Timmy

Milo cleared his throat, brow furrowed with concern and what he hoped the old man would take for confusion.

“You are mistaken sir” he spoke slowly, afraid his refined accent might give him away. Had it not been for the fur of which he had previously been relieved, the man might have seen his status from his clothes as well.

But the man did not give up. Instead, he took a step closer to the prince, the foul smell becoming stronger as he did.

“Now now, your grace. There are ways of keeping an old man happy and silent” At the word silent the man nearly spit in the prince’s face. The old men rubbed his thumb and index finger together, insinuating that the prince buy his silence.

He was just about to tell the man just how absurd that was, when, as if sent from the heavens, Evie took his arm beside him. Richard who apparently had a wife and a child called Timmy. Brilliant!

“Yes, you must excuse us sir, but we cannot let poor… Timmy…” He gave Evie an amused sort of smile. “Fend for himself.” And with that, Milo nodded shortly and, with Evie still on his arm, they turned the corner.

“Timmy?” He then smiled when they had reached out of earshot of the man, curious to find out where she had gotten that idea from.

Her horse became weary and nervous as they turned onto the shortcut. Usually so calm and collected, she now moved her head all over and refused to go as fast as she had gone.

“Damn you!” Andy cursed under her breath, the sky seemingly collapsing all of the water in all the heavens onto them. Andy continued kicking the horse’s sides urging her to go faster. At last, she did, even as the poor horse was slipping on the mud and avoiding the muddy ditches on the sides of the small path.

Just then, a bolt of fire lit up a tree directly to their left. The horse reared and Andy was thrown into the ditch, a scream leaving her as she fell, trying to cling onto anything that might save her. But there was nothing but thunder and lightning and mud.