The feeling of comfort is unfamiliar to Rieva, but she leans on it with relief, and nods in response to Lucifer’s words. The huge black shire is most of the way already to becoming the law in Eva’s life; everything about him is absolute. To question him would be to lose faith in the sun’s presence. It rises every morning whether one wants it to or not, and even on days when its light is obscured by clouds, it is there all the same.

The smoke-colored mare moves away from Lucifer, peeling herself from his solid chest with her dark-rimmed ears splayed submissively to the sides. She takes a tentative step toward the waves, then follows it with another, and then another, each steady footfall containing all the bravery of a child with little faith in the world around her but unfailing trust in her guardian.

The journey is brutal on her nerves, but Rieva utters no complaint. She’s in good physical shape, and finds the mechanics of swimming to be easy enough, if exhausting in their repetition and against the immense strength of the ocean. She leans on Lucifer, her eye rolling every so often to make sure Ceyx is still with them, but she is soon numb with exhaustion. She holds a heavy lock of Lucifer’s mane in her teeth, relying on his immense strength to pull her along through the frothing waves, until soft sand bumps against her hoof tips.

the sun hesitates