3 silver - spring cleaning a stable

[EmmaMasters]

-I walk into the stable cautiously, and make small cooing sounds. The horse looks at me, and moves skittish, catching me scent, mostly the fire I built last night to warm meself, as it clings to me cloak like honey to me fingers. I study him as much as he does meself.-

We will be just taking ye out, and then will muck out yer home, me friend........

-I dinnae hesitate but step towards the large animal, talking in a slow, deep voice all the time. Knowing its master be a man, the deep voice should nae scare it too much. I place a flat hand on the massive neck and smile as the nose moves up and down fast, the horse nervous, feeling its heart beat as elevated as mine is now -

Easy boy.......easy..........

-gently carresses the warm pelt and I step closer. The stallion stays, but the nostrils widen, and the eyes watch me, every move. The stablemaster helps me with the horse's headgear, as I know this one will nae let me fit it meself, being a stranger. He leads the horse out and I look aboot, hands on me hps, knowing this will be summit liken spring cleaning. The scent of shit and horseurine be mighty strong and I get me cloak of and hang it on a peg, and find meself a wheelbarrel, fork, two pails of water from the well and large twig broom, newly tied methinks as it be nice an firm. Taking a broom, I reach high and remove all spiderwebs, bugs and scurrying spiders, taking doon all dust and winter mould, then when all is clean of dry debris, I set the broom doon. And taking the fork, bring the soiled stray to the wheelbarrow, stacking it, brining it to the manure pit afore I fill another and one more, tipping each onto the large heap of manure and straw. Like Sir Durrneham have taught me I clean the wheelbarrow with a pail of water turning it upside doon to drip in the early spring sun.

I take a break to breath the warm air and fill the pail again walking back to stables and take another pail filled with black soil as well. Then, with the broom and the water I one more time brush all beams, and woodwork, then one more time the ground, driving the last of soiled straw out, pushing it up against the stable wall to dry in the sun. Taking hands full of soil from the bucket, I fill the potholes in the surface soil, making sure nae any manure can puddle in them and soil the straw even more. A layer of small straw, then a thick layer of fresh straw, cleaning the troughs, filling them with fresh water, just a small layer, filling the second trough with straw, and some of the kitchen green scraps.

I find the fresh cut grass I took from the forests with me, and sprinkle it all over the straw and scraps-

There now, that be a tasty treat fer Sir Horse!

-nods and only then notices I may need some cleaning too and grin, walking back to find the stable master and me horse-

I be ready..........ye can take him back. I will clean the broom and fork, place them in the barrow by the door, That'll be alright me thinks?

-the man nods, and leads the horse back, and with care I lean the tools, and place them in the wheelbarrow, placing it beside the stable door. I grab me cloak, and walk back whence I came from whistling, as me work be done-

[LadyLaurestina]

Looking up from the unrelenting shoveling of the hay and accumpliation of horse apples, and urine. Seeing her friend Emma otu and working in the stables with her, stops and just smiles, holding her pitchfork in mid air. Calls out*" Aye that stallion there, I shall be tending to him shortly, his name be Moonlight!" I wouldn't even try and touch him if I were you." * throws back her head and laughs *

Knowing that even after all of this hard working, the throwing of hay and such about should take care of her pent up flustations, it was nae working. Twas only a matter of time.
*thinking to herself*, soon , as I am done here, will be taking him for a jaunt and pick some spring flowers for the castle, and to gather more herbs, roots and bark. *sheaking her head* trying to keep the thoughts away... onward she worked, looking up every once in a while to see her good friend also hard at work.

* grinning, * thinks both wil need a good hot bath this fine eve!

[roland]

Walking I see that it almost sparkles from this morn's cleaning. **Thinking to meself**Aye it was a good choice to give the girl the work. She does fine work. perhaps I might surprise with something the next time she mucks the stable for me. Hmmmm I remember that cloak she had dirty and abuot to fall apart. **I call out to the stableboy** Here lad I shall thee a task. It is a surprise for Miss Emma. Do thee know of her? Aye says the boy she is right pretty she is but a bit strong headed for me tastes. very good I say I want you to go into town and buy a cloak like the one she wears. When she comes to muck the stables when she is not paying attention or is out of sight I want ye to replace her cloak should she set it aside and replace it with the new one. And not a word mind you to her or anyone about the cloak...Right you are Lord Roland. **Handing him the money for the cloak I tell him, If this works and thee ae get caught there be a silver in it for thee. You are joking right Lord Roland he says. No a silver on me word.. I thank the lad again and wonder off to doing me chores.

[Stablehand]

"Cooooooooo!!! who coulda thunk that this rag coulda caused such a stink?" The Stablehand carried a stained and dirty rag of homespun wool in his hands. Shaking his head he goes to where he had put the replacement cloak upon the pegs at the side of the Stable doors. shaking out the worn cloth he hangs it right up on top of the new one. "I don know what be so special about this thing but 't be good that 't hae nae been burned yet." Dusting off his hands, he then goes about his work.