She began to pace about the communal room. “Very well, we will return to the basics. The sacred animals, name them.”


    “Sacred colours?”


    Or maybe she was dead. He couldn’t shake the memory of her stumbles and the thought that she was ill. In that case, he should have gone after her, made her listen, insisted she let him or someone else help her. He couldn’t stand the thought of her body lying forgotten and undiscovered somewhere.


    There was a thud as a book slammed onto the table in front of him. “Read,” Fra-Mecatl said. “We will resume tomorrow.”


    He stashed the book in his room and headed out to the barn.


    He was getting sick and tired of doing nothing day in, day out. He didn’t mind tending the horses, but it wasn’t accomplishing anything. Nearly three months and they’d made no progress finding Corvinian. Was there any point any more? The poor kid was probably dead, and even if he wasn’t, the trail was so cold by now, there was no likelihood of picking it up again.


    This resistance he had somehow found himself part of also wasn’t doing anything other than waiting. Even the ones who were tired of waiting were still waiting. He had decided to take a risk and agree to support Acat, Kianto, and Ses-Patli, but he hadn’t even been able to tell them that as he hadn’t heard from them in nearly three weeks.


    And there was no Zandrue. No Borisin.


    Part of Rudiger just wanted to collect Jorvan and sneak away in the dark of night. They could find a way to scale the wall—Jorvan could just fly over it—and they’d be away from Ninifin forever. Except he doubted Jorvan would do it. Plus, any time he put serious thought into it, he worried Zandrue would come back the day after they left. So he always ended up choosing to wait one more day.


    The horses were eager to get out of their stalls. Mulac and Nelli wasted no time hurrying outside, and Tepin was only a short distance behind them. Xoco decided to be contrary and just stood in her stall when Rudiger opened it. When he threatened to close it again, she pushed past him and out into the field.


    Outside, there was activity back by the house. A large group of people had arrived with a covered wagon and several horses. Some sort of delivery? While Fra-Tepeu preferred his trips into the city, he did occasionally have things delivered. Though this seemed bigger than what Rudiger would expect for a delivery.


    He walked a short distance towards the house to get a better look, but he couldn’t go far as he still had to keep an eye on Fra-Tepeu’s horses. Though Mulac was already wandering in that direction anyway. Rudiger was about to whistle to bring the horse back, but paused. One of the horses with the new arrivals was much larger than any of the others—a huge roan horse looking in his direction.


    The horse continued to look at him. If it was Borisin, they were too far apart for communication. Rudiger wanted to head straight over there to find out, but he couldn’t leave the horses. He could take them with him, though. A little walk across the field for some exercise. It would be good for them.


    Took you long enough, Borisin said.


    Took me long enough? You’ve been gone for months!


    Figured you must have forgotten me, the amount of time you just stood over there gaping.


    This is how you greet me after all this time?


    Okay, now you’re just embarrassing me, Borisin said.Stolen story; please report.


    “Oh come on, you’re happy to see me and you know it.”


    If that’s what you choose to believe.


    Your horse? I think you mean you’re my human.


    “Yes, I gathered that,” Fra-Tepeu said. “Just don’t lose sight of my horses.”


    “You’re speaking Ninifin now. You’ve adjusted well, it seems.” Eleuia was standing a short distance away, arms crossed.


    Ses-Izel, Borisin corrected.


    Right. Rudiger knew that’s what he should be calling her, but for some reason, he couldn’t help think of her by the name Eleuia. Maybe because so many other people referred to her that way. “Haven’t had much choice,” he said aloud.


    “I doubt that.”


    I’m no handful. You lot are either lazy or incompetent.


    She sighed. “Look, officially I’m a merchant. I have a very difficult-to-get pass that lets me through the gate twice a year, once in each direction. So I have to be very picky about when I cross. There was no way I was going to cross back that early. On top of that, horses are not an item that I am licensed to trade in. So I have to have the exact same number coming back in as I had going out. In the case of your other two horses, I was able to sell two of mine, which I then replaced after getting back inside. Borisin was tougher.”


    Look at that thing. Look at those poor horses hitched to it now. You really think I was going to let anyone hook all that up to me?


    You’re not going to like this, Borisin said.


    That’s exactly what she’s about to tell you.


    “Don’t ask me,” Eleuia said, turning away from him again. “I’ll turn him over to the Queen, and then he’s out of my hands. He’s your problem then.”


    I figured we’d figure things out, Borisin said.


    She can’t hear me when I talk to you.


    She likes me.


    “I understand why you don’t want to lose him, but there’s nothing else I can do, and I can’t risk myself or my operation. So unless you have some amazing solution, I really am walking away from this as soon as I turn him over to the Queen.” She stood there, glaring at him, and waited. “Well?”


    She doesn’t know you like I do. So where’s the smelly one?


    Zandrue. I’ve told you before she smells weird.


    Nah, to me she’s smelly. So where is she?


    “Wish I knew, buddy. Wish I knew.”


    What? You’re running the stables here? Hallelujah! Good service at last!


    Fra-Tepeu peered at Borisin and walked slowly alongside the horse. “He’s a good horse. Obviously seen some combat. A bit of scarring, but in good shape. I can see he hasn’t been under your care for some time though. I’ll convince Ses-Izel to stay an extra day, so you can clean him up properly before he’s presented to her Holiness.”