Despite having politely insisted - and meant her words - that she was in no need of a horse or the other gifts of the Dimitrou family, Persephone had been forced to accept the present made unto her by Lord Gavriil in the form of a grey mare of wonderful temperament. The creature was the lightest of dove - almost white - with a dappling of darker grey over its back, hind quarters and the top of the arch of its neck. She sported a mane and tail of light charcoal and was a beautiful example of the livestock that was so famous in Taengea, she was sure.
The creature rode wonderfully too. Still young and exuberant - full of energy - but with a calm temperament that obeyed to her touch and the markings of the reins without a need for strong guidance. She was a beautiful thing.
Therefore, when Persephone was given her first day in which Iason was forced to handle some matters of barony with his father, the former Queen of Athenia had decided to take the mare out for a ride. The Lady Dorothea - whom Persephone was rapidly forming a strong friendship and attachment to - had offered to keep her company for the day but Persephone had politely declined. She felt the need to be by herself for a little while, she had explained. Time to consider her own thoughts. So much had happened over the last few weeks that she hadn't the time to truly reflect. And previous to now, she hadn't had the emotional stability to be able to do so with any sort of maturity or retrospective learning. In fact, she had kept all thoughts of any of the events back in Athenia to the far recesses of her mind and had tried to focus solely on the present. But that would not do forever.
She needed to come to terms with her past, if she was ever to move on with the future Iason and the Dimitrou family had given her.
Being assigned a single bodyguard - a far smaller retinue than the dozen or so she was used to travelling with - Persephone had acquiesced to having the young man follow her around the Dimitrou estate and his experience on the land ended up proving quite useful. He was able to confirm which paths through the woodland led to dead ends, which areas of meadows were a little bumpy or at risk of tripping her new mount. He was able to explain the different areas and what they were used for by the labourers of the province at different points in the season. He was an effective and diligent tour guide, and Persephone smiled and thanked him at every appropriate opportunity.
As they got closer to the eastern border of the Dimitrou province, however, Persephone heard the sound of the sea and was instantly captivated. Whilst sea travel had turned out to be something ill-advised with her belly, Persephone had always loved the ocean - how could she not, growing up in Athenia? - and she made her way directly towards the sounds. When she spotted a little open space just before a shallow cliff that led down to the waters, she had asked for her guard to mark the pathway and to allow her some privacy.
Unwilling to relent until Persephone had smiled sweetly and assured him of her confidence of safety, he had eventually offered her a bow from his saddle and taken the reins of her animal, allowing her to move off towards the open grass plain. It was there that she was standing, feeling the wind in her hair and the smell of the sea on her skin that Persephone's reverie was interrupted by a young woman clearly exploring the area and even more obviously, incredibly lost.
The creature rode wonderfully too. Still young and exuberant - full of energy - but with a calm temperament that obeyed to her touch and the markings of the reins without a need for strong guidance. She was a beautiful thing.
Therefore, when Persephone was given her first day in which Iason was forced to handle some matters of barony with his father, the former Queen of Athenia had decided to take the mare out for a ride. The Lady Dorothea - whom Persephone was rapidly forming a strong friendship and attachment to - had offered to keep her company for the day but Persephone had politely declined. She felt the need to be by herself for a little while, she had explained. Time to consider her own thoughts. So much had happened over the last few weeks that she hadn't the time to truly reflect. And previous to now, she hadn't had the emotional stability to be able to do so with any sort of maturity or retrospective learning. In fact, she had kept all thoughts of any of the events back in Athenia to the far recesses of her mind and had tried to focus solely on the present. But that would not do forever.
She needed to come to terms with her past, if she was ever to move on with the future Iason and the Dimitrou family had given her.
Being assigned a single bodyguard - a far smaller retinue than the dozen or so she was used to travelling with - Persephone had acquiesced to having the young man follow her around the Dimitrou estate and his experience on the land ended up proving quite useful. He was able to confirm which paths through the woodland led to dead ends, which areas of meadows were a little bumpy or at risk of tripping her new mount. He was able to explain the different areas and what they were used for by the labourers of the province at different points in the season. He was an effective and diligent tour guide, and Persephone smiled and thanked him at every appropriate opportunity.
As they got closer to the eastern border of the Dimitrou province, however, Persephone heard the sound of the sea and was instantly captivated. Whilst sea travel had turned out to be something ill-advised with her belly, Persephone had always loved the ocean - how could she not, growing up in Athenia? - and she made her way directly towards the sounds. When she spotted a little open space just before a shallow cliff that led down to the waters, she had asked for her guard to mark the pathway and to allow her some privacy.
Unwilling to relent until Persephone had smiled sweetly and assured him of her confidence of safety, he had eventually offered her a bow from his saddle and taken the reins of her animal, allowing her to move off towards the open grass plain. It was there that she was standing, feeling the wind in her hair and the smell of the sea on her skin that Persephone's reverie was interrupted by a young woman clearly exploring the area and even more obviously, incredibly lost.