Crazy Duke and Fallen Queen

Alexander hasn't yet bought a horse just for me. At least, I've been allowed to choose a couple among his for now. Not that I get out of the castle too often, though.

The carriage will reach the village for the festival on its own, while we'll head there riding.

When the horses are ready, I pet mine for a few minutes, checking whether he dislikes my presence. Only after, I mount on the saddle. Alexander offered me his help, but I refused in fear that he would think I'm not capable enough to ride alone. When I turned to him, though, I noticed his slightly disappointed expression.

I guess I'll have to ask for help to get down, or he'll grimace again once we arrive. I should have humoured him in front of his subjects.

The saddle is large and fitting to be used with a gown. In Polis, I had three official uniforms with trousers. They had a long jacket that curled around me like a skirt, so my legs couldn't be seen when I was standing. Only while sitting or riding.

However, here in Ethiro, ladies ride with their usual clothes. Even though they don't ride often.

I notice a couple of knights following us on horse, while the rest goes with the carriage. We don't need excessive protection, since we'll be travelling fast and without too much noise.

When Alexander jumps on his saddle and nods, I can finally ride out of the gates. I narrow my eyes to protect them from the wind, and I clench the reins to focus on the horse.

I breathe freely, and I smile on the road while making the horse accelerate into a trot.

I can hear my Duke following close, so I relax my shoulders and take a look around.

Kyre is beautiful. It's so colourful: some fields are green, others black because of the early ploughing. The trees seem to be burning in their orange leaves. Some have already lost their foliage and are now akin to skeletons, with their thin finger-like branches spread around.

Most of the plants that grow near the sea maintain their leaves throughout the winter, so I've never seen this show before. A couple of trees in the royal gardens, back in Polis, did become red. But here, it's every single tree! It's amazing.

«The scenery is beautiful!» I exclaim, and Alexander nods. He's now riding right next to me.

«Indeed, very beautiful,» he agrees.

«I'll paint this, once I learn how to,» I decide. It will be my first real drawing!

We slow down so that I can look at the details of the leaves.

Some are large, others pointy. Some become yellow or brown, others red like apples.

We arrive at the village later than planned, and the carriage is already parked there. We stop in the central square.

Around us, people are working hard and carrying grapes around in big baskets.

When they see us, they come to receive their Lord. Alexander jumps down and entrusts his horse to a steward. Before following him, I remember my earlier intentions.

I clear my throat, and my husband turns to me. He observes my face confused, and then he lifts his arms. He grabs my waist, and I lean my hands on his shoulders.

I twist my leg while slipping down, so I grimace for the sudden movement. We should have rehearsed this before.

«Thank you,» I mutter while smoothing my skirt. It would have been more gracious to get down on my own. However, Alexander's smile makes up for all the discomfort.

He would be wagging his tail if he had one.

The chief of the village greets us with a deep bow. Oh, right, we're in public.

I encircle my husband's arm with mine as we proceed towards the central hall of the village.

It's a large hut, with a single room inside. There are tables, sidelines and also a few chairs.

«If the Lady wants to rest, there is enough place here,» the chief murmurs while analysing me with his little eyes.

Do I look like someone tired, right now? I've just ridden a horse for an hour or so. I'm used to much more movement, actually.

«I'm all right,» I reply. Maybe, it's because of the clumsy way I got off the horse.

«My wife is curious about our customs,» Alexander intrudes. He takes off his coat and leans it on a free table.

«Oh, then, the other women are already stomping grapes. They're near the vineyard, my Lord.»

«All right,» Alexander nods, and we move towards there.

A bunch of girls have raised their skirt to the knees and are jumping inside large casks. They're stomping grapes.

«We drink something that has been stepped on?» I inquire, curious.

«They've washed their feet, my dear. And also, the alcohol of the wine burns any impurity. It's safe to drink.»

«I wasn't complaining!» I exclaim.

«All right,» he chuckles. «Do you want to help them?»

I've worn a cream-coloured dress. It would become red like blood if I went in there. Also, I'm not a fan of getting myself dirty.

However, all those girls seem to be having a lot of fun.

They're even singing some songs. Oh, I can learn a few now that I'm here! I don't really enjoy classical music, but folk songs are totally my genre.

«I won't help, but I'll go observe them closer,» I whisper. «The wine-making process is interesting, indeed.»

Alexander simply smiles and lets me part from him.

At the moment when I lose touch, I feel empty. It lasts a second only, so I barely notice. However, my addiction to my husband's presence doesn't seem to be fading away.

A woman, a bit older than the rest, notices me. She walks to me and tries to curtsey. Her movements are fast and rough, and she visibly wants to get over this formality.

«My Lady,» she greets me. «We weren't away you would come with the Lord...»

«Where else should I be but on my husband's side?»

«That's right. I'm sorry for the unworthy welcome.»

«It's fine. You're stomping grapes, aren't you?» I inquire, more to change the topic. The other girls have started to stare at us. Half of them are just curious, while the rest has unhidden suspicions.

«We are,» the woman nods, relieved that I won't require more formality than the little she showed before.

«What happens after you finish?»

«The grapes turn into must. Then, it's left to boil for a few days, a week or two. After that, it's left to ferment for some more time.»

«Oh, it looks like a slow process.»

«It is, my Lady. The best products take three or four months to be ready. We send it to Stoneyard when it's ready. The wine we produce for ourselves and other villages, though, only needs a month or so.»

«Oh, is it very different?»

«It's sweet, my Lady. We have to finish the wine from last year. You'll surely have a chance to try it.»

Interesting. However, isn't it a bit early to finish all the wine left from last year? What are they going to do for the next month?

Well, maybe they won't drink till the last drop today. Or not?

«What happens to the wine that remains after the festival?» I ask, even though I know how stupid it sounds. I just want to find out what they are going to drink for the next month.

 «It is turned into vinegar.»

«Oh,» I mumble.

The woman smiled lightly, trying to figure out if that's what I wanted to know. Maybe, she's going to explain how vinegar is produced too.

«What do you drink before this one is ready, then?» I ask when I can't hold my curiosity anymore.

«We don't drink wine during the month after harvest. We make offers to the god of wine to improve this year's vintage.»

«Oh, you forego drinking the remaining wine in favour of a future vantage,» I nod. «Interesting!»

It's one of Kyre's weird traditions.

«Also, what were you singing about?»

«It's a popular song, my Lady. It's not fit for your sensitive ears.»

«But I like it! I wanted to learn it. Can you sing it for me?»

She blinks, surprised. After realising that I'm serious, she waves at the girls, and two of them reach us.

«I can teach the Lady the song from earlier,» she exclaims happily.

«Don't be this arrogant!» the older woman scolds her, and the girl bows her head in haste.

«I'm sorry,» she whines. «I didn't mean that I had anything to teach to the Lady!»

«It's all right,» I chuckle. «There's no need to be so tense. I'm really just looking for a way to learn something new.»

The girl peeks at me and, finally, decides to lift her head.

«What does the song talk about?»

«It's about a couple of lovers that meet in the vineyard. They meet every night. The green leaves shield them from the world until autumn comes. Then, they can't meet anymore until the god of wine, moved by their love, decides to transform the grape juice into wine and make everyone around drunk. Then, they become able to embrace one another without worry, because everyone else is too tipsy to notice.»

«Oh, how romantic...»