Page 44 of Forcing Fate

I hid my frown. Of course, General Rafe had to terrify the boy and bring me back an extra gold piece. I wasn’t going to win this battle.

“Alright, thank you, dear sir!” I called as he spun on his heel and took off running.

The gold pieces were warm from Pike’s hand. This much gold would easily buy a dress and new sandals, and I’d still have plenty saved for my mother’s Year’s End Celebration. I still didn’t feel right taking it, though.

For a moment, I watched the bay mare run laps in the pen. She cantered gracefully, hooves pounding the dry dirt in steady cadence.

Perhaps I would go talk to him and explain that this was far too much money for what he hired me for. I doubted that would get me anything but an argument, but I could try. At least if I explained it to him, I might not feel as bad.

With my mind made up, I focused back on Master Aron. I’d ask Willhelm to see me to General Rafe when he came to fetch me. Surely it wouldn’t be that bad.

I was wrong. So wrong. How could I have ever thought it was a good idea to seek out this man again?

“I’m sorry, but you don’t understand. The mending isn’t worth this pay.” I tried again.

General Rafe leaned against the side of a training building, glaring at me with his arms crossed over his chest. He didn’t move a muscle or make any indication he heard me. He completely ignored my outstretched hand, displaying the coins. With one boot crossed over the other, looking to all the world as if there was not a soul in front of him, trying to talk to him. Willhelm shifted his feet, waiting to escort me to the barracks’ gate.

“I can’t take this.” I pushed my hand closer to him.

Soldiers passed to and fro, but no one stopped to see my mortification. I bit my lip. If he would not take the gold back, or even talk to me about it, it wasn’t worth the trouble of doing his mending. My sanity was worth more than spare coin.

I thought about trying to stuff it in his hand as the stableboy did to me, but my mind warned me of all the terrible things that might happen. General Rafe was not a man who could be forced to do anything.

I glanced at Willhelm, who wasn’t even looking at us, but rather off to the side, where a Dragon Rider flew just above the buildings.

The dragon’s peridot green scales glinted in the fading light, and something in my heart faltered. I would not be bound to this General forever. I pulled myself up to my full height, which wasn’t much, and glared back at General Rafe.

“Well, if you’re not going to at least converse with me concerning overpayment, please find someone else to do your mending. Many students are looking for jobs and are better at it than I am. I’m sure one of them will be far more delighted to mend your tunics,” I bit out, and turned to Willhelm.

Willhelm glanced between us before he nodded toward the General and started for the road. General Rafe’s amused snort erupted from behind. I lifted my chin higher and followed Willhelm, and the snort shifted into a deep chuckle.

Of all the condescending, arrogant, rude pricks…

I whirled and threw the two gold pieces at him. He tossed his head back, roaring with laughter. My cheeks burned as I stomped alongside Willhelm.

When we were a safe distance away, he peered over with a glint in his eye. “Don’t look now, but your age is showing.”

I threw him a glare and kept walking. It was immature, and I already regretted it. I was better than that. I didn’t throw things like a petulant child. It wasn’t like General Rafe behaved any better, staring off as if I hadn’t said a word. He always seemed to get under my skin. His arrogant ‘I’m better than you’ and ‘You’re not worthy of my time’ attitude was wearing on me.

I blew out a forceful breath and looked up to the sky for patience.

“Well, how did your day go?” Amusement tinted Willhelm’s voice. “Did you enjoy the horses as much as you thought you would?”

I smiled, thankful for the change of subject. “I had a splendid day. Master Aron let me assist with almost everything. I appreciated his efforts at finding useful things for me to do. The horses are… intimidating, though.”

“They’re not the calm type you’re used to, I’m sure,” he agreed.

“How do you ride them? There was a stallion today that I was sure would kick Master Aron clear across the barracks.”

Willhelm chuckled and nodded absently at a passing soldier. “Most of us don’t ride the stallions. We ride the geldings or mares. Stallions are too high-strung and spend more time fighting us than doing their jobs.”

I pressed closer to Willhelm as a soldier brushed past me, almost running into me.

He continued, “Stallions have their place, though, for breeding stock or for the more talented riders who need a stallion’s recklessness.”

“Do you ride a stallion?”

“I ride a very mild-mannered mare. She’s as easygoing as they come,” he said, shaking his head.

---