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.


    I think you just did.


    Sometimes, but the service was terrible.


    Already told you, he’s lazy.


    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.


    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.


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


    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.


    Yeah. Sort of.


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


    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.


    Don’t know.


    A little.


    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.


    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?


    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.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


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


    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.


    You’re welcome.


    They’d take effort. Not worth it.


    Borisin’s muscles tensed. I considered it.


    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...


    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.


    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.


    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.


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


    “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?”


    “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.”


    “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.


    “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.