The vet sat among them and began recounting the parrot tale. The air was cold, the stable's pungent odor thick, but Hans was accustomed to such smells and didn't mind sitting with them for hours despite his busy schedule. Sai avoided Matteo and Dai's glares—when those two got angry, trouble always followed. Matteo especially preferred actions over words, needing to vent his fury physically. Looks like the horses would shine brighter than stars tonight from his obsessive scrubbing.
Two weeks passed working at the travelers' stable, yet Aldora hadn't delivered. Her exhaustion grew, demanding more care. Hans assigned Ren as her primary caretaker, exempting her from other chores. She monitored Aldora constantly, feeding her precise portions under Hans' guidance. Dai stole glances when possible—the capital was overcrowded today. Ren gently stroked Aldora's belly, murmuring, "Don't worry, you'll have an easy birth. Hans will make sure."
She pondered names for the foal. Hans had told her Aldora's owner didn't care about naming and had delegated the task to him. Touched by Ren's attachment, Hans let her choose. The name "Ren" itself was Matteo's precious gift to her, symbolizing a free sparrow. She wanted to pass on that meaningful experience, even to an animal.
The others were busy cleaning mud-caked hooves, teeth, and bodies. Sweat dripped despite the freezing outdoor chill. The sunless noon might as well have been glowing midnight. Sai eyed the dangerously stacked hay bales outside—five fragile blocks barely supporting a teetering tower. "Some farmer's shoddy work," he muttered. They cared more about coin clinks than safety.
This couldn't continue. The unstable pile swayed with every gust. Someone would get hurt—likely one of them. Propping a ladder against the wall, Sai climbed cautiously with a rope slung over his shoulder. At the top, he tied a bale and began lowering it. Eleven more to go. After securing the first bale safely below, he took a deep breath. He should've asked for help, but didn't want to disrupt their work. He could manage. Or so he thought.
While lowering the second bale, a fierce gust toppled the entire stack. The crashing hay drowned his cry as the ground rushed up to meet him. A cart's approaching wheels were the last thing he heard before impact.
A thunderous crash echoed outside. Matteo, Colin, and Dai froze mid-motion, their gazes locking before frantically scanning for Sai. Terror gripped them realizing he'd been out there. They tore through the scattered hay like madmen, Matteo screaming Sai's name. An overturned merchant's cart lay nearby. Ren arrived late, momentarily paralyzed before joining the search. Dai's eyes glistened as he dug in silence.
"I-I'm here," a weak voice came from the hay's edge. They unearthed Sai—his face scarlet, eyes barely open. Colin and Dai propped him up as supports while Matteo, breathing heavily, demanded, "Do you know who I am?"
Sai managed a pained smile. Colin relaxed slightly. "What a stupid question!"
Their relief was short-lived. A thin red line trickled from Sai's forehead—a superficial cut, Dai confirmed. The hay must've cushioned his fall. The groom's distant shriek snapped them back to reality. He yanked his hair, raging about wasted hay and the guards coming to investigate the cart incident. "You're lucky it was empty and only this Eastern pest got hurt!"
Matteo's stare turned murderous. Colin recognized that dangerous shift—the same aura from six years ago that still haunted his dreams. "Matteo!" he barked.
The groom recoiled at Matteo's demonic expression. Hans' voice cut through: "Hold on, Mr. Rample. I witnessed everything. The boy was trying to prevent the accident. The wind would've toppled those poorly stacked bales regardless."
The groom reluctantly backed down under Hans' authority. Inside, Dai bandaged Sai while Ren applied ointment, carefully avoiding the hidden brand on his back—his mark never to be seen by outsiders. Hans waited patiently.
"Sai," the vet said sternly, "no more reckless solo acts. You should've asked for help. You nearly died today." Sai flushed with shame—he hadn't been scolded by an adult in years. "Understood."
Hans smiled, ruffling Sai's hair with surprisingly gentle hands for a man who worked with beasts.
Matteo slipped out later to sleep in the forest despite Colin's protests. "I need nature tonight," was all he said. Colin watched him go, puzzled. Matteo's connection to the wild was another mystery. That momentary aura of menace earlier... best to ask later.
The next morning, work resumed normally. Sai rested while the groom avoided Matteo. Colin noticed Matteo had returned to his usual chatterbox self but decided not to pry—for now.
"Aldora's owner is visiting today?!" Ren gasped while brushing the mare.
Hans nodded. "When I told him her time was near, he insisted on coming. I mentioned having a lovely assistant caring for her—that really piqued his interest."
Ren blushed at being called "lovely." Was this how having a father felt? Sai sat nearby, trying to join the conversation while avoiding Hans' gaze, still embarrassed.
Hans sent Ren to fetch water from the well. Outside, the air was unnaturally dark for midday. The stone well stood beside an orange-red tree, its crimson and yellow leaves carpeting the ground. The rectangular courtyard was bordered by buildings on three sides, the long stable completing the fourth.
Ren stood on a tall stone to haul up the weathered bucket. Someone should replace this. The weight was familiar—she'd carried heavier loads before meeting her family. Usually the boys helped, but they were busy today. She'd given Sai a look that stopped him from following. Worst patient ever.
As she poured water into her pail, unfamiliar hands suddenly gripped her shoulders from behind. A voice whispered calmly over her head:
"So here you're hiding... you red-haired whore's daughter."