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News » The Past that Burned Up
The Past that Burned Up
Chapter One
...
"Henrietta seems like a nice girl."
"What? She is a year older than me, and has pimples. None of the boys speak to her."
Sapphire was starting to get his hopes up as he said, "You need to learn to relate to other girls, and Henrietta has always wanted to hang out with you."
"She wants to hang out with you, Sapphire. Not with me. She is the one that keeps offering to buy you."
Quite a different set of heroes now starts their adventures.
The Past that Burned Up
Chapter One
Sapphire felt certain that the hair on his face showed the same color as his mane. He did not like the young man that was speaking to Cindy. Therox was the second son of the rich jeweler. The boy was obviously, obvious to Sapphire, in lust for Cindy, and did not care that his family would not allow the marriage. Cindy was not from a wealthy family. To be honest, Cindy was from a very poor family. The only thing of worth to her name was Sapphire, and no one would accept the purple horse with the long red mane as a dowry. Sapphire was actually glad of that fact, although wished that Therox would stop speaking to Cindy. The boy was not worth her, and seeing the two together made the purple horse mad.
Cindy was beautiful with long blonde hair, blue eyes, full lips, and every other asset that a young girl could desire. Her loveliness was evident even though she did not wear the cosmetics of the other girls in town. She had learned how to work the aloe from the native plant and mix it with berry juice, corn starch, and other ingredients to make simple substances to enhance her appearance, but they were not of the quality that money could buy for her. If she had such funds, she would be gorgeous, but without she was still one of the most attractive young ladies in town.
Sapphire had to admit that Cindy was indeed a woman. Her body had matured in a way that caught the eyes of most men, young and old. Luckily, Cindy's mother did know how to sew, so certain assets of Cindy were contained, but again the lack of money caused her not to be packaged as magnificently as the other young ladies in town. However lacking the quality of her dresses, eyes looked at her thinking her to be the prettiest flower around.
Cindy spun and rambled in her walk back to the small barn as if she was dancing. Sapphire saw the joyful radiance in the features of the young lady and stayed angry thinking she was imagining herself being in the arms of Therox. The purple horse did not like the fact that Cindy was thinking good thoughts about the lad. The enchanted animal considered ways to ward off the advances of the boy.
"You need a fat friend, Cindy."
She stopped her odd movements to respond, "I need what?"
The purple horse was not just special in the color of its hair, but also due to its intelligence and ability to speak. The mouth and throat of the horse was not built for speech, so its words came out sounding strange, although were understandable. Cindy spent all the time she could with her horse, so while many other children and adults spoke to their mounts, she thought nothing of Sapphire being able to speak in return.
"How about Delores? It might do you well to gain her as a friend."
"Delores? You don't like her, because she is too lazy to pick you flowers."
Oh, yeah, Cindy was right. Delores was such a tub of lard that she was exhausted after a short walk down the road to the meadow. Sapphire had however been willing to give the oversized girl a ride if she would have only picked him some flowers, and she would not because she was heavily panting on the side of the road. Sapphire thought about other girls in town.
"Henrietta seems like a nice girl."
"What? She is a year older than me, and has pimples. None of the boys speak to her."
Sapphire was starting to get his hopes up as he said, "You need to learn to relate to other girls, and Henrietta has always wanted to hang out with you."
"She wants to hang out with you, Sapphire. Not with me. She is the one that keeps offering to buy you."
Drat, Cindy was correct again. Henrietta might have pimples, but her family also had some money. They knew that Cindy had none, so sought to seek a trade for the only thing of value that Cindy had. Sapphire suddenly did not like the idea of her hanging out with Henrietta. He needed to think, and felt his mind could work better if the rest of him was active as well.
"Do you want to go riding?"
"Yes, Sapphire, that is what I want to do. I was hoping that you would be agreeable."
The purple horse liked being ridden. Not only did having Cindy on his back allow him to move about outside the small patch of ground that was his pen, but the lady gave him so much attention in the process of getting him ready to be rode. His purple coat was brushed. The long red hair of his mane and tail were combed. The locks would often be decorated with ribbons of wildflowers. Sapphire even enjoyed being dressed in the blanket, saddle, reins, and other items Cindy felt would be needed for the ride. Having Cindy on his back was not a weighty finale, but an anticipated commencement of freedom that made him glad to carry her.
Sapphire was not a large animal. He and Cindy easily looked into each other's blue eyes. If Sapphire held his head proudly, as he would often do, then he was taller than the young lady. The purple horse could carry a man, and liked showing that he was stronger than he looked, but did not move as fast with such a weight as he did with the lighter frame of his mistress.
Eyes did turn as Cindy rode Sapphire down the street. A number waved to them, and Cindy cheerfully waved back. A few would be considerate enough to say Sapphire's name, and he would shake his head and do some fancy steps to hear more mention his name. Once they passed beyond the local people, Cindy would change her seating and Sapphire knew to speed up their pace.
There was not a continuous wall protecting the assortment of homes and businesses that made up the town within the Barony of Dachion. There were sections of raised earth designed to hinder any military units that decided to move upon the community, but nothing that would stop the regular flow of farmers out to their fields. Sapphire thus had no problems in freely moving out to the countryside.
The land was not good for farming. The needs of the people forced a number to do their best at growing crops, but their success was not the impressive harvests that other nearby communities would claim. Those of Dachion actually had a rather rich diet, because fruit and nut trees were what produced the greatest bounty. Syrups, preserves, candies, dried fruit, wines, and food cooked in light delicate oils were normal fares. Not only were the dishes rich eating, but was considered a valued product by those of other lands. All of Dachion thus kept bins full of grain due to trade.
The groves of fruit trees not only blocked the direct heat of the sun and broke any strong gusts of wind, but those that tended the woods removed any plants near the roots that might steal nutrients from the fruit. Sapphire thus was free to gallop without concern for brambles bothering his legs or the thin limb of scrub plants disturbing the long blonde hair of his rider. Both considered the clear area for riding a most wonderful part of their land, and they took every opportunity to revel in the freedom to rush where they pleased.
Cindy knew that no one would fuss at her for picking fruit. Her family was so poor that they were fed from the common pot, so most assumed they would either feed her directly by letting her take from the trees or indirectly by way of charity. None found Cindy unwilling to work, so if they did feel a desire to get angry with her they directed their thoughts towards finding something for her to do as a method of payment. She was young though, so could not work with any skill. Her talents were also not with plants, and those who tended the trees often felt she did much less harm taking fruit than doing chores around the trees.
Sapphire was a fantastic animal, and many looked to the horse with envy. Cindy was often called to be present at the birth of foals, hoping that another special animal would be born simply by her presence. She had been present at every birthing since the foal granted to her was found to be imbued with magic, but so far Sapphire was the only animal of its kind in Dachion.
The purple horse had heard that Cindy was over a decade older than he, but felt that they were of the same age. As he had grown and matured, Cindy had developed into a woman. Sapphire understood that both he and his mistress were at the same place in their lives, so assumed themselves of being the same age.
Sapphire was allowed to eat a couple of apples along with the soft grass that grew next to a large lake. Cindy took the other pieces of fruit up with her on a large moss covered boulder on the shore of the expanse of clear water. The skirt of her dress was made to part in the middle so as not to be a bother while riding, and the freedom that it gave her legs made it easy for her to go places only boys tended to be found. She however spread the rough simple cloth around her as did the other females with their delicate lacey gowns and sat with her back straight as all the young women in town were taught. As she threw the cores back onto land where the seeds could find soil and sprout, Sapphire felt a need to speak on what he felt was something the young lady needed to discuss.
"Cindy, which boy in town do you think you will marry?"
"Oh, I really like Therox."
"Cindy, he won't marry you. His family will expect a dowry, and you do not have one."
"His family is rich enough, Sapphire. Why do I need to bring them more stuff?"
"Because those that have something want more. Some call it greed, but most simply only treasure those things they know. Those that know money, like money, and seek after money."
"I love you, Sapphire, but I do not want more."
"I want more, Cindy. I would like a lady to speak to. I would like more than one lady to sire children with."
"But there are no more like you, Sapphire."
"Not around here. They say that there are others like me in Chetill."
"That is another boy, Sapphire. The girls are in Hebalsh."
"Then I want to go to Hebalsh. I just want to know who you would like to go with us."
"I need to speak to my parents, Sapphire. There is not however another boy in town that I like besides Therox."
Sapphire stayed on the subject to the point that Cindy had to speak to her mother about the boys in town. The elder lady did what she could to organize the buttons that her husband made into sets that could be displayed to sell. Cindy was the only child that the couple had. The two elders spoke of a horrible fire in a hovel beyond the lake as being the cause of their poor health, situation, and having only one child. Cindy had heard stories of the hovel, and while neither parent spoke of the home as being as warm and protected as their present small hut, they did speak of it as being a better place to live. The elder lady did not waste time griping about her fate, but cheerfully spoke to her daughter about the local young men.
Cindy did not like hearing her mother speak so poorly of Therox. She admitted that he did take the time to drop by and speak to Cindy, but that was the only grace she allowed him. Truthfully, though, the elder lady could not speak well of any lad in town. She actually seemed pleased when Cindy mentioned the words of Sapphire.
"Mother, there are girls like Sapphire in Hebalsh. He wants to go there."
"Sapphire is your blessing, Cindy. If he feels a calling to go somewhere, it is in your interest to do so."
"But I have never been to Hebalsh."
"I never have either, although your father has. Baron Gordalac has not been happy ever since he awarded you a foal, then learned that foal was magic. You really are not safe here, Cindy. You should go to Hebalsh."
"But I will be leaving you and father."
"We have no land, no money, nothing to give you, Cindy. Sapphire is not ours. You were awarded that foal for aiding Princess Alledia when she broke her leg in the forest. Princess Alledia has always been a friend, but she has left for Bethinoy to live with her husband. If Sapphire says that it is time for you to go, Cindy, then go with him."
Yes, quite a different tale than usual, but don't think that I will keep everything happy and cheerful.
Posted by TerishD on Sunday, February 26, 2006 (07:00:00) (907 reads)
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Re: The Past that Burned Up
(Score: 1 )
by Thema on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 (10:19:51)
I think there's a typo in the first paragraph. Otherwise this promises to be an excellent tale. However I do feel that it has to overcome the horrible cliché of the little blonde girl and her "My little pony clone".
Why di I feel that somebody is looking for an opportunity to drag this cute duo through the seven hells of Ghehenna.
:¬)
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