Chapter 26 - Card Houses (1/2)

Al certainly knew his horses. His personal horse, Rohan, was a gorgeous chestnut stallion. I eagerly rubbed his velvety nose.

”Oh Al, he's beautiful!”

”I thought you might like him. You're so tiny though, you'll need a much smaller horse.”

I barely resisted the urge to stick my tongue out at him. It wasn't my fault Catherine du Pont was so small. I had been above average height for a woman back home, okay?

”Whatever you do, don't insult me with a pony.”

He coughed to hide the laugh that slipped out but I caught it anyway and scowled.

”Don't look at me like that. You rode a mare back in the earldom, right?”

Yes I did. A beautiful dappled gray one I called Apple. I suddenly felt a pang of longing for my lost horse.

I nodded and he led me to a different stall in the stables that housed a small palomino mare. I gasped in delight. She was so pretty!

”She's very gentle but knows how to go fast when warranted. The perfect horse for someone your size,” Al said with a grin.

”I'll have you know that I could beat you in a race,” I said stiffly, not appreciating the constant jabs at my height.

”I'll take you up on that sometime. You're not dressed for riding now.”

He was right. I didn't have the proper skirt or boots since I was stuck in yet another cage courtesy of the countess to present me as a pretty package at the palace.

”Then what do we do now?”

”Die of boredom,” he said seriously. ”There isn't much to do around here aside from drink tea and read.”

I sighed. As expected. His situation really wasn't all that different from mine.

Though I was annoyed at him for wanting to run away since he was supposed to be the hero of his novel, if he was anyone else I wouldn't have blamed him at all. People aren't meant to be cooped up like this.

”How do you manage to get out?”

He looked around to be sure no one was eavesdropping before whispering a reply.

”There is a certain tree with low-hanging branches close to part of one of the walls out back that never seems to be guarded. I'll show you another time. There will be too many eyes on us today.”

I frowned. It wasn't even lunchtime yet. What were we supposed to do for the rest of the day?

Remembering how easily my brothers had accepted that one card game from my world gave me an idea. It was better than nothing. I sighed and resigned myself to long days ahead.

”Do you have a deck of cards?”

”Cards? Playing cards? I suppose I can find one but I have never played any games.”

Oh yeah, this guy is super isolated in the novel. Even better. I was about to make his day.

I grabbed his hand and dragged him back inside. ”Come on, I've got loads to teach you, young padawan!”

”What's a padawan?”