Chapter 21: The Lower Stalls

POV: Prince Karna

The change from the warm, damp air of the lotus pond to the open stone walkway brought a sharp, crisp burst of winter wind against our faces. Shivsundari pulled her light silk shawl a bit tighter over her small shoulders, keeping her quick, steady pace right beside me as we headed down the long, pillar-lined path toward the lower archway. The afternoon sun was beginning to go down over the high stone walls of the palace, painting the walkways in rich, warm golden colors.

Meena followed three paces behind us, carrying the small lacquer tray and the water jar, her shoes clicking softly against the stone. Along the open corridor, several palace guards standing watch near the courtyard gates lowered their spears in a quiet, respectful salute as we passed, while two older kitchen maids carrying baskets of dried winter fruits bowed low, smiling warmly at the sight of us walking so quickly.

"I still think you should have finished the entire writing page for Master Varun before dragging us down here, brother," Shivsundari said softly, her quiet green eyes looking sideways at me as we walked.

"I finished most of it!" I claimed proudly, though my eyes darted away for a fraction of a second as we cleared the steps. "Master Varun said I could go if I promised to practice my posture during our riding drills tomorrow morning. Come on, Sundari, you have to see the silver-flecked one up close!"

I led her through the massive stone archway, our boots moving from the smooth stone floors to the wide, gravel ground that overlooked the training yards and the royal stables. The open air was noisy with the sounds of the afternoon shift—stable boys shouting to one another, the heavy wooden gates creaking open, and the steady thud of hooves against the packed earth.

In her past life, long before the fire and before she had ever turned eighteen, Shivsundari had only ever seen powerful horses from a far distance, looking through the high iron gates of fields or reading about them in old books. The idea of living alongside, riding, and learning to command such magnificent animals was a luxury she had never dreamed of during those lonely years. But here, inside these palace walls, it was simply a natural part of growing up as a child of the royal house.

As we went down the final steps into the open yard, the sharp, clean smells of dry hay and oiled leather filled the crisp afternoon air. The training ground was alive with the regular activity of the palace. In the center ring, two grooms were leading the shaggy mountain ponies, teaching them to get used to the thicker, warmer air of the valley after their long journey down from the hills. They were tossing their heads and snorting at the dust rising in the golden light, while younger stable hands hauled heavy leather buckets of well water and bundles of sweet grass for the evening feed.

Further down the yard, in the shaded shooting area, our eldest brother, Yuvraj Aditya, was practicing with his heavy bow. The loud, heavy thwack of his arrows striking the center of the thick straw targets echoed across the yard with perfect precision. Nearby, some of the younger children of the nobles were being taught how to place small wooden training arrows against light bamboo bows.

"Look at him!" I pointed toward the silver-grey colt prancing near the wooden rail of the lower stalls. "Master Rudra says that one has the strongest lungs of the entire northern herd. He's fast, Sundari! Father said when my riding improves on the steep tracks, I can take him on the forest trails!"

Shivsundari walked straight toward the wooden railing of the yard. She leaned against the polished wooden beam, her quiet green eyes taking in the grace and strength of the horses. The silver-grey colt tossed its head, snorting at the rustle of the wind in the nearby trees. Seeing us at the fence, the pony trotted over, its dark, intelligent eyes curious.

Shivsundari didn't move away or pull back as the large animal approached. She rested her small palm flat against the smooth wood of the fence, standing perfectly still and calm. The colt came over slowly, extending its soft nose to sniff her fingers. Satisfied that she carried no threat, the pony let out a soft puff of warm air against her hand, resting its head right near her sleeve.

Master Rudra, the kingdom's old chief horse-master, stepped over from the stable doors with a low, respectful bow. "A fine eye for temperament, Princess Shivsundari. That colt is wild with the stable boys, but he knows a calm hand when he meets one."

"He has good balance," Shivsundari said softly, reaching out to stroke the soft fur between the colt's ears. "His legs are sturdy."

"The northern mountain breed, Princess," Master Rudra replied with a proud smile. "Built for endurance. Maharani Sumati has already told us to select a gentle, safe bay horse for your own riding lessons when the spring melt opens the paths."

I gasped, looking at my little sister with pure excitement. "Wait, Mother already picked a pony for you?! Sundari, you have to let me race her when the family goes to the summer retreat!"

"We aren't racing anything, Karna," Shivsundari replied with a gentle, dry tilt of her head. "I intend to learn how to stay in the seat first."

Over in the shooting area, Yuvraj Aditya lowered his bow, turning to look at his younger siblings with a warm, fond smile. He slung his bow over his shoulder and walked over to the fence, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his sleeve. He reached down and adjusted the collar of my tunic, shaking his head at the arena dirt on my shoulders.

"If Karna tries to race you, Sundari," Aditya Bhaiya teased, clapping a heavy hand on my shoulder, "just tell Master Rudra. He'll make Karna clean out the lower stables for a whole week."

"Hey! I am a great rider!" I protested, though I couldn't help but grin as I leaned against the rail, watching the horses settle into their evening rhythm.