“What kind of question is that?” I worried. “Do Istrikeyou as someone who’s-” I frowned, fidgeting under his scrutiny. “You may have experience, sir, but it is different for a man. Is virginity such a rare thing for the women in this empire? You have so many crucifixes everywhere; how could anyone even--What? What is it?”
Cyrus jerked his head just once.“Nothing.”
“You’re staring at me.”
“I’m considering your words,” he said. “That’s all. Listening, if you will.”
“I haven’t been with anyone, sir. Ever. I’m sure that’s very dull for you to hear, and truly, I’d hate to bore you, but the closest I have ever been to a man was when I was just a girl. And it was just akiss, and I wasthirteen. It hardly counts for anything. …Whyare youlookingat me like that?”
“It’s... I’m just…” He shut his mouth. “I’m sorry your marriage will fall short of your hopes.”
Cyrus clicked his tongue a few times, and miraculously, Tails trotted us up to his side at an unprecedented speed.
“How did youdothat?” I whined. “Has healwaysbeen able to move so nimbly? This whole time?”
“Tails and I have been friends for many moons,” he said. “One day, you will know Ice the same. It’s good you’re here with me. You’ll bond faster.”
I found myself nesting into the idea the way he’d painted it, and withthatcame an eerie state– a faith in hearing his assurance.
“Truly?” I asked.
“Do you not have horses at home anymore?” he asked.
“What?”
“Sam,” he said. “He said you liked horses, remember? I assumed you had one or two.”
“Oh. Yes,” then I beamed. “Actually, I have twenty.”
“Twenty?”Cyrus was impressed.
“Well. They’re not mine.They're Father’s.” I patted the stallion. “Though, he does let me ride them. And brush them and talk to them. And one day, they’ll be part of my inheritance if they survive so long.”
“...What are their names?” he asked.
I sat a little taller. “Well, they’re certainly better than Tails, I can assure you.”
“As you stall.”
I laughed and tried to avoid it. “Never mind their names,” I said.
“Ah. You can’t list them all,” he said.
“What?” I frowned. “Of course, I can list them all! I’m not a monster.”
“Do it then,” he said. “Name all twenty. I’ll count.”
I shifted. “Alright… There’s Butterbun–”
“Butterbun,” he nodded. “Yes, far better than Tails, I see.”
I went on. “Corduroy, Carmichael, Devony, Halfmoon, Fullmoon, Crescent, Starlight, Shadow, Minx, Milo, Mercy, Fido, Fiona, Reginald, but we call him Reggie, Bishop, Lucas, Lucy, she’s Lucas’s twin, Michael, and Brian.”
“I’m sorry, did you sayBrian?”he asked.
“Yes, Brian,” I announced.
He blinked.“Brian?You have a horse namedBrian?”
