Ray had his horse about ready to go when the doors into the stables opened and a small figure sneaked in. Ray didn’t even have to turn around to know who it was.
“You about to head out on your daily ride,” Ray asked his sister, Natasha.
Natasha nodded and hummed a popular folk tune as she went to get her horse ready to go. She was the only one of the four siblings who actually had her own horse that no one else was allowed to ride. Everyone else swapped horses most every time they rode. Natasha, on the other hand, only had two interests. Reading and riding.
Natasha’s horse was a beautiful Black Forest mare, with a nearly black, shiny coat with a pure white stripe down her muzzle and a long, bright silver main and tail. If Natasha could spend all day with her beloved horse and a book, she would be happy. She hated the fact that she couldn’t be the only one to care for Artemis, but her parents required her, as the second oldest child and oldest princess, to fulfill a slew of royal duties that they explicitly forbade her from pushing off onto her siblings.
As Natasha finished saddling Artemis, she looked up to see that Ray was waiting just outside the stables. Mounting her horse, they trotted out to join him.
“Would you like to join me on my ride,” Natasha asked, already knowing the answer.
“That would be very nice,” Ray replied. “It’s been a few days since I’ve seen you outside of meal times.”
“Oh, yes. I have been devouring a new book! I just finished it. It was simply magnificent. You can borrow it from me, if you would like.”
“I don’t have time to read fiction, unfortunately.” Ray frowned. The weight of the crown felt quite heavy.
“I’m sure you could make time once Father has found you a wife.”
“I don’t want him to find me a wife! Well, I kind of do. But not really. An arranged marriage would be easier at this point. But I want to be happy more than I want my life simplified!”
“I don’t see why you are so opposed to an arranged marriage. I fully intend to ignore suitors until Father is sick of them and arranges a marriage for me.”
“Yeah, well that’s what happens when you prefer books to people.”
Natasha chuckled at her brother. The two had reached the ends of the palace grounds. They nodded to the guards at the gate as they passed through. Once upon a time this type of behavior would never have been allowed, but the king and queen preferred knowing that Natasha had left the grounds rather than her sneaking out. The two rode in silence as they made their way through the city and out onto the country roads.
“You’re lucky, you know,” Ray suddenly said.
“Of course, but how are you meaning,” Natasha cheerfully replied.
“You can read what you want and do what you want. Sure, you’ve been given some responsibilities, as is expected from a princess, but for the most part you are free to experience what you please.”
“That is true. I am grateful every day that you are the oldest and not me. Politics are such a bore.”
“My job isn’t just politics. I actually find economics to be quite fascinating.”
“I cannot agree with you, Brother.”
“Why not? Isn’t it just magnificent how every field is interconnected to every other one? How a decline in one area can affect another one that seems completely unrelated? Or diversifying-”
“Stop right there! I’m going to drop dead of boredom if you even think of continuing! Let’s race instead.” And with that, Natasha urged her horse into a gallop.
“I would say that’s not fair,” Ray called after his sister. “Except I have the Arabian horse today!”
It did not take long for Ray to catch up to Natasha. The two siblings set finish line after finish line. Ray always let Natasha have the head start, not because he thought she needed to be coddled. She clearly knew Artemis was not built for speed. No, Ray enjoyed watching Artemis’ beautiful mane move in the wind she created as she galloped. There was a stunning beauty to this sturdy, yet comparatively small horse with her petite rider with matching silver locks. Artemis and Natasha were truly meant to be together. Artemis was Natasha in horse form.
After several miles of rotated racing and chatting, the pair passed a small town surrounded by fields, except for one side that had a small alcove of stunning white birch trees and a small pond. Looking to the sky, Ray realized they had been riding most of the afternoon.
“Let’s water our horses at that pond before heading home,” Ray suggested.
“See, this is the problem with riding with someone else,” Natasha retorted. “If you’re with me, no one will believe me when I say I lost track of time. Mister responsible.”
Ray chuckled as he dismounted and led his white Arabian stallion to the pond. Natasha followed suit and the pair sat down in the shade of the trees as their horses rested. A comfortable silence fell between the two as they enjoyed the serene setting.
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