Upon Horseback [COMPLETE.]

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

"The Bastard loves to have his head," Hyacinthe told Alex simply enough. That, and Hyacinthe even smiled over his shoulder to the lad. He told Alex nothing more but the truth. Hyacinthe understood the Bastard's roots and the need for a semblance of freedom. That, and Hyacinthe himself found pleasure with a hard ride. Fortunately for Alex, Hyacinthe wasn't allowing the Bastard to outright gallop. He had a quickened pace, yes, but nothing beyond that.

In the end, Hyacinthe was testing Alex...somewhat.

How well of a horseman was Alex? That was the true question. There were men that was capable and more than able, but then there were those who truly weren't so well off with that. There were men who had troubles with keeping pace and thensome. After having witnessed Alex have troubles with settling tack and the saddle, Hyacinthe had begun to wonder whether or not the lad could actually ride even half as well. Fortunately, Alex seemed to keep pace but seemed uncomfortable at most with such.

So, what did that mean...?

Well, Hyacinthe could use the lad...well, teach him, rather.

With each year that passed, Hyacinthe had become and older, and although still as a capable and even more so than he had been within his youth, Hyacinthe needed someone to eventually surpass him. He needed someone he could teach to take on the work of a scout as well. After all, there weren't many who could take on the work with ease. There were a number of things one needed to know, understand and be able to cope with to weather the world abroad.

One would be the fundamentals of riding and how to divvy out portions of food through the days, weeks and months, and mayhap even years abroad. One needed to understand how to fish and hunt, and how to prepare food, and know how to find clean water. One needed to know which plants were a danger and which would help to soothe ailments. Then there were the things one needed to understand and cope with. The things that were hard to teach.

What should one do when confronted with highway robbers or foreigners that did not speak the common trade tongue of pidgin or one's own language? What of that feeling of being lonesome? What then? There was so little one could do with that, and although Hyacinthe had Cillian, Hyacinthe often felt overwhelmed within his youth when he didn't have Cillian; in fact, he had no one at the time. Those were things that were hard to teach and hard to learn of.

He looked over to Alex and smiled.

"What are you good with, Alex?" He questioned suddenly. "Could you track? Hunt?" He paused. "What about your swordsmanship and archery...?" He asked of the boy with a perked brow.

[Alais Olivia Strider]

There was absolutely nothing Alais liked about horses. Between their ridiculous size, and the loud noises they tended to make, alongside riding the beasts. Well, there was very little left of the creatures to explore. And what there was left… Well, Alais is pretty sure that she wouldn’t care for those facets of a horse, either. Though like them or not, Alais was at least becoming a competent rider, and she was slowing growing better at her marksmanship upon horseback.

If nothing else, she supposed she’d make adequate cannon fodder.

The girl rolls her shoulders back a slight in some attempts to stretch beneath her loose riding wear. The longer she stayed within the Prince’s army, the more apparent it became that Alais wasn’t well-suited for this life style. Still, the girl was stubborn as ever, and she wasn’t about to call it quits now, at least not after how far she’d come. The girl pauses a moment longer as the boy questions her of what her skills may be.

The truth was, she was a little embarrassed within that moment. Alais wasn’t good for much, after all. At least not within this point in her training. The girl was a decent archer, and, well, she could at least lift a sword, not to mention swing it. Though by no means was she someone’s knight in shining armor. She may be decent within battle, though in a one-on-one duel? Well, Miss Strider would prefer not to risk finding out within this point and time. In fact, never would be a good time with her.

Her mouth purses and her brows furrow. Her feet shift within those stirrups as she lifts herself from that horse’s back, if only for a short moment; fidgetting, and biding her time before she’d even attempt to answer the boy. There was truly no dancing around the truth of it all, no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t lie to this young man concerning her skill, at least not for long. No doubt he’d see the truth one way or another, be it through demanding a demonstration of her, or looking over the recruits as the prince oft did. Would he call her out on it, though? Did it truly matter?

“I cannot hunt…” she finally sighs, “Nor track,” the girl grumbles out, pinching a single eye shut. “Archery and knife work are the areas which I excel in,” Alais confesses with a wrinkle to her nose. Her feet fall from within her stirrups, and her hands tighten within the reigns, lest she fall from upon Maple’s back, and look like some sort of a fool before Hyacinthe.

Or perhaps more of a fool.

She was loathe to hear his opinions on her skills. Heaven knew he’d have a number of things to show her.

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

He was somewhat disappointed with what Alex had told him. Yet, Hyacinthe wasn't entirely surprised or shocked by the admission. Truth be told, Alex looked like he didn't even get his hands dirty on the norm of a day-to-day basis. In fact, Alex looked like he had never arched his back to work whatsoever or wiped the sweat from his brow.

He looked soft and young, and utterly green, but someone had to start from somewhere.

Hyacinthe could use Alex. At least somewhat. Mayhap with the offering of advice or even attempting to sculpt something admirable out of the young soldier. It all depended on Alex though and who knew whether or not Alex would accept Hyacinthe's advice or help. Nonetheless, the moment Alex told him that he did have a semblance of talent with archery and her knifework, Hyacinthe looked more happy albeit somewhat doubtful.

...inwardly...

He wanted to see with own eyes. Yet, Hyacinthe would give Alex the benefit of the doubt.

"Well!" Hyacinthe began and offered a toothy grin. "Half of hunting requires you to be excellent shot...well, at least passing good," Hyacinthe said. "So long as you land squarely then you'll be fine, but then there's the other half of hunting. The one I could teach you. The one that can help not only find beasts but other men." Hyacinthe told Alex suddenly and offered another grin. He looked rather...well, pleased with himself.

"I'd like to see you showcase your skills," Hyacinthe confessed. "After all, there's not many women who are so skilled around a bow." Hyacinthe suddenly told Alex and dubbed the lad as a woman without shame. He was silent then as he made the Bastard gallop harder than before and leaving Alex within the wake of hanging dust.

Had Hyacinthe found out the truth? Mayhap. He had his suspicions. He looked too lovely to be only a boy and even then the lad had little to no experience. If Hyacinthe was wrong then he'd apologize and tell him that he was mistaken. If he was right...well, Hyacinthe would get nothing from it. He wouldn't blackmail the woman for any favors. He had what he wanted in life. He had a life, coin and a home to return to, and the gem of his life.

He had Adara.

[Alais Olivia Strider]

Alais’ heart skipped a beat upon the sound of his accusation. Those green eyes of hers widened for a short moment, and her soft mouth firmed into a thin line. Truth be told, she didn’t know what to say within that moment. She knew well that a number of people were aware that she was, in fact, a woman, though she’d never been called out in such a manner as she had been today.

It had caught her off guard, to say the least of things.

And then he was off. Alais finds her brows furrowing once more, and a hand lifting away from the reigns so her fingertips may soothe and rub upon the furrow to her brows. Did he expect her to follow him? Should she follow him? At this point and time it would be unwise for her to irritate him. Heaven knew that he could get her into some serious trouble with that information. Or at the very least, she could be stripped of her meager title and ejected from the army.

Though to be fair, Alais wasn’t so sure if that would be a bad thing, or not. Though there’s no doubt that there would be some public shame involved, her family name would be tattered, or so she imagined. And then what? She’d have ruined not only her life, but the life of her parents, too? Alais wasn’t so sure, but she still found herself clicking her heels toward her horse’ flanks to urge the beast onwards, and behind Hyacinthe’s own.

A hand lifts upwards plucking upon the loose fabric of her riding attire, drawing the neckline upwards to cover upon nose and mouth alike, keeping the hanging dust from gathering within her lungs.

What did he want of her, though? It wasn’t as though Alais were particularly well skilled, in fact, she was practically useless. Perhaps he actually intended to teach her better than her superiors had been. Though truth be told, she was hesitant to believe such a thing.

Though to be fair, Alais was hesitant to trust anyone.

Trust him, or not, the girl did her best to keep pace.

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

What did Hyacinthe want from Alex...?

He could take advantage of her and blackmail her for the physical release. Yet, Hyacinthe didn't want that. If he wanted a woman then he could head down to the brothel or find a lover amongst the gypsy people. Instead, Hyacinthe wanted to teach her. He wanted to show her there was to being a man than simply donning the clothing and acting. That with time she wouldn't survive the hardships that most men underwent throughout their as an enlisted member of the royal army.

It's what separated them from women.

Despite the fact that there may be women who would argue equality with such a thing, Hyacinthe knew the truth and had undergone such cruel things throughout his lifetime to last him a second one. He had known things, too, that would break lesser men. If she truly wanted to be a soldier, though, and find a career here then she'd need more than simply huddling underneath her clothing and barely managing by with each test she as given; after all, what of war...?

He wasn't certain whether or not she'd follow him, but when she had, Hyacinthe had been quiet and leaned forth over the Bastard's neck to thunder forth. There was no doubt that the Bastard was fast, strong and lean. The beast exploded with a speed unmatched by any other, but as soon as he had, Hyacinthe had pulled upon the reins and checked him. The Bastard spun and reared, and kicked the air before dropping his hooves with a staccato thump upon the beaten earth.

Hyacinthe faced her then as she kept pace as much as possible.

"You're going to need help if you expect to make it in the army," he told her. Then Hyacinthe thumped his heels upon the Bastard's flanks and his mount trotted around her own. He watched her as the Bastard practically danced. "I can offer you that help. The only that I ask for is that you stop doing what you're doing if it gets too hard for you," he told her simply and then stopped with their horses head-to-tail, his knee touching hers.

He offered his hand to her.

"Do you accept?" He questioned.

[Alais Olivia Strider]

Truth be told, Alais was becoming irritated with this boy once more. His attitude had subsided, only to come roaring back into existence once more. Something about the way he treated her as though she was simply incompetent was something that Alais could hardly abide by, let alone tolerate. Perhaps the two were simply too similar, or maybe it was something else entirely.

Either way, Alais felt compelled to prove him wrong. To prove that she was, in fact, capable of being within the Royal Army. Not only being within it, but proving herself to be some sort of an asset.

Alais’ brows furrow, and her head lolls to dip, gaze falling towards the grass beneath Maple’s feet, keeping her eyes from his circling form and simply listening to him speak. What he offered, though, well… Alais was none too sure how to reply. Part of her didn’t wish to accept her help; she wanted to prove him wrong, even without his help. Though she wasn’t sure how that would happen, given she’d never seen him before this point, and she may never see him again. Alais wasn’t sure what to do.

Especially given his circumstances. Having already come this far, Alais wasn’t so sure she could simply drop it all simply because he deemed her unfit. Who was he, after all? Naught but a simple scout who seemed to be fond of bullying her!

Still, her mouth purses once more, and her head lolls to peer upon the young man’s features once more, their knees brushing within that moment, and her gaze drops once more, falling to peer upon his offered hand. Should she accept?

“My name is Alais,” the girl murmurs, then her hand lifting to offer in his direction, her fingers clasping upon his forearm in the way a man may shake hands. She’d since forgotten how an actual woman may do it.

“Perhaps next time we meet you’ll be more gently on poor Maple,” she teases him, then, brows lifting a smile pulling upon the corners of her mouth, “She’s getting on in years!” she assures him thereafter, giving a quick click to her tongue to catch the beast’s attention once more.

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

Hyacinthe's hand held fast to her forearm as she clasped his own. It warmed him to know that she would trust him enough to accept his help. It meant that she trusted him not to tell anyone as well. Although Hyacinthe had to wonder whether or not anyone else had their concerns or suspicions about her. Nonetheless, Hyacinthe would be certain to stifle such things and create a man out of her -- one that he could be proud of.

"Well then, Alais, mayhap I will," Hyacinthe stated and offered a slight smile. "Then again, mayhap we'd have enough time to find you a proper horse with time..." He trailed then and wrinkled his nose whilst he set his freehand upon the Bastard's strong neck. "If you become a stronger rider, of course." He added then shook his head at her. It was only then that he released her forearm. "You do have the potential though!" He stated to her before his heels thumped upon the Bastard's flanks, and within moments, Hyacinthe and his horse rode forth.

It was more than obvious that Hyacinthe had intended to leave her then. Yet, not without a word. He lifted his voice for her to hear. In fact, loud and clear enough to reach her as he lifted a hand to wave back to her. That, and without looking at her the entire time.

"Meet me at the Cockerel on the morrow, but come alone," he told her simply, and then with that, Hyacinthe clucked his tongue. Within moments Hyacinthe left a cloud of dust within the air and left her completely as the Bastard, once chomping at the bit, galloped toward the stables where the both of them had come from earlier that day. Within moments both horse and man disappeared, and within moments both woman and horse were left alone, with only the staccato thump of the Bastard on the air.