"Find the foals, please," Iris whinnied urgently to Mikhail. Mikhail nodded. He quickly returned to human form and hurried out of the stable. To his relief, not only were the foals being supervised by one of the Horse Witches, but they had even been returned to human form.
"Your offspring, Lord Copperstone," the Horse Witch said, handing the infants over. Mikhail stroked their hair, marveling at how paternal emotions were welling up in him for children that weren't even his. He heard hoofbeats and turned. Iris had joined him. She lowered her head to sniff her son and daughter.
"Jaesynn and Jaelynn Cooperstone," she said softly.
"Perfect names."
"Yes." Iris sighed. "Please, come with me to the private stable where I will be staying once again."
"Of course." Mikhail walked with Iris to the building Nightingale was in with the other family mares. He went directly to Nightingale to tell her everything, while Iris told Glory, Citrine, and Saffron. By the time he finished, the babes were fussing hungrily.
"Here. Allow me," Nightingale said. She placed her hands on her bountiful chest. Her bust grew even larger. "There. I can feed them for you, as Iris cannot." Mikhail handed the children to her. Nightingale lowered the top of her gown and soon had a child suckling from each breast.
"I do not wish them to return to foal form," Mikhail said. "I can keep them safer as humans." Nightingale, Iris, and the mares agreed, though Iris was sad she could not nurse her own children.
"You will be able to do so for the triplets," Glory pointed out. Iris nodded, seeming somewhat appeased by this. Mikhail turned to Nightingale.
"Become the babes' official wetnurse," he said. "We will be able to use it as an excuse to move you in the house."
"How could I disagree?" Nightingale said. "I will even nanny for them, to properly earn my keep."
"Perfect," Mikhail said in relief. Glory let out a whinny of alarm that someone was approaching. Mikhail turned. Olga walked into the stable and up to Mikhail. "Did you need something?"
"We are about to set off, but have one last matter of business first," Olga said. Mikhail sighed.
"Very well. What is it?"