The Marlas Horse Fair, Anyone need a good horse?

[Seyira Vivienne]

So many questions, all at once. Generally, it was easy for Seyira to take everything in and sort all the information she was given, since her mind was highly efficient at that sort of thing. But she didn't seem to have that same efficiency when it came to questions being shot at her, and so her normally straightforward mind was spinning like mad. A hard to accomplish feat. If she hadn't been so confused, she would have congratulated the woman for doing something so few other people had managed to do. Cheers for her.

Her mind, which had stuttered to a stop, resumed normal activity and began categorizing the questions into a somewhat logical order so that when she answered, her answer would make sense. Most of the questions flowed into each other, so it wasn't too difficult of a task to rearrange them and then think up answers. She was going to have to fib a little when it came to her traveling to Olencia, since she couldn't very well tell this nice young woman that she was going there to spy on the King. Despite the fact that this Rhys had lived in Marlas all her life, and had never been out of Marlas, she was probably still loyal to the King. And Seyira really didn't need people chasing after her and condemning her to years in a prison.

Although death would be much, much worse.

In response to Rhys's questions, Seyira said, "My family is very kind to me. If they weren't, I wouldn't be standing here talking to you right now. They give me a lot of freedom, which is more than I can say for a lot of families, and they often treat me like part of the family." A rarity these days. "And they were very very generous in letting me go to Olencia. I've never really been out of Ivria, so it was an amazing chance that they asked me to go with them. There wasn't a huge need for me to come but they let me come despite that. It makes me forever in their debt." That, at least was true. This was an opportunity she would never get again.

Then, sensing that the woman felt bad because of her station, she added, "I like being a lady's maid. So you don't have to feel bad for me. What's it like dealing with horses?"

[Rhys Horsehand]

Rhys smiled and rubbed Ilp's forehead. "Working with horses is...An adventure. You learn something new every day, that's for certain. Sometimes, I wonder who is teaching who, especially with the Dragons. I train Dragon Horses, mostly." She considered, then smiled girlishly and added, "We just sold some horses to the High Seat for his nephew's and son's wedding. We're very excited. My father most of all, but I am, too." She was surprised at herself. She couldn't afford to be excited, and even if she was she could NOT admit it, but then, it wasn't as though she'd see this maid again. Olencia was a big city, even if they were there at the same time.

"I'm excited, too." Rhys repeated, half to herself. She was excited. And the sky hadn't fallen at her admitting it. Dragon Horse Farms had not gone out of business, and her sisters hadn't starved. She was excited that her family's business was expanding and she might have a chance to travel. And nothing was wrong with it.

Would wonders ever cease?

But it wouldn't do to gawk at that, especially in front of a lady's maid. Surely this lady was much more sophisticated than Rhys, and Rhys wanted not to look uneducated. "I, uh, I enjoy it, really. I do. It's difficult work, but it's good work, and honorable work. Where would we be without horses? I do my best to train horses to the best animals they can be, even if they aren't going to the High Seat. I love training the Dragons, but there's a satisfaction in a well-rounded Cob that can do everything a person would want of them."

She smiled, embarassed. "I'm rambling, horribly. I ramble because I love it, though. I...I'm excited, that I could travel, but I love horses, and I wouldn't stop training them, no matter what. Do you love being a lady's maid? Would you stay one the rest of your life?"

[Seyira Vivienne]

Seyira listened politely as the woman talked about raising and working with horses. Now that she had a chance to rethink the topic of horses, she found that it didn't seem half as boring as it had when it had first been brought up. The woman seemed truly interested by what she did, which was at least more than what Seyira had. Rhys loved what she did, and there were few people in the world who could really say that, and be truthful about it. Seyira most certainly wasn't one of them. Oh, she didn't hate what she did, and she had to admit that the people she worked for were kind enough, but if she was given the opportunity to quit what she was doing right now, and do what she'd been born to do, free of risks and responsiblities, she wouldn't even hesitate dropping Amaranta and her family like hot coals.

It was a little cruel, but it was the truth.

"I...I'm excited, that I could travel, but I love horses, and I wouldn't stop training them, no matter what. Do you love being a lady's maid? Would you stay one the rest of your life?"

Well, that was an easy answer.

"I...don't really love being a maid. I mean, it's not the worst job in the world, and I get meals, a roof over my head, and I'm treated with kindness, which is more than a lot of people can say. But I think that if I were given a chance to try and do what I really wanted to do, I would probably leave my family and go out on my own." Probably not the safest thing for a young woman of twenty years to go out and do. Never mind the fact that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. Smart young women simply did not roam the streets on their own.

Then she realized she might have backed herself into a corner. If the young woman asked what it was she wanted to do (which was highly likely given all the questions Seyira had already had to answer), she was going to be hard-pressing to come up with a lie that sounded even moderately convincing. Which meant that she was going to have to ask the young woman something first.

"But never mind me. You sold horses to the High Seat? And for a wedding? I've never been to a wedding. What was the High Seat like? Are you invited to the wedding? I'd love to hear all about it." She was truly interested in the subject, and would have given anything for a reply.

[Rhys Horsehand]

Rhys was surprised by the lady's enthusiasm. Gracious! "We...Well, I...sold him several horses, Greats and Dragons. Nor was one of my favorites, I'll miss him, but he'll have a grand home and a good master...." Rhys supposed the lady didn't much care for details about the horses, so she recalled what she could of the High Seat. "Lord Tsuko was sensible. He was a little aloof and I dealt with the clerk in terms of business, but he was reasonable enough. I've heard horror stories about how silly higher-ranking nobles can be--surely you've experienced some of that, being a lady's maid-- but he was quiet and undemanding. Properly dressed, too, even if he did show up at a strangely late hour."

Rhys rubbed Ilp's nose again, and smiled shyly. "I was invited to the wedding, to hold a horse and perhaps do a demonstration afterward. A courier came yesterday and gave me an invitation with the High Seat's seal. It's exciting, even if it means I have to get new clothes." She tilted her head a bit, considering. "Perhaps you will be there? The High Seat loves pomp and circumstance, and it's his son and his nephew who are getting married. If the likes of me were invited, surely your lady was. Do you think you'll be there, serving your, er, family?"

[Seyira Vivienne]

Attentive listening was what Seyira excelled at, and she used all she had with the young lady now, and giving and taking all she could. The double weddings of both the son and nephew of the current High Seat of Marlas was something she actually hadn’t heard a great deal of. Considering how much attention such a wedding normally received, it was something of a surprise. This was definitely a time when Seyira thanked the gods that Traherne never paid much attention to her, because her laxness towards this topic would definitely not be a pointing her favor. Then again, Traherne never paid much attention to her, and would never if he had a choice. It was a deliberate insult to her father, a man she’d never admired. There’d been some sort of animosity between the two, but Seyira had never paid it much mind until her father passed away, which by then had been too late. And thinking about such things wasn’t going to help her day go by any better. The upcoming wedding would be so much more interesting. And this young woman would be attending, of all things.

Seyira pursed her lips as she thought about the question directed at her. Her gaze wandered, settling on some grazing horses in the far pasture. That was a good question, and one Seyira didn’t know the answer to. She was fairly sure she would be going, since Lady Altariel was sure to receive an invitation as High Seat of House Ghayth, but whether her family would be invited was another thing. There wasn’t much of a chance that they would, since they were nobles of a lesser rank, and not of Taye or even Marlas. How could this Lord Tsuko possibly know anything about them. If she got lucky, Lady Altariel would accept the invitation and graciously bring Seyira along with her. If she didn’t, then she wouldn’t be going.

“I’m not sure,” Seyira said at last, tearing her gaze from the horses back to the open, honest face before her. “I have no say in what my family chooses to do. And there are a lot of things that will depend on the choices they make…whether they get an invitation, whether they accept, and whether or not they’ll bring me.” She smiled wistfully. “I really would love to go, though.”