Matteo

It's tough to be a god

It was simple work, tedious almost and yet Matteo hardly found any fault with it. After all, it was the kind of work he had done near all his life. The Frenchman taking a simple pleasure in grooming that horse until its black coat near shone. It reminded him of those early years spent in Alexander's army and beneath the elder mans tutelage. He had been the foot soldier turned kitchen boy turned personal groom to Alexander's horses before so eventually riding beside Alexander himself. That friendship between them so built upon that foundation of mentor, father and companion. Ah, but sometimes he forgot how many years they had been at one another's side until he had near come to rely upon his oldest and dearest friend. Alexander was an unchanging presence in his life. A single being whom had persisted through those centuries, one whom had seen nearly all he had seen and survived in turn and indeed there was something so desperately....important in that very connection. He would be but utterly lost without the other man, of that he was near assured.

Matteo, for now, allowed those very memories of battles long since fought and wars long since won to play at the forefront of his mind. That music a veritable soundtrack to that mental montage as his lips continued to sing those words with little thought. Whether or not Darius appreciated that sound he hardly knew and yet the black stallion remained nothing but relaxed beneath his touch. The pair truly having come a long way since the Barb stallion had first arrived at his chateau for his rehabilitation. Darius having attempted to run him down upon that first day! The animal almost incapable f being handled by even his best grooms. It had taken weeks, months even, for the pair to establish any level of trust. Much about Darius still baffling to the Frenchman in turn and yet the stallion had all but thrived beneath his care. Even Alexander had commented upon that improved condition and the good work the Frenchman had done. Matteo hardly immune to that rarely offered praise from his eldest companion. Those words having coaxed that grin to his lips. Some things, it seemed, did not change in all the years. Alexander's praise still meaningful to him.

It was that shift within Darius himself that first alerted the Fae to the approach of another. The soft sound of a snort from behind him prompting the Frenchman to turn, Matteo peering over his shoulder at that silver black mare who stood near expectantly a few feet away. He had seen that mare before, either with that supply wagon or amongst those training troops. Anastasia's mare. His nieces continued business in Russia having assured she was absent today and yet it appeared someone had exercised the horse- or attempted too. That saddle and bitless bridle still very much in place upon her. Yet he was near certain he had not seen her at training today. Matteo's attention returned but briefly to his own mount. The Fae carefully rubbing the last of that sweat from Darius' coat before allowing his own affinity to afford him that desired extra knowledge. At least, as much as it could provide. That near knowing simper so found his lips as that red hue faded from his silver gaze. The bucket and sponge was put easily to the side, the Frenchman turning fully then to face that young mare. This was the first time he had ever truly seen Anastasia's mount upon close. Such a pretty thing she was.

"Ah, but where did you rider go, Mon Cheval? Did you toss him off and leave him to walk home? I do not think I would blame you. Some of these- they deserve to be tossed."

That easy, warm grin so lingered upon the near ancient Fae's features as he strode forward then, those accented words smoothly offered as his hand came to rest upon the mares shoulder, his fingers momentarily stroking at that smooth, soft fur. Fur that was so hardly damp with sweat from any true work. Ah- but someone was sneaky! Matteo near assured already of just what had occured today. An amusement of sorts finding his features then as he moved to loosen that girth strap and slip that saddle from the mare- hanging it easily on the nearest stable door. How readily he knew that this horse was no true horse at all and yet he so moved with that same calm, easy manner as he did any equine.

"Do not worry, Mon Amie. I will not tell Alexander that you did not attend training today-"

Matteo paused but briefly to reach up and unbuckle that bridle, lifting it slightly before gently slipping it from the horse's head. The Frenchman so devling near instantly to the heart of her very concerns even though she had hardly spoken a word. Matteo so continuing to talk as he removed that riding tack.

"-I do not need too. I am assured he already knows. Alexander- he knows everything. You cannot undo what is already done but, you can admit to it. Alexander, he is very good at waiting for you to admit your mistake, the longer you take, the more it says about you, no? I once took several centuries to admit to losing some sheep. He did not forget. He forgets nothing. I thought I had him fooled all those years. I did not. Try not to miss training again, no? It will impress him more to see you come back from that mistake then if you had never made it."

Whether or not that young girl would heed his words or even truly understand them he hardly knew. His voice holding no judgement within it, after all, how many times had he too missed that training in his younger years? Alexander, he suspected, would know exactly how many times. Matteo's hand reached upward then, smoothing that fur upon the mares face in those places the bridle had sat.

"I used to think training was boring to and sometimes it is- but a day will come, Mon Cheval, when you will need every bit of those things you have learned. When someone will rely on you. There is value in it, even if it is hard to see. Do you care for some food?"

That rumbling whicker from across the stable to prompted the Frenchman to turn, Darius throwing his head up and down in a clear desire for attention, his teeth crunching at that bit between them in impatience as Matteo's own hand were thrown upwards.

"Always you are bossy! You wait your turn, we have a lady in our presence, no?"

That snort from Darius so surely said all it needed to. The black stallion's tail lashing at his flanks and yet he remained where he stood. Matteo content to mutter beneath his breath at the Were before his attention returned to the young woman.

"Do you care to join us then, Mademoiselle?"