He said, “Are you alright?” but I was too ashamed to meet his eyes.
“Fine, thanks!” I cried.
Evergreen added something about how I had forgotten to help him up.
“I’m sorry,” I managed.
“That issucha heavy skirt,” he remarked.
“It was very expensive,” I said.
He swept the back of his trousers and instructed our horses not to wander from where they stood; then, he walked further into the meadow.
I looked between him and his obedient flock, reluctantly impressed by how well-liked he was by them.
“You are a clear equestrian,” I commented.
“You’re just now noticing?” he asked.
“No, I—” Intrusive thoughts of rakedom dared to rise. “I meant, you’re gifted, it would seem.”
“You humble me,” he replied.
“Now that—” I paused.“Thatis the first real Oreian thing I’ve ever heard you say.”
“What is?” he asked.
“You humble me,”I explained. “My favorite knight says it near every day.”
“Ah, yes. SerWilloughby,”he said. His accent was there with each of the Sword’s vowels. “He seemsnice.”
“Ser Willoughby? Nice? Ha! Heavens, no. I mean, yes, sure, heisnice, but no. That’s not the Blade in which I’m speaking of.”
“It’s not?” he asked.
“No. You haven’t met the one, I mean.”
“You mean Ser Elías,” Cyrus said.
“Yes, I do,” I replied.Curiosity begged a smile.“…Haveyou met my Eli?” it asked. “You’d know it. He’s the big one of the two I traveled with. Quiet. Older.” I waved my hand over my face.“Constantfrown.”
He looked at me. “Yes, I know the one. I’ve been near him with you.”
“Splendid!” I said. I cleared my throat. “Apologies, sir, for getting excited.”
“You’re very fond of him,” he said.
“I did say he was my favorite, did I not?” I asked. “My father’s, too. And, Ser Elías is our Lord Commander. That means he’s charged with delegating and appointing knights; he—Oh, I suppose if you’re a swordsman, you know all that.”
“Aye, I know.”
“Eli counts for two Swords in himself.”
“Eli,”Cyrus said.
“Gregor,” I offered, “Ser Gregory Elías is his name. He’s been with my father since I was a child…Nay, longer, but since I can recall and such. Further. Served my mother before she...I do think you’ll find he’s nice once you get him talking. A bit cold at first.”
Evergreen hummed, disinterested. “No offense, but I rarely remember things like that. I’ll likely forget your knight, and I don’t predict a conversation between him and myself anytime soon.”
