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Post by Princess Carmesí Martell on Jul 31, 2012 16:13:34 GMT -5
A large clearing beyond the stables of the Hightower.
Isolvelle walked along a low stone partition at the edge of the meadow tracing the tips of her fingers along its mossy top and humming an old Rhoynish folksong she remembered from her childhood.
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Post by Marie on Jul 31, 2012 16:17:10 GMT -5
Mariya came out of the stables, leading her mount, a chestnut mare. She stopped when she saw Lady Hightower, suddenly aware that she was in riding breeches and tunic, attire that the other fosterlings were used to, but which Lady Hihgotower might not be. She bowed awkwardly.
"My lady. Good day to you."
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Post by Princess Carmesí Martell on Jul 31, 2012 16:22:51 GMT -5
"Mariya, Hello--" Isolvelle answered, startled momentarily, having been lost in a fleeting daydream, "Please, you musn't call me that. I've come down from the keep expressly to escape that sort of formality. It upsets my digestion," she winked. "I'm Isolvelle to you as much as I am to anyone. What a beautiful mare--the horses all have a different look to them here, I've noticed."
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Post by Marie on Jul 31, 2012 16:27:38 GMT -5
"I don't believe that all horses look alike," Mariya said. "But thank you...Isolvelle. It's kind of you to say so."
She smiled slightly.
"Her name is Star."
She indicated the white star-shaped patch on the horse's forehead.
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Post by Princess Carmesí Martell on Jul 31, 2012 16:35:49 GMT -5
"And fittingly so I see," she answered with a lopsided smirk, "And are the two of you an exclusive pair?"
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Post by Marie on Jul 31, 2012 16:40:18 GMT -5
"Yes. I don't have another horse," Mariya admitted. "But I'm grateful for what I have. Lord Hightower could have refused me any horse at all, or made me ride an old nag. But Star is young and fast and I love her dearly."
She was not the kind of girl who smiled often, except with those she most trusted, but she smiled at Isolvelle now.
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Post by Princess Carmesí Martell on Jul 31, 2012 16:57:52 GMT -5
"I had a very old distant cousin who used to say that one horse you could trust would win many more a battle than a hundred you didn't know. Maybe that was men, not horses. Either way, I think it must be so," she said with a squint and a smile, her head tilted to one side.
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Post by Marie on Jul 31, 2012 16:59:42 GMT -5
"Yes, I expect it is," Mariya agreed. "Maybe it's both men and horses. But do you have horsese here too?"
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Post by Princess Carmesí Martell on Jul 31, 2012 17:17:14 GMT -5
"I don't know much about horse-riding," Isolvelle admitted with a shrug, "Perhaps you will have to teach me sometime and then I will be worthy of my own horse; what do you say?" She asked smirking with one eyebrow tenuously arched.
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Post by Marie on Jul 31, 2012 17:20:12 GMT -5
"Um...if you like," Mariya answered, slightly surprised. "I expect there's a nice docile horse you could learn on. That's the best way to do it. But why didn't you learn when you were younger?"
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Post by Princess Carmesí Martell on Jul 31, 2012 17:24:19 GMT -5
"It's not specifically that I never "learned" so to speak...I suppose I am just one who prefers to be on my own two feet rather than someone else's four legs," she chortled patting the mare along the flank. "Still, though, beautiful, and it's never too late to learn a new skill," she smiled.
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Post by Marie on Jul 31, 2012 17:30:50 GMT -5
"That's true."
Mariya was holding onto the bridle but the chestnut mare seemed happy enough to have Isolvelle's caresses.
"I'll help you, then. Shall we go look at the other horses and you can choose one?"
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Post by Princess Carmesí Martell on Jul 31, 2012 18:00:53 GMT -5
"Lead the way, dear girl," the smiled with a bow and a wink.
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Post by Marie on Jul 31, 2012 18:09:40 GMT -5
Mariya led the way into the stables so they could look at the horses.
"Would you prefer a mare or a gelding?" She asked.
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Post by Princess Carmesí Martell on Jul 31, 2012 18:15:02 GMT -5
Isolvelle walked the length of the stable and back looking with scrutiny into each of the many stalls which lined the stable. After spending a considerably long moment gazing thoughtfully into the eyes of spotted mare she turned abruptly towards Mariya and was nearly knocked off her feet but the protruding front end of a black gelding who whinnied with no small amount of indignance as she ploughed into him. "Well, hello my boy!" she muttered surprisedly. "I suppose it'll be you and me then, won't it?" She smiled and nodded decidedly at Mariya.
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