17. Sage
SAGE
Conrad’s admission was entirely unexpected.
For a man who seemed so capable of a great many things, especially those requiring physical aptitude, Sage never would have guessed that he could not ride.
He had a suspicion that it was only a matter of lacking the opportunity.
There was no question in his mind that if Conrad sat astride a horse, he would pick up the skills necessary within no time at all.
Half the battle was staying on. With strength like his, certainly it would not be an issue.
It was this thought that carried Sage into the following afternoon. All of the councilmembers spent varying amounts of time in and out of Roger’s study. Sage hadn’t the slightest notion of what they could be doing for so many hours, other than keeping Conrad busy. It left him alone to ponder.
He focused on the issue of riding as a diversion from all the other things trying to squeeze their way in, such as the tender way Conrad had spoken to him, or how he had practically thrown himself at the man as a result.
And then, the way Conrad handled Emrys’ teasing with such ease, all while comforting Sage with reassuring touches that had done strange things to the magic in his chest. He’d been so surprised when Conrad settled between his legs, but looping his arms around his middle had come almost innately.
It was alarming how well they fit together.
But Sage was not ruminating on such frivolities.
He was standing outside the study at a distance that kept the footman from appearing too unsettled.
He’d been asked several times if he wished to speak with someone inside, but insisted that he did not want to interrupt.
When the door finally opened, he stepped forward and followed with his eyes as Torquil exited, then Conrad, Roger, and finally Wyndham.
Roger paused mid-sentence when he noticed Sage’s presence in the hallway.
“Oh, Mr. Ravenwing.” Roger glanced up at Wyndham, who was standing quietly beside him, expression neutral, though his eyes were hard on Sage. “Did you need something?”
Sage offered a small, polite dip of his head. “I hoped to have some time with Conrad before dinner.”
There was an irritatingly smug look exchanged between Roger and Torquil over Conrad’s head, whose ever-present smile had grown considerably at the request. Sage had never formally called on anyone before, but he imagined this was what it would feel like.
He did not care for the way his magic swirled with uncertainty in his chest as he waited for an answer.
“I suppose we’ve all worked hard enough for one day,” Roger agreed.
The notion that any of them could refuse was absurd.
Conrad was older than all of them by several years at least, but the claim Roger had placed on him still felt like that of a protective parent.
Sage let out a silent exhale of relief as Conrad stepped away from the group to stand beside him instead.
They followed the others downstairs, and Sage placed a gentle touch on Conrad’s elbow with his fingertips to guide him down the main hall toward the front door.
“Where are you taking me?” Conrad asked excitedly over the sound of the gravel crunching underneath their feet as they walked along one of the paths leading away from the house.
Sage eyed the single pair of shoes Conrad owned.
They were not ideal, and neither were his clothes, but they would have to do.
“You must’ve known I was nearing my limit for one day.
I believe Roger and Wyndham could do magic for a fortnight and never grow fatigued. ”
Sage decided not to mention that he had been waiting outside the study for nearly an hour.
“I wanted to return the kindness you showed me yesterday,” he said.
Conrad’s forehead wrinkled as his brows went up. “That’s not necessary. I enjoyed our time together very much.”
“Nevertheless,” Sage went on, scarcely quelling the eruption of unfamiliar delight at the other man’s words, “I feel this is the very least I can do. As fanciful and romantic as Emrys and Torquil will likely make it appear, two riders on one mount is something I am afraid my level of horsemanship will not allow. As such, I have arranged for a lesson so that you will feel more comfortable with our outing tomorrow.”
With this information, Conrad’s comparatively short stride faltered and he fell a couple of steps behind. “You’re going to teach me to ride a horse?”
Sage scoffed. “Did you not hear what I just said? My skills are sufficient, but I am no instructor.” In truth, he had never found much enjoyment in the activity. It was simply one out of a dozen or more talents he was expected to possess as a fae from a moderately wealthy family in London.
As they approached the stables, two horses came into view, already saddled and standing patiently with a groom holding their reins.
From behind them, another endlessly smiling face emerged, dressed from top hat to boots like a man fresh off a fashion plate for the latest in stylish riding at the Park.
Conrad laughed in delight and took a few long, skipping strides past Sage toward Keelan.
When they’d made the agreement earlier in the day, Sage hadn’t known what to expect.
All he knew was that Keelan thoroughly enjoyed his status as a skilled equestrian and had a far better temperament than Sage for giving a lesson.
Everything started off smoothly, and after a short explanation of what each piece of tack was called and what purpose it served, Conrad fearlessly got himself into the saddle of his horse with the help of a mounting block.
Keelan turned to Sage with a grin. “Your turn.”
“The lesson is not for me,” Sage replied.
“I understand, but you cannot expect me to be shouting instructions from the back of my own horse as I demonstrate.” Keelan gestured encouragingly to the other waiting horse. “We will watch you instead.”
Resentfully, Sage helped himself into the other saddle, adjusting his seat as carefully as he could. He was not dressed for this any more than Conrad was.
“Start off at a walk, then,” Keelan told him. “Nice and easy.”
Sage did as he was asked, moving the horse into a walk, not entirely sure where he was meant to go.
Fortunately, the horse seemed comfortable with its surroundings and needed little guidance to follow a path near the fence.
As they circled back, Sage became conscious of how intently he was being watched.
Keelan was standing to Conrad’s left, stroking the other horse’s face.
“Notice Sage’s posture,” Keelan said as he passed in front of them. “Shoulders back, elbows close to his sides. Absolutely no slouching.” He chuckled. “I was always taught to sit on a horse the same way you’d sit for tea with someone very important.”
On the second pass, Sage made the mistake of flittering his gaze to Conrad’s.
He’d become so used to the man always looking directly back at him.
This time, however, Conrad’s intense focus was aimed lower.
A flash of warmth crawled its way up Sage’s neck and he snapped his attention to where he was going again.
In all the time they’d spent together, he realized, Conrad never looked at his body.
So to feel his eyes on him so heavily now was rather staggering.
In all, Keelan had him make about two dozen circuits around the fenced area, talking all the while to build Conrad’s confidence while still being very informative.
He really would make a fine instructor. Sage eased his horse to a stop on Keelan’s other side and dared another look at Conrad.
This time, he was rewarded with the smile he’d been expecting before as their eyes met across the distance between them.
It only lasted a couple seconds, but it was all Sage needed to know that he’d made the correct decision in arranging the lesson.
As he suspected, Conrad took to riding with little difficulty.
Keelan held the reins at first, walking ahead of Conrad’s horse on the same arc Sage had taken.
Still under the guise of the lesson, Sage decided it was only fair that he should watch Conrad’s body move in the saddle the same way Conrad had watched him.
“Do not use too much pressure in your legs,” Keelan said after he’d observed Conrad take several laps on his own, slowly turning in the middle of the paddock, hands on his hips. “Focus your balance in your posture.” He rested a hand on his stomach. “The muscles here.”
Conrad nodded his understanding. Sage could see the moment he made the change and the resulting effect on his seat. A response such as that could only come from a lifetime of taking directions he had no choice but to follow.
Sage was captivated by the thought that he was getting a glimpse at the man Conrad used to be, putting every bit of himself into a task so that he could accomplish it to meet someone else’s expectations.
So that he could help feed his family. So that he could someday leave everything behind, with nothing but hope and three outfits to his name, all for the chance at being a part of something important to him.
Sage shook himself from his thoughts and dismounted his horse.