The Early Chronicles Book Three: Narnia and the North

Chapter 4

"What on earth was I thinking?"  Laurel scolded herself as she brushed Ira's sleek coat.  The mare snorted as if to agree with her.  Swanwhite had insisted Laurel stay at Kent until Goran's men had found the Giant, since Laurel riding back in the open towards her home might lead the Giant right to the mine and the Devonte estate.  Laurel's heart filled with dread at the thought of her parents reading the letter Swanwhite had sent them explaining the situation.  Trying to push the thoughts out of her mind, she looked around at the elaborate royal stables she had always wanted to see.  Mares, stallions, and geldings snorted and whinnied from their stalls as grooms and yard hands walked about the aisles to feed and water them.  Horses had always been one of her greatest enjoyments, and she had been thrilled when her father had given her Ira as a young foal for her tenth birthday.  Now the two of them were inseparable and it felt like they could read each other's thoughts when riding.  

A young man entered the stables leading the most gorgeous horse Laurel had ever seen.  The stallion's coat was a dappled grey, and its mane was a shining white.  It's height must have been seventeen hands by Laurel's estimate, and its hooves were huge and made a heavy thud on the cobblestone.  Laurel marveled at the beast and blushed when the young man caught her staring.  He smiled.  

"Beautiful, is he not?"  The man asked.  Laurel nodded.  "This is Kismir, the queen's finest stallion.  She had business to attend to so she asked me to give him some exercise."

"Do you often care for the horses?"

"Not usually.  I'm training to become a knight in the queen's militia, but when I'm not training I do whatever Captain Rufus tells me to do."  He smirked, "I suppose I have to work my way up to the important jobs."

"Oh I think taking care of horses is the most important job in the world."  Laurel scratched Ira's neck affectionately.

"I don't remember seeing that horse before, is it yours?"

"Yes, this is Ira, my mare.  I'm staying with the queen for a few days."

"Ira?  She's beautiful."

Laurel beamed at her mare's glossy sorrel coat.  It gave her a great sense of satisfaction whenever someone complimented her horse.

"My name is Thasian."  The young man said with a nod.

"Lady Laurel Devonte."  Laurel curtsied shyly.

"Lady Devonte?  I beg your pardon I did not know who you were."  Thasian bowed again lower.

"Oh no!  Think nothing of it.  I tend to have more meaningful conversations when people don't think of my title."  Laurel smiled and eyed the young man.  His hair was thick and light brown with blonde highlights throughout, and he was taller than Count Nevan by several inches, she guessed.  His clothes were very simple but he seemed to carry himself with a confident and gracious air.  

"Perhaps I could introduce you to some of the other horses?"  He asked as he returned the majestic Kismir to his stall.

"I would like that." 

"Very well, this is Zorro, and he's a young and feisty gelding that no one seems to be able to ride.   Some of the men have competitions to see who can stay on the longest.  Personally I think all the attention has gone to this gelding's head."  Thasian reached a hand in to pat the bay horse but was greeted with a near-disastrous snap of teeth.  Laurel giggled when Thasian jerked his hand back and grumbled at the beast before moving to the next stall.  "This is Ruby, and she is rather old but is the sweetest mare in the stables."  Laurel smiled at the chestnut horse who nickered when Thasian stroked her soft nose.  "This handsome boy is the general's horse, Valeon."  Laurel startled at the massive draft horse who seemed to fit the general's personality well.  The horse was almost entirely black save one white blaze on its nose.  It stood over eighteen hands high and stared at them with deep dark eyes as they passed.