Four years had passed since the day Tristan had given me Arion. My cute little foal had grown up to be a stunning stallion. I had grown up too, I was now fifteen, Owen was thirteen. My father had gone to fight in a battle, and today we found out if he was alive. And if he wasn't either me or Owen had to go in his place, our mother feared this greatly, she was worried we would die, but I knew deep down she wanted me to go instead of Owen. I did know archery, my father had taught me, I was a good archer and I had a strong horse. Owen had been given a horse by Sofia, a dark bay Thoroughbred called Streak, but he was only two years old, however Arion was four.
The messengers came in through the streets on bay horses. I rushed out onto the streets closely followed by Owen, I ran to stand by my mother. She smiled at me and Owen. "We will now declare the dead and the ones to take the dead's place" proclaimed a man sitting on a long legged brown horse. "Adam Ryder" he proclaimed, "Tristan Ryder, you will be taking his place please step forward" I watched Tristan walk forward his head bowed, "You boy" the man said "get a strong horse and join us in one hour, here" now I wanted to go, to make sure he survived. Tristan walked back his family. "Edward Taylor, the one taking his place is John Taylor" a boy with dark brown hair stepped forward "You will get a strong horse and meet us here in one hour" the boy nodded and walked back to his family. "Gideon Roe, the one taking his place is..." he glanced down at his parchment and looked up with a shocked expression. "Arianne Roe" there were mutters all though the crowd. I walked forward and looked up at the stern faced man "Get a strong horse and meet us here in one hour" I nodded and walked back to my tearful mother and brother. Seven more were called.
