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Ilfariel blinked at her captain. "The Lone-lands? Are you sure, sir?"
He nodded. "We're getting more recruits that we can handle at the moment," he told her. "We have enough men-at-arms here to keep the city safe, and they need someone with experience out there. I'd like for you to leave within the week, if you can."
She nodded. "I can, sir. It's just... unexpected."
He chuckled. "But not unearned. You've proved your worth many times over, Ilfariel, and now you can show it to others. Now, dismissed. You should start packing soon." She nodded and saluted crisply, then turned to the door. The captain stopped her, however, before she could turn the knob.
"Oh, there's one more thing," he said casually. "I'd like you to head north first, to the horse-farms. You'll be doing a lot more traveling at your new post, and I think it's about time you had a mount of your own." Fari whirled and stared at him wide-eyed, then broke into a wide, dazzling grin when she saw he was serious. Forgetting decorum, she swept out the door and was gone.
* * * * * *
Ilfariel stroked the bay gelding's neck soothingly as he tossed his head. The stableboy hovered near, watching. "He's well-broke, spirited but gentle, and real sure-footed. The boss wants a fair price for him, but the Guard's supposed to be handling that, so you shouldn't need to worry."
She scratched around the horse's ears as he nudged his nose into her chest. "I'll take him," she said softly. "What's his name?"
The boy shuffled his bare feet in the dust. "He doesn't really have a name, miss. None of our horses to be sold do. You can name him what you'd like."
Ilfariel studied the warm brown eyes that looked into her own, then offered an apple slice on her palm. The horse happily lipped it up and munched it. "I'll call him Villox," she said at last, and the gelding snorted his approval.
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(You know the best thing about F2P is? I get to play the game with my sister again, woot!)
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