90, Addon and Estrela

Ayya remembered the way to the old abandoned tower. She was about to go inside when Tenac stopped her. He looked up at the tower and then looked at her.

“It looks like it’s about to fall over,” he told her. 

“Don’t worry, it has looked like that as long as I can remember,” Ayya reassured him.

“That doesn’t make me feel better about it,” he told her. 

“Oh come on now, you will be out of the worst cold if you wait in the room inside,” she said, and took his hand and dragged him inside. 

“And where are you going to be?” he asked. 

“Up top to speak to Zerden,” Ayya said.

“Ayya,” he warned her. 

“There is only one way up and that is the stairs over there. I will be safe,” she told him, pointing at stairs that looked ready to turn into dust when you touched them. Tenac was about to say something, but Ayya gave him a quick kiss. “Love you,” she said as she started up the stairs. Her feet skipped the steps that were unsafe. She didn’t find any new one, but the steps creaked a lot more than she remembered. As she got to the top, Zerden stood looking out over the city with his back towards her. She remembered the last time she had been in the tower. Back then, she had been filled with doubt, hurt, and anger. Now she was just happy.

“Zerden,” she called out, and he turned around. He looked at her and then looked behind her. When he didn’t see anyone, he smiled.

“You came alone,” he said. 

“Tenac is downstairs. What did you want to talk about?”

“I don’t want you to leave Ayya,” Tenac said. 

“I am going to leave. My life isn’t here anymore,” she told him.

“But it could be.”

“Zerden…”

“No, please just listen. The king is talking about setting up a permanent branch of the aari in the city. He has seen how damaging it is to only have the church present. You could lead it, lead the work of establishing the aari here again. Then in a couple of years, if you would like to become the next Lady, we can talk about it. We can have it all,” he told her. Ayya shook her head. 

“No Zerden. I already have everything. Tenac and I will marry once we go back home. We will adopt a son and create a family. Tenac will continue as a grey rider, I will continue to work from the sanctum. If I’m named the Lady’s successor, we will adapt. That is the life I want, and it is the life that I am living,” she said. 

“I shouldn’t have let you go. I remember you standing in almost the exact same spot, telling me you would leave. From the moment you told me, I knew I wanted you to stay. I should have told you.”

“But you didn’t. And there is no reason to dwell on it. We can’t go back and I don’t want to. I love my life. I’m happy. And now, it’s your turn to let go of the past and find happiness. I want that for you. Please at least try. If not for yourself, then for your mother. She would be happy if you found happiness. I don’t think there is any more to say. Please stay safe, Zerden,” Ayya said as she turned around. 

“Ayya wait. If I had asked you to stay back then, would you have?” Zerden asked. Ayya looked at him and considered if she would tell him the truth. But she knew it would only cause him pain. 

“Probably not, I wanted to get away from everything,” she told him and then walked down the stairs. 

“That was fast,” Tenac said as she got back. 

“There wasn’t that much to say,” she told him as they were walking back. 

The following morning, Ayya could tell Tenac was as nervous as she was as they were walking down the corridors of the orphanage to collect Jason. They were shown into a room with three beds. Jason was sitting on one of them, his things packed up in bundles. 

“Are you ready to go?” Ayya asked as she sat down next to him.

“Yes,” he told her, and he looked excited. 

“And you have said goodbye to everyone here?”

“Yes,” he said again. 

“Well, then it’s time,” Ayya said, standing up and holding her hand out to him. He took it and Tenac took the bundles and they were off. “Have you ever ridden a horse?” Ayya asked. 

“No,” Jason said. 

“Then this will be your first time.”

“Really? I get to ride a horse?” he asked.

“Not any horse, you get to ride on Addon,” Tenac told him. 

“What is that?” Jason asked. Ayya smiled at him.

“That is Tenac’s horse. He can be a little grumpy, but I know the trick to getting him to like you. I will share my secrets whit you when we get out there,” Ayya promised. 

“Oh great,” Tenac muttered. Sister Loise stood waiting just inside the door as they came walking. She said goodbye to them and got a hug from Jason and one from Ayya. As soon as they stepped outside, the riders they had brought with them took the bundles of belongings. Tenac and Ayya had informed the riders the previous evening Jason would be going back with them. Everyone seemed to like the idea, especially the riders that had spent time with Jason. Ayya led Jason to where Addon and Estrela stood tied. 

“This is my horse, Estrela. Give her this and she will love you,” Ayya said, giving him an apple and showing him how he should hold it to give it to the horse. 

“Don’t teach him to bribe the horses,” Tenac objected. 

“Oh hush, you know this works, and don’t think I don’t know you use it on Addon when he is being difficult,” Ayya said. 

“It’s only because you have thought him to expect it,” Tenac complained. Jason giggled as Estrela gently took the apple from his hand and started eating it. Then she sniffed his hair and snorted to let everyone know she found him okay. 

“That tickles,” Jason said. 

“She likes you,” Ayya told him. Estrela lowered her head and Ayya showed Jason how he should scratch her. 

“She is really beautiful,” Jason said. 

“She is,” Ayya agreed. Tenac stepped up to Jason and led him towards Addon. 

“Addon can be a little reserved. It’s important you don’t try to force him to interact. That would make him uncomfortable and then he might harm you in self defence,” Tenac told him as they stood a little away from Addon. The horse looked at Jason, sniffed the air and then stretched out his head to start buffing the sides of Jason. 

“What is he doing?” Jason asked. He didn’t sound scared. 

“He is looking to see if you have apples,” Ayya said with a laugh. She handed him an apple and Jason held it out like she had shown him. Addon quickly snagged it and looked satisfied as he munched on it. 

“He likes you as well,” Ayya told Jason. “The apples are the best trick ever,” she then said with a wink. Jason laughed and looked up at Addon. The boy had to almost tilt his head all the way back to look up at the horse.

“He is huge,” Jason said. 

“He is. Do you think you are brave enough to sit on top of him?” Tenac asked.

“Yes,” Jason said, sounding like it was a dream come true. 

“Okay, let’s move around to his side and I will lift you up,” Tenac said. Tenac lifted Jason and sat him down just ahead of the saddle. “Hold on to the mane and sit still. I will mount and sit behind you,” Tenac told him. It reminded Ayya of when her father had taken her for her first ride. She hoped Jason would like being in the saddle. With Tenac as his father, there would be a lot of it. When Tenac had mounted Addon, he placed his arms on either side of Jason and took the rains. Ayya had mounted Estrela, and they slowly moved forward. Jason tensed up at first. He looked down at the ground. 

“Jason, look up. It’s easier that way. Look between Addon’s ears,” Ayya told him. He did as she told him, and Ayya could see him relaxing. Ayya and the riders let Tenac set the pace, making sure Jason felt safe. As they made their way through the city, Ayya noticed the people acted differently both towards them and in general. She had no idea why. They arrived at the castle and Tenac dismounted before lifting Jason down. 

“Was it fun?” Ayya asked as she walked up to them. 

“So much fun, like really, really fun,” Jason said, his eyes glowing with happiness. 

“I’m happy to hear that. We usually spend a lot of our free time around horses, so will you,” she said. 

“I will?” Jason asked. 

“Yes, we will make sure you know how to tend to a horse and how to ride one. And then we will have to get you one of your own,” Tenac said.

“I will get a horse?” Jason asked, as if it was the most amazing news he ever heard. 

“Sure, you need one if you are to go riding with Ayya and me,” Tenac said. Jason looked at Ayya.

“He’s right,” she confirmed. 

“Wow.”