It didn’t get a rise out of him as I had hoped. When the horse was ready, Cyrus swung his hand out widely and insisted I get on.
“Your chariot, my lady,” he said, though sarcastically.
“…Are you not going to help me up?” I asked.
“What? Help yourself.” His brows came together, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
“Wha... W-What? How?” I stepped closer, wondering if I even could; the seat was just barely foreign enough to trifle me. “I need you toboostme. So that…”
“This is awesternsaddle,” he explained. “Use the horn.”
“The…horn?”I didn’t know what that meant. “He doesn't have horns. He’s a horse.”
Cyrus planted himself behind me. He took my hand and placed it onto an erect piece that jutted out of the front of the seat, and with his other, he hoisted me by therearup into the air. I threw my leg around the other side, by instinct, but I wasgripping madly to what must have been thehorn. I scowled at him as soon as I was safely seated.
“Watch your hands!” I cried.
“Please.”He rolled his eyes. “As if I could cop a proper feel with all that satin.”
“It’s silk!” I said.
Cyrus mounted Edith far smoother than I had performed. He whispered something to her I didn’t hear, then led her toward Tails and me, asking, “Where are we riding to, Princess?”
“We?” I found it in me to ask.“Weare not going anywhere. I am quite capable of blowing steam off on my own, sir.”
“Uh-huh.” He nodded. “Relax your shoulders. Your posture’s wrong.”
“I am averyexperienced rider, I’ll have you know.”
“Aye. So, what then? You want me to see me hanged, is that it?” he asked.
“H-Hanged?”
“I can’t think of a better punishment for the man who lets the Princess, his best friend’swife, ride out into God-Knows-Where, well after midnight, no doubt to be murdered by the apparent rise of bandits or worse. What doyouthink they’ll do to me? God forbid your father finds me first.”
“Is that? Is that a possibility?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I prefer not to find out.”
“I can’t tell if you’re joking,” I confessed.
“Assume I’m not. I’ve grown quite accustomed to life here with Edith, Your Highness. With my luck, someone hasseenyou weeping hysterically on your way out here to my domain. You’re not exactly subtle; I heard you stomping from the back door. And,Ihave been seen, as well. I said hello to several folks on my way out.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m explaining how I will instantly become the prime suspect in your murder. The motivation is there— we’ve just had a public row this afternoon. I think I should just escort you to wherever it is you want to go, and save us both the hassle of a trial. Well, you’ll be dead. So. Save myself the hassle, really.”
I stared blankly, but a moment later, hegrinned. I sort of bobbed my head.
“Um,” I started, taking another pause. “Alright. Just don’t expect me to talk. Yeah?”
“Got it,” he said.
“Especially about myfeelings,”I added. “I’m sorry you had to see what you saw, my weeping, as you call it, but youwillkeep it to yourself, I command it.”
“Noted.”
“And don’t ask me any questions, either! I am not interested in complainingorconfiding in you. Andno.It’s not because you'renot a lord,it’s because I don’t know you. All I know is that you’ll immediately go and tattle away all of my woes to Sameer as soon as we get back, and I can’t have that sort of exposure. I’ve already told him I was not hurt. You understand?”
