Dressage

Shortly after noon, a lone figure makes her way toward the stables, whistling as she goes. Folly still wears jeans and a t-shirt, but she has changed out of her sandals and into riding boots. She has a small leather pack slung over her shoulders and carries three apples, which she juggles as she walks.

When she gets close enough to speak to one of the stablehands without shouting, she smiles and asks, "Is Garrett around?"

A stableboy, who looks to be about twelve, smiles at her, shifting the large bucket of water he's struggling with. "Yes, Lady Folly. He's here somewhere. I'll fetch 'im." He sets down his bucket and trots off into the royal stable, yelling "GARRETT!" at the top of his lungs.

From somewhere inside the building, Folly hears an answering "Wha'!".

Folly catches the apples she's been juggling and tucks them into the crook of her arm as she tries to suppress her laughter.

After a short muffled conversation, Garrett appears in the doorway. He waves as he approaches Folly and is tailed by the stableboy, who is grinning and appears reluctant to leave. "Afternoon, Lady Folly," he greets her with a smile and a small bow of the head.

"Hi, Garrett," Folly replies with a lopsided grin.

To the stableboy, he turns and says, "Go on now. Off with you!" The lad, looking like he's going to miss a show, picks up his bucket and humpfs off.

Folly watches the stableboy's departure with a mirthful twinkle in her eyes, waiting 'til he's just out of earshot before turning back to Garrett. "Well now," she says, smiling. "I believe I owe you a ride with Sprite, and you owe me a story. Shall we?" She nods toward the stable.

Though her tone is light, Garrett can probably tell she's anxious to check up on her poor horse.

"Certainly," he says, indicating ladies should go first.

Detecting the anxiety, Garrett feels a little guilty for making her worry. To lighten the mood as they walk into the stable, he says, "I owe you a story, eh? Let's see..." He makes a show of thinking hard. "Once upon a time, there was this stablehand..."

"Oooh, it starts quite well, doesn't it?" Folly says with a grin. "Can there also be a library? And a cat, of course, because no story is ever complete without a cat."

"Oh, it's the library story you want." Garrett teases. "All right. There weren't any cats there yesterday, but I reckon I can throw one in for spice." And he goes on to relate the previous afternoon's adventures in the library. Of course, he leaves out the parts about revealing his true identity to Lilly and turning down Lucas's spy mission.

Folly seems quite intrigued by the whole story, and opines that she's sure Garrett would make a fine addition to the library staff, should he decide he wants to give it a try. She doesn't quite come out and say "You'd be a hell of a lot more fun than Marjoram," but she implies it rather strongly.

As they talk, Folly makes her way to Sprite's stall and peeks in. "Hi, sweetheart," she calls out in a soft singsong voice. "Didja miss me? Look what I brought...."

She takes one of the apples from the crook of her arm and holds it up, then bites into it with a crisp, juicy *crunch* so the horse can hear and smell it as well. She offers it through the stall door in her outstretched hand.

Sprite perks up her ears at the sound of Folly's voice and pokes her nose out through the stall, her busy nostrils searching for the apple. She gently, but eagerly, takes it out of Folly's hand and crunches happily, watching Folly all the while with her brown tail swishing.

Garrett grins. "I reckon she did. Look at her watch you."

To Sprite, he says, "Ready for a ride, old girl?" He opens the stall door, gently nudging Folly out of the way, and leads the roan mare out. Anticipating her arrival, Garrett already has Folly's saddle on a stand outside Sprite's stall. Garrett saddles up the mare, commenting on how much better she looks already.

"If I didn't know better," Folly says in a gently chastizing tone that seems more directed at the horse than at Garrett, "I might think SOMEONE had been FAKING IT so she could GET MORE APPLES." She strokes Sprite's muzzle affectionately and offers up another juicy apple before following horse and stablehand out to the yard, moving all the while with a certain slow caution that marks her -- to Garrett, anyway -- as someone who didn't grow up around horses.

Once they are in the yard, Garrett hands the reins to Folly and offers her a hand-up to mount.

After Folly is settled, Garrett fetches his own mount. He returns with a young chestnut gelding that is practically bouncing in his excitement, skittering this way and that. Garrett talks to him firmly and he settles down.

Garrett mounts easily, barely touching the stirrup. Folly notices the wide grin that spreads across Garrett's face. When he's on horseback, Garrett is transformed, as if he's newly alive. He handles the restless chestnut skillfully. "Ready?" he asks Folly.

Judging from the sparkle in Folly's eyes, Garrett's enthusiasm is contagious. "You know, love," she says, arching an eyebrow, "they don't generally have horses in the library.... Just something to think about." She smiles, then nods her readiness.

"Oh, don't think I haven't thought about that," Garrett replies. "It's the biggest drawback of the whole proposal." He clicks and his horse, which he calls Bet, moves forward. "I suspect I'd end up working two jobs 'cause I couldn't tear meself away from here."

As they start to ride, Garrett watches Sprite, who appears to be acting just fine (as he knew she would). He also finds himself protectively checking on Folly, visually making sure she's got the right posture, that her feet aren't slipping out of the stirrups, and that she's in control of the horse. Even though she's been riding for almost six years now, he can't help but see her as the beginner she was when they first met.

Folly almost certainly is aware of his watchfulness, but she doesn't seem to mind. Every now and then she catches his gaze and grins.

He suggests going down the road toward town, since that is where Sprite is used to going with Folly. Assuming she agrees, he'll head in that direction, still commenting on the horse's amazing recovery.

Folly is happy to follow along in that direction. Sprite's obvious good health seems to have taken a load from her mind, and she's now in a very good mood.

Once they are beyond the gates and earshot of the guards, he says, "So that was one long trip you and Prince Martin took. I see you're re-purpled," he grins, pointing at her violet locks. "Did you go back to visit your homeland or something?"

For an instant, Folly almost looks taken aback, but then she nods. It doesn't quite seem like the answer to Garrett's question, though; it's more like she's decided it's okay to talk about it.

"Yeah, actually, I did, among other places," she says. "First time I'd been back since I came to Amber. It was...." She pauses, looking for the right word. "...Intense."

"The place or the people?" Garrett asks almost automatically, since he can think of a few people he'd describe that way. "And what's it like there? I've never been past Garnath, meself."

Now that they're riding, relaxed and talking, Garrett has about a million questions he wants to ask Folly. His problem is figuring out which to ask first.

Folly smiles. "The place, the people... but mostly the situation. Imagine a city-by-the-sea like Amber, with about as many people, but with a lot more hustle and bustle. Now imagine that your mother is a popular broadsheet topic -- and that she likes it that way. Now imagine that you mysteriously disappeared several years ago, and you'd like to have a nice private chat with your publicity-hound mother about the whole situation without alerting the whole populace to your return."

Garrett looks thoughtful. "Hmm," he nods.

Folly chuckles wryly. "Do you have any idea how lucky you are, Garrett? Living outside the spotlight? It can make things so much easier.... Sometimes I really envy you."

Garrett looks at her sideways with a cocked eyebrow and ironic smile that Folly could swear she's seen somewhere before. He holds the look a moment, then shakes his head, chuckling. "Lady Folly, there's not much to envy. Too little food, too much work." He looks back at the road ahead. "Still, though... In some ways, I reckon it's better than, say, growing up in the castle. I bet as lads they never got to do anything fun like sneak off to the falls and swim nak..." he stops abruptly, blushing slightly.

Folly valiantly Does Not Laugh, but she's sparkle-eyed with mirth as she presses her lips very tightly together.

"Well...never mind. What I mean is it must be awfully stuffy growing up as a royal." He looks back at Folly. "How did you manage to stay so, uh..." he hesitates, looking for a better word, and shrugs when he can't find it, "...nice?"

Folly chuckles. "Well, in the first place, yes, I grew up priveleged, but I didn't grow up here. So my upbringing wasn't quite as... stuffy... as it might've been. I'm proud to admit my youth was full of... clandestine swimming." She grins.

Garrett returns the grin, still a little pink.

"I'm sure I would've turned out rotten to the core, though -- utterly spoiled -- if it weren't for my Papa." A faraway, wistful look darkens her eyes. "He was a good, loving, utterly decent man -- rather like your Papa, actually, from what I've seen of him. He stuck by my mum even when.... Well, even when she made it really difficult."

A warm smile and look of affection come over Garrett's face. While not in the spotlight, his mum could also be difficult. And Donovan had always done the same thing.

She hesitates for just a moment, then continues, "Papa always tried hard to teach me that it's not power or privelege that matter in the end, it's how you treat the people around you. 'Wealthy is the man with a full heart, even if his pockets are empty.' I suspect any good character I've managed to retain was entirely due to his influence." Folly smiles, but it's a melancholy sort of smile.

"Yes, he does sound a lot like me dad," Garrett says with a sympathetic smile. "You must miss him."

"Yeah," Folly replies wistfully. "I do."

Garrett rides in silence for a few moments, enjoying the dappled sunlight through the trees and the chirping of the birds. He thinks about how to phrase his next question. "Lady Folly, there's something I always wondered. You mentioned how you grew up somewhere else. Did you always know you were of the blood of Amber, or how did you find out?"

"No, I'd never even heard of Amber until I was grown," Folly replies. "But before that...."

She looks almost sheepish for a moment, like she's trying to decide whether to tell the story that has just sprung to mind. But then she smiles. "I was maybe twelve or thirteen when I clued in that my Papa probably wasn't the man who sired me," she says matter-of-factly. "I remember -- there was a stretch of a couple of months right after I figured it out -- I was spending most of my spare time in my school's library combing through old mag--- old broadsheet articles about my mum, trying to figure out who the guilty party might be. And I---" She wrinkles her nose, surpressing a sudden chuckle. "---I was so sure I'd figured it out -- 'til years later when I snuck into a party to meet the man in question and realized...." She looks at Garrett, her gaze wide-eyed and mischievous and almost conspiratorial, and finishes in a dramatic stage whisper, "...he'd only been taking my mum to parties so no one would notice that he actually fancied men!"

"Ugh!" Garrett winces. The look on his face reveals his more traditional Amber upbringing.

Folly takes a moment to get her self-deprecating laughter under control, then continues, "So, yeah, my first guess was WAY off base -- but when Martin showed up on my doorstep several years later and said, 'Hi, my grandfather says you're related to us and you need to please come with me now,' it kind of made the whole thing easier to swallow, you know?"

Garrett looks confused. "Actually, no, m'lady, I don't know. If you'd never heard of Amber, how did Prince Martin, or even King Oberon, know how to find you? Or that even you existed?"

"I've been trying to figure that out since I got here," Folly replies. "I've got a couple of leads, but...." She shrugs and shakes her head. "That's one of the things I wanted to talk to my mum about, actually."

He pauses, thinking, then adds, "And how did you know Prince Martin was who he said he was? He just showed up, said 'come with me' and you went?" Garrett asks incredulously, sounding like the protective older brother he can sometimes be. "I mean...no disrespect to either of you, Lady Folly, but how did you know that wasn't some kind of... strange pick-up line?"

Folly gets that sheepish look again. "Well, actually, at first I kinda thought it was, but...." A twinkle creeps into her eyes, and she grins broadly at Garrett. "...you know, he's got those pretty blue eyes, so I didn't really mind so much...."

Folly's grin is infectious. Garrett can't help but grin himself. "Hey, I've got pretty blue eyes. Perhaps I should try that one next time I'm at the Grouse," he teases.

"Well, then, I should warn you: for a lot of people, 'Hi, I'm your cousin' is not the best possible pickup line -- no matter how pretty your eyes are," Folly replies, laughing. "So, y'know, don't tell 'em you got it from me...." She brushes a stray strand of hair from her face, and for a moment Garrett thinks she may have gone a little pink. "But, um, anyway, back to your question...."

Her expression grows more serious, and she rides in silence for a few moments as she gives Garrett's question careful consideration. "The thing that cinched it, though, was that he just seemed...." Her gaze grows distant, and she smiles. "Real."

"Real?" Garrett asks, his eyes narrowed quizzically.

She shakes her head with a rueful chuckle and brings her gaze back to Garrett. "Sounds crazy, doesn't it? And maybe it is. I mean, there were other things, too, things he knew about... about someone I was very close to, but... mostly it was just a feeling. Maybe I trust my intuition about people overmuch, but so far it's never led me too far astray." Her reassuring tone seems a direct response to Garrett's protective-big-brother vibe.

Garrett rides quietly for a moment, his head cocked and his face pensive. He knows deep down that he should be understanding this; something about it just feels right. But it remains tantalizingly beyond his reach. "When you say 'real', does that mean that those of the Blood are real and others are not?" he asks, trying hard to comprehend it. "And how do you tell that? I mean, is there a mark, or do you have to touch them or...I don't know...is it just intuition, like you said?"

Folly regards Garrett in thoughtful silence for a long moment. When she finally answers, she seems to be choosing her words carefully. "I've heard it suggested that those not of the Blood aren't 'real', yes," she says, and her tone sounds almost bitter, "but I'm not sure how much I believe it. I mean, my friends from back home seem plenty real to me, you know? But on the other hand...."

Her tone grows suddenly softer as she continues, "Martin really did just seem... different. More, somehow. I don't think I can explain it.... And the thing is, I haven't necessarily feel that from all of Oberon's descendants. I don't know whether that's because I'm in Amber now, where there's less of a contrast, or if it's some specific vibe that I can read off Martin, but... I think my mum noticed it, too, when I was home. She noticed it in him, and I think she noticed it in me as well...."

Folly looks at Garrett, and a smile spreads slowly across her face. After making sure she's got a good one-handed grip on the reins, she holds her other hand toward Garrett. "Go ahead," she offers. "Take my hand and see what you think...."

Garrett looks down at Folly's hand, then back to her face, chewing his lip. If I can feel it with her, can she feel it with me, he wonders. He remembers Donovan's warnings of the night before, but on the other hand, this could be the proof he's been looking for. And he does want to know what it feels like. After a long look into Folly's eyes, curiosity outweighs caution and he grabs her hand firmly.

Folly's hand is small and... not delicate, exactly, for there's a lot of strength in it; but wrapped in his work-worn hand it feels very, very feminine. She seems quite aware of the contrast, too: Garrett notices her biting the inside of her lower lip, almost as if she's trying to keep herself from smiling too much.

For the space of several heartbeats she watches him, watches his eyes. Her own are sparkling. Then, "Feel anything?" she asks.

Garrett concentrates, then looks slightly disappointed. "You mean other than the fact that I'm holding the very lovely hand of Prince Martin's girlfriend and prob'ly should let go before I do something stupid?" He shakes his head. "No. Nothing unusual," he says apologetically. He doesn't let go yet, still hoping to feel... something.

Folly grins and blushes faintly. "'Prince Martin's girlfriend'?" she echoes. Then she leans a little closer and adds in a low conspiratorial tone, "Is it really that obvious?" She can't quite keep the giddy happiness from her voice.

She doesn't let go of Garrett's hand, though; she seems content to let him keep holding hers for as long as he wishes.

Garrett grins warmly. "Lady Folly, a man doesn't look at a woman the way he was looking at you this morning without having some pretty strong feelings. When he later asked for special care for Sprite, that clinched it."

Folly's eyes widen, and she smiles broadly, clearly surprised and pleased by that information.

Garrett nods at the road ahead. "There's a stream up ahead. Let's stop and water the horses."

"Yeah, sounds good," Folly agrees, still smiling. "And I've got sandwiches if you're hungry."

She regards him sidelong for a moment and then adds with a mischievous grin, "Wait, you're -- what, eightteen? Nineteen? Strike the 'if'. I've got sandwiches. You're hungry."

"Nearly nineteen and yeah, I'm always hungry," says Garrett with a smile.

Garrett releases her hand to draw rein when they get to the stream. He dismounts easily, helps Folly down from her horse and gets both horses settled. He brushes off a spot on a nearby rock for her to sit down, then, assuming she does, sits next to her.

Folly sits and begins rummaging in her bag. Her whole manner is comfortable and casual, as though it were the most natural thing in the world for her to be sitting on a rock feeding a stableboy.

Garrett's expression turns serious - probably moreso than Folly has ever seen. Picking at some dry leaves on the rock, he says, "About that 'real' thing. I can't say that I didn't feel anything, but it wasn't anything unusual."

Folly has pulled a cloth-wrapped bundle that smells strongly of roast beef from her bag; but something in Garrett's voice draws her full attention to him before she can unwrap it. She turns to look at him, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern.

He bites his lip and appears to be weighing his words. "But by the look on your face, it looked like you...did." He looks her directly in the eye and asks earnestly, "Lady Folly, what did you feel? And please be honest. I need to know."

Folly's cheeks go a little pink again, and then she bites her lip, too. "Honestly?" She clears her throat and directs her suddenly embarrassed smile at the ground. "Well... ah... you know, I'm sure it's terribly inappropriate, but you've got those blue eyes I always seem to fall for...." She looks up again, into his eyes, with an expression that looks a little like an apology.

But before she can get any words out to go along with the look, her expression abruptly changes: her eyes widen, and the color drains from her cheeks. The package of sandwiches, utterly forgotten, falls from her hand and hits the ground with a soft thump.

Garrett quickly picks up the sandwiches. Food is food, after all. He absently starts opening the package, still watching Folly.

"Christ, Garrett," she says softly. "H-how long have you known?"

Her sudden change of expression startles him. All at once, he realizes he misread the sparkle in her eye and mentally kicks himself for screwing up AGAIN. [OOC-That darned low water score!] He scrambles to think how to recover.

"I found out about three weeks ago. Came as quite a shock," Garrett replies with a self-effacing smile that looks familiar. He finishes unwrapping the sandwiches and hands one to Folly. "Before I say any more, though, I have to ask just how much you think I know, 'cause there are things I can say and things I can't." He looks at her apologetically. "Do you know what I mean?"

"I know exactly what you mean, love," Folly replies quietly. She picks at the crust of the sandwich, but doesn't seem at all interested in eating it. She has a faraway, troubled look in her eye.

"And don't worry if it sounds crazy or impossible," he adds. "I prob'ly won't be surprised by anything you might be thinking right now."

"Oh, yeah, you might," Folly says with a wry chuckle. "There's a thing or two I can't really say yet either, I think."

She shakes her head as if to clear it and then looks at Garrett. "So. Since we've both got secrets to keep, obviously we should take turns poking each other with sticks 'til one of us gets backed into a corner, and see how far that gets us." She grins, but her usual sisterly friendliness is tinged with rather more caution than usual.

Garrett hungrily chomps on the sandwich while she speaks. He's had time enough to get used to the idea and his appetite is back to normal.

"Based on the questions you've been asking me, I think you've found out you're one of us, and are trying to figure out whether it's true." She pauses and takes a small bite of sandwich, perhaps buying time to consider Garrett's reaction or her own next words.

He nods. "Actually, I know. I'm trying to find a way to prove it to everyone else."

Folly nods thoughtfully. Then she adds, hesitantly, "I also have a pretty good idea how you're related to us. Do you?"

Garrett studies her warily. Crap. It's prob'ly 'cause she's so close to Martin. He answers in a voice that Folly now realizes is similar to a couple of people she knows. "Yeah. I know. Me Mum told me. That's one of the things I can't say, though. I know I was sired by... one of the princes, but I can't confirm or deny which one 'cause he doesn't know yet. And I won't have him finding it out from the broadsheets."

"Neither will I, love," Folly agrees, equally emphatically. "Neither will I." She gives Garrett a reassuring smile.

Garrett takes another bite of his sandwich. When his mouth is no longer full, he asks, "Do you want as much of the story as I can give you or do you need more time to recover?"

Folly flushes and looks down at the ground. "No, I -- I'm all right now, I think." And she does seem calmer, more resolved, when she looks up again. "Why don't you tell me what you're able, and we'll go from there..." She lays a comforting hand on his shoulder. "...Cousin."

Garrett beams, and Folly can feel the tension in his shoulders melt away with that one word of acceptance. "I'm sorry to dump it all on you like that, Lady Folly, but you're one of the few that I trust."

Folly smiles softly. "It's quite all right, love. And your story is safe with me for as long as you need me to keep it hidden, I promise." She gives his shoulder a gentle squeeze.

He stands up and walks a few steps away, checking on the horses who have wandered into a grassy clearing to graze. Folly can probably tell he's taking some time to sort out the "cans" from the "can'ts". He turns back, his right hand idly tapping on the side of his thigh. "'Bout twenty years ago, me mum worked as a maid in the castle. She pursued - rather aggressively, I'm led to believe - one of the princes. He apparently allowed himself to be caught," Garrett smiles mischievously.

Folly lets out a snort of laughter and mutters, "Typical," but gestures for Garrett to continue his story.

"The affair only lasted a few months, long enough for Mum to come to her senses. She broke it off, but discovered a few weeks later she was pregnant - with me. She didn't want the prince to know, so Dad - Donovan, I mean - suggested they get married and raise me as his. Which is what they did."

Garrett slowly paces as he continues, his fingers still drumming on his thigh. "Over the years, I noticed things. I was a lot stronger and faster than other boys, many a lot bigger than me. And I healed much faster than normal - which came in quite handy when I was a lad," he grins. "Me parents always passed it off by saying everyone is different and I shouldn't show off." He shrugs. "Now I know why. 'Twould've attracted attention."

Folly nods. She's leaning forward with her elbows resting on her knees, listening in rapt attention.

He sighs and looks at the ground. "I still wouldn't know if not for me sister. The little spy was doing her thing and overheard me parents talking about me real father. 'Course she had to run and tease me about it. I told her she was a bloody idiot and Mum would tan her hide." He pauses in his pacing, staring at the ground. He continues softly. "Dad just got real quiet and Mum went white. Then she told me the truth."

Garrett glances at Folly with a tight-lipped, melancholy smile, then stares at the horses. "From what you said about your Papa, I reckon you of all people know what that's like. How it feels like someone punched you and it hurts to breathe."

"Yeah -- yeah, I've been there," Folly agrees, and Garrett can hear the understanding, the sympathy, in her grim tone.

He pauses and takes a deep breath, regaining control. Princes of Amber don't cry, dammit. He turns back to face Folly. "Anyway, once I got over the shock, I decided I'd better be able to prove this. I don't know if the prince will remember me mother and I'm hardly in a position to make a claim on...to claim to be royalty." His fingers resume their drumming.

Folly regards Garrett in silence for a long moment. Her expression is not unlike that of an older sister preparing her baby brother for the dreadful new school he's about to enter that she's been forced to endure for years.

What she finally says is, "Do you want to be royalty, Garrett?"

Garrett snorts. "Not really. I reckon the food's better, but..." He shakes his head, looking thoughtful. "Y'see, it's not that I want to be royalty. I like me life the way it is, or at least the way it was before this all came up. And it's not that I want a father. I'm quite happy with the one I've got. It's just...I don't know," he sighs.

Garrett sits back down on the rock and picks up his sandwich. He stares at it, resting his elbows on his knees. "I thought about trying to ignore it, but I kept coming back to one thing. If it was me and I had a son, I'd want to know." He looks at Folly. "And I reckon he has a right to know as well. What he chooses to do with the information is up to him, but he at least has a right to know."

Folly nods, and Garrett gets the feeling she approves of his answer --- is relieved by it, even. "And are you looking for a way in to talk to him about it, or ---" Suddenly there's a teasing glint in her eye. "--- are you looking for someone to do the dirty work for you, so you can find out how he takes it without having to be there yourself?" She grins and takes another bite of her sandwich.

Garrett laughs. "No. Of course not. I'm the one who does the dirty work, remember?"

Folly grins. "Oh, yes, of course...."

More seriously, he says, "Really, I reckon it's only right for me to be the one to tell him. Getting him alone's gonna be the tricky part."

Folly nods, like she's already working on a plan.

He pauses, a conspiratorial grin coming over his face. "I may have that one covered, though. One of your..." he grins wider, "I mean, our cousins offered to help me speak with him alone. There again, I don't want to say which one 'cause I don't want to get him or her in trouble." He wolfs the rest of his sandwich.

Folly arches an eyebrow. "Well, if that doesn't work out for some reason, let me know and I'll get something set up for you." She seems completely confident -- perhaps surprisingly so -- in her ability to do so.

Garrett looks surprised. He never expected offers of help from anyone, let alone two people. "Thanks. I'll keep it in mind." He glances at Folly's half-eaten sandwich, wondering if she's gonna finish it.

After a brief pause, she adds, "And if you told this other cousin why you want the meeting, you should do it sooner rather than later --- otherwise you run the risk that the story will get there before you do, y'know? Nothing travels faster than rumor."

She pulls her sandwich in half and hands the part she hasn't been nibbling to Garrett.

He takes the sandwich like Sprite took the apple, gently but eagerly. "Thank you," he says before taking a big bite.

In a softer tone, she continues, "Be careful, Garrett. I'm sure I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, but... when you say these things, you can't un-say them. They get out there and take on a life of their own, and suddenly you're laced into a ridiculous costume with busybody matrons speculating down their eager noses about your marriage prospects, when all you ever wanted was to hang out at the pub with your friends and a fiddle tucked under your chin."

"Or at the stable with reins in your hand," adds Garrett grimly.

She grins and shakes her head. "It's a mixed blessing, being one of us."

"That's why Mum never told him, you know," Garrett explains. "She wanted me to be a lad, with a real life. She didn't want me raised in the golden cage on the hill by 'busybody matrons', like you said, who only cared for me 'cause they were paid to. I reckon I can't fault her motives this time."

"'This time'," Folly repeats with a chuckle, like there's something both amusing and familiar in the sentiment. More seriously, she continues, "She did right by you. A family that loves you makes for a much better start than a head full of proper protocols and self-importance. It's far easier to learn which fork goes with which course than to learn how to be a decent human being -- even if," she adds with mock gravity, "the fork thing can be kind of overwhelming."

With a reassuring smile, she lays her hand on his shoulder again. "But if you're anything like--- like the man that sired you, you'll go in there to talk to him and figure everything out by the seat of your pants and it'll all work out fine. You, ah, might want to think ahead of time, though, about what you'll say when he asks you what you want. Because he's gonna ask."

Garrett thinks a moment, chewing on his sandwich. "It sounds lame, but I don't really *want* anything. 'Twould be awkward for everyone if I moved up to the castle and I actually like working in the stables. I reckon all I really want is for him to know I exist. 'Twould be nice, too, I suppose, to see if we have anything in common besides eye color and boot size. If he wants a bigger role for me than that," he shrugs, "I reckon we'll have to work that out when we get to it."

Folly nods.

He ponders again, finishing the sandwich. "Lady Folly, if it's the person you're thinking of, how do you think he'll take it -- no, wait." Garrett reconsiders. "In case the spies are lurking, perhaps you should tell me how you reckon they each would take it, from what you know, and I'll pick the one that fits." Garrett smiles at his teenage cleverness.

Folly regards Garrett with a lopsided grin. "You realize I've barely even spoken with several of them, right? Most of them were off at war by the time I got to Amber. But," she adds brightly, "I'll be happy to make stuff up!"

"That's alright. Do what you can," Garrett encourages. Garrett pointedly stares at the stream, determined to control his reactions.

She continues more seriously, "I've heard both Benedict and Julian described as the sort of men who do what needs to be done -- who, I get the impression, take responsibility in a starched-shirt sort of way. Corwin, I suspect, would try to do the same thing but in a more haphazard way -- like, he'd probably ask if you needed anything, but if you didn't lay everything out for him it might not occur to him to pursue the matter further. And if you were a girl, he'd accidentally flirt with you before you got the story out." She grins and rolls her eyes.

Garrett laughs. "Glad I'm not a girl!"

"So next there's... Caine," -- Folly's features darken slightly as she mentions his name, "--who would probably disavow any knowledge of you and your relations if it suited his purpose. Then Bleys, who seems strongly inclined to look after his own -- but perhaps not in as buttoned-up a way as Benedict and Julian, y'know?"

Garrett nods, still staring at the stream. "I've met Prince Bleys. He doesn't seem the buttoned-up type."

Folly pauses, as if gathering her thoughts. "The last two I know best of all," she says, "and so can say more about. Gerard is a good father to his kids, and I'm sure he'd gladly take responsibility for another, should one come to light. He's done as much for me, and I'm not even his by blood."

"Y'know, me dad, uh...Donovan, always admired Prince Gerard. Said he was the best of the bunch. Sounds like they have a lot in common," says Garrett.

"I'll bet they do. Gerard reminds me a lot of my own papa, too," Folly agrees with a smile before continuing: "And then there's Random." She pauses again and chews her bottom lip.

Though Garrett's attempt at control is valiant, Folly can see the corner of his lips quirk just a bit and he appears to be listening more intently.

When she speaks again, she seems to be choosing her words carefully. "Random is a good man. But I don't think he's figured out how to be a father yet -- and he may not for a while yet, 'cos now he's got a whole kingdom to look after, this huge responsibility that sort of blindsided him. For a little while, I suspect he's going to see everything as just another ball that needs to be kept in the air 'til everything gets sorted out -- and the fatherhood figuring-out will be slow-going. But," and now Folly smiles, full of warm affection, "he'll get there. And in the meantime, I suspect Martin would get rather a kick out of being a big brother, once the initial shock wore off...." She tries to sound casual, but Garrett can tell she's watching his reaction out of the corner of her eye.

Other than the reaction she saw when she first mentioned Random's name, Folly does not see any outward change on Garrett's face. However, she might notice that it's taking more effort to keep it that way. He sits quietly for a few moments, carefully filing the information away. Finally, he says, "Thank you. That also gives me an idea of what to expect from the others."

Folly smiles and inclines her head slightly. "My pleasure."

"And it reminds me of something else. Let's get the horses and we can talk about it on the way back." Garrett whistles through his teeth loudly. Sprite obediently looks up and starts to meander toward them. Bet, on the other hand, looks Garrett right in the eye, flips his tail playfully, and goes back to eating.

"Ornery beast," Garrett mutters with affection. "We'll see about that." He meets Sprite as she splashes back across the stream and makes a great show of petting her muzzle, scratching her ears and telling her what a good girl she is. Bet lifts his head and perks up his ears. He trots back across the stream and nudges Garrett's elbow.

Folly, finishing up the last bite of her half-sandwich, watches the scene with interest and not a little amusement. She stands and shoulders her bag.

"Ohhh...A little jealous, are we?" he chides as he takes Bet's reins and gives Sprite's to Folly with a wink. He helps Folly up and leaps into his own saddle.

Once they are back on the road, he says, "I have to take back the part about not wanting anything. I want to know how Prince Martin conjured horses and people with a card this morning. Can you, I mean, can we all do that?"

Garrett senses a slight hesitation before Folly replies, "With the right cards, yes, you should be able to. Not all of us can make such cards, but we should all be able to use them. They allow you to talk to the person depicted on the card over a great distance, and even to pass things -- like horses -- between that person and yourself. Or one person can pull the other one through to himself, like Martin did to Merlin. Where I come from, we had devices for talking over great distances, but not for moving like that. I still don't quite understand how it works. It's cool, though, innit?" she concludes with a grin.

"Sure is. Yeah, I reckon that should be me answer when me father asks what I want. I want to know...how do I put it?" He stares into the trees, eyes narrowed, thinking. "I want to know what I can do, I guess. I mean, I know I'm a lot stronger than I look and I heal way faster than a...normal person - man, that sounds strange," he chuckles, shaking his head.

Folly's smile is both amused and understanding.

"And I've heard that people of the blood live a really long time. But beyond that, I really know nothing.

"What Martin... sorry, Prince Martin did this morning with that card just reminded me about how much I don't know about abilities I might have that I never knew about." He screws up his nose, not liking the way that came out. "It's like...I don't know how much I don't know. Y'know?" he says, grinning at how silly that sounds.

"Exactly," Folly replies, returning the grin. "I'm still figuring some of it out, too. It's... kind of a head-trip, y'know?"

"I know," Garrett agrees.

Folly hesitates again, pensively, then says, "Your father will probably explain a lot of the basics to you when you talk to him, and I --- I dunno, I sort of feel like it'd maybe be better coming from him. He knows way more about it all than I do, for starters." She shrugs and looks at Garrett.

He nods. "Sounds reasonable. And I reckon it'd be a good way to get to know him better, too."

"But if you've still got questions after you talk to him, I'll be happy to tell you the little bits that I know. Or you might try asking y---" The corner of her mouth twitches upward into a smile she can't quite suppress. "--- asking Martin. He's the one that explained a lot of it to me."

Garrett shivers involuntarily. "I don't know about that, Lady Folly," he says skeptically. "I don't think Prince Martin'd talk to me about that stuff. I'm sure you know him better than I do, but he always comes across to me as real...intense," he says with a frown.

"Yeah, he can be sometimes," Folly agrees, and the gentle affection in her tone almost makes it sound like she thinks it's a good thing. "But I suspect he'll have a certain... sympathy... for your situation. And it might be a way for you to get to know him a little better, too."

There's no question she thinks that would be a good thing.

"Yeah, perhaps," he says doubtfully. Garrett stares at the road ahead, but Folly can tell he's not really looking at it. His expression is hard to read. Hope, dread, uncertainty. When Garrett speaks again, his voice is soft and he appears to have forgotten to be evasive. "I would like to get to know him better. I just...I dunno. If I knew him better, perhaps he wouldn't set me off me mark so much."

"Perhaps," Folly agrees with a soft smile.

He chuckles and shakes it off. "I do have to tell you one thing, though, Lady Folly." He grins at her warmly. "I am happy for you. Both of you. He seems like he could use some happiness in his life. And no one can mistake how happy you are about it," he smiles.

Folly's smile deepens, and she blushes. "Thank you, Garrett. We're trying not to be... blatant... about it, you know -- but sometimes you're just so happy you want to shout it from the rooftops." She regards him warmly, then adds, "It's really nice to be able to talk to you about it."

"Anytime, m'lady," he says with a broad grin. "I'll keep your secrets if you keep mine." At that thought, a cloud comes over his face and he swears silently. "That's not gonna be a problem, is it? I don't want this to cause trouble between you and Prince Martin. 'Cause you can't tell even him - especially him - at least not yet." Garrett looks worried.

"I understand, love," Folly replies in a firm but reassuring tone, "and it shouldn't be a problem. I mean, how can he expect me to keep his secrets if I can't manage to keep anyone else's, y'know?"

Garrett seems reassured.

Folly smiles and continues in a gentler tone, "But I do hope you'll let him know -- or tell your father, or me, to let him know -- as soon as you feel you are able. He understands about revealing things in the right time and the right order, believe me -- but I think he'd be grumpy if he turned out to be the last to know."

Garrett laughs. "We wouldn't want that!" More seriously, he continues, "I'll tell him, one way or the other. But it should be after I tell his fa...I mean, me father..." Exasperated, Garrett gives up on evasion. "Oh, hells, you already know." In a whisper, as if broadsheet reporters were lurking in the trees, he says, "*Our* father."

Folly responds with a smile and a barely-perceptible nod.

Garrett pauses a moment, then chuckles. Softly, he says, "Whoever'd imagine that I'd be more worried about telling me brother about this than me father?" He looks over at Folly. "You really think he'll be okay with it...as long as his father knows first?"

"I really do," Folly says. "I mean, it might be different if you were just some... pretender, or... or opportunist, out to weasel your way into fame and fortune or take advantage of his family -- but you're not. You're quite the opposite of that. And I think that as soon as he realizes that, then of course he's gonna welcome you. You two have more in common than you realize. And I think he'll be a good big brother."

With a sudden twinkle in her eye, she adds, "And if he isn't, you can set him straight. After all, you've had more experience at it than he has...."

Garrett shoots her the skeptical eyebrow. "Me set *him* straight?" He laughs. "Perhaps in a couple of centuries! At least I know I won't be as annoying as me sisters are."

Folly grins broadly. "Well, not if you don't practice...."

Garrett laughs heartily. "And I've got damn good teachers!"

They ride along for several minutes, Garrett content to make small talk now that the big issues are out of the way. In fact, small talk feels good now.

When they get to the point where the clearing around the castle is just barely visible through the trees, Garrett draws rein. "Lady Folly, can we stop for a moment, please?" he asks.

"Yeah, sure thing, Garret," Folly replies. She draws rein, too, and with an inquisitive look on her face, comes to a stop beside him.

He glances up the road toward the castle, then turns back to her. "Once we get there, I turn back into a servant, but there's one thing I wanted to do before that happens." He takes her hand in one of his, leans over and, a bit awkwardly, kisses it.

Surprise and delight dance in Folly's eyes as she realizes what he's doing. She gives his hand a gentle squeeze.

When he releases it, he says with a smile that leaves no doubt in Folly's mind about his parentage, "Thank you. For the advice, for the lunch...hell, just for the ride."

"My pleasure, love," she replies with a soft smile. "Really."

Blushing a bit, he adds, "Ever since I first met you, you always knew how to make it feel like everything was gonna be alright."

"And it will be, my friend--- my cousin." Folly's grin is intimate, almost conspiratorial -- the small quiet smile of shared secrets and hopes. "It will be."