“Beg your pardon, my lady, Prince Vadim,” a very old man edges in on the conversation, “I did not mean to eavesdrop but I couldn’t help over hearing. Not but a week ago the innkeeper in Severton served a delicious lamb roast and I am certain he seasoned it with spearmint.”
Coral looks at the man, “You know for sure?”
“Aye, my lady, it was almost as my mum used to make and back when I was a lad I used to forage for the leaves myself.”
“Thank you, kind sir,” Coral smiles. She looks to Vadim, “How far is Severton from here?”
“Perhaps half an hour’s ride east,” he says.
She thinks on it, “Maybe we can go tomorrow,” she says to herself.
He smiles, “Let’s go today. The afternoon is young still and we will be back with plenty of time before supper.”
Nodding, she thanks him. The waft of sweet rolls fills the small bakery as Tillie pulls a sheet of them from the oven. Happily, she offers Vadim and Coral a warm roll, still glistening with butter. Vadim pulls a coin from his pouch and when Tillie tries to refuse he insists further, with a smile on his face as he bites into the warm bread.
As they leave Coral eats her roll, having never tasted anything like it before. She now knows why the Doctor frequents the bakery.
“Young sir,” Vadim calls to a colt no more than five years old as he trots down the street. When he turns to see Vadim, he immediately comes over and bows. Vadim hands him a silver coin, “I am in need of your assistance.”
“Of course, my lord,” the boy replies.
“Please go to the castle and inform Prince Quell that Lady Coral and I are headed to Severton for the afternoon, in search of the item she seeks.”
The boy bows again before running off to the castle. They continue walking down the road; as Coral turns east, Vadim starts to turn west.
“The stables are this way, my lady,” he says, finishing his bread.
“If we were to walk, would we get back in time for supper?” she asks, looking up at the beautiful blue sky.
He smiles, unable to say no to her, “Yes, it would take us an hour to walk there? Are you up for it?”
She laughs, “I have walked a lot further in my life, Prince Vadim.”
Turning east he walks along side her, “Please, Coral, call me Vadim.”
Their walk is pleasant; conversation easily flows as they get to know more about each other. Vadim tells her tales of his youth and the trouble him and Quell used to cause when they were foals. After some prodding, Coral shares a bit of her childhood with him though she doesn’t have many amusing stories as most of hers dealt with helping animals or making medicines. When he prods her about the ox, having heard it recounted by his brother, she reluctantly recounts her side of the story. Vadim listens thoroughly, not seeing her as a threat but a kind and strong woman.
Before long they arrive at the edge of Severton making their way to the inn on the further edge of the town. It is a small town, barely bigger than the one Coral grew up in but much more elaborate with two story buildings and finely crafted architecture.
“I should tell you,” Vadim says as they walk down the deserted street, “that you will likely not see a centaur in Severton. Only humans inhabit this area.”
She turns to him, slightly concerned, “Why? Are we not still in the King’s land?”
“Aye, we are and it isn’t that centaurs aren’t welcome because they are. This town was built by humans from Centuarna who chose human mates. Some who do still live in town but others prefer to live a simpler farming life out here. I’ve always found it a bit unusual to not be around a centaur but perhaps for you it will feel normal.” He opens the inn door for her, following her inside.
It takes a moment for her eyes to adjust; several tables lie bare as all of the people are out tending their fields or working in town. The innkeeper appears from a door towards the back. After walking to them, he recognizes Vadim, “Prince, good afternoon,” he says surprised, while he bows.
“Good day, innkeeper,” Vadim replies.
The man turns to the lady, bowing again, “And to you as well, my lady.”
“Thank you, kind sir. We are on a bit of a quest-a man from town said that you had served roasted lamb with spearmint recently?”
“Oh yes, indeed, but I do apologize, I don’t have any more lamb; if you like, I am roasting some chickens for supper-”
Coral cuts off the man with a smile, “Actually, I am inquiring about the spearmint. I am a healer, under employment of the King and have found myself in need of some but it doesn’t appear to be a very common herb around these parts.”
“Indeed,” the man says, “it is not. I was lucky enough to find a patch near the bridge that crosses the river, just east of here-if you have some time, I can run and fetch some for you.”
“Is it very far from here? I should like to harvest some myself,” she says to the innkeeper.
“No, it isn’t that much farther, I am familiar with the bridge you speak of,” Vadim says.
The innkeeper smiles, “It is on the north side of bridge before you cross it. If you are familiar with the plant it will be easy to spot. If you’d like, I can pack you some food-the spearmint grows near a lovely tree that is a perfect place to sit and rest, it is rather peaceful.”
Before Coral can respond Vadim accepts, “Thank you, that would be most appreciated.”
It doesn’t take the innkeeper long to return from the kitchen with a basket full of cloth wrapped food, a bottle of wine tucked in it as well. Vadim insists on paying the man and carrying the basket as they walk through the town and into the country side.
It reminds Coral a lot of home-the peaceful trees listing in the breeze, the fragrant smell of grass filling her lungs. It is a lot quieter than Centuarna, something she didn’t realize that she missed until now.
She easily finds the spearmint plant; it has spread rapidly around the bank, the sweet cool fragrance lingering in the air. Vadim sits down under the massive oak tree, emptying the basket of their snacks. Coral uses the empty basket and fills it with the spearmint, taking care to moisten some cloth from her bag to wrap around the ends of several hardy sprigs to propagate once she returns to the castle. When another scent catches her nose, she recognizes water mint growing nearby and soon finds a small peppermint hybrid. She harvests a hefty amount from the plant, leaving enough to keep it alive but taking the rest. With the basket piled high she hikes up the bank to Vadim.
Sprawled out, he is laying on his side, propped up on one arm. He has taken off his jacket, spreading it out on the ground for Coral to sit on so that her dress will not get dirty. It brings a smile to her face as she sits down and he unstoppers the wine and offers her the first taste. She brings it to her lips, the deep, earthy rich taste of the dark red tart in her mouth, the alcohol so strong in it that she knows she needs to be careful with the quantity she consumes.
Picking up a piece of cheese with a slice of apple, she looks out over the river as she chews; the trickling sound of water combined with the cool, shaded breeze and wine relax her.
“I could live every day like this,” Vadim says softly, “Long, adventurous walks with a beautiful woman, a picnic under a tree by a river, a good bottle of wine…”
When Coral turns to him, she sees that he is watching her. She averts her gaze, unsure what to say. Instead she picks a spearmint leaf off of a sprig and hands it to him, “Put it in your mouth, chew it and hold it there.”
He looks at her curiously, but does what she says. She watches the surprise on his face as he describes it to her, “It is so… fresh, but tender and green tasting. Cool to the tongue.”
She takes a peppermint leaf and hands it to him, “Now this one.”
Spitting out the spearmint leaf, he tries the peppermint as well, “Oh my,” he says, suddenly jarred, “It is so cold, almost spicy.”
“Like walking outside on a bitterly cold winter morning,” she says with a smile.
“You have a wonderful way with words,” Vadim takes the leaf out of his mouth, biting into a piece of bread. “I feel so at peace when I am around you.”
She returns her gaze to the river, unsure of herself, “You flatter me so, Vadim.”
“I am very fond of you, Coral. I hope you can see that. I would do anything for you, if you were my mate.” The words send a shiver down her back, his voice so tender and gentle.
“I thought you were engaged to a centaur,” she says softly.
He sighs, “What kind of life could I offer her? As I can never be King, she could never be Queen. We won’t be able to produce any kin.”
“Anything is possible,” Coral points out.
“Even if it was possible and from what I understand, the… pieces don’t fit together right-but say we do produce a son, an heir to the throne. He becomes King but in the mean time I rule Centuarna as a steward,” Vadim shakes his head, “though they treat me like a centaur there would be unrest with me ruling, everyone would doubt my orders, the humans would grow beyond their place, perhaps even war-what kind of place would I be handing over to my son? No, if-and this is a big if-my mate were to get pregnant, I would abdicate the throne to Quell.” Coral looks at him sharply; he realizes what he said, “You’ll have to forgive me maiden, I’ve thought long and hard on this and have long ago made my decision, however I have never told anyone until you. Not even my father knows.”
She nods, “I understand. I won’t say a word. It is a very noble choice on your part, Vadim; you want what is best for everyone.”
He looks at her, his deep brown eyes searing into hers. She can see the yearning on his face, the want, the need to be with her, “If I were to take a human mate, I could give her the world-a normal life, away from Centuarna. Build her a house in the woods by a river, raise human children during the day, fall asleep in her arms every night. We-we could be happy.”