"I am curious about something, though feel free to refuse to tell me," Mikhail said slowly. "Your mother was a horse, which means you were born one. And yet you appear human."
"I will tell you, as it will help to provide context for what the King's plans are," Olga said. "Before he took the throne, the King was banished to the outlands. He found employment at the farm I was at. As he is a Horse Witch himself, he was able to detect immediately that I had more intelligence and magic than even a Witch's Pony should. I explained to him my sire, and he was able to guide me through a shape change."
"Really?"
"Yes. My human sire overrode my horse dam, making me truly a human, but born in the wrong form." Olga tossed her head happily. "The King and I fled that horrid farm. He began to teach me the ways of Horse Magic as we traveled the kingdom in disguise. Everywhere we went, we saw Witches being treated horribly, but Horse Witches the worst of all. I was not the only one rescued by the King. Most of the Horse Witches that came here with me were either half-horse like myself or trapped in horse form and sold."
"It sounds like you are quite close to the King," Mikhail ventured. Olga nodded.
"We are. I am his primary confidant. I have even been his lover. I helped him build the army he used to take the crown. I was his steed that fateful day!"
"His lover?" Iris asked. Mikhail was surprised she had been paying attention at all. She had seemed so happily distracted by her pregnancy.
"Yes." Olga sighed. "I am not fair nor noble enough to be his bride, but when I return to the Palace, the King has promised me a role in his harem. Though he was the one to assign me this important role, he worries about my safety and wishes to keep me close." A mischievous look appeared in her eye. "Though I suspect he also misses our travels, when we made love every night." Olga laughed. "I apologize, I did not mean to share so much."
"It is no problem," Mikhail assured her. His mind was racing. They needed to capitalize on Olga's closeness to the King while she was still there. But how?