But the only thing in the entire view was a single stallion. He age showed, but you could see he had been a beauty at one time. There was still the remains of his solid muscles, and his coat, well groomed; showed that he was still well cared for. “I hate this.” The taller spoke again. “Calm Bill. He asked for this. He has Faith in himself. He knows he has this one last battle within him. Besides we all three know his spirit was dieing, he wanted to die fighting. This was his choice.” But even as the smaller man spoke a single tear tracked down his face. But only a single tear for the Stallion, it was fitting for an old warrior.
The stallion raised its head at a noise covered by the wind. Death had arrived. Now both bill and his partner moved hands to their weapons. Bills two long blades that rested on his back, and the twin hilts on his partners hips. Than within moments, 3 things happened at once. From the high grass a huge Snake sprang! It was a Boa over 30 feet long! It’s deadly coils began to wind around the Horse! But it’s huge fanged jaw missed the snakes neck! Because the horse had played this roll before! As the snake had lunged, the horses head had snapped outwards and struck behind the snakes own neck, holding the deadly fanged maw out of reach of anything vital! The third was that Both men shot forward towards the fighting pair like bolds shot from a crossbow!
The Snake began to crush the horsed bones under it’s huge thick coils and as fast as the men ran, they were still vital moment too late for this pair. A younger horse would have lasted longer, but this was the Stallions choice. Than all four blades began to strike it to the vital points of the snake, and severed the serpents head. As it’s coils unwound, the Stallion collapsed, it’s body broken, but it’s spirit will fighting. Turning from the snake the men knelt down beside the horse head.
“Hey old man, it’s me, Naclos.” The smaller man spoke softly as he lifted the horses head and run a hand softly over his nose. “You did good old man. This years foals will rest easy now because of you. They are safe now, you can rest.” As if hearing and taking his words in, the horse gave one last deep breath before relaxing and letting go. Setting the horses head down Naclos closed his eyes. And stood up. Than Bill and He got to work. They needed to make it safe to burn the bodies, to gather up the tail hairs for the healers and the hoofs for glue. There was still chores to complete before they made their way to Sietch.
(Naclos image)
I settled my hands on my blades and sighed as we gazed over the rim at Sietch. My simple robes danced lightly in the winds. I resettled my left gauntlet. “Come on Naclos. I know you enjoy the wildness of the lone winds, but I do enjoy sleeping in a bed at night. Unlike you I can’t go for days without sleep.” Bill’s words were full of humour, but they were all true. The winds in the city weren’t the same. “Than you can rest safe we won’t get out of town for at least 2 nights. Maybe 3 depends on how rough we have to bargin for the items on our list.” Even though I’d agreed, Bill still waited for me to move down off the cliff edge before he followed.
We walked into Sietch with some weight in our hearts. We were given the task of the twice yearly visit. After a stop in Sietch, we’d buy the items we could make for ourselves, a small list; but some items were vital. Than we’d visit each of the Yerni Camps. If the weather held, it should only take 2 months. Briar was our first stop, they were the Yerni’s main camp for learning and teaching the healing arts. After that it was our home of Hearth, where we trained the mounts and Falconers. And than to Wave Crest where the warriors sought out advanced training. And back home again.
We paid for a place at an inn where we’d been using for sometime. Settling items in our room Bill stopped to lean against a desk. “…so mind if I go for a walk?” Bill asked. Raising an eyebrow I looked at him for a moment. “5 drinks only.” Than he was walking quickly down the hall “Bill.” I called without looking up from my own work. “Leave you Blades here.” He walked slowly back into the room and laid both blades on his bed. “spoilsport.” He grumbled good naturedly. I laughed as he took off again. “I’ll be around here.” I called after him again. Locking the door behind me, I made my way down to the main room and asked for a Red Berry drink. After trading 3 copper Daits for it, I found a chair and had just settled myself when the sounds of a fight and yells began to reach my ears.
