Tara slouched deeper into the cushioned seats of the carriage, staring sullenly out the window at the completely stationary scenery outside.  Ever since they'd arrived in the capital the carriage had been moving at a snail’s pace, inching its way through the crowded streets and the constant starting and stopping was worsening her already bad mood.  She wore a pale cream blouse, unbuttoned at the top, with an elaborately brocaded underbust corset of dark maroon.  Her long athletic legs were complimented by her tight fitting riding breeches which matched with her calf-high, low-heeled riding boots.<br/><br/>"This is so unfair!'<br/><br/>She let out a howl of frustration and repeatedly kicked the seat opposite her with her heel in a less than dignified tantrum.  Each kick caused the middle-aged man sitting on it to twitch repeatedly and shoot a look of annoyance and exasperation at the young heiress.<br/><br/>"Stop that," he said in a terse, irritated voice.  The long-suffering tutor turned long-suffering secretary had long given up on his attempts to train Tara into what he believed was a 'proper young lady' and these days spent his time trying to mitigate the damage from Tara's escapades.<br/><br/>She turned her glare on the man, but sounded more petulant than angry, "I haven't forgotten your part in all this, Basil.  Papa would never have had to send us away if you hadn’t been such an interfering busybody!"<br/><br/>She'd been snuggled up in her rooms with that nervously cute priest all night, with the doors locked and making him play a few rounds of 'Find the Key'.  But as soon as she'd taken a brief break to visit the kitchens and limber up for their next session, her traitorous secretary had crept into her room and spoiled everything.<br/><br/>Basil seemed completely unmoved at her admonishment, already used to it after his many years of service.  "You were late for your meeting with the Duke, I certainly didn't expect to find a naked member of the clergy tied to your bed.  The poor boy was so relieved to be released that he couldn't stop crying.  I'd ask what you did to put him such a state, but I don't think I could bear to hear it."<br/><br/>"Nonsense!" snorted Tara dismissively, "He was probably just upset that you were spoiling our fun.  Having to go back to that awful bishop would upset anyone."<br/><br/>"He was so exhausted he couldn't even walk out of there on his own two feet.  I practically had to carry him.  The...<i>'fluids'</i>he was covered in completely ruined my suit," said Basil as his lip curled at the unpleasant memory.  "I had to throw it out.  Even if the maids could get the stains out, I'd never be able to forget they were there."<br/><br/>"He did make an awfully big mess all over himself didn't he?"  Tara's glare had been wiped away by a radiant smile as the image of her toy, tied spreadeagled to her bed and covered in his own sinful seed, flashed through her mind. "I know they're supposed to take a vow of celibacy, but I always assumed the priests<i>'took care'</i>of themselves when they got too tense.  But when I think about how much he had to unload, and how<i>easy</i>it was to tease out of him, I really think he must have taken his vow seriously.”<br/><br/>Basil eyes glazed over as she spoke, his face slackening into an expressionless mask.  "You were so bright and beautiful as a child.  Where did it all go wrong?"<br/><br/>Tara grinned affectionately at her long-time teacher and companion, reaching across to give his hand a friendly squeeze.  "I still am, Basil."<br/><br/>The secretary rolled his eyes at her and her grin grew wider.<br/><br/>She arched her back as she stretched long and languorously, like a cat that had just awoken from a long nap.  She stood, ducking her head slightly so as not to hit the ceiling of the carriage and moved towards the door.  "I'm going to go explore our new city; you go ahead to the house and make sure they've got everything set up properly. I'll see you later this evening."<br/><br/>"<i>Please, </i>don't do... anything," finished Basil weakly, knowing how futile the order was.<br/><br/>Tara let the door swing open and the two massive bundles of fur and muscle that had been lying in a comatose state on the carriage floor suddenly sprung to life and barreled outside, nearly knocking Tara over in their enthusiasm.  Her dogs, Fourth and Fifth, had been content to doze and drool for hours, but as soon as they were given the chance at a bit of exercise they leapt at it.  Tara knew exactly how they felt.<br/><br/>She followed them out with a cheery wave back at Basil and slammed the door behind her.  The streets of the capitol were busier than back home and she looked ahead to see a long line of carts and carriages lined up in front of their own.  No doubt, Basil would be stuck for hours yet.<br/><br/>Her hounds were circling the carriage, sniffing loudly as they explored their new surroundings.  She moved to the rear where her favorite stallion, Baxter, had been hitched to follow along.  She nuzzled her nose against him and laughed as his heavy tongue slurped up her face affectionately.  Wiping the drool from her face on the sleeve of her blouse, she untied his reins before leaping up and throwing her leg over the horse with the air of a practiced rider.<br/><br/>She hadn’t saddled him, not wanting to load him down any more than was necessary and content to ride bareback through the restrictive traffic of the city.  She slid atop him as she tried to get comfortable, his hooves clattering across the paving stones as he danced in place, eager to gallop.  She grinned as the horse fought his desire to buck her, his still wild nature struggling against his years of training.<br/><br/>Tara leant forward, one hand stroking his throat as she murmured coquettish nonsense into the horse's ear, playful but soothing, until he let out a loud snort and shook itself one final time before settling down.  She gave his throat one last tender stroke and sat up, back straight and shoulders back as her heels lightly squeezed around Baxter and they began to move off, Fourth and Fifth following behind eagerly.<br/><br/>The hunting down here wouldn’t hold a candle to the ancient forests of Ostbering, but she could make do for a couple of months.  And poor Baxter would calm down once his herd of mares arrived in a few weeks with the rest of her staff.  She’d put him out to stud a few times on the way here, but the mares were all poor specimens owned by farmers or merchants and she knew he hadn’t been properly satisfied.  The stallion’s current agitation was caused just as much by a lack of sex as by a lack of exercise.<br/><br/>‘Much like myself,’ she thought with a laugh.<br/><br/>Despite her tantrum in the carriage, Tara was hoping to make the best of her ‘exile’ to the city.  Papa would get soon get bored when he realized he’d sent away his favorite hunting and drinking companion and she’d soon be called back once the bishop had been suitably calmed down.<br/><br/>She doubted her father really intended her to dance attendance on the Royal Court, anyway; while he’d never said anything publicly, she knew his private opinion on the politicking and plotting of southern nobles and the low regard he had for them.  She’d pay what lip service she had to the court and visit what contacts and allies her father had here, but fully intended to keep a low profile.<br/><br/>Then she could content herself with a few rowdy weeks of visiting the bars, theaters and whatever other places might be worth her time.<br/><br/>She caught the eye of a passing guardsman and gave him a toothy grin, earning an unsure nod and nervous smile in response.  She had little worry that she'd be starved of her other forms of entertainment.<br/><br/>A giddy laugh suddenly escaped her.  Despite Papa's and Basil's disbelief at some of the stories that had worked their way back to them, she had actually been holding back some of her more 'playful' ideas.  Now that she didn't have to worry about upsetting any of the family retainers, maybe she could cut loose a little.<br/><br/>She squeezed her heels against Baxter’s body again and continued winding her way through the city.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>