The Horse Man

Denver

Sometimes people become so ugly inside that nothing beautiful can move them any longer, and their mind only sees beauty in ugly things. I wonder if people are that way these days. When one of my children curves her neck and pricks her ears in hope that I will take notice of her and compliment her beauty, I melt inside and there is a fullness in my heart that is more pleasurable than anything tangible could be.
If I could show these people the beauty of my children, then they will love them also. Not as much as do I, because that is not possible, but enough to understand that to love something is to wish for its welfare above one's own pleasure.
I have rented a great arena in the city called Denver, and opened the hall to any who wish to come. I ride there in great state, my children's coats shining with health and cleanliness, their hooves trim and polished, their tails cocked and their ears pricked up. They love to please people. They are generous and kind to no end, indiscriminate and without guile.
A crowd gathers behind us. I am sour because I hate to waste my children on these creatures who have no understanding of what they witness, but my children are delighted, prancing and tossing their manes. I lead them to the great arena. The world may share my dear ones for this short moment, and they must see that to love is to respect.

*****

Kiera knew what Hyn was like amongst people. He was arrogant and generally contemptuous, making no secret of his feelings for humans in general. She was prepared to watch his usual behavior, but today there was a different feeling in the air rather than the impatient distaste he usually displayed.
The arena was empty and dark and silent.
Then soft music began to play, and one lone white light shone down to display Hyn kneeling slumped in the center of the ring.
Then the music changed slightly, and the lights brightened a bit to display a foal coming out. The foal frisked around for a moment and Hyn lifted his head to watch, but remained otherwise motionless. The foal danced toward him, inviting him to play, but Hyn did not move. The foal whisked its bushy little tail and ran to the wings, where he let out a loud whinny. 
The lights came on, and three beautiful stallions pranced out, necks arched and tails cocked, their movements perfectly synchronized. They came to the motionless Hyn, and two of them knelt on either side of him, tucked their heads under his limp arms, and gently raised him while the other danced a passage, a little standing in motion. The music picked up, and Hyn opened his eyes, turned his head, then swayed himself to the music, then began to dance a mimic passage between his two friends, lead by the beautiful giant whom Kiera recognized as Bellerephon. Then Bellerephon began a routine that Kiera had seen before, but not in this context. He stood on his haunches, and Hyn crouched and swiveled. He danced, and Hyn danced behind him, flanked by the two smaller stallions, watched by the curious little foal. They danced a dazzling ballet of synchronized spontaneity, ending with Bellerephon's capriole and Hyn making a ballet dancer's grand leap. Hyn and Bellerephon bowed to each other and the lights and music sank, leaving Hyn standing alone in the spotlight with the foal.
Hyn looked up into the crowd and began to speak, his voice sweet and caressing, unlike Kiera had ever heard it.
"When the world was young, the children of Man were helpless and unimaginative, their horizons limited by their lack of motion. Then the One Above Us All gave to them a gift beyond all price or treasure.
The children of wind and beauty blended, the horse took Men from an inanimate creature unable to traverse space, and placed in his hand the power to travel, to fly bound to the earth. Horses taught us how to dance. And they give us a constant example of how to behave toward each other when we must live alongside one another, how we must defend and honor our females, protect and nurture our children," and here, Hyn smiled up into the audience with a charm that startled Kiera, "And to bite those who cross our boundaries. Horses are a blessing and a privilege to own. They never cease to teach us. There have been many wondrous things built and invented, but as I have read in Chesterton, An airplane is certainly wonderful, but not quite so wondrous as a horse allowing a man on his back."
The lights blinked out, and then on again.
Hyn dazzled the audience. There was no other word for it. The horses danced, they acted, they told stories, they played. Hyn was neither man nor exactly horse, but something between.
He danced, he stood still. He worked the horses like a puppet master, or he simply went along with them. He made people laugh, he made them cry.
Time did not exist while he held them in thrall. When he made his final bow, the audience was to overwhelmed by everything to applaud for several minutes.
Kiera was dazzled, but baffled too. Hyn was never expressive, and he was jealous of his horses.
Today, he had shared them generously and extended his own effort to be gracious and open.
She was confused until she began to listen to the people as they filed out.
"I never knew horses thought."
"I never knew they liked to play with people, too!"
"They're so beautiful! How can people bear to abuse them?"
"I am going to work with my mare more often! This has been... Well, just eye opening!"
"I've never seen anything like it."
Kiera realized in a sudden flash the depth that was Hyn. There was nothing that he would not do for his horses. They were more truly his children than she could have realized.