Jewel and the Mares of Fantasy [A Fantasy Novel]

C H A P T E R |2|

| The A U T H O R  Decides that there Needs to be too Much Description |

Whis watched the man from the stands carefully. He'd done a few things that bewildered her. First he hadn't gone to sleep like everyone else in the sell-tent when she sent out the spell. Then he'd preceded to back-talk the slave-master, who left without his usual glare her way, after bowing to the strange man. Thirdly – and most importantly – he was giving her a home. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. He'd shown twice how much he cared about her when he'd taunted returning her to the slave-master. She felt blackmailed. He hadn't taken advantage of her, just spoken the truth as if he actually cared, but didn't want to show it.

Whis frowned at his back while they rode through Garden City, over Fathen River and out the West Gate. She kept her questions and comments to herself, it was obvious the man (or whatever he was) wasn't used to company. From the way he talked to Louis and Flethit she wondered how often he came to town and actually talked to people. They both spoke so fondly to him, and yet he barely showed any emotion toward them. It was like he was there, but at the same time, he wasn't. Almost like the old horse-trainer she used to work with for lessons, always trying to keep himself distant on purpose to avoid the day she either died or was bought.

Whis' frown deepened. If the man didn't care about them – friends he'd obviously had for a long time – why was he caring for her, someone he'd just met? It didn't make any sense. Not to her, and not to Louis. When she'd entered the little shop Louis had eyed him strangely, and then later when she'd been picking out outfits, Louis had commented on Whis' luck with him, and hadn't elaborated.

Such a strange man, Whis thought, patting the mare's neck when Ani suddenly pulled Clod into a trot. Calium wasn't the name she would have chosen for the mare, she looked more like an Elli. And Nvearyeri – or whatever he'd called them – wasn't a breed she'd have associated with horses. Sounded more like a Demon type.

But, with whatever name she had and whatever she was, the mare moved gracefully into a trot and stayed right beside the large dapple. Her smooth, deep brown coat glistened under the sleepy sun and her dark hooves pounded the earth into submission. While Clod was a mixture of brawn and broad shoulders, Calium was all brains and agility. Whis could feel the intelligence in her with every step, like each movement was a calculation. Whis might not want to believe Ani about Calium's name or race but she did believe him – at least now – about her warrior mind.

|/A\|

Anakin urged Clod to a clunky walk through the WILD Gate, feeling the eyes of drowsy creatures and the soft chatter of leaves and water. He loved this forest, loved the creatures in it, loved the way the moon turned everything smooth and glistening, but he only loved it when Lazarus was there, the Ancient Sun Stag kept the Boarder Between Innocent and Predator peaceful, but with his absence, Ani felt the over-powering darkness trying to take over again. Clod and the mare could too with their conversely snorts and nervous movements. Calium wouldn't bolt, not with there being a chance of her hurting her rider, but Clod was a dumb horse, not able to sense the protection his mount could provide.

Anakin glanced back at Whis, unsure how she was taking all of this, and unsure on why he actually cared. He was surprised – although a moment later he knew he wasn't – to find her asleep, draped over Calium's neck, her face in the mare's black mane. Calium nickered, giving a slight toss of her head to say she wasn't going anywhere. He nodded in return, relaxing when he realized he'd coiled up.

The Boarder was a harsh line of slits eyes staring out at them. A quick strike of magic sent them scurrying to their burrows and caves, but the braver, stronger ones still watched, waiting for him to slip up. He'd never slipped up, not once, and he had no plans to now.