Though it was dark, lamps lit by candlelight were hooked against the walls, shedding a dull glow; just enough so Faye was able to see what she was doing. Her mind drifted as she cleaned and petted Gaia.
Once she had finished, Faye replaced the grooming tools as she had found them and let herself out of the stable. She glanced around, curious as to the whereabouts of her demon. When he didn’t immediately materialise, Faye shrugged and began inspecting the other horses in the barn.
Bluebell, Indi’s horse, was stabled next door to Gaia. The large mare nuzzled her palm, searching for treats as Faye extended it to her. She giggled and spent a moment stroking Bluebell’s muzzle affectionately.
The other horses stabled here were equally well looked after. Though they were much more utilitarian – typical bay coloured soldier’s horses – they were all very fit and healthy.
Faye paused outside an empty stable, glancing down at the metal nameplate bolted to the door. None of the other horses here had a name on their door.
“Endri,” she murmured. “I wonder where you are.”
Finishing her inspection of the stables, Faye returned to Gaia. Though the mare raised her head as she approached, when Faye leant over the stable door Gaia simply snorted and pulled another mouthful of hay from her feeder, crunching it loudly.
“Don’t let me interrupt you,” the princess teased with a smile.
She stood still and silent for a long moment, watching the horse eating, before Raxx appeared behind her. Faye startled and Gaia’s head flew up with pricked ears. The mare abandoned her hay and walked forward to greet the demon.
Faye watched with curiosity as Raxx leant over her and smoothed his hand down the mare’s face. The princess’s eyes flickered between them with suspicion.
“So, are you ever going to tell me how you pair managed to bury the hatchet?” Faye asked. “Gaia used to be terrified of you.”
“I have my ways. I remember a timeyouweren’t my biggest fan either.” Raxx shot her a knowing look.
Faye shrugged and smirked, turning her attention back to the mare. “I have no words that would ever be enough to thank you. Not just for this, but for everything you’ve done to help me and my sister.”
The demon was clearly uncomfortable and averted his gaze. “No need to thank me.”
“There is every need.” Faye turned to face him, leaning her weight back against the stable door.
Raxx leaned in closer, resting his palms either side of her, and Faye tilted her chin up. They cautiously brought their faces as close to one another as they dared. She could sense his desire to kiss her and, whilst frustrating, that pleased her.
“Where is that damned vest when you need it?” the princess laughed softly as her eyes closed and her majick fizzed to life.
Raxx’s head jerked up, shattering the tender moment. Footsteps crunching through the snow approached. Faye gasped as the barn door opened with a loud creak.
Quicker than she could have ever imagined, Raxx’s gloved palm was pressed tight over her mouth. He disembodied, sending them both tumbling straight through the wall of Gaia’s stable. Faye’s surprised squeal was muffled as the demon managed to catch her before they hit the ground. He dragged her between his knees and leant his back against the wall of the stable, out of sight.
“Quiet,” Raxx whispered, keeping his hand firmly over her mouth. Faye nodded and focussed on steadying her hectic breathing.
They sat, frozen with tension. The stable hand whistled a tune and Faye startled as the metal bolt on a stable nearby was opened. They listened to the sound of water being poured into a bucket before the door was closed and the stable hand moved on to the next stable, repeating his actions and getting steadily closer.
Faye’s heart hammered in her chest. Would the stable hand be able to see them? She knew Raxx hadn’t fully transitioned – though her vision was hazy and dark, she could still see a great deal more around her than she had been able to before and Raxx’s back was pressed up against the stable wall, not sailing through it. She shook as Bluebell’s door was opened.
“Evening ma’am,” the stable hand greeted the mare cheerily. There was a loud clapping as he patted Bluebell’s rump. Faye heard a metal bucket being dragged across the stone floor before a rush of water as the mare’s trough was filled.
“With me,” Raxx whispered, his body tensing around her. Faye nodded frantically.
Just as the bolt on Gaia’s stable opened, Raxx tightened his arms around the princess. She held her breath as they disembodied.
The demon rolled them expertly through the stable wall into Bluebell’s stall before re-materialising. The mare spooked, not expecting them to appear so suddenly and leapt to the other side of her stable, stamping and snorting.
“What the—” the stable hand muttered, placing his bucket down and hurrying over.
Without a word, Raxx grabbed Faye’s hand and placed it against the tattoo on his ribs. The princess nodded and screwed her eyes shut as focussed on Raxx’s room.
The floor of the stable wavered and gave way to nothingness, just as she heard the bolt of Bluebell’s stable opening.
Faye and Raxx crash landed in his room, smashing inelegantly into the floorboards for what felt like the hundredth time that week.
