Dullahan

7 - Middle Ground - 5

Shortly before they reached the stables, Eldred started recognising the buildings and paths they passed from the day before, snatches of brick wall or particular statues feeling very familiar. The section of castle they walked through here was notably more elegant than the sections Ness had been showing him around, the courtyards filled with statues and decorative brickwork, corridors covered in lavish rugs and curtains.

All of a sudden they were back in the castle's entry courtyard, the large open space once more filled with serving folk rushing around attending to courtiers and noblemen, all too busy to pay much attention to himself and Ness. The doors stood open to the throne room, the long corridor disappearing into darkness. Ness started toward the stables, a set of low wooden buildings set apart from much of the rest of the castle, a hive of activity through which horses and deer alike emerged and disappeared. They had crossed half-way when a goat-legged man approached.

"Inessa!" he called, his hooves clattering against the paving stones as he hurried over. Ness, at first, seemed as though she was going to ignore him, continuing forwards a few steps before Eldred heard her sigh, and she turned to face the man.

"Yes?" she asked, and even Eldred could hear the annoyance clipping the edges of the sound.

The man stopped before her, tugging his coat straight. "The King wished for me to ensure that you were fully briefed on-"

He faltered when Ness raised her hand sharply, an indignant glare flicking between the offending hand and her helmet. "This is something that I would prefer the boy did not hear," she said, and his eyes widened in understanding.

"Ah. Yes, you are quite right-" he said, peering over the courtyard for a moment, scanning the crowd, before waving toward someone.

Eldred wondered what it was that the King wanted Ness briefed on, and was almost ready to speak up and say that he didn't mind staying.

A young woman approached, tall in stature and dressed in the uniform of a servant with a practical shirt and skirt, holding an empty basket in one arm. Her face was human enough, aside from the tusks that emerged from her lower jaw, accented by short spikes that jutted from either side of her head, her hair woven around them, in two symmetrical lines. The goat-legged man pulled her to one side, saying something to her in hushed tones. The servant glanced at Eldred, and then Ness, before she nodded, fixing a friendly smile on her face.

She stepped forward, offering a hand, "Hello there! My name is Alma."

Eldred didn't take it, wary of the newcomer. Ness had hinted enough at this place being dangerous, and after Gildas's abrasive personality he found the friendly smile and introduction strange. He looked up toward Ness for reassurance or confirmation, but her hands were on her helmet, the last buckle opening, and he dropped his gaze to the floor immediately.

Alma waited only a moment more before resting a hand on his shoulder, gently turning him around and ushering him forward. "Over here is the stable, why don't we go and see Inessa's horse?" He let himself be guided away, unable to bring himself to look back at Ness.

They stepped into the stable through a gap in the foot traffic, slotting in between a stable hand and a black horse and another moving the opposite way guiding a snowy white deer through. "Have you worked with horses much?" Alma asked as they walked past occupied stalls, the familiar smells of the space reminding Eldred of Cal's home.

He shook his head, peering into each stall as they passed.

"I may work in the laundry rooms now, but my family keeps horses," she continued, "so I'll show you the ropes, no need to worry." She smiled again, warm and bright, heading toward the back of the stable. "I don't know Inessa's horse by sight, could you point him out for me?" she asked when they reached the last few stalls.