9 He's Dangerous!

"Please"

Luke stares at her. He doesn't say anything and blinks. He glares at Agrio who is right next to them. "Fine," he finally says, "but if your father specifically asks about the incident I'll have to tell him. Does he even know about this guy? Your father hasn't come around the stables in a while." Katalyne stares at the ground and then looks up at Luke, glancing again at his new scar. "No, Father doesn't know about Agrio."

"Kati! Get away from that - that mule!" a familiar voice yells at Katalyne. Got off her horse and pulls the princess back, standing between her and Luke, Clara orders, "move kid, get back to your class while I sort this stupid horse back with the devils." Just as Clara reaches for Agrio's reins, Luke grabs her arm and says calmly, still looking at Katalyne. "This 'kid', so you say, is both older and higher ranked than you. I am a Captain," he says now looming over Clara, who looked as frightened as when Agrio bucked her off. "I'll sort this horse out while you get me my horse over there," Luke points toward Màtia, "Princess, come with me."

Clara brings Màtia over to Luke and the princess and Luke winces at the blood where Agrio attacked Màtia. Then he looks up and glares at the horse saying, "What did you do this time?" Then he turns to find Katalyne sneaking towards Agrio. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing!" She insists, and promptly jumped on Agrio's back. She was wearing black riding pants, her boots, and a white polo which where now muddy because of Agrio throwing her off.

Luke fixes his blond hair and walks over to Agrio and Katalyne before they could take off. Clara still holding on to Màtia. "Nice try," he teases, "but you're not riding this horse 'till we break him." He grabs the reins and brings them parallel to Màtia.

"Oh come on Luke!" Katalyne protests.

Luke takes the princess by her waist and drags her off the horse. Katalyne uselessly struggled as the captain was obviously much stronger than her. "You're going to ride Màtia to the stables. After that fall I don't want to risk anything." Luke said.

He pushes the princess onto Màtia, and mounts Agrio.

Surprisingly, Clara was silent. Crestfallen as she was, Clara rarely let things get to her, but now she could barely face Agrio or Luke.

She goes to mount Solangelo, her Friesian, and leads him next to Luke and Kati.

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They arrive at the barn, it has 12 stables on each side and 6 dim lights at the top. They find none other than King Marcus, standing at the door of Genikòs's old stable.

Princess Katalyne goes pale at the sight. "Father?" She says softly. The king looks up and frowns.

"Where's your Percheron dear?"