Woman of Sorrows-The Black-Veiled Woman

The Girl Who Outlived Her Fear

Miles away, Chalandra did not know of her fiancé's sorrows. However, she knew whatever this famed treasure was, it either did not exist, or she did not know about it. The only reasons she would not know about it was if it did not exist, or if it had been hidden from a large group of people. Thane shared almost everything with her, and if there was some valuable treasure that would late enable her to support herself in the event of his absence, he would have told her. That would mean there was something more to this notorious treasure. It was either dangerous, and not as it seemed, which would explain why it was hidden in the first place. Perhaps though, it did not exist at all.

That would be much, much easier. It would mean there was no danger, only the need to stop unnecessary killings between these divides. They would simply have to be convinced there was never a treasure, that it was a dream and a falsehood. If it was dangerous, that was another story. They did not care who or what they endangered. They wanted nothing more then to be the supreme. The ones with the power. The wealth. Wealth they allowed them to consume them, control them. Even the families they claimed to want to support could not stop them from this greed. If it was real, but it was hidden for a reason, there was nothing she could do. She would have to wage open war to save them. The only way then to save them, might be to kill them.

Now so far away from the people who threatened her, she slowed her steed. Slapping the grey stallion on the neck, she praised him. His neck had not yet broken out in foam, but instead had a light dampness to it. She let him settle into a walk, having carried her so valiantly and willingly away from danger. His stride slowed, and she melted into his comfortable, long-strided walk. Letting out the reins, she let him lower his head and draw in his deep, long breaths. His sides moved slowly, showing her he still had lots of energy left. However, there was no need for him to continue to exert himself as they were far from danger. No horse save of a Dendä breed could touch him. And the Dendä horses would never let such vile men touch them. They could tell. There was a connection between horse and rider. A very real connection. A Dendä horse did not have to accept a rider, they would never be forced to. If they did not approve of their rider, or match together, there was no force. That would spoil their natural will to serve and keep their masters safe. Greyfer had accepted Chalandra, and she likewise had connected with him. Now, they had an invisible, but powerful bond. He would run until his heart burst if only she asked. Anywhere she asked, he would go. He would run into battle, through fire, all she had to do was ask it of him. That was why they were unbeatable war horses, because of their bond. Nothing could tear a horse from his master once they had been bonded. If a horse's master was killed, they usually would stand there, refusing to leave. They would guard their master's body until they too, were killed by their side. That was a bond that could never be achieved by men who forced riders onto their backs and jabbed their sides with spurs. They fled from that kind. But not from the side of a Dendä.

Late that night, she and Greyfer jogged into a town. Some town whose name was either unmarked, or long-forgotten. The moment she saw another foot traveler after her hours of abandoned rode, she pulled her black cloak over her head. With it she could be a faceless traveler, just another rider on horseback. As she entered the town, she pulled Greyfer back to a walk. She never liked towns, and would prefer to sleep in the woods. However, it was easier to find vital information in towns where gossip raged. There was something different this time though. Something else warned her away. Something powerful. Something dark.

Greyfer felt it too. The moment they stepped into town, his body tensed, and his stride shortened as though ready to flee. He gathered his feet under him, truly ready to run at the first sign of danger. Trying in vain to calm him, she slapped his broad neck a few times. In response, he snorted a few quick breaths through his nostrils. Trying to regain his attention, she clucked twice to him. Instead of flicking his ear back towards her, he raised his head higher and sped his stiff-legged, short-strided walk. She felt it too, but there was also knowledge to be found here. Looking around, her stomach turned at the sights around her.