As dawn approached, this Wild Hunt "joyride" was more or less over.
Richard figured he might as well see them off properly, so he led the six of them back to the palace gates.
After dismounting, they looked back and saw that the Wild Hunt still stood above the clouds. Tens of thousands of riders remained perfectly still, stern as mountains.
"Please leave the Hunt Lord's affairs to the Venerable Envoy from now on."
"Of course."
After the group entered the palace gates, the great hall automatically came apart.
The next moment, Richard heard a rustle behind him. The Lobster Soldier in the red coat had already undone his stiff military overcoat.
"They're gone, right?"
"If they're gone, I'm speaking up."
The Lobster Soldier planted both hands on his hips.
"When that last little girl got on her horse, she was holding the reins backward!"
The young man with the axe immediately slipped off his horse laughing.
"I saw it, I saw it! I've been holding that in all night."
"You really know how to hold it in. You were standing there like a post just now."
"That was called presence."
"Your legs were numb."
The barefoot one also stretched his feet out from beneath his mount's shadow. "I didn't dare move much tonight either."
"What were you afraid of?"
"I was afraid they'd see I wasn't wearing shoes. It'd be embarrassing."
"You haven't worn shoes for centuries. You're worried about that now?"
"It's different. There were strangers tonight."
Richard relaxed as well. At last, he no longer had to keep a straight face.
The Hunt Lord's mount moved over too.
It pointed the Horn at the shadow. "You handled tonight's matter poorly. As an exception, I can grant you one request. Don't be too excessive."
The moment those words