Lyra’s first awareness was the warmth of her bedroll beneath her, the familiar stiffness of sleeping on uneven ground pressing into her back. She was comfortable enough - not quite rested, but rested enough. Then, she felt it. Warm breath against her cheek. A firm, insistent nudge at her shoulder. A huff, sharp in the still air. Lyra's brow furrowed, her body resisting the call to wakefulness, but the nudging continued - more persistent now. She cracked open one eye, met immediately by the dark, knowing gaze of Orion towering over her, his ears flicking forward as he dipped his head to prod her again, more forceful this time.

  She groaned, rolling slightly onto her side, burying her face into the crook of her arm. "Orion," she muttered, voice rough from sleep, "I'm awake."

  The stallion, unsatisfied with this lie, shoved her again.

  Lyra exhaled heavily, reluctantly pushing herself upright, running a hand through her tangled hair. The cool air clung to her skin, wrapping around her like an unwelcome reminder that morning had fully arrived. She rubbed at her face, trying to chase away the last remnants of sleep, before blinking blearily at Orion. "You could have let me sleep another hour, you know."

  Orion merely flicked his tail, entirely unbothered. Lyra exhaled sharply, shoulders rolling as she stretched out her arms, feeling the familiar stiffness in her muscles from another night spent on the ground. She had slept harder than she expected, exhaustion dragging her under the moment she had closed her eyes. The clearing was bathed in the soft glow of early light, golden streaks breaking through the dense trees, casting long shadows over the grass still slick with dew. The world felt quiet, untouched, like the forest itself had barely begun to stir.

  Korie opened his eyes when he heard the slight commotion, blinking for a moment as he eyed the way Orion nudged Lyra awake. Something about how heavily she'd been sleeping and her casual annoyance at a horse bothering her brought a smile to his face, but he snuffed it out quickly in fear that she would notice.

  She sat up slowly, fingers dragging through the mess of her hair, her face half-hidden in the haze of lingering sleep. The early light caught in the wild strands, casting them in a soft glow, and for some reason, he couldn't look away. The warm rays of sun that appeared through the canopy cast delicate shadows on her cheeks and nose, accentuating the surprisingly soft features of a hardened warrior. She moved without thinking, rolling out the tension in her shoulders, stretching out her arms in a way that felt oddly... graceful? No, not quite. Thoughtless, natural. He furrowed his eyebrows then, confused with his own thoughts. He didn’t know why it had struck him at all in the first place.

  She pushed her hair back, finally turning her gaze toward the other side of the camp, toward where Korie had slept. Except he wasn't asleep.

  "Morning," she muttered in his direction, slightly surprised to see him still there. The night would have been the perfect opportunity for him to slink away. She reached for her pack, pulling it open with ease. The scent of leather and dried provisions met her nose as she rummaged through, fingers brushing against wrapped supplies before closing around an apple. She pulled it free, turning it over once in her palm before bringing it to her lips, taking a crisp bite. The faint sweetness spread across her tongue, cold from the night air but refreshing.

  Korie only realised he was staring when Lyra finally turned, her gaze finding his across the dead campfire. He blinked, clearing his throat as if that might chase away whatever strange spell had settled over him. "You're up," he said, as if it wasn’t obvious. As if he hadn’t been waiting for her to wake up.

  While Lyra had her breakfast, Korie took a moment to relax himself, locking eyes with his backpack and the beloved bow he'd set aside during his rest. He ought to be grabbing something from his own supplies to munch on, they had a long day ahead of them, but he did not feel the pangs of hunger in his stomach quite yet.

  As she chewed, she dug out her waterskin, uncorking it with one hand and taking a measured sip, washing away the last remnants of sleep. Lyra’s gaze flickered toward the horses, taking in the steady way Orion stood, watching her and given the way he then huffed at her, she could only assume he was impatiently waiting for their day of travelling to begin. Her eyes lingered a moment longer on Aurelian, who stood nearby, strong, noble, as regal as his bloodline suggested. Yet, Korie had done nothing to prepare him.

  She clicked her tongue, finishing off another bite of her apple before shifting her attention back to the elf, tossing him her pack as an open invitation for him to help himself to some food inside.

  "Are you going to need help tacking up your horse?"

  Her tone wasn’t unkind - just knowing.

  Because, judging by the fact that he hadn’t so much as touched Aurelian yet, the answer was probably yes.

  He glanced at the horse and resisted the urge to sigh. That was his horse now, yet he had no clue as to anything about them aside from what little Lyra had pointed out to him yesterday. Aurelian flicked an ear, watching him like he already knew Korie had no idea what he was doing. Which was fair, because he didn’t. "Yes...?" He spoke with uncertainty. He'd heard that term before, but he could hardly remember what it meant.

  A flicker of amusement crossed Lyra’s face at the uncertain way Korie answered her, as if she had just asked him to solve a riddle in a language he didn’t understand. He really had no idea about horses, did he? She imagined her question had sounded completely foreign to him, something that had never mattered enough to commit to memory. And why would it? He didn’t seem the type to spend time in stables unless it was to steal a horse. Lyra exhaled through her nose, biting back a smirk as she took another crisp bite of her apple. It really was a good thing she was here.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  If she left Aurelian’s care to him, the damn elf would ruin the stallion before they even set off.

  She swallowed, dusted off her fingers, and pushed herself to her feet, rolling her shoulders. Fine. If he was going to be useless, she might as well make sure he didn’t embarrass himself. Or her.

  “Come on,” she said, already making her way toward Aurelian. “If you're going to ride him, you need to at least know how to prepare him properly.”

  Aurelian flicked an ear toward them, watching them approach. Lyra ran a firm hand down his sleek coat, feeling for any signs of strain or stiffness. "Before you throw a saddle on, you check him over. Legs, hooves - make sure nothing’s wrong before you put weight on him."

  Crouching, she pressed just behind his knee and he lifted his hoof with ease. She scraped away some dirt with her fingers, checking for cracks or lodged stones.

  "Simple enough," she said as she rose, dusting off her hands. "Neglect this, and you’ll regret it later."

  Her eyes flicked toward Korie, expecting to catch him bored or disinterested, but to her mild surprise, he seemed attentive. His gaze was fixed on her movements, sharp and focused in a way that suggested he was actually listening. Learning. She wasn’t sure if she found it satisfying or irritating. On one hand, it meant she wouldn’t have to waste her breath repeating herself later. If he was actually learning, she wouldn’t have to clean up whatever disaster he might’ve caused, fumbling through this on his own. That was good. On the other...

  It was odd, being studied like this.

  She was used to people watching her, but for different reasons. Sizing her up. Weighing her strength, her stance, whether she was a threat or an obstacle. Korie's gaze wasn't like that. He wasn't watching her with the scrutiny of an enemy. Nor was he looking at her like someone accustomed to taking orders. It was something between. She wasn't sure what to make of it.

  Deciding to ignore it and move on, she retrieved the saddle pad and flung it across Aurelian’s back. "This goes first," she explained. "The thickest part should sit over his shoulders. If it’s uneven, you’ll feel it."

  Next came the saddle which she hauled up and settled it onto Aurelian’s back before reaching to grab the girth strap. "You need this tight enough that it won’t slip, but not so tight you cut off his air," she muttered, giving it a firm tug. "Two fingers should fit between the girth and his belly. Some horses hold their breath when you cinch it, so check it again before you mount."

  Lyra retrieved the bridle next, draping it over her arm. "Headstall behind the ears, bit in the mouth, reins attach here," she explained, tracing her fingers over each piece as she spoke. Slipping the reins over Aurelian’s neck first, she brought the bit to his mouth, letting him take it rather than forcing it. The stallion accepted it easily, his mouth parting just enough before she secured the leather straps in place.

  "Not too tight, not too loose," she murmured, buckling the throat latch and cheek pieces with practiced ease. "If it’s wrong, he’ll let you know."

  With that, she stepped back, brushing off her hands. She cast a glance at Korie again, noting the way he was still watching her, still absorbing everything. He was actually paying attention. Lyra decided to be pleased by this. If he had any hope of keeping up on this journey, he needed to at least be competent enough to tack his own horse without needing a second lesson. She wasn’t about to play stable hand for him every morning.

  Turning away, she strode toward Orion, who had been watching the entire exchange. His ears twitched lazily as if he had been waiting for his turn. She ran a hand down his neck, repeating the motions fluidly, efficiently. As she tightened Orion’s girth strap, her gaze flicked back toward Korie.

  "Any questions?"

  Korie paid strong attention, his eyes tracing every movement as she prepared the horse. She moved in a rhythm that seemed almost second nature, her hands lifting each piece of tack as if it weighed nothing. The saddle, the bridle, the girth, all of it seemed to fall into place under her touch, as though the horse itself understood her intentions and cooperated willingly. Her confidence was admirable, and the way she adjusted the straps with precision, her fingers working quickly yet gently, left Korie in awe. There was a rhythm to her actions, a harmony between her and the animal that made the entire process look effortless.

  What got him the most was how her muscles had flexed with each lift under her clothes, the obvious strength with which she handled the gear. His own arms felt lean and awkward next to her sure, steady movements. He wondered if he’d ever be able to handle a horse with the same ease. It was not such a pressing matter, considering Lyra was there to assist if he needed the help, but he'd prefer not to make a fool of himself in front of her. He'd always been the independent kind. Asking for help frequently would be embarrassing enough on its own.

  "No," Korie spoke. He leaned back, placing his hands on his hips as he watched Aurelian for a moment, the way he observed the two of them with one eye. Actually, he did have one; are those heavy? but he figured he'd find out in a few hours anyway.

  Korie packed up his bag and attached his bow back onto it, glancing over at Lyra as she strapped on her steel armor. She moved quickly, securing the breastplate, gauntlets, and greaves with practiced ease. The metal gleamed in the morning light, making her look every bit the seasoned warrior. Korie adjusted his own gear, feeling a little underprepared, wearing no armor compared to her polished armor. He'd probably end up needing some; it would be for the best if they got on that in the next city.

  From what he knows about the land, Aurumvale was described as a merchant's paradise. He could only imagine the amount of exploitation and crime amongst those paved streets, stalls lined on each side of the road, the near aggressive crowds that only made it easier to lose coin to dexterous hands. It was not Korie's most ideal environment. It should at least make it easier to earn gold.

  He mounted the horse with some effort, gripping the reins tightly. Lyra saddled her own horse, and soon enough they were both ready. Korie nudged his horse into a slow walk, leading the way out of the campsite. The forest path stretched out ahead, painted with sunlight and shadow that flickered with the wind's force on the higher branches. The cold made his skin prickle, a light shiver moving through his body, his temperature always so low.

  The road would only grow colder as they followed it south. You'd think with how accustomed he was to the cold it would make it easier to handle such weather, but far from it; the frost in his veins only made him sluggish and slow. His only comforts in the span of this journey would be the late night campfires and the warmth of oil lanterns outside, rushlights and candles at inns.