(no subject)
Archie had a horse following him.
Not just any horse, oh no, but the illustrious Virgin Queen's own war stallion, its snowy white flanks rippling with power as it plodded along beside the path, following Archie like the obedient creature it was. It was not a beast at which one laughed, but Archie Kennedy, former lieutenant in His Majesty's Royal Navy, most certainly was. He was a sailor with a horse, and there existed no more laughable creature than that.
If asked how he had come into possession of such a horse, a question which would certainly be put unto him once he reached his home if not sooner, the young man would not have been able to supply a very knowledgeable answer. The facts were there, in his mind's eye, simple to recite. He had happened near the home of Queen Elizabeth and had thought to call on her, but an inquiry with Jane Redman had quickly revealed that she had disappeared from the island, leaving behind her possessions, including one horse. What happened precisely between that moment and the present was more difficult to explain, and Archie had some vague recollection of asking for the horse and Ms. Redman gladly parting with it. (She had several horses, an estate, a boarding house and a child to care for already.) But surely that couldn't have been what had happened. Why would Archie have asked for a horse when he knew little to nothing in regards to how to treat it?
Why indeed.
"What am I going to do with you?" Archie pondered aloud. It was one thing, with the dog. Styles, still not fully grown, scampered this way and that along the path, keeping pace with Archie but sticking his nose into every curious corner. Dogs could be trained, acted as companions and hunters. But a horse was meant to be ridden and sailors did not ride.
Except, perhaps, this sailor who would have to learn.
Not just any horse, oh no, but the illustrious Virgin Queen's own war stallion, its snowy white flanks rippling with power as it plodded along beside the path, following Archie like the obedient creature it was. It was not a beast at which one laughed, but Archie Kennedy, former lieutenant in His Majesty's Royal Navy, most certainly was. He was a sailor with a horse, and there existed no more laughable creature than that.
If asked how he had come into possession of such a horse, a question which would certainly be put unto him once he reached his home if not sooner, the young man would not have been able to supply a very knowledgeable answer. The facts were there, in his mind's eye, simple to recite. He had happened near the home of Queen Elizabeth and had thought to call on her, but an inquiry with Jane Redman had quickly revealed that she had disappeared from the island, leaving behind her possessions, including one horse. What happened precisely between that moment and the present was more difficult to explain, and Archie had some vague recollection of asking for the horse and Ms. Redman gladly parting with it. (She had several horses, an estate, a boarding house and a child to care for already.) But surely that couldn't have been what had happened. Why would Archie have asked for a horse when he knew little to nothing in regards to how to treat it?
Why indeed.
"What am I going to do with you?" Archie pondered aloud. It was one thing, with the dog. Styles, still not fully grown, scampered this way and that along the path, keeping pace with Archie but sticking his nose into every curious corner. Dogs could be trained, acted as companions and hunters. But a horse was meant to be ridden and sailors did not ride.
Except, perhaps, this sailor who would have to learn.