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News » The Past that Burned Up: 4
The Past that Burned Up
Chapter Four
Sapphire awoke scared at seeing the sky beginning to show the light of day. He rose to look around himself scared of what he might see. He was glad to see that all was how it should be, but became annoyed as he realized that his nervousness had awakened Cindy.
She awoke refreshed but disappointed in the night. There had been a hope that she would dream of her brothers, and hopefully learn their names. She moved to where the saddle rested with the saddlebags, and tied the dolls to what she expected to be her seat through the day.
Both young lady and purple horse became alert at the sound of movement at a distance. The rustling through the leaves was a noticeable indication of something coming towards them. They both looked to the saddle, but they knew that it was not really necessary. What kept them from rushing away was however a knowledge that all their possessions were in the saddlebags. They thus felt a need to first judge the size of the one coming.
Cindy learns that there are those who know of her past.
The Past that Burned Up
Chapter Four
Sapphire awoke scared at seeing the sky beginning to show the light of day. He rose to look around himself scared of what he might see. He was glad to see that all was how it should be, but became annoyed as he realized that his nervousness had awakened Cindy.
She awoke refreshed but disappointed in the night. There had been a hope that she would dream of her brothers, and hopefully learn their names. She moved to where the saddle rested with the saddlebags, and tied the dolls to what she expected to be her seat through the day.
Both young lady and purple horse became alert at the sound of movement at a distance. The rustling through the leaves was a noticeable indication of something coming towards them. They both looked to the saddle, but they knew that it was not really necessary. What kept them from rushing away was however a knowledge that all their possessions were in the saddlebags. They thus felt a need to first judge the size of the one coming.
Over the sound of something moving over the carpet of leaves and through the underbrush was the voice of a woman. She was repeating a phrase of surprise. Cindy moved to Sapphire as an elderly lady rushed into the clearing around the burnt remains of the house. Neither recognized the lady, but something about her just did not appear threatening.
"Oh, he's purple! We were idiots! He's purple!"
Sapphire felt that the lady was talking about him, but did not know whether to be embarrassed, offended, or simply annoyed. It did not help that the woman fell to her knees at the edge of the burnt area. The purple horse was glad that his rider had her arms around her neck as he prepared himself for what the lady would do next.
"It's Cindy! It is Cindy! She looks so much like her parents. Oh, we were such idiots!"
The purple horse did not think it wise for his young lady to step forward. Seeing the screaming woman rise to again move towards them made Sapphire worried. As the two females faced each other however, it seemed that it was the older one who was scared. She stared at the young lady for a time, then threw her arms around her crying. Cindy did not push away the strange woman, but after the wails turned to simply sobbing she had to ask a question.
"Who are you?"
The face of the elder lifted to look right into that of the younger. "You are Cindy?"
"Yes."
"I am Lady Surennay. Your mother and I were best friends."
Sapphire felt frightened as he saw a number of people, mostly men, step away from the trees. A few had weapons in their hands, but most of those were sheathing them or holding them in a relaxed manner. There was not a feeling of threat, but only a fear of the unknown. The purple horse could only agree with the question that his young lady asked the elder.
"Why have I never met you?"
The woman started to cry again, but she lifted a sleeve to wipe her eyes before croaking out, "How long have you had the horse?"
"Sapphire is almost three years old."
"And where is he taking you?"
"To Hebalsh. He heard that there are lady horses there."
The woman turned to the horse as she said, "Sapphire." She turned back to Cindy in a question that the name was correct, and with a nod the woman again spoke to the animal. "Sapphire, those ladies are not for you. There is a reason you were born, but it was not to have a family of your own. If you go to Hebalsh, the chances are more than likely that your ladies have taken their masters just as you have taken Cindy."
The purple horse heard what was said, but had to ask, "Why then was I born?"
The lady began to weep again and said the words, "He talks," over and over between large gulps of air. Finally, she did compose herself to give an answer, "Because we are a foolish people." The elder lady looked around the remains of the house, then blared, "Why have you done all of this, child?"
Cindy thought this situation very strange, but did not want to get this odd woman mad at her. "My father told me to look for certain things. He also told me to sleep on the foundation."
"How much do you know of this place?"
"Almost nothing. I have heard very little." Cindy started to cry herself as the pain she had felt the previous day again was felt. "I don't even know the name of my brothers."
"You had a sister, too. Her name was Eviana. She is why you survived, Cindy. She pushed you out of a window, then went back for your brothers. Your mother and father were with the baron. They were forced to watch as their house was burnt. Eviana died with your brothers, Sirod and Mathan."
"Baron Gordalac set the fire?"
"We don't know who set the fire or why. We don't know if the baron was attempting to save your parents from the death that claimed Eviana. All I can say was that if things had been done properly, Sapphire would have been born as a normal horse.
"How did you come to gain Sapphire?"
"My father has to make buttons. If he can get ahead of his quota, he can come home. It was his birthday, so mother and I had made him something special. I wanted my father home on time so he could eat the food before it cooled and lost some flavor. I had thus left for the river to get some extra shells so father would not need to make the journey himself. Princess Alledia had fallen off her horse, and broken her leg so badly that it had torn her leg and she was losing blood. She and I were friends, and I thought nothing of helping her back to the castle. Baron Gordalac however was extremely glad to see his daughter still alive in spite of her wound. Since it was a horse that caused the accident, he promised me the next horse that was born in his stables. It was Sapphire."
The woman turned to the horse. "I tell you, Sapphire, that you were born for a reason. Maybe your purpose does lie in Hebalsh, but it is not to speak to lady magic horses. Still, today, both of you are coming home with me."
Cindy spent the day laughing and crying. The people she met knew her parents and their parents. The stories they told however were not the ones she had heard growing up. These were not stories of the city, but of the wilderness. Cindy never knew her father had rode a centaur. The tale of her mother tying snakes together was something else she had never heard. Emotions erupted as each story of her family's history struck the mind of the young lady.
The people were very friendly, although Cindy understood that they considered her a member of their community. Their willingness to talk would not be noticed by anyone else coming into their presence. A stranger would not have received such a large plate of food, even had they paid money.
Strangely, Sapphire did not receive such warm treatment. Some lads were directed to help Cindy take care of her horse, although they were glad she told them that she would do the tasks herself. The two received the impression that the people really wanted to stay away from the purple horse. She and Sapphire considered it strange, but he told his mistress to enjoy the company. He said that he would be all right and did not want to be cooped up in some stall. Cindy asked him if he was certain, and Sapphire spoke of the children playing elsewhere making him feel that all was well.
As the day wore on, Cindy began to believe that something was not well. She however did not consider herself or her horse to be threatened. While she had heard many stories during the day, no one had spoken of the night of the fire. Cindy wanted to consider these people family, just as they seemed to consider her, but started to notice an ugly barrier being present.
After the evening meal, and the telling of a couple more stories, Lord Gefeld asked, "Cindy, why did your parents allow you to come out here all alone?"
The young lady knew that she had spoken of Hebalsh and the desire of Sapphire to meet the ladies of his kind that were supposedly there. No one had repeated stories during the day. While there were many back in the city that continued to speak on their moments of glory, these people had enough tales to relate that by the time they told them all they were ready to hear them again. Cindy thus thought about what details she had yet to add to her story.
"Mother told me that I was no longer safe in Dachion. She said that Sapphire was my blessing, and whatever he desired for me was probably for the best."
"Did you feel unsafe in Dachion?"
"It was my home. I grew up there. I did not feel safe in these woods."
"Did you have friends in Dachion?"
"Yes." Cindy felt she had mentioned certain names, but had another story she could tell.
Another man at the table, Lord Melmag, said at the conclusion of the tale, "You mentioned Princess Alledia being a friend. Where is she now?"
"She went to Bethinoy."
The adults took over the conversation as they mentioned certain kingdoms and politics. Cindy was just interested in hearing about which lands had noble young men, and saw no relationship between the identification of people and the other topics. The elders however saw connections where those younger did not, and when Lord Gefeld spoke it was with the strong tones of certainty.
"You should not go to Bethinoy unless you know why you are going to Bethinoy. Princess, one day to become Countess, Alledia is probably a friend, but not someone to overuse. If you don't force her to use up all of her favors, I suspect you can depend on her for what you need."
Suddenly, Hebalsh seemed a long way to Cindy and she felt a need to ask, "Then, where should I go?"
"Go with Sapphire. A horse of that type is not born without a reason. He might not know it, but there is something within him that will drive him stronger than what yearnings burn inside any man. We however do not have that type of destiny, so a creature like Sapphire will be sent to us to guide us towards a path we would not otherwise find."
A window was pushed open. It had been cracked in order to allow some fresh air into the room. Sapphire had been listening, and used his nose to open it further before speaking.
"I don't know of any reason for my birth. Maybe it would help if I heard what you know of the fire."
Lord Gefeld said, "Yes, I suspect that it could help you to know of the night of the fire. I will tell you what I can."
Facts are learned even as the evil returns.
Posted by TerishD on Monday, March 13, 2006 (20:43:32) (687 reads)
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