A short walk through the castle town to visit the stables

Walking between his mother and aunt as they headed out of the wooden castle and down into the town below was a surprisingly...intimidating position for Marcus to be in. Both women were taller than he was after all, enough that he stood only at the level of their breasts, his blushing face flanked on either side by ample curves. It also meant had to walk quickly to keep up with their longer strides. And they both managed to make him feel small in other ways. His mother, of course, was the image of regal perfection no matter the setting. Even here, far from the fancy halls and pampered nobility of their family home, she effortlessly projected a superior air, from the way her head was slightly raised as if gazing down at everything around her, to the graceful swing of her hips under her long, elegant dress. Even the way her silver hair was styled somehow had the suggestion of a crown across her brow, where his silky locks were messy and untamed without a brushing.

Theodora meanwhile, couldn't be more different. If it weren't for the silver hair and similar faces, Marcus would never have thought they were siblings at all. His aunt strutted down the path leading from her castle gates like she was marching on a parade ground, a wide smile on her face as she surveyed her domain, waving and laughing to every guard or peasant they passed. Her scars and short-cropped hair added that roughness to her features that projected a certain rough strength quite unlike what he'd always expected a noblewoman would aspire to, an impression that her muscled shoulders and strong arms only added to. The young prince was pretty sure she could toss him over her shoulder and carry him off without breaking a sweat if she ever wanted to. That rogue thought made him blush, and he quickly **** it away.

Trying to distract himself from how silly he must look, a short, girly boy in these tight shorts stuck between these two taller woman, Marcus instead glanced over the town around them, taking in the sights of what was the ancestral home of his maternal family. They'd rushed through the previous day, but now he had more of a chance to see what life was actually like out here in the Free Marches. He'd never had much chance to be around the common people back home, his mother would never have allowed it, and now he eagerly drank in what glimpses he got of normal life.

It was very loud, he thought, and busy, with people rushing here and there, carrying all sorts of goods from bound up bales of hay to neatly tanned animal skins. He saw lots of weapons too. It wasn't just the guards who were armed, in fact it seemed like every person they passed had a sword or dagger through their belt, or a bow and quiver strapped to their back. It might have been a little scary being around so many weapons, but with Theodora here and the friendly way everyone waved back and returned her greetings it really didn't feel like any of these people were dangerous after all. The hum of conversation filled the air, from which he caught brief snatches. People talking about their families, who was marrying who, when the next hunting expedition was being organized, all of it new and quite fascinating to the sheltered young prince and he listened eagerly to every word.

As the three of them stepped around one of the wooden houses, they almost ran into two women walking the other way. Focused on the chatter around him, Marcus didn't even see the pair until he almost stumbled right into them. He gasped in shock as both his mother and aunt grabbed him by either arm, yanking him out of the way before he could fall into these strangers. His feet scrabbled on the ground until he could find his footing again, but with both women now gripping him tightly at least he managed to stay upright. Though, even as he straightened back, neither of them let go.

"Careful there, lad." Theodora said, an amused glint in her eyes. "Almost fell flat on your face, right there." The two women he'd almost walked into both giggled, and Marcus felt his cheeks burn bright red. He glanced back at them anxiously, scared he might see scorn or mockery on their faces, but both of them just grinned back at him, looking genuinely amused rather than annoyed. He found himself smiling shyly back, his blush growing even hotter. One of them, the younger of the pair...was quite pretty, with freckled cheeks and bright red hair. Her smile widened as he caught her sparkling green eyes, her gaze drifting over his slender body with what almost looked like interest.

"Don't stare, Marcus." His mother chided, squeezing his arm hard enough to make him wince. "It's uncouth." The young prince bit his lip, quickly lowering his gaze. With that, the two women continued on their way, walking around Theodora and heading on to whatever business they had elsewhere.

"Anna, must you always be such a stick in the mud?" Theodora sighed. "It's the boy's first time here, let him scout the place out at the very least." Marcus glanced back at his mother, expecting her to sternly scold him like she always did at the slightest hint that he might do something she disapproved of. Instead, she just scoffed and glanced away. Well, it wasn't permission...not exactly, but his aunt didn't seem to mind and this was her castle, right? The young prince raised his head, glancing back over his shoulder at the bustling crowds, enjoying watching people rush around. He wondered if he'd see that cute redhead again while he was here, the thought making his cheeks flush all over again.

As he tried to take in all the sights, Theodora led him and the queen down the hill towards the intimidating palisade wall that ringed the whole town. They'd stopped gripping his arms at least, As they stepped closer to the wooden wall, Marcus caught the familiar smell of hay and horses in the air. He perked up, looking for the animals.

"And here we are." Theodora announced, waving her hand towards a large wooden building over by the palisade gate. It was built like a large barn almost, with a thatched roof, the open gates revealing what looked like a long aisle lined with musty straw.

"This is your idea of sightseeing?" The queen sniffed. "The stables?"

"And here I thought you loved horses." Theodora grinned back. "What's the matter, all that fancy living in your big castle made you too soft to ride?"

"I'd judge I'm still much better in the saddle then you are." The queen sniped back. "And I can also bathe and dress myself in a respectable fashion, fancy that." Marcus gasped at that. It was a bit of a shock to see his mother acting so...snippy. Theodora seemed to bring that out of her so effortlessly. Not that he minded...it was kind of fun to see the otherwise unflappable queen losing her cool a bit, so long as she wasn't getting mad at him. It felt like he was getting a glimpse of another side of her he'd never seen before!

"Come Marcus, let's ignore that mean mother of yours." Theodora turned to him, taking his hand in her rough , callused ones. She smiled down at him, her blue eyes sparkling. "I'll show you our horses, would you like that?" She asked.

"Yes." Marcus nodded excitedly. "I like horses!"

"Take after your mother that way too then." His aunt nodded. "Let's go." Marcus frowned slightly in confusion as she pulled on his hand, guiding him down towards the stables. He'd always thought his mother didn't like horses much. She rode sometimes, yes, but he'd assumed she only did it because that was expected of a queen. In fact, she was the one who insisted he stop his riding lessons, the reason why he hadn't been on a horse in years before their frantic ride last night.

"Theodora don't pull him away so suddenly like that!" He heard his mother gasp. She stumbled after them, holding up the hem of her dress as she stepped on her elegant fur boots down the trail behind him. Theodora just smirked wider and pulled on his hand, pulling him even further ahead of his mother as they walked towards the waiting stables. Inside the building, there were rows of stalls with wooden gates. Inside each one, Marcus could see piles of straw, leather reins and saddles on the walls. As they stepped down the aisle between the stalls, the horses inside shifted and moved, some of them stepping up to the stalls to peer over and look at him. There must have been more than twenty here, more horses than he'd expect to find in a small castle town like this. And each of them were tall and strong, with glossy fur, proud heads and clear, gleaming eyes. He didn't know all that much about horses, but even he could tell these were fine examples, probably bigger even than the warhorses his father's knights had ridden.

"Surprised?" Theodora crowed, puffing out our chest proudly. "Did you know that in all the Free Marches, Marwell is famous for our horses?"

"I didn't know that." Marcus shook his head. His aunt's eyes widened in surprise.

"Really? What has that mother of yours been teaching you?" She sighed. Speaking of the queen, she had just stumbled through the stable's doorway, and was hurrying over to them.

"Marcus, wait up!" She gasped, darting over to him. The young prince flinched as she grabbed his free hand tight, squeezing him between her fingers. "Don't get ahead of me like that. Not here!"

"Sorry mother." Marcus replied quickly, even if it hadn't really been his fault.

"Oh there you are Anna, I was wondering where you'd gotten to." Theodora grinned at her. The queen gave her a cool glare that would have frozen Marcus stiff if it was directed at him, but his aunt just laughed loudly, her voice booming through the stable. "By the way, had a couple of my best lads stable that fine horse of yours here for you." Theodora continued. "Had her fed and watered too, and I reckon she's settling in nicely." She nodded to one of the stalls nearby, where Marcus could see the queen's big, white mare waiting inside. The horse sniffed the air, moving over to the gate to the stall, it's dark eyes settling on the queen as it winnowed happily.

"Thank you, sister." The queen nodded primly. She glanced at her horse, and smiled, her grip on Marcus' hand easing ever so slightly as she seemed to relax.

"A fine mare by the way." Theodora continued, glancing over the white horse with a keen eye. "Beautiful coat, strong legs, I'd almost think she was one of ours if I didn't know better. What did you name her Anna?" The queen paused a moment, and for a moment Marcus was sure he was something like a blush blooming across her pale cheeks.

"Shimmermoon." She murmured hesitantly. "I named her Shimmermoon."

"Huh..." Theodora replied. Her blue eyes flickered to her sister, staring at the queen for a long moment with a strange, almost wistful look. "Still fancy that old story, do you?" She asked.

"I....yes." The queen glanced down, her voice hesitant. "I suppose I do." Marcus glanced between the two of them, feeling very confused again. What story? And what did the name of the horse mean? He opened his mouth to ask, but something about the suddenly heavy silence between the two women made him hesitate. Before he could get the words out anyway, Theodora turned back to him, that usual wide grin blooming across her scarred face once again.

"Want to help out with the horses today, Marcus?" She asked. "We could always use another set of hands out here." Marcus froze, more than a little shocked at the offer. Him...help out in the stables? Like...a groom? It wasn't something he'd ever imagined doing but...his aunt was letting them stay here, the least he could do was help her out. Besides...it might be kind of fun being around all these horses for a day or two.

"Um...can I?" He gasped, suddenly a little excited about the idea. His eyes darted to his mother, and the scowl on her face made him wince.

"Don't be ridiculous, sister." The queen snapped coldly. "Marcus is a prince. Helping out in some grubby stable isn't what boys like him should be doing. He might hurt himself." Theodora turned to her sister and straightened back to her full height, her gaze narrowing as she stared across at the queen. Marcus realized suddenly she was slightly taller than his mother, if not quite as curvy, and with her muscles as well she suddenly seemed that much more imposing as well, despite her sister's poise and regal elegance.

"Anna, can we talk for a moment?" She said, her voice suddenly firm in a way that made the young prince's skin tingle. "In private, I mean. Just outside. Marcus, you stay here and watch the horses." The queen paused, then gave a tight nod, something hesitant in her blue eyes. Before the young prince could even catch up with what was happening, his aunt had turned and strode away, heading for the door to the stables. His mother glanced at him, a look of discomfort on her face, then turned to follow, stepping away after her sister. The young prince watched them both go, his head still spinning.

What...exactly was going on between his mother and aunt now? Of course...they didn't seem to be on the best of terms, not...close siblings anyway, and he could have guessed that by how the queen had barely even mentioned her sister until now. Now that he'd seen the place, he could guess she might be ashamed of her past being born out here in the Free Marches, when she'd always acted the perfect queen and noblewoman back home. Theodora in turn, seemed to enjoy needling her, though he hadn't picked up on any malice in her playful teasing. Now, suddenly, it was all getting serious, and he wasn't sure why. Was it his fault somehow?