The Horse Mage
The golden bay stallion stood looking down upon his herd from the cliff above the valley. In the valley, there was a mixture of black, bay, and golden hides with a few dapple grays and paints thrown in for good measure. There were about half a dozen fillies, but most were older mares. Other than the golden-bay, there were no male horses.
Hidden by the bushes at the edge of the valley, my companion Jared and I watched the herd lazily graze upon the grass. We had been sent by the King to capture the horses and bring them to the royal stable. The mission seemed simple enough. However, I knew that there would be nothing simple about it. This stallion and his herd had evaded capture for the last ten years.
My companion Jared was a stout, even-tempered man with flowing black hair and chocolate brown eyes that, in the right light, almost made him appear more horse than human. I, on the other hand, was tall and lanky with green eyes, fiery red hair, and a temper to match. We were an odd pairing, but an effective one none the less. We had a reputation throughout the realm as master horse tamers. It was this reputation that had landed us the job of capturing the last wild herd within the realm.
In my hand was the rope that I would use to ensnare the golden bay, if we got close enough to him. Jared carried nothing with him, but then, in the few years that I known him, I had never seen him carry any objects in his hands when working with horses. He let his hands and body control the horse.
Jared stood and started walking away from our cover. Since I had seen him do this several times before with horses in their pens, I didn?t react. With this wild bunch, I wasn´t sure that his calm approach would work. However, after several fruitless days of chasing this herd, I knew that my more physical approach didn?t, so I was willing to let him try.
As he approached the edge of the herd, a few of the fillies skirted behind their dams. However, a majority of the herd kept on grazing with only a few ears pricked in Jared?s direction. From his vantage point on the cliff, the stallion gave a warning whistle. When the herd didn?t respond, he began a frenzied, but controlled, descent to the valley floor.
Jared stood so still that only the breeze ruffled his leather jerkin.
The stallion trotted up and stood before Jared. When their two eyes met, the stallion bowed his head. With one hand, Jared reached up and scratched behind his ears. With his other hand he pointed to where I squatted in the bushes and motioned for me to come. Still in slight awe and disbelief at what I had just seen, I untangled myself from the bushes and let the rope drop to my feet. I stepped over it and approached the odd pair as slowly and quietly as I could.
Jared touched the stallion on the side of his head and asked, "Do you know me?"
Yes, my lord, a strong voice echoed within my head. I do.
"Then will you allow me and my companion to share in some of your adventures?"
The stallion had barely nodded before I found myself swept along the swift current of his memories. For a split second I was the stallion running with boundless power amongst my herd. Then, as the starlight enveloped us, I could feel the wind tickle my nose as I savored the sweet honey of the first spring grass.
A second later, I found myself crashing back into my own body where everything seemed so dull and lifeless. Jared?s dark eyes bore into mine, as he said in his quiet voice, "Freedom or civilization: Which do you choose for these noble creatures?"
I felt my head drop. For once in my life, I could not trust my strong voice to speak, so I let my heart sing.
Wise dei>i>i>cision, friend of my lord, the strong voice echoed once again in my head. Thank you.
Jared touched the golden bay on his nose. The stallion reared and pawed the air. As became earthbound once again, he gave a low whistle. At this whistle, the herd?s ears snapped up in one motion. They started to trot away. Jared followed their movement with a heartfelt longing that made me shudder.
"Go in peace, my friend," I said quietly, "And know that when you run, my heart will soar with you."
Jared started to nod and a black stallion finished it with a shake of his mane. With one final look at me, he turned and called out to the herd. In the distance, they stopped and a welcome call echoed in return.
The black stallion charging toward the herd was the last that I, or anyone else, saw of Jared and his friends.
