“If there is anything I can do to help—” she began.
“Er, I think it best we all keep our distance from her for the time being.”
With that the professor returned to his paper, and Karigan picked at what was left on her plate. No more words passed between them until he stood to leave. He paused by her chair on his way out to say, “What you did this morning, as I hear it from Luke and the lads, was very bravely done. You saved Arhys by putting yourself at great personal risk. I’m not sure if that ungrateful girl will ever understand, but I wholeheartedly thank you.”
Humbled, Karigan could only stare at her plate.
“Go ahead and look in on Raven when you’re done here. I’m sure you would enjoy that.” He gave her a quick smile and was gone.
She did not wait. She left her napkin and unfinished breakfast on the table and strode through the house to the back door. No one stopped her. Mirriam did not rush to intercept her. Feeling a new surge of freedom, she hurried across the yard toward the stables. With no one to hinder her, maybe now she would find her way home.
RAVEN AND RYDER
When Karigan stepped into the stables, Luke looked up from a length of harness he was oiling and grinned. “The professor left something in the tack room for you,” he said.
Curious, Karigan lifted the hem of her skirts, careful not to drag them through dirt and manure to prevent further antagonizing Mirriam, and crossed over the threshold into the tack room. The scents of leather and saddle soap pervaded the small room. Buckles and bits gleamed in the light of a small dusty window. She caressed the seat of a well-used, but equally well-tended saddle mounted on a wooden horse. Despite all the changes wrought in this future, some things had not changed at all.
She discovered a package wrapped in brown paper and string on a small, worn table. A piece of paper with her initials was propped on it. She unfolded the paper and the note inside read: Wear these for riding. You are my new part-time stable boy, by the name of Tam Ryder, retained to exercise Raven for my niece. Karigan could almost hear the professor chuckling at the pun he made of her new alias. Luke will tell you more if need be. It was signed, B.L.J.
Karigan tore the package open and shirt, jacket, trousers, and a cap spilled out. She gazed at them in astonishment. They were worn and patched, and carefully mended, but clean.
“Professor asked if I might have some old clothes to lend,” Luke said from the doorway, a bucket of water in his hand. “These belonged to my son, Luke, Jr. We used to call him Little Luke, but he’s grown into a big strapping man. He’s a farrier now in mid-town. Why don’t you give me that note.”
Karigan passed it to him, and he immediately submerged it in the bucket. “One quick way to destroy the evidence,” Luke explained. “Clean the ink off. Now, if you like, you can change so we can see how Raven does under saddle, eh?”
He showed her a cedar cabinet where he stored his formal coachman’s livery. In there, he explained, she could leave her dress and “female things” while riding. When not playing the part of Tam Ryder, she could leave her riding clothes in there.
“Got some boots, too.” Luke indicated a pair of scuffed, dusty boots bent at the ankles, next to a pair of tall, black shiny boots that must be part of his livery. “Professor got your shoe measurements off the bills he received from the shoemaker.”
“You’ve both been busy,” she remarked.
Luke just smiled. “The sooner you change, the sooner we can get to Raven.”
“I have a bit of a problem,” Karigan said.
Luke paused uncertainly.
“I need help with, er, my dress.” She could not reach the stays in back.
Understanding dawned on Luke’s face without a sign of embarrassment. “Oh, I help the missus deal with such things all the time, and my daughters when need be. I will help you if you wish it.”
Karigan nodded and he closed the tack room door and proceeded to undo the stays on the back of Karigan’s dress. He’d have to help her again when she changed back into it. The deed was accomplished with some grumbling from Luke about how much more complicated Karigan’s dress was, and then he stepped out of the tack room so she could take care of the rest. It proved to be a battle with Karigan drowning in superfluous fabric, and she appreciated anew Lorine’s assistance when dressing and undressing. She hung it all as neatly as possible in the cabinet beside Luke’s livery and set to work turning herself into a boy.
When will I just be able to be me? she wondered.
The clothing was baggy, which was probably just as well to hide her feminine shape. Fortunately the trousers came with suspenders. The boots, in contrast, were well-broken in and fit perfectly. There was also a pair of gloves with flared cuffs, not unlike her old Rider gauntlets, which would help hide the cast on her wrist. She modified what Lorine had done with her hair, pinning it tighter to her head. When she finished, she put on the oversized cap and gazed at the mirror on the inside of the cabinet door. She determined that if no one was expecting to see a young woman, all they’d see was a scrawny boy. It was an effective disguise.
When she exited the tack room, Luke greeted her with an appraising look, then nodded his approval.
“Now, a couple things about Tam Ryder,” he said. “Tam’s of the Dregs, no folks, and he scrounges on the outskirts of the city. I discovered Tam had a way with horses one day in town and told the professor about it. The professor thought maybe Tam could manage his niece’s new horse and pays him to exercise it. The professor, being of the generous sort he is, also thinks this will keep Tam out of the way of the Inspectors and out of trouble. Tam doesn’t talk much. In fact, when we go out in public, you’ll let me do all the talking, eh?”