The Scottish Boy

by Alex de Campi

Channel under blue skies and fair winds to Plymouth. When they arrive at Dartington at the end of the week, Annie takes one look at Iain, screams, and faints. Iain jumps off Nemesis and picks her up, rasping at Harry to fetch a cool cloth. Annie wakes up in Iain’s arms, looks at him, and promptly faints again.

Oh no

Iain refuses to let Piers and Bevis take the horses to the stables. He settles Nomad and Nemesis in their stalls himself. Harry goes to check on him ten minutes later, but quietly backs out again upon finding Iain, cheeks wet with tears, hugging Numbles while the old beast whickers happily and smears hay-slime all over his back.

And I'm sobbing