Chapter 56 - Owning the Future

Wherein Bosra beholds her new domain.

The ink on the deed to the stables was still drying when a liveried servant, wearing the blue and gold of the King, showed up at the barn. Bosra and Reginald were sharing a beer under the awning overlooking the training rings. Training rings that Bosra would improve upon soon, making them suited for more than just horses and goats. 

"Bosra of the Golden Bow?" the man of indeterminable age asked her, looking very important as he did so. He looked straight at her. Not that she could deny it was her he was looking for. 

"Ye-ap," she said, raising her brow. 

"I'm out." Reginald, previously of Reggie's Livery Stables, wanted no part of this drama. "See you around." He tipped back the rest of his beer and hoisted himself upright. 

"See you, Reg." Bosra watched him walk away with an uneven gait, as he cussed away the pain from his stiff joints, before turning her attention back to the important man.  

The King's servant awaited calmly until the rough-looking greenskin had removed himself from their vicinity.

 Bosra did not get up, and neither did she invite the man to sit. 

"Sovereign King Adevald Amadeus Baudric-"

"What does he want with me?" Bosra interrupted the list of names that went on for at least three more. 

"Grimald..." The important man blinked but regrouped quickly. "He is recruiting commanders for his army. It would be an honour for you to serve."

"No thanks." 

"He offers six triple crowns a week as salary, your choice of  accoutrement and riding beast, as well as a free choice in direct companions."

Bosra snorted. Money, armour, a solid bow - she already had one, but she allowed herself to fantasise about a nicer one from time to time - good company, the offer sure made for a juicy carrot.

"You would ride out in a fortnight, all the way to the Eastern Front, where your name and fame will make you feared among your enemies."

Bosra speared him with a dark-eyed look. "Once more, no."

The man fidgeted slightly, obviously unaccustomed to being turned down. 

"The King-"

"Can shove his war."

"I will have you know that it is for a very important cause! The fate of the Realm-"

"Is always at stake," Bosra finished quietly, not impressed by the man's sudden blustering. "I'm done fighting. The sooner your war-minister gets that into his head, the better."

"But the adventure!"

"Been there. Done that," she scoffed. "I'm not looking to die a hero."

The courtier took a step back at her straight forwardness. He sputtered unintelligibly. Bosra waited for him to process her answer. She wasn't in any rush. 

"You're really declining?" he asked incredulously. 

"Ye-ap." Bosra took a swig of beer. 

"Really, really?" he asked again, before shutting up with a little mewl. The hulking Highlander got out of her seat with a murderous aura around her. The very air seemed to turn several shades darker.

"You gon’ shut up and leave, boy?" Bosra’s voice was low, barely more than a growl.

"I guess... I'll see myself out." He produced a scroll with a very impressive seal. He put it on the table next to her chair. "If you change your mind..." he squealed, before beating a retreat.

Bosra watched him go. Only when he was out of sight did she fall back into her lounge chair to finish her drink.

 Might be nearly time to head home. She didn't get up though. She stayed where she was and overlooked her new domain. 

This was hers now, and she intended to enjoy it.

Years ago she had been the rabbit, eager for the lure of riches and fame. Not anymore. She had lost too many loved ones over the past two and then some decades. More importantly, she had gained new ones.  

The women's clan in the Highlands wasn’t waiting for her, though if they remembered her and heard of her passing they would mourn her, as was traditional. Her old adventuring crew would share a drink around the campfire and share stories about her; nothing new there.

But Pupper and Tina, they would miss her.  

The destrier currently attempting to wreck his stable would miss her.

The blokes around the barn… she reckoned they would miss her too.

She lifted her tankard to find it empty. 

Heaving a sigh, she put it back down. Her eyes fell to the scroll. She left it where it was. She got up and walked into the barn to get Beast and work the tumult out of both of them. 

Next day, Bosra was joined by Tina. The young woman was dodging a family to do. During the tube-ride down from Stygian Way, Tina had clued her in to her party-plans. Bosra did not agree with them.

There would be nudity, drugs, and violence, and Valentina would willingly subject herself to all three.

Valentina was a dainty little princess that should be protected.

Instead, she was going to cause a scandal.

"But," she had beamed at Bosra, "that is exactly what I need. If I misbehave and smear my reputation – and by association Selanar’s – he will not want me anymore."

Unfortunately for her own peace of mind, Bosra was not allowed to interfere until the city-guard showed up. Only then could she separate Tina from the masses and make sure no further harm befell her. 

To keep herself distracted, she got to work. She handed Valentina a broom and told her to sweep the front yard. It was still early and people liked it when they saw work being done to keep things tidy.

"You should change the sign," Valentina remarked, stiffly holding an old worn broomstick.

"Hmm," Bosra replied intelligently, looking up at the old faded words.

"It is only proper, since you are not Reginald." Valentina could make the common name sound royal with her prim pronunciation of syllables. "I could make it happen for you."

For the eager expression on the girl’s face, Bosra would do a lot. She chuckled. "Why not."

A wide smile split Valentina’s face. "You will not be disappointed, I promise."

Bosra felt her heart soften. "Don’t think I could ever be disappointed by you, girly-girl."

A serious expression replaced the beaming smile. The emotion behind Tina’s eyes was too ephemeral to name.

"Sweep," Bosra said, when she saw tears welling in those sky-blue eyes. She turned on her heel and marched inside.

Horses, goats and other animals needed to be fed and watered. Their stalls needed cleaning. Their bodies and minds needed training. The barn needed sweeping, the yard needed clearing, the books needed keeping.

The newest batch of barnyard toughs arrived to help with the first and the second. Reggie would come by later to help with the last. Bosra set about helping where needed.  

For lunch, Valentina insisted Bosra came up to the living area above the stables. She had set out food on a picknick blanket. Buns, fruit, cheese, some caramel sausage that was all the rage apparently.

"Are you going to be living here?" the pretty blonde asked. There were only a few weeks left until the end of Rose’s semester. Rose would go home to the farm in Pinnacle, and Valentina planned to go with her – assuming her plan to have Lord Elvendale break the engagement worked. Meanwhile, Valentina was figuring out what to do with the redemption era house. She owned it, and married or not, she would own it until she sold it; daddy dearest had seen to it in the stipulations of the marriage contract. Not all that was hers would be his.

"Guess so. Ain't gon' be staying at the big house alone." Bosra tore into a sweet bun and washed it down with light cider.

She didn't mind going to the big house now and again, but she wasn't going to be living in a place that had more rooms than she had fingers to count them on. 

"There is plenty of room here," Valentina said, looking around the spacious semi-attic. "I can help you decorate, if you want?" 

"Ain't gon' need much. Just gon' need a bed, and a table with some chairs." There already was a pot-bellied stove to heat the place up in winter.

Tina smiled beatifically and Bosra knew she had lost this battle. "You will love it when I am done, trust me." 

"I do." 

Tina's grin was lopsided, but huge. She hugged Bosra tightly, snuffed away dust and let go again.

"I am going to fix things for you. Do not go anywhere. I know it is your turn to cook, but we will get food on the way home. You need to be here to accept deliveries."

After Tina had gone, Bosra found herself standing under the support beams of the roof, looking out the one floor to ceiling window, down into the training yard. 

"It's all mine now." 

The words felt as empty as the apartment she was standing in.