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Aster had spent the rest of the day in the stables with Asirie, the unicorn liked to be brushed, and had all out ordered Aster to do it, she tried to get another stablehand to, but Asirie would have no one else. It turned out the unicorns were a hostile type of creature and did not get along with others, they even sneered and huffed at the other horses in their stalls. Aster called it argonce, but she knew how content the unicorn was with her. She had no idea how her siblings were doing with theirs, they had left, Aster being the only one staying behind. 

“Want to go for a ride?” 

Aster jumped round to see Beau standing there, in tight leather trousers, and a black long sleeve top that hugged her too tightly in Aster's option around certain parts of her body. 

“A ride?” 

“You know, ride on a horse,” Beau explained, 

“No, I got that, but why?” 

Beau shrugged, “how else am i going to wear you down.” 

Aster rolled her eyes. ‘I would much like to go scratch my legs,’ Asirie spoke in her head. ‘Your mate is eager for your company’

“No shit,” Aster muttered for Asiries ears only. “Fine,” she sighed exasperated. 

Beau grinned, “I'll get my mount,” she ran off with a skip in her step. 

‘I like her,’ 

“You don’t know her,” 

‘She is your mate, i do not need to,’

Aster asked a stable hand to quickly prepare Asirie for riding, then led the unicorn out to the front of the stables, where Beau sat atop a honeycomb coloured horse. 

“This is Lilypad,” she introduced, patting the horse's hand affectionately. 

Aster held back a smile, the horse huffed and henyed, it’s words all too clear to her ears. 

“Yes, i agree you are very handsome,” 

‘If you like that sort of thing,’ Asirie snarky comments to the side. 

“Don’t be jealous,” Aster smirked at her unicorn, she snorted, turning it’s full head away from Aster. 

‘I could never be jealous of just a measly beast,’ 

Beau frowns at Aster confused. “Is something wrong?” 

Aster shook her head, “no,” she climbed up on the unicorn's back shakily, she wasn’t used to riding. It was one of the things Cyrus had the instructors teach, her, Clover and Basil. 

They made their way down the path, and over the open fields, Beau and her horse were wilding galloping along, both Asirie and Aster were more comfortable with a slow trot, mostly because she couldn’t trust herself not to fall off. When they came to the end of the many acres, Beau winked at Aster, “okay follow me,” she stirred Lliypad towards a high fence boarding them away from the forest, and when a running start, she and her steed jumped it. 

Aster stared, “we’re not doing that,” 

‘No, i could easily teleported you both,’ 

Asiries horn began to glow white, Aster gritted her teeth together, feeling the rawness of the magic pulsing in the air, it prickled against her skin like drops of rain and before she knew they were on the other side of the fence. 

“That was so cool,” Beau grinned, “come on, I have a place we can go.” 

Aster followed till they got to a clearing. “This is where i like to go to be be alone,” Beau jumped of her mount as Aster did as well, 

“So you have me alone,” 

“I do,” Beau muttered, fiddling with her hands, “i know you're against this, us, but i-” 

“Before you say anything can i-” Aster groaned, “can say i may have been a bit-” 

“Horrible?” 

“No,” 

“Awful?” 

“No,” 

“As friendly as a pit of vipers.” 

“I’ve been cruel and self centred.” 

“Oh,” Beau was shocked, “you have,” 

Aster sighed, “I'm not great to get along with at the best of times, I know that.” 

“And you don’t think I did?” Beau shook her head smiling, “you know i’ve been watching you right?” 

“Like a stalker,” 

“Like a spy,” she corrected, “I know you're not a people person. But I also know that you care way too much about your siblings and would do anything for them. You don’t take any nonsense, and you love to be right,” 

“That bit wasn't all that flattering.” 

“I say how I see it,” Beau shrugged nonchalantly. 

Aster chuckled, “sio what do we do now?” 

Beau reached for Aster, hands trailing her to stand in front of Beau, “I think we have the rest of our lives to figure that out.” her cheeks deepened in colour with words, her lips pursing out unsurely. Aster pulled her down with her, surprising her with a squeal, sitting under the shade of a tree. 

“Lets start with questions,” Aster smirked. 

Beau nodded smiling, “okay. Um, favourite colour?” 

“Green,” 

“Purple for me,” 

Aster snorted “gee i wonder why,” 

Beau shoved her playfully, “it’s my best feature, you can’t blame me for growing attached. 

“Favourite fruit?” 

“Oranges, I love oranges. Ever since I got here, I loved to climb up orange grove trees, and steal some off the branches. you?” 

“Apples. When Clover, Basil and I were younger, we used to race through the streets. There was this farmer I think, he used to hand out apples to the kids at the beginning of each month. We always tried to get there first. The apples were the best thing I'd ever tasted, sweet and juicy, with a crunch. I was obsessed after my first bite, and heartbroken when the priestesses said the market's apples were too expensive to get.” 

“That was nice, I wish I had someone like that when I was living on the streets, maybe I wouldn't have stolen so much. Okay so what's your favourite season?” 

“Spring, not too cold, not too hot.” 

“What? But it's so mild and boring,” 

“The flowers come into bloom too,” 

“Yeah but winter is better, there's snow, you get to sled, make snowmen, have snowball fights, ice skating-” 

“And nearly freeze to death in the meantime.” 

Beau rolled her eyes, “your such a pessimist,” 

“I’ve been told. Outdoors or inside?” 

“Depends where i get to practice my knife skills,” beau smirked, 

“Oh? So you're handy with a knife.” 

“I’m a bit more than that, but yeah.” 

Aster leaned back against the tree, “what’s it like being a spy?” 

“You learn to blend in, and be unnoticable. It’s not so different from my life before.” 

Aster frowned, “you said you lived on the streets, how did you-” 

“Did you know that in Caldor slavery is still a booming industry? Unlike the rest of the kingdoms that banned slavery over hundred years ago, Caldor held on strong. I was born a slave, as were my parents parents and so on.” she sighed, “i don’t remember when but i was young, too young when i was sold away from my parents. I served under a vineyard owner, i was young so i made mistakes, and being a slave yiou don’t get to make mistakes. I beaten daily, i don’t think my last owner was that hard on his slaves, so being beaten was new to me.” 

He had daughters, my owner, they liked to treat me like a dog, they’d put a collar on me, have me sleep in the corner of the floor. It was winter when i escaped, i had heard some of the slaves saying that in the empire everyone ewas free. So I went, I ran and ran till I crossed the border. I lived in the streets of the capital for a time, got aquenant with local pickpockets, and learned to get by.  That was when I was picked up by the spy master, he thought I had skill, I was quick on my feet and even quicker with my hands.” 

 “I-” 

“It’s fine, Aster, really. It was a long time ago. I’m here now.” 

Aster frowned, “arseholes, pricks, heartless dickheads! Why hasn’t the emperor done anything!” 

Beau shrugged, “it hasn’t become enough of a problem as long as they don’t steal people from the other kingdoms they’re free to do as they wish. Caldors economy reklies on slavery alot, so he would cause more problems then good to do anything.” 

“You’re defending it?” 

“It just how things are,” 

Aster sighed, “it shouldn’t be,” she grumbled.