Free Draconis' Bane by David Temrick Page A

Vallius
exports now was their purebred mounts. Many cavalry troops and
noblemen prized them both as war steeds and show horses. Or so it
Kevin explained to him.
    As Kevin and Tristan
arrived at the royal stables, one of the horses in the corral came
cantering over to the fence as they walked by the training area.
The horse followed them along for a few paces until it chomped at
the back of Tristan’s tunic and pulled him off balance, naying in
protest.
    “It seems as though
someone missed you, little brother.” Kevin laughed.
    The horse master came
walking out of the stables wiping his hands with a rag and smiling
from ear to ear. He was a short muscular man with flyaway straw
colored hair and bright white teeth. He had a deep tan to his
leathered skin and a comical mustache that grew down both sides of
his mouth, continuing down a few inches on either side of his chin.
He held out a callused hand to Tristan as they approached.
    “Young Master
Tristan, good to see you up and about, lad.” He said in a jovial
voice as he shook Tristans hand in a firm grip that easily could
have crushed the young Princes hand.
    “Tristan, this is
horsemaster Albert.” Kevin introduced.
    “So the rumors are
true? He’s lost his memories?” Albert blurted.
    “Albert….” Kevin
warned.
    “He didn’t mean
anything by it Kevin, its fine.” Tristan interrupted his brother.
Most people had the same reaction to the young Prince and he was
getting used to the shock and sometimes the relief people
expressed.
    “No Master Albert, I
don’t remember you, I’m sorry.” He said.
    “Apologies are
unnecessary between you and I, lad. Your mare remembers you, as do
I.” Albert said with a pat on the shoulder. “Would you care to take
her for a ride?”
    Tristan’s eyes lit up
with excitement as he looked from the horsemaster to the mare that
pawed anxiously inside the corral. Albert chuckled as he led the
brothers through the gate. The three of them walked into the
stables as the horse came running to the fence line. Tristan
watched the mare closely, fascinated by her speed and agility. His
eyes adjusted to the dimness of the stables as they entered and
began to look around, feeling free to let his curiosity roam.
Tristan noticed one empty stall with a beautifully designed leather
saddle hanging from the support beam next to it. He walked over to
the saddle to get a closer look as the other two men exchanged
looks and followed him.
    It was made entirely
of leather, died black in the same fashion as the furniture in his
room. The saddle was ornamental but yet seemed sturdy and highly
functional. The buckles and metal trim of the saddle were silver
colored metal that turned out to be heavy brass with silver plating
as Albert explained. The horsemaster brought the mare into the
stable and it immediately cantered over to Tristan, nudging him
with her nose.
    The horse dipped his
head slightly and Tristan felt the urge to scratch her between the
eyes. He chuckled as he seemed to enjoy his attention. The horse
had beautiful chestnut coat, which was broken up by small patches
of white fur above each of her black hooves and a white star shaped
patch of fur between her eyes.
    “Pava is her name.”
Albert said quietly. “Would you like me to saddle her?”
    “No need.” Tristan
replied as he walked over to a nearby wooden box built into the
side of the stable wall. He reached in and felt around for the
softest blanket he could find, along the side of the box he noticed
a slim box built into the side with the initials ‘A.V.’ on it. He
reached in and pulled out the softest blanket in the container.
Hefting the blanket over his shoulder, he walked past a shocked
Kevin and an amused Albert and put it on his horse. Strangely,
Tristan knew where to retrieve the blanket and even stranger was
that there was no hint of doubt in his mind of what he was doing.
The same instinct that served him in sparing with his brother
seemed to be helping everything