grabbed his own. When he was sure that both horses were under his control he motioned for the boy who had stayed for the whole fiasco. Eleni did not take well to being ignored by her grandfather, least of all after nearly being killed by his choice of a horse. The boy followed the seething pair, worrying darkening his eyes.
George led them through the market and up to the palace gates, all the while trying to come up with a reason for Candy's behavior. At the gates he noticed the guards' disdainful expressions and remembered the boy. "Let him be, men. The boy's with me." As he walked on by, George failed to see the disdain turn to puzzlement.
The boy just shrugged and gave the guards a wink and a mock salute, quickening his stride when they moved to get him.
George called for Stefan to stable the horses. As the man approached, George hauled his still seething grandchild off of her mount and herded her and the boy out of the stables and into the warm afternoon sun. He knew that right outside of the stables was a bad place to discuss anything, so he wrapped an arm around both sets of shoulders and steered them towards his rooms.
No one in the party spoke a word, and the servants and nobles they passed on their way were quick to move aside. Strangely enough, what caught the attention of the palace gossips was not the Baron's livid expression or the famous grandchild of the Lioness. What people noticed was the lad.
What, they whispered, could Baron George Cooper of Pirate's Swoop possibly want with him?
George could not have been happier to see his rooms. He motioned for both children to go in, shoving both slightly when neither took the hint. Following them in, he locked the door and counted to ten. It was my grandson that was almost injured. Do not give Eleni away, George.
"Myles, take a seat, and by Mithros' beard do not speak a word." Eleni, still sore about the show down in the market, was about to retort, but George cut her off. "Not a word, Myles." Angrier still, Eleni resigned herswelf to nursing her wounded pride. "Boy, tell me your name, and be quick about it."
A lazy, almost cat-like grin spread across the boy's lips, before the honey coated words left them. "Alex, my lord. Alexander of Tirragen."
Yes, evil. I know. Don't worry. I should have another chapter out by the 1st and now things are really going to move.