Beth approaches the horse, setting a light hand on her flank, and lets the warmth of the creature radiate into her bare palm. "We had a horse like her at home," she tells the man. Her smile is a far-off thing, as far as home itself. "A long time ago."

Princess Sonia is a fortunate girl, to keep such a fine mare. Beth assumes she has too many responsibilities to ride often; if Morningfire belonged to her, she'd be hard-pressed to do anything but ride. "Is one of the others yours?"