Contract with a Star (On Hold, Possibly Forever)

The Horses and the Star

            The first thing they did was to go look for horses. The horses they found at the local stable marts were dull and lifeless. Rena made them wait at a store that sold some very delicious chocolate chip muffins while she went to send a message to someone in the royal castle; Aiden and Tanya assumed it was her grandmother visiting or some friend of hers. Two hours after she got back, a young groom from the royal stables came to fetch them. It took them the entire night by carriage to reach the current king’s pride and joy.

            The royal stables were huge. There were over a hundred horses that had no current riders and a lot more that did. Almost seventy people worked there at one time and most of them were currently stretching the horses in shifts out on the four acres of pure grass land.

            Aiden went from stall to stall and stared into the horses eyes. Most of them became nervous at the unblinking boy and started to fidget. Aiden left those. Then, he found a black horse with gray splotches on it, or a gray horse with black splotches on it; it could go either way. When Aiden stared deep into its eyes, it stared even deeper into Aiden’s. Finally, it got to the point where one of them was forced to blink. The horse snorted and some of the betting grooms that had gathered groaned as Aiden blinked first.

            “I want this one!”

            “What are you going to name it?” Rena asked.

            “C-” Aiden managed one letter before Tanya smacked his head.

            “Don’t be a pervert.”

            “Fine.” Aiden spaced as he tried to figure out a name. After two minutes of blank staring, Tanya moved on to find her own horse.

            Tanya’s horse was a chestnut brown stallion with dark, knowing eyes. As Tanya gently pet his neck, she felt a scar hidden beneath the long, brown mane. Looking down the rest of the stallion’s body, she found more marks. She called one of the workers over.

            “Ah, that’s our little survivor. He came here all on his own, probably following the sounds of the others. We don’t know where he came from, or how old he is, but we’ve fixed him up as best we could and he’s of good breeding.”

            “I’ll take him.” Tanya turned back to the horse, “I think I’ll name you Miv.”

            “I’m not too sure Mivaya would like that, but I do have to admit, those two do share that haughty, overly experienced look.” Aiden came up behind Tanya, holding the reins of the nameless horse.

            “Who’s Mivaya?” Rena joined the conversation.

            “My little sister.” Tanya replied, not taking her eyes off the horse. But, Aiden did look down and he saw the face Rena pulled.

            “I didn’t know you had a little sister. How old is she?” Rena’s voice was merely subdued, but she was staring at the ground and didn’t notice Aiden observing her reactions.

            “She’s only eight, and she’s only my half sister, but she does look an awful lot like this horse.” Tanya turned around, “Why?”

            But the face was gone. Rena was once again cheerful and curious. “No reason. Do you have any other siblings?” Tanya shook her head. “What about you, Aiden?”

            “Four older brothers.” Aiden and Tanya were both giving Rena odd looks, but Rena ignored them and went to find her own horse.