“What do you mean that he returned?” Maelor asked. “Where did he go?”
“No idea,” Paden happily answered. “Not too long ago, Seekers came into our camp, and he fled in fright before we could stop him. He’s been gone ever since. We think he just kept running to escape the monsters. He showed up this morning, looking fine as a gnat’s leg, and none the worse for wear.”
How fine is a gnat’s leg?
“Here he comes now,” Paden said. “We haven’t been able to catch him and put him in the barn. I guess you can start with that task, Anwen.”
Anwen grinned, but her heart sank. Catching an unwilling and untamed stallion in such a large area would be impossible.
The stallion screamed as he ran across the grass at them.
“Well,” Paden said. “I guess he’s coming to greet you, too!”
The stallion was white, but not pure white. As they entered the meadow and he raced to challenge them, the gray in his mane showed. He had the same thick mane as Aniela, but even at a distance, there was a finer quality about him.
Where have I seen a horse like that before?
The stallion screamed again, and Anwen knew why the horse looked familiar. She had rescued him from a Seeker with Daeron’s help.
Stardust.
Chapter Five
Geona’s Dream
Geona sighed and laid her quill beside the parchment. Her candle had burned far past the mark Mama always made to show when she was supposed to go to bed.
She blew out the candle and thought about Anwen. Geona had been so much into the writing that all of her problems had disappeared. Now as she closed her eyes, she returned to Anwen’s story.
What will happen next? How is she going to train the wild stallion? I should have given her more time to train him.
Geona sighed. She couldn’t help but wonder when she would get her horse. She didn’t expect the King to call for her to help with some grand quest. But she did want a horse. And now that she thought it, she wanted a barn of her own filled with stallions and mares to train.
Everyone laughed at her dreams, but she knew she could do it.
“Someday,” she whispered and then blew out the candle. “One day I’ll show them all.”
And tomorrow would be a new day. The two year olds needed basic training. They had to stand when handled and groomed. They needed to be led around for the buyers. It didn’t seem like much, but Papa always said those first few days of training set the horse for success or a lifetime of failure.
She would be allowed to help. She was going to get her hands on that filly, Moonlight Dancer’s daughter. Geona was the best person in all the barns to handle any horse with any spark.
It wasn’t as exciting as Anwen’s story, and it wasn’t even her own horse. Yet. But it was enough for her to get excited for tomorrow to come. She yawned and fell into dreams of Archippi racing across the sky while she tamed a wild horse.
The Ride Continues...
Book 3
Anwen’s
Reunion
Fiction on Fire
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2016 Vicki V. Lucas
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, posted on any website, or transmitted in any form or by any means—digital, electronic, scan, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without written permission from the author, except for brief quotations in printed reviews and articles.
For more information, visit www.vickivlucas.com.
Chapter One
Geona’s Training
“Just go slow, Geona,” Papa said. “You can do this.”
Geona barely resisted throwing the halter and rope down in the dust and stomping off. She had chased after the bay filly far longer than she had for any other horse. The stupid filly kept allowing her to come close enough to touch, but any time Geona made a move to put the rope over her neck, the horse shot off like a hive of bees had stung her.
“She’s not going to let me,” Geona muttered.
“Go slower,” Papa said. “Take your time. You’re hurrying her.”
“She’s just playing with me,” Geona shot back. “She knows exactly what I want.”
Moonlight Dancer’s filly stopped at the end of the corral and looked back at Geona with a swish of her tail. Geona trudged her way to the filly.
“She’s smart,” Papa said. Geona didn’t look at him, but she knew by his tone that he was laughing. “The ones with the spark always are.”
Geona didn’t answer. She strode up to the filly. The bay didn’t wait for long this time. Geona wasn’t even close enough to touch her when the horse bolted with her tail in the air right back where they had started.
“AH!” Geona yelled and threw the halter and rope in the dust.
“Hey, maybe she’s living up to her mother’s name and dancing with you!” Papa called.
“Dancing? She’s frolicking!” Geona put her hands on her hips and turned to Papa.
He was sitting on the fence with his feet on the middle rail and his elbows on his knees. He tried to wipe the grin off his face, but he didn’t succeed. She caught herself grinning in spite of her frustration.
“You know,” he said. “I think you just named her. How does Moonlight Frolic sound?”
“Sounds like she’s a monster,” Geona retorted. “But it’s not a bad name.”
She wasn’t going to admit it, but she liked being the one who came up with the name.
Frolic stood at the other end of the corral with her head up and ears pricked. Geona got the sense that the horse was listening to them and wondering why she wasn’t being chased anymore.
Geona shook her head. “She’s going to be a handful.”
“She’s already a handful,” Papa said with a grin. “You can do this, though. Try again. This time, take a deep breath, stay calm, and go slow.”
Geona picked up the halter and exhaled. She had been tense and angry. No horse would want to be around that. She started talking to Frolic about anything that came to mind.
“See the nice blue sky,” she said. She wanted Frolic to hear the friendliness in her voice. “The birds are even singing again. Summer is coming.”
She droned on about anything she could think of as she forced herself to stay calm and move slow.
Frolic snorted and lowered her head. Geona’s voice had the effect of a lullaby. She moved closer until she could pet the bay’s neck. Frolic jerked when Geona stroked the soft hair, but the filly stayed still.
Geona kept talking and slowly eased the rope over Frolic’s neck. Before she could tighten it, the filly jumped away and pulled. The rope tore through Geona’s hands.
“Ow!” she exclaimed. She turned on her heel. “Papa! See I can’t do it!”
“You need to calm down and...” he began.
“Geona!” Mama yelled from the house. “School!”
“Time to go,” Papa said. “We’ll try again later after you’ve calmed down a bit.”
She thought about protesting, but she knew neither Papa nor Mama would back down. She handed him the rope and slipped through the rails of the fence.
She plodded to the house, not noticing the birds singing or the warm sun on her face. She’d never had a problem with horses before.
She stopped outside the house and splashed some water on her face and hands, biting back a cry at the cold water. Pushing the wooden door open, she joined Tristan at the table. He was dressed in his woods clothes, brown pants and a green tunic to blend in with the plant life. A knapsack sat beside the door. But the way it was bursting at the seam told Geona Tristan was planning to be gone a while.
“Where you going?” Geona whispered.
“North!” Tristan didn’t even bother to raise his head. “I got to get going. There’s a rumor that someone in the far north saw a pack of wolves.”
“Are you ever going to give that dre
am up?” Geona asked. “You know wolves don’t exist.”
“Are you ever going to get a horse?” Tristan shot back. “Now leave me alone. I’ve got to get this done.”
Geona sighed and took her place at the table. She glanced down at the work Mama had laid out for her and smiled.
It was time to finish her story of Anwen.
Geona knew exactly what to write next. She grabbed her quill and dipped it into the inkwell.
Chapter Two
Anwen’s Success
Anwen stared at the light gray stallion running toward them. She slid out of her saddle and dropped the reins as a signal to the horse to stand still.
The sand came to her ankles as she jogged away from the group. Her muscles were stiff from the long ride, but she ignored them.
“He’s wild!” Paden shouted. “He’ll run you down.”
Anwen slowed to glance at their guide they had just met. He was brown like the plains people with dark hair and eyes. He seemed full of adventure, and it seemed nothing would slow him down, like someone who had lived free in the outdoors most of their lives.
“I know him,” she said and smiled at his confusion. “I’m the one who saved him.”
She refused to answer any more questions. She wanted to greet Stardust and let her scent remind him who she was before he got distracted with all the other horses and people.
“She saved him from a Seeker,” Maelor added. He paused. “All she had was a knife.”
Anwen grinned again as the men all gasped and started asking questions. Maelor told them to be quiet and didn’t give any more details.
Thought I was just a woman, did you? Well, I’ll show you! I’ll train Stardust better and faster than you ever could.
Stardust raced over the last hill. Sand clouds rose from his hooves that seemed to barely touch the ground. Anwen wasn’t sure if he was greeting them or attacking them, but judging from his ears, Stardust wasn’t in a friendly mood.
Anwen shifted so the wind would blow her scent to the stallion.
Remember me. Remember what Daeron, the Archippos, told you. Remember how the Seeker was the bad one and how I tried to help you.
Stardust’s ears pricked up, but he didn’t slow. Anwen stood still although she had to fight the urge not to run. She wasn’t going to show fear to the men or Stardust. She knew the stallion. He wasn’t mean or vicious.
She hoped.
Stardust kept his speed as he closed the distance to them. Instead of running away, Anwen took a step toward the stallion.
Stardust jerked back and slowed to a walk. His hooves seemed to hang in the air as he pranced toward her in perfect grace. His head lowered when he snorted a welcome. The long gray mane fell around him like a lady shaking out her braid.
Anwen lost all fear. It was probably stupid, but Stardust was too pretty to fear. She stretched out a hand for him.
He still wore his halter, and his legs were dirty like he had been on a long trip and had not been groomed well, but other than that, he looked in the best of shape. The cut where he had been bleeding was healed, and all the traces of blood had been washed away. In fact, Anwen thought that he had lost a bit of fat since she saw him last.
Stardust sniffed her head and shook his head like the smell offended him. She waited, content to wait until he had accepted her. He risked one more smell and then turned his head to study the horses and men behind her.
“Hello, Stardust,” she said quietly. “How in all of Eltiria did we end up here together again?”
Stardust flicked an ear to show her he had no idea.
Anwen smiled. “Daeron could have mentioned that we would meet here. I guess the old stories are true about Archippi not telling you everything.”
Stardust didn’t answer. She stepped closer to him. He jerked his head back, moving away from her. She stayed with him but didn’t reach for the halter. Instead, she laid a hand on his neck. He hesitated when it appeared like she wasn’t trying to catch him.
“You coming up to us saves me a lot of work,” Geona said, making sure the men couldn’t hear her talking. “Now I don’t have to figure out how to catch you, and this makes me look really good.”
Stardust snorted again.
And they can’t handle this stallion! I guess they don’t know what they’re doing.
She reached up for the halter. Stardust froze for a minute. Her fingers wrapped around the rope.
Gotcha!
Stardust squealed with a fury and reared high in the air. The halter tore through her fingers and ripped away skin.
“Ow!” Anwen yelled.
She stepped back to avoid his front hooves. The stallion landed hard, whinnied loudly again, and then turned on his back legs and streaked off into the meadow.
Chapter Three
Anwen’s Surprise
“No! Wait!” Anwen shouted. She stumbled after him, but the sand was deep. He disappeared over the rolling hills and into the large meadow before she could get to the top of the first hill. She stopped, holding her hand to stop the ache, and watched him.
What a traitor! I know he doesn’t mind me at all. Why in all of Adoyni’s world would he do that?
“I thought you had him for a moment there,” a man’s voice said behind her. “Then the dumb stallion played his tricks again. Don’t think we’ll have a horse to race this year. Our lack of ability to control this horse will bring serious enemies to Eltiria. We have failed already.”
Anwen gave up trying to see where Stardust had gone and turned to see an older man on a white horse behind her.
“This is my father, Teilo, our chief,” Paden said, joining them. “Father, this is the trainer the Archippi sent us. Her name is Anwen.”
“A girl? The trainer?” Teilo repeated. “How’s she supposed to do anything?”
Anwen started to tell Teilo everything she could do, but Paden interrupted.
“She’s gotten closer to Trafferth than any of us,” he said hurriedly.
“And then chased him off,” Teilo reminded him.
“He didn’t run until you showed up,” Anwen broke in. “Wait. What did you call him?”
“Trafferth,” Teilo stared at where the stallion had run. “It means trouble in the old language.”
“I’ve been calling him Stardust,” Anwen answered.
“Girl,” Teilo laughed. “You catch and train him, and you can name him anything you want!”
“But how are we going to catch him out there?” Anwen waved a hand.
“If you don’t get him by tonight, we’ll have to try to pin him in a canyon and rope him,” Teilo said. With a pull a little sharper than necessary, he turned his horse around. “Come now. We must welcome you into our home.”
Paden held his horse back until Teilo was out of earshot. “Easy, Aniela.” He patted the bay’s neck and then turned back to Anwen. “Father cares for his horses, but he deals with them the old way. According to him, you force them, not ask them.”
“But that won’t work with Stardust!” Anwen exclaimed. “They’ll ruin him that way!”
The other men were following Teilo into the meadow. Anwen gathered her horse and swung on. They trailed behind the men.
“I have an idea,” Paden said quietly. “Let’s slowly increase the gap between us and the men. When they have forgotten us, we will slip off. I have a thought about where Stardust may be.”
“If it’s just me, I might have a better chance,” Anwen agreed. “I think the other people spooked him. Let’s pretend like we’re deep in conversation and not paying them attention.”
Anwen soon found that it wasn’t hard to pretend. Paden kept her entertained with the history and customs of the Plains people. She almost forgot their purpose when Paden stopped in the middle of a story.
“Turn here,” he pointed to a small trail that led into the rolling hills that circled the meadow.
He pulled back to allow her to go first. She nudged her hor
se forward. The trail shrunk as it entered the hills. Trees grew taller and thicker until Anwen was forced to almost hug her horse’s neck to make it under branches.
She glanced back at Paden, who had fallen strangely quiet. He and his horse Aniela followed far behind. He smiled as if to reassure he was fine and waved her on. She shrugged and continued to lead the way.
She leaned far back in the saddle when the trail dropped down a sharp hill. At the bottom of the hill, a small stream wound around large boulders. Long, juicy grass grew around them.
She halted her horse to study which way she was supposed to go.
“Where is Paden?” she asked, twisting in the saddle.
Was he with the enemies of Eltiria? Did he purposely get me lost so that I wouldn’t make it back in time? Or worse, is he trying to kill me?
She studied the trees around her, expecting to see arrows flying through the air at her. But there were only the trees, the stream, and the glass.
Water splashed to her right. She twirled in the saddle, ready for flight. But then she laughed softly and slid to the ground.
Stardust was standing by the stream.
Chapter Four
Anwen’s Gift
The tall gray stallion stood with his back feet in the water while he reached to the other side of the stream for a patch of extremely green grass.
Anwen dismounted. She dropped her horse’s reins over a boulder and grabbed the lead rope hanging on her saddle. She stepped carefully over the rocks. She didn’t want to make too much noise that might scare Stardust away. At the same time, she didn’t want to sneak up to him either.
Peddles tumbled to the water with one long step. Stardust flicked an ear but didn’t move. She eased into the swallow water and repressed a gasp when the icy cold struck her foot.
She chose to walk down the stream to approach him on the side. As she walked, she pulled up long grass alongside the water. No matter how plentiful the grass around, she had never seen a horse decline food offered, even if they were standing in it.
Horses just like to be spoiled.
She grinned. If Stardust let her, she would spoil him more than any horse could hope for!