Free Fate War: Alliance by E.M. Havens

sounded more like a question. Cole should have been sore from the mental beatings he was giving himself today, but he continued with the inflictions now. Why did he have to be so sarcastic? Samantha was delicate, and he needed to be more conscious of how he spoke to her. Moving quickly, he hoped to regain some of the ease of their evening stroll.
    “I’d like to introduce you to Octavious.” Cole gave a sharp whistle, and an answering nay echoed down the alleyway between rows of stalls. A moment later, a large grey head with a wavy mane a shade darker appeared out of a stall, tossing and snorting impatiently. Cole strode to the beast and calmed the animal, rubbing the velvet muzzle gently.
    “Shhhhh. Samantha, Octavious. Octavious, Samantha,” Cole said.
    Samantha’s reaction was everything he had hoped for. Her smile tested its boundaries, and vibrancy appeared in her eyes. She reached to Octavious from the side and held her hand steady while the horse breathed her in.
    “Hello, Octavious,” Samantha said playfully while she stepped closer. She pursed her lips and breathed a steady stream into his heaving nostril. Octavious stilled and panted as the interaction between them stretched a few moments. Finally, Octavious snorted, covering Samantha’s perfectly made face in a fine gelatinous mist. Cole expected his prim and proper princess to squeal in disgust. He held his breath, expecting that Octavious had ruined everything. To his surprise, Samantha laughed and gave the horse a good natured scratching on the cheek. Cole exhaled, relieved. He was again surprised to see Samantha wipe her face on her lace sleeve without a care. He couldn’t help but smile in amusement and confusion at her complete turnabout.
    “Huh.” Cole hadn’t meant to make the noncommittal sound, but it changed everything. In an instant, Samantha returned to her former reserved self, looking more than a little disconcerted. Cole stammered, trying to find the words to convince her to go back two seconds and be whatever it was she was being, but he knew any words now would be useless. Instead he decided to move forward with his plan.
    “I have something for you. A gift.” He gestured for her to follow and headed toward the last stall.
    “You’ve been more than generous with your gifts, Lord Cole. I lack for nothing, but I appreciate your thoughtfulness.” She sounded just like her mother, and he wanted to say as much. When he reached the last stall, he turned and waited for Samantha to catch up.
    “For you, My Lady.” With a grand gesture, he indicated the resident of the last stall. The horse didn’t come forward as Octavious had, but lifted its head curiously. Cole watched her face closely, and she surprised him yet again. Samantha and the horse locked eyes. She had been so excited to see Octavious, but the succession of emotions across her face was impossible to read as she studied the great midnight black mare in the stall. Her eyes finally settled in the most curious state – sorrow.
    “She’s so sad,” Samantha said quietly, the mare and her having some silent communication.
    “What do you mean?” Cole leaned on the stall door for support.
    “I don’t know. I don’t know why I said that,” Samantha stammered and looked away. The horse lowered its head to do nothing again.
    “But you said it and it’s true. How do you know?” He pushed.
    “I don’t know. She just looks sad that’s all.”
    Cole relented. He wanted to push for more, but understood now may not be the time.
    “This was my mother’s horse,” Cole said more softly. “They had a very special relationship. I wish you could have seen them together. Freedom, the horse, would follow my mother like a puppy. She was a gentle beast too. When my mother died…” Cole hesitated, willing himself to hold back the flood of emotions that burst forth with that simple statement. He couldn’t actually remember saying those words to anyone now that he thought about it.