Have a Heart

Daniel paused in mild surprise. "Does she do this kind of thing often?"

"No, but the horse does." The black smith paused "No one knows exactly why though"

"I suppose it just prefers this place," Daniel guessed. "Good grass or something."

"We think its stupid. That or it knows that that's the particular spot its damn is buried at." The black smith shrugged

"Its damn?" asked Daniel.

"Mother." The blacksmith clarified. "Its mother is buried next to my forge because I bought her from the farm to pull my cart." He turned back to his work. "Sorry I can't help ya none about the Princess."

"It's alright. I shouldn't rely too much on others anyway," replied Daniel, turning to leave.

"That ain't true." The Blacksmith replied. "And that ain't what the princess believes."

"Really? The isn't how Ellona been acting lately," Daniel answered.

"She don't like ya. Don't like anyone the way she did sirra. Boy was the dawn to her day." the blacksmith set his tools down. "Now she pushes everyone who tries away. Afraid to get hurt like that a third time."

Daniel blinked. "I know about Seirra, but who was the other one?"

"Her mother" The blacksmith replied. "Lady went out for a ride with her daughter and the two were ambushed by a Lyger. Rare them is. Specially round these parts."

"Aren't those crosses between tigers and lions?" asked Daniel. "Those things are sterile. Unless a tiger and lion happened to naturally like and mate each other, it's very strange to find them wild."

"This is a type of demon. Not what yer fancey learning has told you. Mean demonic wildcat. And they ain't sterile." Blacksmith stated.

"Oh," Daniel answered. Now that he thought about, he remembered one of his tutors mentioning them, but he hadn't really been paying attention then. He never was good at focusing on his studies. "But I assume the worst happened to her mother then."

The blacksmith nodded. "Killed. The beast tried to do the same to the princess but she slayed the beast. Her first demon slain."

"So she was undergoing training even then," Daniel said.

"Only the studies. She had yet to actually begin the physical part. She had only been watching the knights practice." The blacksmith nodded.

"She was damn lucky then," Daniel replied, before his expression softened slightly. "But I suppose after all that, it's understandable why she wouldn't want anyone close."

"Aye." The blacksmith nodded. "Best ya be off. I have work to be doing"

"Of course. I'll be going now," answered Daniel, going back outside.

(btw, does the blacksmith know who Daniel is? As in, Ellona's fiance?)

(yeah. The whole town knows)

The horse was still grazing.

(k. I guess news travels fast)

Daniel's own horse had joined Ellona's at the grazing spot.

"So, do you know where your master went?" Daniel asked the princess's horse boredly.

The horse looked up at him balefully before returning to grazing. A younger girl sat a few yards away watching the horse.

Daniel sighed before getting onto his own horse. Why did he bother asking a dumb animal questiond he knew it couldn't answer, he should have grown out of that by now.