Dealing with eleven horses was not the easiest task in the world. Rudiger conscripted the assistance of Ervin from Eleuia’s group, only to discover that, after nearly three months, the boy was still terrified of Borisin. He was also somewhat frightened of Rudiger. However, he worked well with the horses—just so long as he didn’t have to go near Borisin.

What did you do to that kid? Rudiger asked early on.

Nothing, I swear. Nothing at all. Well, I might have threatened to bite him once or twice.

Uh huh.

I wouldn’t have actually done it, but he skips spots when he’s brushing me.

Maybe because he’s afraid of you.

No, he’s just lazy.

Rudiger left tending Borisin until last, which initially annoyed the horse, but he acquiesced to the argument that going last meant he got the most time. It also meant Rudiger could send Ervin on his way and have time alone with Borisin—and the other horses.

“Can I ask you something?” Rudiger said as he began to work on the tangles in Borisin’s mane.

I think you just did.

Rudiger sighed. “Very funny. Why...” He paused as he tried to work on a particularly tight knot. “Gods, did they ever brush your mane?”

Sometimes, but the service was terrible.

“Because you scared Ervin.”

Already told you, he’s lazy.

“Sure. What about Eleuia?”

Ses-Izel.

“Right. Ses-Izel.”

Izel hates being called Eleuia. Doesn’t think she deserves it.

“You just referred to her without her honorific.”

I told you. She likes me.

“Did she ever brush you?”

She’s not much of a horse person, but I grew on her. So a bit more frequently as time went on, and she became a bit more open to talking.

The knot finally loosened and he was able to continue brushing the rest of the mane. “So, that question I wanted to ask—”

You mean you still haven’t gotten to it? I thought it was the question about whether they ever brushed me.

Rudiger stopped brushing for a moment and glared at Borisin. “Can we please have a serious conversation for once?”

Borisin shifted his rear legs a couple of steps and snorted. Fine. You want to know about me talking to others?

“Yeah, pretty much.” Rudiger moved on to brushing Borisin’s neck. “Didn’t even realise you could do it, since you never did. Least, far as I ever saw.”

I don’t usually.

“But you knew you could.”

Yeah. Sort of.

“Sort of?”

It’s hard sometimes. Takes a lot of effort.

“It does? With me?”

No, you’re different. Don’t know why. You just are. Could you scratch behind my ear? I have a terrible itch. Besides you didn’t brush there enough.

Borisin lowered his head and Rudiger reached over to brush behind the ears. “There. Now quit trying to change the subject. I want to know what you know about they way we talk. How’s it work?”

Don’t know.

“Do you know anything?”

A little.

“Then tell me what you know. Please.”

I’m not really sure where to start.

“Start with yourself. You’re the common factor. Who are you? What are you?”

I’m a horse! At least, I think I’m a horse. I look like a horse. I smell like a horse. Other horses treat me like a horse. I’m a horse. But I’ve always been different. Smarter. I learned when I was very young that I could talk to the other horses in ways they couldn’t do with each other.

“You talk to other horses?”

All the time, Borisin said. Though it’s not conversation the way you think of conversation. They don’t have language. They pick up on a few words you and other humans use with them, but they don’t have actual language skills, so they communicate...it’s hard to explain...in images, I suppose, though even that’s not quite right. It’s not the most interesting conversation. They can only express very simple concepts like happiness, fear, hunger. Ooh, that reminds me. I’m hungry. Anything to eat here?

“Yes, there’s food,” Rudiger said as he continued brushing Borisin’s back. “And you can have it once we’re done. Now, go on.”

You’re no fun. Anyway, neither were they for the most part. At some point, I started to wonder if I could communicate with non-horses. It didn’t work with other animals, but I discovered it could work with humans. Scared my so-called owner of the time half to death when I spoke to him. He declared me a creature of Night and sold me to the first merchant he could find. I tried with a few other humans after that. Always scared them too. And like I said, communicating with humans took effort. Different amounts for different people, but always at least some effort, which would tire me. I also had to learn your language. Unlike horses, you humans think in words.

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“Wait a minute,” Rudiger said. “When we weren’t alone, I was talking in Ninifin, and you understood me. And them.”

Yeah, I spent the last few months learning it, just like you.

“Oh right. Makes sense.”

Anyway, eventually, I stopped trying to communicate with humans. Until you came along. I could tell there was something different about you. Not in your scent or appearance, just a feeling. So I tried and it took no effort at all. It was like talking to other horses. You were also the first human not terrified by what I’d done. So I decided to stick around. And that’s about it.

“I see. Thanks, buddy.”

You’re welcome.

Rudiger finished brushing Borisin in silence, then put the brush aside and picked up a hoof pick. “Front left.” Borisin raised the hoof and Rudiger began cleaning it. “What about Zandrue, Jorvan, and Meleng? Ever think about talking to them?”

They’d take effort. Not worth it.

“How about Felitïa?”

Borisin’s muscles tensed. I considered it.

“What happened?”

I realised she was...different after first meeting her. I could tell she had an ability like mine, only she was far more powerful. Except...

“Except what?”

Don’t know. Can’t explain it. There’s something...something around her mind. Encompassing it, like a ball. It’s a wonder she can use her abilities at all. I tried contacting her once. Couldn’t get through. It wasn’t pleasant. I’m not doing that again.

“I never had any clue,” Rudiger said. “About any of this.”

I’ve never been one to talk about myself; you’ve never been one to ask. It worked well for me.

“Changing circumstances. Before, I always assumed I was a bigger part of whatever was happening. I never really considered that the ability was yours and not mine. Bit egotistical of me, I suppose. Front right.” He let go of Borisin’s front left hoof and moved around to the other side. “But now that I’ve been stuck here with nothing else to do for a few months, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. Thanks for filling me in.”

Don’t worry. We’ll figure out a way to get me away from the Queen. You and I have been through too much to be separated permanently.

Rudiger nodded. “You got that right, buddy. Fra-Tepeu thinks he has a solution. Hopefully, it’ll be a good one. How about tomorrow I take you down to the river and give you a proper wash?”

Sounds good. Now, why don’t you tell me what you’ve been up to? And where’s the Isyar?

Rudiger continued to work on Borisin’s hooves while he informed Borisin what had happened since they’d last seen each other.

* * * * *

It was late afternoon by the time Rudiger made it back to the house. As he reached for the door handle, he realised he hadn’t had a chance to even glance at that book Fra-Mecatl had given him. Maybe Fra-Tepeu’s idea would make it unnecessary. He doubted it, but he could hope.

Inside, he found Fra-Mecatl and Fra-Tepeu seated in the common room. Eleuia—no, he was going to get this right—Ses-Izel was leaning in the corner of the room, arms crossed over her chest. She looked in his direction as he entered. She was already frowning, so at least his arrival didn’t cause it. Two others of her group also stood in the room. Rudiger might have heard their names months ago, but he couldn’t remember them now.

Ses-Izel might have been frowning, but Fra-Tepeu wasn’t, and his smile got wider as Rudiger entered. But it was Fra-Mecatl’s smile that surprised Rudiger. “Rudiger, we’ve been waiting for you.”

“My apologies, Reverence,” Rudiger said. “There were a lot of horses to clean.”

She waved her hand. “It’s no matter. It seems that my brother has finally proven himself useful and figured out what to do with you.”

“He did mention he had an idea to help me.”

Fra-Tepeu rose from his seat and leaned on his cane. “Ses-Izel has been gracious enough to stay an extra day.”

Rudiger glanced at Ses-Izel, who made no motion or acknowledgement.

“You said so I can better prepare Borisin,” Rudiger said. “My horse.”

Fra-Tepeu nodded. “Yes, and then go with Ses-Izel to present him to the Queen.”

“You want me to go along?”

“Oh yes, and more,” the old man eagerly continued. “I will prepare a letter for you outlining something along the following. After seeing the magnificent horse that Lord Elaster was gifting to her Holiness, I realised the mistake he had unwittingly made. He did not send someone to tend to the animal. The Queen, or more specifically her advisors and attendants, will love the idea of a Folith screwing up. Anyway, they all know of the many prized horses I have raised and tended throughout my life. I will explain in the letter that I am too old now to commit to tending the horse myself, but that I am sending her Holiness my most favoured apprentice, who just happens to also be a Folith and so is well-versed in Folith animals.” He walked over to Rudiger. “I’ll be sorry to lose you, Rudiger. The last few years, I’ve been unable to tend my horses properly, and you have been a gods-send. But you are far more valuable to us on the inside.”

“If this works,” Fra-Mecatl said, “it could put you close to the Queen’s court, even closer than I hoped to get with Zandrue. Once we have you on the inside, we can start making long-term plans.”

“So I’m going to be a spy?”

“Exactly,” Fra-Tepeu said.

Rudiger wasn’t sure he liked that idea. It certainly wasn’t something he felt he would be good at. It was much more Zandrue’s field—which, of course, was the original plan.

“Tomorrow, we begin new lessons,” Fra-Mecatl said. “There’s a lot you need to learn and we only have the one day, so unfortunately, we’ll need to...skim most of it.” She shuddered. “We start at dawn and go straight through till dusk.”

“But I need to work on Borisin tomorrow,” Rudiger said.

Fra-Mecatl’s eyes narrowed and she leaned forward, about to say something.

“He’s right, Mecatl,” Fra-Tepeu said. “If that horse doesn’t look in top shape upon arrival, it will work against the praise I’m giving him.”

Fra-Mecatl stared at the floor a moment before responding. “Very well. From dawn to noon. Then you tend your horse. Any time left over will be spent on more learning.” She stood up. “Now, I’m going to go meditate on how I’m going to teach you everything you need to know in just half a day. When it’s ready, leave my dinner just inside my door. Otherwise, no interruptions.” She headed to her room. Just before disappearing inside, she called back, “And don’t forget to read the book!”

“Wait, I’m still—” Rudiger began, but she closed her door. On top of everything else, he was still supposed to read that book?

“Looks like you’ve got your work cut out for you,” Ses-Izel said. “I don’t envy you. Fra-Tepeu, if you or Fra-Mecatl need me or any of my people, we’ll be at our camp outside.” She motioned to the other two with her, and they left the house.

Fra-Tepeu hobbled over to him. “Rudiger, fetch some squash from the cellar, will you? Bring it to me in the kitchen building. I need to start dinner.”

“Of course, Fra-Tepeu,” Rudiger said. He hesitated a moment. Sometimes, it was important to take a risk, he reminded himself. “Could I ask a favour first?”

“I can’t help you with the book,” the old man answered. “That would defeat the purpose.”

“I figured that,” Rudiger said. “I wanted to ask something different.”

Fra-Tepeu nodded. “Very well.”

Rudiger moved beside the old man and leaned in closer so he could talk quietly. There was no one else left in the room, but he didn’t want to risk Fra-Mecatl overhearing from her room. “Could you get a message to three people from the resistance group? Kianto, Acat, and Ses-Patli. Could you tell them I need to speak to them and ask them to meet me at the barn tomorrow night?”

Fra-Tepeu looked up at him, and Rudiger’s heart began to pound as he wondered whether he had ruined everything. Then Fra-Tepeu smiled. “Rudiger, have you been plotting things behind mine and Mecatl’s backs?”

“Not exactly. Not yet.”

“There may be hope for you yet. I’ll get your message out. In the meantime, get me that squash. Mecatl gets cranky if her dinner’s late.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And read the book.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And don’t ask Ses-Izel for help either.”

“I wasn’t planning to.” He hadn’t even thought of that. He doubted she would be willing, anyway, given how little she seemed to like him. Maybe Jorvan could help. How well did Jorvan speak Ninifin anyway? Could Jorvan read it too? He needed to talk to Jorvan anyway. Right after he got the squash for Fra-Tepeu. And there were other things he should talk to Ses-Izel about as well—if she was willing.