He checked them over as best he could without getting into the stalls with them—he didn’t see any way to unfasten the doors, and he didn’t want to disturb them any further. They seemed happy to see him, but the kind of happiness that suggested that they were happy to see someone familiar, not that there was anything wrong.

“What are you feeding them?” he asked the Doll.

The Doll recited exactly the diet they’d been getting at home—minus the grass, which was being substituted for with hay in the right amount.

“That’s all right, then. What does the Emperor plan to do with them?” he asked.

“Oh, the most high Emperor, Lord of us all, has great plans now that he has seen them,” the Doll said.

“He’s seen them in person?” Kordas was a bit surprised.

“He has. They were brought to him in his privy garden. He was most pleased.” The Doll’s tone suddenly changed, became deeper—and in fact, sounded like a human man speaking. “These are good,” came the voice, and it struck Kordas in that moment that the Doll must actually be somehow reproducing what the Emperor had said, down to imitating his voice. “Wonderful beasts, wonderful. Big! Bigger is better. Bigger is always better. And gold, like real gold. We thought it was all bragging, but no, they look like gold. They’re going to look great in a parade.”

“Did he say anything else?” Kordas asked.

“My Lord might not want to hear it,” the Doll said hesitantly.

Kordas snorted. “I have a thick skin.”

“That dumb farmer knows horses, all right,” came the Emperor’s voice. “Dumb as dirt, but knows horses. Thought it was all an accident, maybe lucky, but he brought Us exactly what We wanted, and that’s no accident. Valdemar Golds! Big, beautiful, bigger and more beautiful than any other horse anyone else has. Perfect for Us.”

Kordas just nodded, and rubbed the horse’s cheeks with each hand. “What does he plan to do with them?” he asked.

“He’s having a special gold chariot made, with a copy of the Conquest Throne on it,” said the Doll, which seemed relieved that he hadn’t taken offense. “They’ll pull it in a parade that takes him to the Regatta, then he’ll sit in it during the Regatta.”

Well, that wasn’t ideal, but the two stallions were used to being out in the sun all day. At least they weren’t grays, which were prone to sunburn.