No Sanctuary For Old Men [18+] |Negan| ✔️ Complete

XLVIII • Stallion

Daphne ate breakfast with a rag tag group of gardeners, laughing at their stories of different blunders in the Kingdom's early days. Ezekiel approached just as one of them was regaling them with the great mud adventure of '03, and the blonde smiled up at him.

"Fair sleep, my lord?" she asked sweetly, and he bowed.

"Very fair, dear lady, and an even fairer morning!" He looked to the cloudless sky as if to accentuate his point.

Her radio crackled from under her dress and she dug through her skirts to remove it, turning the volume up a notch.

"Issue back home, heading out for a bit, over," Letty said, monotone betraying no details.

"What issue?" Daphne asked, standing immediately and moving away from the table.

"Big boss says nothing to worry about, stay where you are," came the reply.

The blonde chewed her lip. Nothing to worry about, but he needed Letty to come back? Was it something with Alexandria? She didn't want to ask in front of the King, who had followed her away from the table.

"Okay, update me when you can, over," she said simply, and pursed her lips.

"Will do, princess," Letty said with a hint of amusement in her voice, and Daphne relaxed a touch, turning and offering a smile to Ezekiel.

"Come, I'd like to show you the carpentry quarter," he said, extending his arm with a flourish.

***

Daphne enjoyed a full tour of the Kingdom into the late morning that ended with the stables. She squealed with delight as a large black stallion chuffed against her cheek, tickling her.

"Do you ride, my lady?" Ezekiel asked, amused at her awe of the animals.

"I have never had the luxury, no," she replied, running her hand down the creature's nose. "I lived a drab city life in the days before the end."

"Loxley is a gentle giant, if you should like to try," the King offered.

She smiled brightly. "I would love to."

Ezekiel called over a young man from the stable, and he brought over a saddle, introducing himself as Nicholas.

Daphne insisted that he show her the process of gearing up Loxley, and was surprised at how simple the strap work was.

"Many thanks, Nicholas," she said, giving the sandy haired boy a curtsy. He smiled at her enthusiasm and bowed before taking the reins.

"If I may." The King held out a hand to help her up and she took it, hers disappearing into his as he closed his fingers.

She hooked a foot into the stirrup and couldn't help but marvel at the sheer strength she could almost feel pulsing in the man. When she seated herself in the saddle, however, all thoughts turned to the strength of the horse. Loxley seemed a lot bigger from the top, and the rippling muscles and solidity of the creature was thrilling.

"Comfortable, my lady?" Ezekiel asked.

"Very, my lord," she replied, tone breathy as she reached down to pat Loxley's neck. Nicholas started to walk, leading them in a slow circle around the stable yard.

Daphne couldn't stop the goofy smile from breaking out on her face. A laugh tore its way from her throat as Loxley sped up to a trot, and she held onto the horn for dear life as she bounced up and down.

She turned to grin at Ezekiel but the smile faded when she saw his right hand man, Richard, approaching him with a serious expression.

"Nicholas, lead us over there, please?" she asked, and he obliged, slowing to a walk as the King turned to his subject.

"Jesus has arrived, my lord, with a refugee seeking safe haven," Richard said, and Daphne stiffened. Was this the Ninja Jesus that Negan has mentioned meaning to kill? She couldn't imagine many people with that name.

"Ah, I haven't seen Sir Jesus in many moons!" Ezekiel bellowed jovially. "Invite him to the waystation and I will meet this refugee."

Daphne swung down off of the horse, not as gracefully as she'd have liked, skidding next to the King.

He took her elbow to steady her.

"If it pleases my lord, I should like to accompany you to meet Sir Jesus and his refugee," she said, and he nodded.

"Of course, my lady." He opened the gate, and she gave Loxley one last pat before exiting the stable ring.

"Thank you, Nicholas," she said with a curtsy as Ezekiel relatched the gate, and the boy inclined his head to her.

"Are you familiar with the Hilltop?" the King asked as they strolled in step with Richard. "It is rumored that as of late, Lord Negan trades with them as well."

"The Hilltop has a very different agreement with us, my lord," she said, knowing that this conversation was poignant if they were to meet with Jesus. Once Ezekiel brought up the Hilltop, she had no more doubts as to him being the enemy Negan had mentioned. "Gregory is not a stable nor compliant man, and unfortunately has been very suspicious about the nature of the Sanctuary's plight."

"How so?" Ezekiel stopped short at her words, brow furrowing.

"The outpost attacked was the one associated with the Hilltop, my lord." Daphne said, straightening her spine and keeping her voice even. "He has not been terribly co-operative with our investigation and much evidence suggests he is responsible for the thugs that took down our men."

He shot a worried glance at Richard, who remained stone faced. "Are you certain?"

"Very certain," she replied.

"Then we shall see what Jesus seeks from me." Ezekiel started walking again, and Daphne stayed close, eyes on the cottage by the front gate that served as their waystation.

As they strode up the front walk, she peered through the bay window and froze. The man standing behind it with his arms crossed was none other than the Sanctuary's redneck prisoner, Daryl.