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anyone under seventeen what had occurred, she could be
in danger of imprisonment. I usually remembered her endless chatter fondly, but
now, I could only feel dread.
    Ayon
interpreted my expression. “Don't worry, we've both kept silent for the most
part.”
    Relieved,
I let my face relax. I looked behind Ayon, where I could barely see the tents
still being set up through the trees. “Would you like to meet the prince?” I
asked, focusing on him again.
    “That’s
why I’m here. Will that be okay with him?” he asked.
    “I'm
pretty sure it will,” I said as I started forward.
    Ayon
nervously followed me, a hand running through his hair.
    When
I came back into the sight of one of the guards, he nodded, acknowledging my
presence, but froze when he saw Ayon.
    “He's
a friend,” I reassured him.
    The
guard relaxed somewhat, but kept his hand near his sword hilt.
    Sir
Lochlan turned at the sound of our voices. He looked at Ayon and then back at
me with a question in his eyes.
    “Sir
Lochlan, this is Ayon. He's an old friend of mine,” I said as we approached.
    Ayon
stuck out a hand. Sir Lochlan looked at it for a moment before he finally
consented to shake it.
    I
smiled nervously. “He is headed to the castle looking for work.”
    Sir
Lochlan frowned. “What’s your form?”
    “A
horse, so a stable-hand is what I had in mind,” Ayon answered.
    “We
have enough stable-hands already.”
    I
opened my mouth to protest, but Sir Lochlan continued on. “—we are, however, in
need of trainers. Not many people are willing to risk their lives to tame wild
horses.”
    Ayon's
eyes widened. If I wasn't mistaken, being a trainer was a step up, even if it
was dangerous.
    “Of
course, the prince has more say in this matter. I'll go ask him for you.”
    I
watched as Ayon's Adam's apple bobbed up and down nervously.
    “Don't
worry. He doesn't bite. An execution, however...” Sir Lochlan trailed off. He
smiled and continued on into the prince's tent.
    Ayon
looked at me, worried. “Are you sure it'll be okay to ask him?”
    I
rolled my eyes. “Sir Lochlan is messing with your mind. Prince Matthias isn't
that kind of person.” Of course, I'd only known him for less than a day, so I
couldn't be completely confident in that statement.
    Then,
the prince's tent flap opened again and Prince Matthias stepped out. “I'm glad
to hear that you think so.”
    “Y-your
Highness!” Ayon stuttered, falling to one knee in a bow.
    “Please,
rise. What is your request?” said the prince patiently.
    “Uh…well,
I was wondering if I could get a job at the castle...Your Highness,” Ayon said,
brow furrowed as he struggled to get back up.
    “Hmm,”
Prince Matthias hummed. He glanced at me for a moment before looking back at
Ayon. “What kind of job?”
    “A
stable-hand or a horse trainer,” Ayon answered, regaining some of his courage.
    “Have
you had any experience with either?”
    “I’ve
been a stable-hand for the past two and a half years,” Ayon confirmed.
    “But
no experience with training, I take it?”
    Ayon
shook his head.
    “He’s
a good worker,” I spoke up. “When I used to visit him, he rarely took breaks.”
    The
prince studied Ayon. “Well, perhaps you could start out as a stable-hand while
the Horsemaster trains you how to break an untamed horse.”
    Ayon’s
shoulders relaxed as he nodded. “That sounds like a generous offer, Sir.” He
shot me a grateful look.
    Prince
Matthias shifted his feet. “Will you be traveling with us?” he asked. “I’m
afraid we don’t have any horses to spare, but since you are one…” He trailed
off.
    Ayon
shook his head. “No, sir. I have a wedding in two weeks’ time.”
    “I
take it your fiancée will need a job as well, then?” questioned the prince.
    “I
wouldn't want to ask too much,” Ayon said cautiously.
    “Nonsense,”
the prince replied. “What is her second form?”
    “A
sparrow, Your Highness.”
    The
prince crossed his arms. “So she could be a