“The safest place for a fine horse such as her is a place with other fine horses,” the leader of the small group of royalists said firmly. “The nearest noble estate belongs to Duke and Duchess Stanton.”
“Are they royalists?” asked the man who had calmed Anya down.
“Yes, though they are pretending not to be, so as to avoid receiving the same treatment as the Royal Family,” the leader said. Anya felt her foal kick inside her again. She whinnied anxiously. “We need to take her to the Stanton Estate immediately before she gives birth right here.” One of the men looped a halter and lead onto Anya, then the group set off down the road.
The Stanton Estate was deep in the woods, hidden by trees. When they finally reached the clearing the estate resided in, Anya was impressed. There was an enormous, well-kept mansion in the clearing, and just behind was an also large stable that could have rivaled the Royal Stables back at the Royal Palace. A servant emerged from the house to speak with the men. The men explained the situation. The servant returned to the house to speak to the Duke and Duchess.
Anya felt her first contraction hit as they waited for the servant to return. She neighed loudly.
“Shh, girl, it’s okay,” the man who had first calmed Anya down said to her, stroking her neck.
“I grew up on a horse farm,” one of the men said. “I recognize that neigh. She is in labor.” Anya felt two more contractions while they waited. Finally, the servant returned and informed them that Anya could reside with the Duke and Duchess for the foreseeable future. Anya was handed over to the servant.
As the servant led Anya to the stable, her contractions became closer and closer together. Anya’s time was near. The servant left Anya in an empty stall, then went to get a stable hand to supervise the birth. Anya neighed in pain as her contractions worsened. The servant returned with a stable hand, a handsome young man. The stable hand guided Anya down to lay on her side, then knelt beside her, speaking in a soothing tone.