A new home

Kopa led Mary to the horse and grabbed her around her waist and lifted her so she was seated on the horse. Mary let out a surprised squeak and franticly tried to find something to grab hold of.

She didn’t sit like the rest of the riders, that had one leg on each side of their horses. Instead, she sat with both legs on one side. She was also sitting further forward on the horse, almost so she was sitting on its neck.

“Take hold of her mane, you won’t hurt her” Kopa instructed, and Mary turned her upper body so she could grab ahold of the horse’s mane with both hands.

“Good, now turn a little so your right leg comes a bit more on top of her” Kopa said. Mary turned her lower part and let her right leg glide up a bit and she realised that she was more stable in that position.

“Very good, you’re a natural” Kopa reassured her. “I’m going to mount now. I’ll be sitting right behind you. She might sway a bit, but that is okay” he continued and Mary nodded.

She focused on keeping her balance as Kopa took the reins in one hand and swung himself on to the horse. The horse shifted a bit underneath Mary, but she just gripped the mane tighter. Next thing she felt Kopa’s arms go around her, grabbing the reins and she felt secure.

“We will just ask her to move forward slowly so you get the feel of it.” he said as she felt him shift in the saddle and move his hands forward. That made the horse start to walk forward. It felt unsteady and Mary felt her body turn rigid as she fought the feeling of slipping of.

“Relax Mary, it will be easier if you move with the horse” Kopa instructed.

Mary tried to relax her muscles and after a couple of more steps she could feel the rhythm of the horse and tried to follow it with her body.

“There you go” Kopa said, sounding proud. Mary felt, more than saw, that he nodded toward Nihal and then the whole group started moving. “We will go a bit faster now, but just keep doing what you are doing” Kopa said.

After a while Mary found that she could relax even more and started enjoying being on the back of the horse. The air was a bit cool, but she wasn’t cold. It just felt refreshing. Kopa had been silent as he let Mary get comfortable on the horse.

“Mary, I want to talk to you about what will happen when we reach Salmis” he finally said, and Mary nodded to let him know she was paying attention.

“Two years ago, I met someone, and we got married. Her name is Bettina.” Kopa started. Mary smiled, she was happy for him.

“Congratulations” she said, although she was a bit late.

“Thank you. She is a good person, kind and has a lot of patience, well she would need to, to stand to be around me” he said with a small smile and Mary couldn't help but chuckle. She could see that this woman made Kopa happy.

“We were both a bit older when we met so we will not have children” he continued.

“I’m sorry” Mary said honestly. She couldn’t think of someone that would make a better father than Kopa.

“Don’t be, little one. We knew it was not something we would have and with my position as head of the Lady’s bodyguard and Bettina’s work as a midwife and herbalist. Our home is no place for children” he said, and Mary couldn’t hear any regret or pain in his voice. She nodded.

“Bettina knows all about you Mary, I have talked about you quite a bit”

“You have?” Mary asked surprised.

“Of course I have. You know I never wanted to leave you behind. One of the reasons I agreed to do so last time was because I couldn’t offer you a home. But now I can. I don’t want to let you go again Mary. But the decision wasn’t mine alone to make.” Mary nodded even though she had no idea what he was talking about.

“I rode ahead so that I could talk to Bettina. I am lucky to have such an amazing wife as her and she had no objections to my proposal. I’m going to give you a choice Mary, you have every right to get your say about this. I need you to promise me to be honest, no one will get angry or hurt what ever choice you make. Do you understand and promise to be honest?” he said seriously.

“I understand Kopa, and I promise” she answered.

“Good. I would like you to come and live with me and Bettina, in our home. We would both like to make you a part of our family. Would that be something you would consider?” he asked. Mary had never heard him be nervous before.

Did he really think she would say no to his offer? He had just given her everything she had ever wanted, and she found herself unable to speak from all the emotions that bubbled up in her chest. Tears started to fall from her eyes, and she let go of the mane with one hand to wipe them away.

“Mary, what’s wrong? I promise we won't force you. You can say no” Kopa sounded almost desperate. It was hard for Mary to calm him as she couldn’t find her voice as she was trying not to sob out loud and sitting with her back turned to him.

She braved turning around as best as she could, shifting her weight around. She looked him in the eyes and gave him the most brilliant smile she could muster. She could see the worry in his eyes and how it slowly disappeared and was replaced by hope when he saw her smile.

“I would love to” Mary finally managed to say, although it came out as a soft whisper. “I would like nothing more than to be part of your family” she continued and couldn’t stop smiling although the tears kept rolling down her cheeks.

“Really?” Kopa asked and she could hear the emotion that was in his voice and she saw his eyes glitter with tears he held back.

“Really” she said before she felt the need to turn her gazer forward so she would not lose her balance.

“That makes me happy, little one. I promise that you will be safe as long as I breathe” Kopa said, Mary nodded as she again fought back sobs.