Magician's Melody: Hymn of the Fallen

Part 8

"Training field?"

"Training fields. Multiple. We're going to one of the smaller ones not to overwhelm you."

"As if this whole thing isn't already overwhelming." I grunt.

"I know, it was new to me as well you know." Parker responds looking into the distance. We were just outside of the caste and waiting at a stables for some transport.

"You were kidnapped too?" I joke. Parker chuckles.

"No, I came more willingly. I guess I was more willing to believe in all of the possibilities rather than crazy people trying to take me." Parker sighed. "Living powerless isn't easy. And I don't just mean magic powers, I mean being truly powerless over your life. Living like that, after a while you're ready to believe anything."

"I get that." I look solemnly down at my feet. "Who would have thought I'd be having a heart to heart with you Parker." I laugh trying to lighten the mood.

Parker smiles, "Glad to help you loosen up a little. We all have our secrets. Our beliefs, our pain. It's better to tell people than to bottle it up. I'm still learning to do that myself."

I never would have taken Parker for an emotional guy. Mr. Class Clown has more to him than I thought. It was nice to see him like this, a little less reserved in his feelings, instead of using jokes as a front.

"Horses are ready to go. We got ourselves a carriage so Nikki doesn't have to ride with us."

"Do we have to fly?" I asked with a little bit of fear. I had only caught a plane once, it was cramped and the fact we were thousands of  miles above the solid ground scared me. I can't even imagine putting my trust into a flying horse  to do the same thing as a safety checked airplane.

"No the training fields are just past the Denwoods forest. The pygmy horses can pull us there without flying."

I nod, no clue what he was talking about.

"Alright Nikki, meet Ginger."

The name suited the horse, the coat was colored like ginger with white hooves and a white smudge across her black muzzle. Her wings were the same color as her coat, with a lighter color underneath.

Daniel led the horse to me and I backed away.

"Its okay." He took my hand and placed it on her head. Just like Iris with the cat.

I could feel her heavy breathing and the vibrations of her hooves pawing at the ground. Her heart beat was almost irregular, beating twice a second.

"Two hearts, all females have two. The males can have up to three." 

"Woah." The coat felt rough but well groomed. The tan mane and tail was braided neatly and the horses dark brown eyes were calming.

"And this is Xerxes." Ex-ser-c-sees? How do you even spell that?

"X-e-r-x-e-s. Xerxes. Like the king."

I turn around to see Bella, the little girl from before. "How did you know-"

"She's what you would call a mind reader. Instead of reading thoughts and words, she can read intentions and feelings," Iris informed me, "She can't really hear your thoughts as words, but understands the implications of your feelings. You were confused about the name so she assumed you were wondering what it meant and how it was spelt."

Bella beamed with pride. Without a single bout of hesitation she bounced up and down beside the horse. Iris lifted her up just above the wings and let her sit on Xerxes. The dark gray horse paced around the stables with the girl giggling on his back. His almost black wings sat calmly at his sides.