#gotta hammer out these character explorations; had no idea enrique was a horse girl all along

[ghostwise]

8, a kiss to the back of the hand... ;---; <3

Enrique Monsivais has been presented with the rare opportunity to reinvent himself.

Quinta de Talpa is little-known and remote. No doubt this is how the Crows like it, and precisely why he and the other Azul bastards had been raised there, before the nest emptied out. Returning to those abandoned halls is familiar. The buildings know him. The orchard remembers his name.

But the town of Talpa itself is different. Standing five miles from the hacienda, it does not know him. Whether he be assassin, elf-blooded, lyrium addict, apostate mage, it doesn’t matter; no one here knows. He’s completely anonymous.

For now, anyway. When and how that changes will be up to him.

Today he’s dressed finely and walks confidently through the streets. Nothing and nobody will threaten him here. The only problem is this, and it has been gnawing at him for some time: he doesn’t have horses.

Maker above. What sort of noble doesn’t have horses? The stables at Quinta de Talpa stand empty. It is an aberration beyond words. If he can just convince Rinnala-

“Walking again, Sr. Monsivais?”

Ligeia Jaszbereny is sitting side-saddle, smiling mischievously at him as she interrupts his thoughts. She is atop a fine Murgese, pitch-black and sturdy. The wide brim of her hat keeps the sun off her bone-white skin. Cicadas sing into the cooling afternoon.

“We will need a horse, for where we’re going today.”

“Ah? And where are we going, lady Ligeia?” Enrique asks with a slow smile.

They’ve met a few times since his arrival in Quinta de Talpa, and this, too, seems promising. Ligeia is passionate and smart. She’s so sure of herself. She reminds him of Quique’s mother. But that’s—

“Well, you will have to ride with me to find out. It’ll be a surprise,” she says, smiling as she adds, “A secret.”

And here she holds out a hand, trimmed in lace, covered in burn scars. Enrique takes it between his own and, before he can give it any thought, lifts it to his lips for a probably presumptuous kiss. For a moment, he feels her fingers tense, but when he looks up to see if he’s offended, she merely smiles down at him once again.

“Come,” she says. “I will show you.”

Without breaking contact she helps him climb onto the horse behind her. Thrilling, to have her warm body close to him like this. Imagine if he could have this all the time, and the hacienda, too. The world is rich with potential.

He’ll need to acquire horses.