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[Eclyse Christian]

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An’ how the livin’ hell does he expect me to fin’ his stables if ‘e knows I can’t talk, eh? Eclyse traipsed through Stonegate territory in an area where someone had once told her Kaylor lived. ‘Least I know the general area…

An old man ambled past, leaning heavily on his walking stick. He noticed the lost look in her eyes and stopped by Eclyse, regarding her curiously. “Help ye Lass?”

Eclyse smiled warmly at the man and looked back toward the entrances of the houses before her.

“Cat got yer tongue eh?” The man chuckled, and Eclyse looked back at him and nodded.

“Ah. Sorry Miss.” The man nodded with understanding. “Who ya lookin’ for?”

Eclyse smiled faintly and signed three letters to him as best she could. M – c – K.

The old stranger rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a moment. “The McKairin boy aye? Course yer lookin’ for him. What lass isn’t?” He chuckled.

Eclyse smiled patiently and waited.

“Just yonder, Miss.” He pointed two houses down from where she stood.

Eclyse gave a tiny bounce of excitement and splayed her hand over her heart in thanks, shaking his hand gratefully, then she bounded off in the direction of Kaylor’s estate.

The old man stood shaking his head. “Devil get me if I don’t wish the lasses flocked to me that way.”

[Eclyse Christian]

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The stables were nearly immaculate, despite Kaylor’s order to clean them. Eclyse found a pitchfork and set about clearing out the old hay, straight away. Carefully, she scraped it out the stable gate.

Now the fun part. Eclyse sighed and took up a shovel. Mmm, fresh horse pucky. Sir Kaylor sure knows the way to a girl’s ‘eart. But t’ be fair, he isn’t tryin’ to win anyone’s ‘eart. He's just doin’ what ‘e needs to train a squire. I was th’ one who asked fer this.

She wrinkled her nose as she scraped the last of the horse dung from the stable floor. Well I din’t exac’ly ask fer this. Eclyse thought back with a huff to the scowl he’d shot her the last time she saw him. Viciously, she speared the bale of hay with the pitchfork and scattered fresh hay on the floor.

Ye want yer stables tended, fine. Ye want yer gauntlets repaired, yer boots shined? Fine. Ye don’ ‘ave to be so nasty about it. Ye act like I stepped on yer puppy or somethin’. Eclyse looked around, wondering if perhaps he did have a puppy. Nah. Ye prolly don’ even like puppies.

Eclyse gave pause for a moment, feeling a bit guilty about her mental tirade against Kaylor. Behind her, she heard a door shut with a soft “click.” Someone had been watching her, though she was certain Kaylor was not home. She looked wide-eyed at the door, the latch still swinging from the movement. How long had someone been there? Despite her guilt, at least she knew no one could have overheard her. She grinned and shut the stable gate behind her. Times like this I’m glad I gave up my voice.

[Ancyous]

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Ancyous closed the door with a soft chuckle. He didn't need telepathy to read Eclyse's thoughts. The look of revulsion in her eyes said it all. Although this wasn't the first squire Kay had taken into training, it was the first time he'd agreed to train a woman. His brother's defenses were high since Cezanne's abrupt departure; an impenetrable fortress now surrounded his heart. Whether or not that would have any effect on his teaching methods remained to be seen. Kaylor was a harsh taskmaster and tolerated nothing less than absolute compliance with his demands. Every word exchanged, every task assigned, contained depth in progression toward the sought after outcome of knighthood. He held honour above all, however. Never would he stoop to the use of degradation or pain, for having personally experienced such tactics he realized the worthlessness of their agony. Eclyse, of course, had no way of knowing this.

He chuckled once more as he climbed the stairs.