by Robin Roseau
A half block later, she called out in a loud voice, "You did say the Hungry Hawk, Sir?"
"Yes, yes," Fortin said. "The Hungry Hawk."
We rode past Keelara, and she was already in motion before we were completely past.
Muranna and I were known all over Marport, especially at the various inns and taverns. We'd been visiting them each several times a year as part of our duties when advertising events for the castle. The patrons at the Hungry Hawk might not recognize us, dressed as we were, and even the serving girls might not, but if Miera or Tarmis saw us, they would feel obliged to make a greeting.
That wouldn't do.
Ralissa didn't take us by the most direct route, and so we arrived perhaps six or eight minutes later than we might otherwise. Still, I caught a glimpse of Keelara leaving the Hungry Hawk as we came to a stop. Hopefully a discussion with Miera and Tarmis was all that was necessary to ensure our anonymity.
Like last night, Muranna was all simpers. Fortin was charming. And I allowed myself to laugh at his humor.
If he wasn't such a cad, he could have been quite darling. Such a shame.
We actually had a nice meal. Fortin remained charming. Muranna remained cute and desirable. And I remained a little aloof, but not unfriendly.
We were perhaps halfway through the meal when Fortin leaned forward to clasp Muranna's hand. "Pray: I cannot wait another minute. What must I do to win you both?"
"We haven't decided," I said.
"It has to be something really good," Muranna said. She smiled. "It is unfortunate the people of Drindari are not known for horsemanship."
"Why is that?" Fortin asked.
"The day after tomorrow is a day for polo," I said.
He began to smile. "I know. I have been invited to ride. And so if my team wins, I shall..."
"Oh, no," Muranna said. "Polo isn't for the commoners like us."
"Then I fail to understand."
"In between the matches," she explained, "They hold other events."
"Including races."
His face fell. "I do not own a racehorse."
"Neither do we," I said.
"I still do not understand."
"The queen has horses," Muranna said. "For this event, she allows us to borrow a horse."
"She allows commoners to borrow a thoroughbred race horse?" Fortin asked, the shock in his voice evident.
"Of course not," I said.
"These horses are all from Garneer," Muranna said. "They are actually somewhat small."
"They seem big enough to me," I replied. I turned to her. "I almost won the last time."
"You almost won a race," she corrected. "Not the entire event."
I let my features fall. "Still." I turned to him and put on a predatory look. "Do you think you can beat me? I imagine you're playing in the amateur polo match."
"Actually, I'm playing for the honor of Drindari."
"Wow!" exclaimed Muranna. "Really?" She turned to me and then seemed to collapse on herself. "But... He's never ridden these horses."
"Do you expect me to win this event to win you?" Fortin asked.
She turned back to him. "No, but you would have to beat both Meena and me, and there's an entry fee. It's modest for commoners, but you're a gentleman."
"Do you know the fee?"
"The first race is a quarter crown," Muranna said.
"That is not so much."
"But it grows," I pointed out. "And we wouldn't race directly, not until the end. We would ride with the other women and you would ride against the men. You would need to last more races than both of us."
"The guards like to join," Muranna said.
"Not many of the men. But the women guards," I said. "That one guard is really good."
We went back and forth until I turned to Muranna. "He's not interested. And I don't think he's that interested in us." Then I looked Fortin up and down carefully. "He might be fun," I added, "But I'm not going with him if he can't win us."
"She's very competitive," Muranna said. "But when she puts herself into something, look out!"
Fortin leaned forward. "But if you race the women, and I race the men, how would we decide the winner?"
"You have to last longer than we do," Muranna said. "And then at the end they have the best two men and best two women race, so even if we last all the way to the end..." she trailed off, shrugging. "But it becomes expensive if you try and lose."
He smiled. "If this is what I must do."
"It is," I said.
Race Day
It was difficult to believe we were able to keep the subterfuge going. Juleena handled that, even going so far as to surround Fortin with people to help spread the official story. We'd never held races in between the polo matches before, after all, and anyone could have commented on it.
Muranna and I typically enjoyed the polo events. We liked to dress in our summer dresses with elaborate hats and could be counted to have any number of admirers in attendance. Sometimes we stayed with the queen and princess. Other days we were given leave to enjoy other company.
This day was different, of course. We attended as commoners, and there was quite a buzz at the announced event. Muranna and I attended with some of the serving girls from the palace along with several of the less obtrusive guards, and together they kept us from view.
Fortin's team didn't play in the first match, but at the conclusion, the match master called out for "todays race contestants to assemble at the fence to the paddock."
It was actually a little chaotic, but soon enough I found myself astride Zana, waiting for my turn to race, Muranna in line ahead of me. There would be four racing at once, a simple barrel race, each race following quickly on the heels of those before.
What happened next took some doing. Muranna raced against three of the guards, and she won, but only by a second or so. Muranna was a good rider, but she wasn't better than the guards, and she was riding an unfamiliar horse. I was riding against some of the commoners, and I actually felt a little bad about it. I held Zana back a little, not wanting to win by too large a margin, but it was an easy victory.
But I looked at the smiles of my competitors and realized it was probably the first time any of them had ever ridden a horse of the Arrlotta, and the entry fee for commoners was quite cheap. Perhaps the novelty was worth the minor cost.
Fortin won his race easily in spite of riding an unfamiliar mount. He sat the horse well, although I thought perhaps he felt it was quite a small mount indeed.
All the winners, men and women alike, were held back as the other racers dispersed. We were given a choice. We could take a half winnings and exit the competition. That is, we could win back our silver with a silver added to it. But if we wished to race the next round, we had to pay an additional quarter crown.
Or, for Fortin and a few others not listed as commoners, they were required to pay a full crown. That was still a small amount, but it would grow.
Muranna and I both paid as ladies. It wouldn't do to cheat, after all.
And then it was time for more polo.
* * * *
Muranna lost her second race. I caught Fortin's smile at that. He wasn't as happy to see me handing over the coins required for the third race, but he paid his fee. Starting with the third race, we only raced two people at a time. He frowned when he learned the fee for the fourth race would be two hundred crowns.
I made a show of looking over the three other women before -- grudgingly -- giving over a heavy purse. Fortin managed to pay his fee, but then I had to let him escort me back to Muranna.
"I thought you never won."
"I know!" I said. "I think it's my size. The other women are all guards now, and you've seen how big they are compared to me. And I seem to have the right horse, but she's tiring."
"Mine is, too."
"They'll let you take another horse, if you like," I said. "There are a few they keep fresh for the last round or two."
"You sit a horse well."
I shrugged. "I used to ride back home." Then I lowered my voice. "On the farm, everyone did."
I left it at that, but when we caught up to Muranna, she began to flirt quite outrageously with him until he had to leave us; it was time for his team to play another match. As soon as he was clearly out of earshot, I turned to her. "I don't think we can hold the secret much longer, and I think he's going to balk. We're not going to get as much from him as we want."
"He paid the two hundred?"
"Yeah, but that's nothing."
She scoffed. "You have become jaded. Two hundred would be quite a lot if he left a child or two."
"But not so much if he left six or eight," I pointed out. "And certainly not enough to sting properly for what he has done."
"We won't get enough to sting properly," she said. "Being evicted as a cad will have to suffice."
"I almost wish he'd tried something in the carriage with us." I paused. "I wonder if I can goad him into something foolish."
"Yalla," Muranna said slowly. "That's a bad plan."
"There are two more rounds," I said. "If he pays the next fee, then I want you to get people cheering on Lady Yallameenara."
"Yalla, that's also a bad idea."
"We need to find Mellara. I want her to fetch something a little more Princessy for me."
"I thought you insisted you weren't a princess."
"I am the foster daughter of the queen of Framara," I said. I smiled. "I'm going to let him think I was slumming and that he could still win me."
"I don't like this, Yalla. I think we need to speak to Her Highness about this."
"She's busy, I'm sure."
"Yalla," Muranna said in a warning tone. "You're not following the plan, the plan the princess -- and the queen, I daresay -- expect you to follow."
I sighed. "Fine." I looked around and found Keelara standing with her back to the railing, not paying any more attention to the polo match than Muranna and I were. I gestured with my head, and Muranna and I moved in her direction.
Keelara tried to wave us off with a small shake to our head, but all I did was push my way to the railing beside her -- for some reason, there was a little bit of space no one else was taking. Keelara turned, and we all faced out towards the match, Muranna standing over my shoulder.
"She wants to do something stupid," Muranna said.
"I do not!"
Beside me, Keelara visibly sighed. "How stupid?"
"I believe Lady Yallameenara needs to make an appearance."
"Damn it. Um."
I laughed. "Anna wishes to invite Her Highness to overrule my idea. Can you arrange a meeting somewhere we won't be seen?"
"Yes."
"After the next race," I said. And then we moved away.
* * * *
I won. Fortin won. I didn't pay my fee but waited to see if Fortin would.
He was holding back, and I thought it was all to be for naught. I moved my horse closer, smiling, but I gave Zana a signal to hang her head. Fortin's mount really was done in, but Zana was barely warmed up.
I smiled broadly. "Are you conceding our challenge?"
"No," he said slowly. "You said you've never won this event."
"Never," I said, which technically was true, as we'd never held it before. I looked over my shoulder. "That guard?"
"The other woman?"
"She's one of the sergeants in the palace guard."
"The palace guard? Not the castle guard."
"Yes," I said.
"Not an officer?"
"I don't believe so," I said.
"A sergeant in the guard," he said slowly. "And what of him?" He gestured to the other remaining man.
I wasn't surprised to see Corporal Bento had made it this far. He was one of the best riders who had come to take me from The Hippa.
"He's good," I said. That much had to be obvious. I smiled. "He's bigger than you are. But you're cuter." I widened my smile. "I admit something."
"What is that?"
"If you don't pay your fee, then we can each collect our winnings, and I don't have to risk them to the sergeant. But then we can't have our fun, can we?" I smiled again. "I know I'm no beauty. It's really Anna who the boys like. But we have such fun together. She makes me do the most outrageous things."
And then I turned away, but I watched Fortin pay his fee and indicate he'd take a new mount. He should have waited one more race.
They would give him Hamper, after all, the only mount remaining who was fresh. And Hamper didn't speak Framaran.
* * * *
There were palace guards waiting as we returned to the stands, and soon four of us found ourselves escorted to the queen's box. Somehow we happened to step past Muranna along the way, and I grabbed her hand to accompany us, Fortin having my other arm.
All of us offered our obeisance to the queen.
"Rise, rise," she commanded. "I wish to get a look at all of you."
She and Juleena were seated beside each other, and the only other people in the box were other guards. Normally there would have been other nobles in attendance with her, but she must have sent them away.
"Well, I am not surprised to see two of my guard here," Ralalta said. "Very well done so far, Sergeant Hawk. But Corporal Bento, you seemed quite out of place upon so small a mount."
"She's a sweet filly, Your Majesty," replied the corporal. "But she has spirit, much like the others we brought from Garneer." He managed to not look at me when he said it, but I could see the twinkle in Ralalta's eye.
"Quite so. Please introduce me to your upcoming opponent."
"I believe," said the corporal, "he is with the Drindarian delegation."
"Fortin Grass, at your service, Your Majesty," Fortin said with a sweeping bow.
"Ah, yes. I remember you now," said the queen. "You ride well for a Drindarian."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"It is a pity of your missed goal earlier," the queen added. "A lucky deflection, perhaps."
It had been no such thing. He had flat out missed by a good three yards, but in fairness, it had been a hasty strike.
Fortin offered a gesture, meaning what, I couldn't tell you.
The queen turned her attention to Sergeant Hawk. "And your upcoming opponent?"
The sergeant turned to me and looked somewhat lost. "I am called Meena, Your Majesty," I said with another curtsey. "And this is my cousin, Anna."
Muranna offered her own curtsey.
"You have raced on this field in the past, Meena."
"I have, Your Majesty," I said. "But I have never done so well in this particular event."
"I'm sure I would remember if you had," the queen agreed. "Cousins, you say, and both so lovely. Perhaps you would remain with me for the next polo match. It is about to begin."
"We'd love to, Your Majesty!" I said, trying to sound quite overcome with the offer. And so the queen gestured. I found myself sitting beside Juleena with Muranna on the other side. The others were invited to take their parting, although Fortin offered us a look of confusion. I pretended not to notice, as in all rights, my focus was rightly on the queen.
Ralalta waited until one of the guards nodded and said, "He's gone."
Juleena and Ralalta both immediately turned towards me. "I am told you wish to do something foolish," said the queen.
"He's going to need more than the promise of a roll with two maids to pay the final fee," I said. I shrugged. "We should let him know who he's messing with."
"You have a reputation," Juleena said.
"He's not going to pay it, Your Highness," I said. "I had to taunt him to pay this one. At this point, I'd be happy if Corporal Bento can beat him. Fortin is switching mounts, and he's not going to get the best from Hamper. Someone is going to tell him who I am. I'd rather it be on our terms."
"Muranna?" Ralalta prompted.
"I worry he'll do something foolish," Ralalta said. "But otherwise I think she's right."
"If Corporal Bento
beats him, we've taken a tidy sum," I said. "If not, we need him to race against me."
"You're a girl," Juleena said. "He'll assume he can beat you."
"After I beat Sergeant Hawk, he'll know I'm a ringer," I said. "He'll take his winnings and walk away. And all this will be for nothing."
"There wasn't a single member of the upper classes riding against him after the second race," the queen said. "He'll come out behind if he doesn't race you."
"If Corporal Bento can beat him," I said, "That's best. Let them race first. If the corporal loses, then I want the entire stands screaming for Lady Yallameenara."
"You do, hmm?" the queen asked, and I could hear the amusement in her voice. "Juleena, do you have firm objections?"
"If we do this, Yalla, you need to keep your distance from him. Does he know Hamper is yours?"
"Not yet. He will. When I'm ready to tell him." I smiled. "I might tell him his mount belongs to the queen's daughter."
Ralalta shook her head. "It's your call, Yalla."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. If I'm able to goad him into racing against me, then I'd prefer to do it in clothing somewhat more becoming. Perhaps someone could send Mellara-"
"That part I already did," Muranna said.
I laughed.
* * * *
Fortin looked quite uncomfortable atop Hamper. I stepped over with Zana. "You chose a new mount."
"This horse seems especially stupid."
"I wouldn't say that too loudly," I said, looking around conspiratorially. "He belongs to the queen's daughter."
"He does?"
"Oh, he's not her first choice of mounts, but she's won her own races on him," I said. "I've been there myself." I smiled. "Have a care with him. He's considered irreplaceable."
"Why is Her Highness's mount available for this event?"
"I suppose for this moment, so that the final mounts will be from amongst the best." And because you won't get the most from him, but I didn't add that.
Then it was time for his race against Corporal Bento. I had been wrong on the available mounts, as he had a nearly fresh mount himself. I realized it was one that had run only a single race at the beginning.
But at least this one spoke Framaran.