“And no doubt, as word spreads of a new era of naked slavery in Bellavalten, applicants will come on foot and on horseback and by coach in the hope of being received by us.”

“Genius!” said Tristan suddenly. “Of course. You will have more applicants than you can conceivably imagine.”

“I agree,” said Beauty quickly. “And each and all shall be subjected to six months of probation. Pass that, and one may commit to two years irrevocably.”

“Perfect!” Tristan responded.

Alexi’s smile was more coy and secretive. Lady Elvera looked aloof and unconvinced.

“And again,” said Beauty, “if a fair face and form, and breeding and aptitude, shine in an applicant—no matter how humble—he or she will not be turned away.”

She drew herself up and continued, her voice quite soft for all its obvious confidence.

“Now, it is our belief that many slaves presently serving in Bellavalten will choose to remain,” she said. “What say you all to that?”

“Absolutely,” said Lady Eva. “Without question.” Prince Alexi nodded and so did Tristan. The Captain murmured assent under his breath.

For the first time Lady Elvera smiled, but her face was as cold as ever. “Yes, they will no doubt very much want to stay. Rare it was and still is that any slave actually wants to leave at the end of his or her servitude.”

“And we shall have time to perfect the rules of the kingdom,” said Beauty, now greatly encouraged. “To refine all before the onrush of those who would come of their own free will.” She went on, her words running rapidly. “It is our wish that slaves from now on serve in many capacities in the Court and in the Queen’s Village, with greater care given to the aptitude of each slave for types of service, so that some may from the first day be trained as ponies, and others for work in the fields and still others for entertainment of the Court—in sum, we want greater care in placing slaves where they will flourish and most fully amuse their masters and mistresses rather than old and tired structures that tempted slaves to play games on their handlers to achieve their ends.”

“Yes,” said Lady Eva. “This is brilliant. Slaves are like flowers, some wanting sun and some shade and some the mists from the nearby fountains and others the dry soil beside the garden path.”

“Precisely,” said Prince Alexi.

“Then some would serve at once in the Queen’s Village, you’re saying?” asked Captain Gordon. “Not because they had disgraced themselves at the castle, but because it was the best place for them—”

“Indeed, yes,” said Beauty. “Discipline would be as harsh and as thorough as ever, but the placement would be done with greater care as Lady Eva has just so well explained.”

“But slaves wouldn’t be allowed to choose,” said Lady Elvera sharply.

“Oh, no, never, of course not,” said Beauty quickly, “but we would take infinitely greater patience in choosing what is best for them.”

“Ponies,” said Captain Gordon. “Would you open stables at the castle for men and women ponies, so that the Court might enjoy them as the villagers have all these years?”

“Oh, yes, most definitely,” said Beauty. “The spectacle of ponies, both male and female, is too splendid not to be used throughout the kingdom!”

“But wait, my love,” I said. “Surely you’re referring to men only with this, aren’t you? I did once in my time in the village see female ponies . . . but only once, and they were exceedingly rare.”

“They were rare, true, sire,” said Tristan, “but they were capable and beautiful, believe me. No, we didn’t see them much. The mayor kept a stable when we were in the village. But in fact Lady Julia, the present mayor of the village, has kept a large stable of female ponies for years.”

“Beloved, it seems too harsh for women,” I said. “I can’t imagine it. No. I know what it means to have served as a pony, pulling carts, chariots. It’s too much.”

“Your Majesty, believe me, it is not,” said Lady Eva without hesitation. “Do trust me in this. There are princesses now residing in the kingdom who can tell you happily of their voluptuous service as ponies in Lady Julia’s village stable. And they would be overjoyed, I’m sure, to help create a huge stable of female ponies at the castle for Queen Beauty’s coaches and her pleasure. Why, Queen Beauty could have her stable of elegant female ponies, and you, sire, might have your stable of well-muscled male ponies. You need never, either of you, or anyone for that matter, travel the roads of the kingdom without human ponies.”

Captain Gordon nodded at once. “This can easily be accomplished, Your Majesty,” he said. “You remember Princesses Rosalynd and Elena who served with you in the land of the Sultan. They were not returned to the kingdom until years after you had left. But they were sentenced to pony servitude by Queen Eleanor to cleanse away all the softening effects of the Sultan’s regime, and they served as ponies under Sonya, the head groom appointed by the Lord Mayor of the village in those days. Sonya was the greatest of all grooms of female ponies. . . . Why, Sonya perfected the whole manner of outfitting and handling female ponies.” He stopped. His face darkened. He seemed to be remembering himself. “Alas, Sonya is long gone. . . .” He glanced quickly and fearfully at Prince Alexi, but when Prince Alexi merely smiled, he continued, “And those princesses have long been ladies-in-waiting. They can tell you about their service. They speak of it all the time.”

“Thank you, Captain,” I said. “And do not be ashamed of speaking out here. This is what we must know. I’m finding it hard to imagine, delicate lady ponies, but I shall wait and see, of course, and I suspect you are right in this.”

“Your Majesty,” said Captain Gordon, “there are ponies in Lady Julia’s small village stable now.”

“Yes, we must see these female ponies,” said Beauty. “We will of course be learning much from what we see firsthand. But I think this is a splendid idea.”

I shrugged and looked at Beauty. “If you say so, all of you . . .”

“My lord,” said Beauty. “This will be like all else, a matter of aptitude. That will be the very nature of our refinements. We shall choose those who will thrive as ponies. And yes, I can well imagine a splendid stable of male and female ponies, and my own personal royal coach being pulled always by a great team of female ponies.”

“And wait till you hear, Your Majesties,” said Tristan, “how Princess Lucinda, another former pony, speaks of the splendid gold harnesses, buckles, boots, and plumes in Sonya’s time. Why shouldn’t there be such lovely stables at the castle? Why, the Court often asked Queen Eleanor for this, but she had no interest in it.”

“I always thought the pony life mysteriously seductive,” said Prince Alexi. “But then I never knew it, and seldom even caught a glimpse of it. It was almost painful at times, hearing of it and not being able to see it. So what do I know?”

“Oh, poor little good boy,” said Lady Elvera, in a withering, mocking voice. “That you were never given the pleasure of being humiliated in the village!”

Tristan laughed and smiled at Alexi in a confidential way.

I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.

“Well, one can’t have everything in life, can one?” said Alexi as he winked at Lady Elvera.

The enthusiasm was running high all around. Lady Elvera was melting, her eyes dancing as she looked from Alexi to Tristan and then to me. “Ponies for the Court,” she mused. “Yes, I do like it. And male and female, yes, quite interesting. But only if it pleases Your Majesty.”

“I’ve certainly heard Princess Lucinda on this,” said Lady Eva, “and I think she could draw up rules and pictures of accoutrements for a royal stable of female ponies on her own. Why, with the wealth of the Court, who knows what might be devised?”

Beauty began to laugh, though she tried not to, her hand coming quickly to her lips. “This is perfect!” she said.

“Very well,” I said. I knew I was blushing. Female ponies! It was a tantalizing thought. And I well remembered that one glimpse I’d had of the females pulling the mayor’s coach. “If you wish. And this will be done in the new spirit, with keen attention to those who flourish in such servitude. . . .”

“Of course,” said Beauty. “That’s the whole point, the new spirit!”

“But this Sonya,” I said, looking at Captain Gordon. “You said she was the greatest of all grooms of female ponies. What has become of her? Is it conceivable she might return to the kingdom if we offered her inducements?”

Again, I saw that shadow cross his face. “Alas, she was dismissed in disgrace,” he said. “It’s a sad tale.” He glanced uneasily at Prince Alexi.

“Yes, disgrace,” said Prince Alexi. “As I was dismissed. It was a complicated affair. It involved Lexius. You remember Lexius, my lord, I’m sure, Lexius of the sultanate. But I think Sonya is quite beyond recalling at this point.”

“I should like to hear all about this,” I said. “Of course I remember Lexius. It was I who stole him away from the sultanate.” I tried not to laugh. “It was perfectly outrageous of me to force Lexius to come with us when we were being rescued by the Captain and others.” I glanced at the Captain. “But of course, Lexius could easily have gotten away, had he wanted to. Where is Lexius now? What is his story?”