A summer rain fell upon Brown Manor in misty droplets. Baron Brown had been invited by Viscount Beaumont on a hunt. Rosalie was making it her business that the invitation be extended to her as well.

Rosalie blocked the entrance of the stall where Rick inspected his chestnut stallio's hooves. She was dressed in a fashionable manner befitting a lady: hair tied beneath a white veil, a richly green belt, and layers of red dresses embroidered with yellow thread. She wore a handsome set of clogs which were particularly useful today due to the mud outside and the horse shit in the sable. "I," Rosalie began, her voice full of confidence, "am an excellent hunter." She had her arms crossed and her weight rested on one cocked hip. "I would not frighten a thing nor would I miss a shot."

Satisfied that his stallion's hooves were devoid of stones and clean as they could be, Rick stood with a grunt. "You are an excellent hunter of foxes," he corrected. "We are hunting a stag." He stood back, squinted at his stallion's mane, and looked around for one of the stable boys. "Get the comb."

The boy did so, but lingered behind Rosalie. The boy did not intend to disobey Rick but he certainly did not have the status to approach Rosalie any closer nor to order her to move. He waffled, looking to his master for some sort of assistance he dare not ask for aloud or else be accused of imposing upon his superior.

Uncaring of the boy's difficulties and seeing the perfect opportunity to make herself further nuisance until her way was gotten, Rosalie continued. "Then I shall display my very refined manners and serve as most enchanting company."

"Rosalie, step aside for the boy."

She considered not doing so. But, Rick was older, and a boy, and heir to the manor which made him her superior in every way. Best not to test that while she was aiming for a favor. She stepped aside, the stable boy darted forward, and Rick sighed.

"It was Baron Brown who was invited. An invitation is not mine to give and Grandfather has made his choice in Kevin and myself." Rick combed through his stallion's red mane and smiled when the horse relaxed, mimicking chewing though he had no hay in his mouth. "Perhaps Viscount Beaumont permitted no further. It would be impermissible to impose more than he has invited."

"I doubt Viscount Beaumont is incapable of hosting one more," she argued. She would have wondered why Kevin was chosen, but he would be going to the College of Spears in the spring. No doubt their grandfather wanted him to make a few last good impressions before he was gone for months or years.

She needn't bother speculating why Rick was chosen. One day, he would would be the new Baron Brown serving a new Viscount Beaumont.

Rick fed the bridle to his horse who accepted it with a few chews to adjust how the bit sat in his mouth. "What our lord is capable of and what he decides do to needn't be the same. It is the right of a ruler to do as they see fit in their demesne."

The horse was saddled. Rick took the reins, motion for Rosalie to step aside (she had taken position in the stall entrance again) and led his stallion out.

"I will bring you good stories, Rosalie. I promise. They'll be just as good as my tales from the Great Beneath."

"They will not be as good as the tales from the great beneath," Rosalie insisted, smiling. "You won't fight goblins, or see angels, or bring fire from steel on a hunt."

"I might bring fire from steel."

They smiled at one another and it was broken only by Rick shaking his head.

"I must see that our party is ready to depart. You should go inside before you catch a chill."

Determined to not be left behind, Rosalie bid one last try. "I have a letter from Suzanne for Diodore."

Rick nodded. "Then bring it down and I shall deliver it for you."

Rosalie made her way inside the heart of Brown Manor and did not fetch the letter for Rick.