Royals Through Time 3: The Russians

Part Two- The Equestrian

Myah had promptly decided to summon her four friends to aid her in whatever tedious diplomacy awaited her. And then came the messenger. He looked scared, so he must bear bad news. Anyone who gave bad news to a Czarina might expect to die. But there was no reason to do that. Not with Myah. She wasn't a typical Czarina, or a typical anything else. But today was not a typical day, nor was the news this messenger carried typical bad news. It was downright awful. Terrifying. Saddening. And so, when Myah came through the arch into the four times and places that her friends belonged to, she had an expression on her face that allowed for no argument. This had become more than an escape from diplomacy and boredom. This was now an investigation of the disappearance of Valeriya Marstovich. The very same Valeriya Marstovich that was the heir to the Russian throne! She was Myah's friend and her most trusted advisor. And she had gone missing, last seen the previous Saturday. That had been five days already, and just now had Valeriya's neighbors become aware of her disappearance and the messenger been dispatched. At last the Royals found their way to Myah's kingdom, and followed Myah down a long hall to a bookshelf. Myah pushed it, and to her friends' surprise, it opened like a door. "Secret Imperial meeting place, from a previous ruler. We'll be safe to talk here. But I'm warning you, it's not a pretty place." And she was right. It was dingy, but the shine of the stone in the light and the glitter of the candlesticks told the girls that this room had once been marble and gold, only reduced to this state by poor care. The door that was the bookshelf closed behind them. Myah was nearly done disclosing her problems when something moved: another door. It was opening, and light poured in from the outside. Then a shadow blocked the door way: a man, holding two ropes that trailed behind the walls to an unseen place. Sarah stood quickly, and pulled a dagger from her Russian dress's side. Averia did also. Gracina looked in shock at the two, having had no idea either of them carried weapons. The man at the doorway approached slowly, and as he got closer, the ropes behind him showed to be tied to something: horses. The horses followed him in to the room, and the girls gasped as they recognized the horses as the very same they had chosen from the stable of England. There was no doubt now that the horses were supposed to be theirs. How else would gray Russian Trotter mare with blue strip in her mane, a black Arabian stallion, a white Egyptian Arabian mare, a tan Thoroughbred mare, and a white Maremmano mare have ended up together in the stables of a country not their own. When the horses had entered the stone room, the man turned, and the door closed as he left. The girls were left with their horses and with the thoughts of their mission. And then on the bridle of Gracina's horse, they found it: a piece of parchment, with only a few words written on it: The Equestrian gives you these horses. Use them wisely. And so, the horses Winter, Midnight, Acenath, Eleanor, and Helena were enlisted by the Royals in their second mission, to find Valeriya Marstovich, heir to the throne of Russia.