Royal Rebellion {on hold}

Chapter 4

After lunch, I headed to the stables to find my horse, Pepper.

When I arrived, the stable hands startled. They were obviously still finishing up a late lunch.

One of the boys, a lanky boy with messy brown hair and startling green eyes jumped up, his page boy hat askew and his breeches covered in hay. His half-eaten sandwich fell to the floor and I stared mournfully at it before looking back up. His collared white shirt was wrinkled and I spotted a large clump of hay on his back as he hastily bowed.

"Your highness," he breathed, still bent over.

"You, er, have a piece of..." I trailed off, pointing at his back. He twisted around and stared, mortified at the clump of hay. His face turned bright red as he hurriedly brushed it off.

"S-sorry, your highness," he stuttered. I smiled uncertainly. The stable boy seemed new, though he was about my age. He didn't seem to know my "fabled" reputation.

"Have you seen Pepper?" I asked. I hadn't been in the stables for quite some time and they seemed to have received a couple of new horses. I just hoped that father hadn't done anything to my beloved horse.

"Over here, your highness." The stable boy led me to the back of the spacious stables. I furrowed my brow in confusion.

"What's Pepper doing back here?" I asked. The boy hurriedly answered me.

"We got a couple new horses. Your highness," he quickly added. "We moved Pepper to a larger stall because w-well, because he's, you know, your highnesses horse." he nearly whispered that last part, slightly cowering as if he expected that I would hit him or something at any second.

"Okay," I said. Walking towards Pepper's stall, I glanced back, catching a confused expression on the stable-boy's face. I turned back and lightly clapped him on the shoulder.

"Thanks for your help,?" I paused, waiting for his name.

"A-adam," he stammered. I leaned in.

"A little confidence might do you good," I whispered, smiling when I leaned back. He left the stables with a very, very confused look on his face.

I entered Pepper's stall, closing the door behind me as I grabbed a brush from the hook on the wall. Pepper remained with his head down, nosing through the hay on the ground.

"Hi boy. Come on." I patted my thigh and crouched down. "Pepper~" I said in a sing song voice. "Come on boy, why aren't you looking at me?" I pouted. Reaching down, I gently pulled Peppers head up. He huffed, and eyed me with what you could call an expression of disdain.

With a great snort, Pepper sneezed all over my face. I froze, my face covered in horse snot. When I opened my eyes just a little. Pepper seemed to be staring at me with a smug look on his face.

"Pepper," I groaned, using my sleeve to wipe my face. "Come on. I'm sorry ok? I've been busy." Pepper didn't move, still glaring at me. I sighed.

"I brought an apple." I tried. I could see his resolve cracking swiftly. Pepper trotted forward to accept my treat and I shot him a smug grin. I swear he rolled his eyes at me.

While Pepper munched on his apple, I used the brush I had grabbed and combed his coat until it was shiny. His lean muscles flexed under his dappled grey coat, spots of black and white peppering his body; hence the name Pepper. He was the fastest horse in the stables and no matter how hard the other horses were trained, none could beat Pepper. It gave me great joy knowing that Darrel's horse was slower by quite a bit.

"Want to go for a ride, yes?" I cooed. I swear this horse made me soft.

Pepper just snorted and bobbed his head. I guess that's pretty much horse for yes.