Olga turned to Mikhail the stallion and gave him a curtsy. Then, she switched to her horse form to speak with him more directly. "Lord Copperstone, you and your family have been grievously wronged by my former colleague. Therefore, I feel it only appropriate that her fate rest in your hands."
Mikhail was hardly listening as he studied the sorrel Witch's Pony mare before him. She had a striking caramel coat and a flaxen tail and mane. Something else held his attention, though.
"You are a Copperstone breed! I had not noticed before. Are we related somehow?"
Surprised, then embarrassed, Olga looked away. "No. My mother was a Copperstone Witch's Pony from one of your herds, not merely a legal horse but a true one. My sire's family frequently broke the Horse Witch's taboo, which resulted in my birth. Rather than claim me as their own and risk punishment, they sold me to a poor farm in the outlands. It was...not a good place."
Now, it was Mikhail's turn to feel ashamed. The reason he had failed to recognize her breed was that she was rather stunted and thin, her ribs quite visible. No doubt she had been raised with severe malnutrition until recently. "My apologies. I do hope you are in better circumstances."
"Thank you, I do very well now. The king rescued me from that farm and gave me a new life. He is a good man who would never condone what Ely almost did." Olga tossed her mane in emphasis.
Mikhail nodded, keeping his expression neutral. This would explain her optimistic loyalty to the upstart. He reminded himself that the same man was responsible for what had taken place in his family's barn.
"That said, I suggest that you ought to impregnate Ely yourself, Lord Copperstone," Olga continued. "This would make her submissive to you. A fitting punishment, I say."
Shuddering, Mikhail refused. "I appreciate your generous offer, but I would rather not. She was one of your own, so do with her as you like."
Olga flicked her ear and lowered her head. "Oh, yes. Understandable. We will choose a proper stud, then." She nodded at the other Horse Witches who rushed off to do just that.
Now alone with Olga and the distracted Iris, Mikhail took the opportunity to bring up the other subject on his mind.