ETAN

He knew it! He knew they'd be neglecting his animals. After he'd finished refilling his stallion's water bucket and refreshing his hay, Etan walked towards the lights deeper in the stable. He could hear one of the stableboys feeding a different animal—but they couldn't throw some hay to his?

Fuming and determined not to be put down, he stalked through the aisles—noticing as he went that this end of the stables didn't suffer the sagging doors, loose cobbles, or splintered walls of the area where his beast was stabled. He ground his teeth and stalked so quickly through the stable that he almost missed the lad feeding the pale mare in corner where the royal steeds were stabled. Stupid boy didn't have a lantern lit. That was a good way to get himself stood on or kicked by a dozing animal. Did these children know nothing? Or did their King have some stupid rule that forced them to work in dangerous ways?

He stormed up behind the boy, hands clenched to fists. "So, tell me, does the King make you keep the lights off, or—"

There was a gasp and a squeak, and the stableboy whirled around, wide-eyed.

Etan almost didn't recognize her. Her hair was shoved under a cap, and in the dim light and poor clothes, he would have missed it if she hadn't gasped, "Etan?!" and dropped the brushes she was holding with a great clatter.

"Who's there?!" a gruff voice called from three aisles away.

Etan turned, but she grabbed his hand and hissed, "We have to get out of here!" and yanked him toward the back wall. He fought for a moment—the exit was in the other direction—but she was leading him only two stables down to a tall ladder that connected the stable with the hayloft above. She didn't let go of him until she reached the ladder and scrambled up quickly, the leather breeches hugging her thighs and buttocks in a way that dried Etan's mouth as he followed her up.

They made it to the top just as the lantern light from whomever had heard her began to cut across the stable doors where they'd stood. She rolled away from the loft opening to give him room, but as soon as he was on the planks, he lay still, because whoever was down there would likely hear them if they moved. They ended, both laying on their stomachs, watching the stables below through the cracks between planks beneath them.

A tall man with just a ring of short gray hair around his ears, made it to the stable where Ayleth had stood and held his lantern high, scanning the space. He pushed his cap back and scratched his head. "Was someone visiting you again, Beauty?" he said to the mare who nickered to him, chewing on the hay she'd been given. "Well, now, I wonder who would do that?" The man smiled grimly. "Whoever it is, they better remember that if they overfeed you, you're less likely to breed in the spring."

He clucked to the horse who put her head over the lower door and waited to be scratched. He chuckled and patted her neck so hard her mane shivered, then turned to leave. "Goodnight… Beauty, better get your rest for tomorrow," he threw over his shoulder with a grin.

Etan turned to look at Ayleth who wouldn't meet his eyes. They waited for the man's heavy steps to grow distant, then waited even longer as Etan scanned the stable for more lights or movement. But all he could hear was horses stamping and the occasional snort.

When he finally turned to look at her, she was beaming at him. "You found me!" she whispered. And he smiled back.