I Will Pay Any Cost - 6
Thursday, September 02, 2010 (10:58:09)

Posted by TerishD

Sapphire and Cindy in -
A Dream of Meeting Friends
Story Two: I Will Pay Any Cost
Chapter Six

...
Returning to the place where they were to rest, the young lady worked to put both magic horses to sleep. Sapphire knew the routine, so managed to keep himself awake as he watched Sky. She quickly relaxed, and soon was asleep. Cindy then returned to pat Sapphire on a cheek as she told him that she was now going to get some rest.

He asked, “We are going to find this Bubba, aren’t we?”

“We need to, Sapphire. Sky won’t truly be at peace as long as the truth of her rider stays in doubt.”


Plans are made and changed.


Sapphire and Cindy in -
A Dream of Meeting Friends
Story Two: I Will Pay Any Cost
Chapter Six

Cindy moved to check on Sky. The hands of the young lady moved about her neck and belly in a way that Sapphire knew of her checking on him. She did not call for a light, as what she sought to know was internal information that no light would reveal.

“I don’t believe that you are going to die. The Nixoops could be lying, but they did probably kill Edward. I am sorry.”

The mare replied, “But you said if my rider dies, that I die.”

“I also said that he was older than a normal rider. From what I have heard you say, he probably was not the one that you were connected to at birth.”

“Then, we need to find Bubba.”

Sapphire felt able to say, “And that means finding Poppa.”

Cindy moved to touch her horse as she said, “But what we are hearing also means that they are probably watching Poppa. Should we not produce Sky’s body, they might wonder about Edward as well.”

The soft voice of Fimmish could be heard to ask, “What is your plan, Lady Cindy?”

“I don’t have one. Even if I did, you and Ellemon need some rest.” The young lady then moved to Sky, ran her fingers through her long mane, and asked, “Did Edward really care for your hair in this fashion?”

The mare replied, “It was mostly Poppa, but Edward would. He always said that I looked like a pretty girl. He would even mention that he wished that he could find a lady with long hair like mine.”

“It is rather lovely. It must take a lot of work.”

Sapphire approached to make his own soft comment. “It would have gotten caught in all the briars we went through in fighting the Shibelgo.”

“I found a number from what traveling we did today when I combed it earlier.”

The purple horse noticed that Cindy moved between him and Sky touching each as she had them talk. It started with the young lady mentioning that she wanted Sapphire’s hair to grow as long, but understood that many of the things she did to him caused him embarrassment. Sky laughed as he spoke his agreement while talking about the flowers braided into his mane, painted on his hooves, and placed in his tail. Her stories did not bring out such reactions in return, but while she looked very lovely, what she said about those caring for her were only words of them doing chores. Sapphire noticed that while he looked forward to every touch from Cindy, Sky tended to hold herself still as if she did not expect the contact to be gentle.

Returning to the place where they were to rest, the young lady worked to put both magic horses to sleep. Sapphire knew the routine, so managed to keep himself awake as he watched Sky. She quickly relaxed, and soon was asleep. Cindy then returned to pat Sapphire on a cheek as she told him that she was now going to get some rest.

He asked, “We are going to find this Bubba, aren’t we?”

“We need to, Sapphire. Sky won’t truly be at peace as long as the truth of her rider stays in doubt.”

“She could stay with us.”

“You cannot have true happiness if you do not have truth.”

Sapphire did not want to argue with Cindy, so tried a way to avoid a certain line of thought while keeping his objective. “But the Nixoops.”

“They are merchants, and they are losing people without gaining money. I don’t believe that they can afford to deal with us for long. A year ago they had the support of the king due to the manipulation of Nixamata. They have none of that right now.”

The purple horse wanted to ask a certain question, but before he could gain the strength to say it, Cindy said more. “We need to help Sky find some answers. That means that we need to speak to Poppa. I don’t really want to fight the Nixoops. While Ellemon and Fimmish have done a wonderful job of keeping us safe, they are only two men against a large force. Chordan said that Therox should be returning, so I might have us turn around and go back to the forest people while we wait for him.”

Sapphire really did not like the idea of waiting for Therox, but his name did provide an opportunity to ask a certain question. “Cindy, when did you know that Therox was the man for you?”

“When he accepted the path that I had to take. He did not whine and complain about the troubles last year. He did not like the training that his father put him through, so I have heard him gripe enough. He however did not add himself to the problems that we had to face last year. His father was an experienced knight, so used to such challenges. Therox was not, but faced them with us without constantly having us listen to his list of discomforts.” She laughed as she added, “I found myself annoyed by having his smiling face looking at me. All the horrors that we faced, and yet he always smiled when he looked at me.”

“Sky doesn’t smile that much.”

Cindy made no statement about the change of subject, but simply softly replied, “No, but I suspect that she will start feeling the comfort to smile after we find out about this Bubba. Now, Sapphire, let us get some sleep.”

He did fall asleep. While he planned to help watch over the ladies through the night, he instead went unconscious until he heard the voice of Cindy. Attempting to act as if he were still unconscious, he listened to what was said.

“Are you certain that we were not spotted?”

Fimmish replied, “No, Lady Cindy. It was a strange spreading light. It moved through the trees as if a brilliantly lit pudding. When it entered the meadow, it spread out until it seemed to touch trees in all directions. It then moved on. I then heard some Nixoops saying that we had to be somewhere and for the light to keep moving.”

“Well, I would like to find this Poppa, but I am worried about you and Ellemon fighting the Nixoops again. I thus feel that we need to return to our people…”

“Our people?”

Sapphire considered the words strange himself, although Cindy’s tone indicated that she was well aware of what she had said. “Are you denying my place in the forest?”

“No, dear lady, it just took me by surprise…”

“Well, it is something that we both need to get used to. Anyway, I believe that we need to return and wait for Therox. The presence of Nixoops is a concern for the king, and as a knight of the king Therox should be able to command some troops to join us on our return.”

There was a period of silence as if Fimmish need to appraise the decision for himself. “That is a reasonable plan, Lady Cindy. I believe that I can direct us safely.”

“Good. Go speak of the plan with Ellemon as you determine our route.” The light footsteps of the young lady could then be heard approaching before she said, “Any disagreement, Sapphire?”

He went ahead and opened his eyes as he replied, “I did not want to interrupt.”

“You did not answer my question, Sapphire. Do you disagree?”

“No, but I do worry about Sky.”

The lady moved in her usual method of making contact with him as she spoke. “I worry about her as well, but hers is a need for information. I do not need any information about the Nixoops. They are mean, nasty, and will kill us. Since you and I did not take this journey intending to fight, it is best if we go back and alter our plans. When we return, we can work on learning about Sky.”

Sapphire said the only thing that bothered him. “I hope that Sky will agree.”

“I do,” the mare’s voice softly replied. A quivering tone as if she was holding back tears could be heard as she said, “I was supposed to die yesterday. Twice by arrows, then again when they killed Edward. I don’t want to die.”

Sapphire felt nothing bad as Cindy moved from him to the mare. “I don’t want you to die either, Sky. I yelled out before the royal court that you were free, that I saved you. I promise to do everything in my power to make good on those words.”

“You are nothing like Edward or Poppa. Do you think that Bubba, supposing that he is my rider, will be like you?”

“Let us all hope, Sky. All I can say is that the other owners of magic horses that I met all loved their mounts. Most showed it in that they died along with them. The only problem that we riders have is that while we would pay any costs for our mounts, we cannot give our lives for our magic horses, because when we die they die as well. I thus have to live to keep Sapphire alive. I believe that at some level this Bubba, or whoever your rider is, understands that as well. He thus has continued to live.”

Any other words were interrupted by Ellemon coming and telling Cindy to bring the horses out to the meadow so they could eat before starting a day of travel. She began packing while speaking of a concern that whatever magical light Fimmish saw having left an alarm to sound if a magic horse entered. While Sapphire appreciated the concern for his health, he interrupted the two to state his acceptance that he might starve for a period in order to secure his survival.

Fimmish tried to pick easy slopes back up into the hills, but the gradual lifting of the land also provided the best places for trees to grow. Sapphire thus found himself and Sky almost having to be lifted up between some clear openings through the foliage. The purple horse tried to get his bearings as he traveled, but could not determine any landmarks that would assure him of his location. Fimmish however stayed certain of his directions, even as he went about trying to assure a good path for those that moved with him.

Glances from Cindy told Sapphire that she heard his stomach growling. He saw Sky taking some bites of the thick wiry grass that grew beneath the trees. He thought of doing so as well. While the tough plants might actually provide little nutrition, it presence on the stomach might keep it from complaining. Before he gave in to the idea, he saw Cindy move up to Ellemon who stood before a bright patch that meant a possible clear area of good grass.

Sapphire ate some flowers while thinking that they did not belong in his hair. Sky however smiled when Cindy put a crown of flowers on her head. The purple horse considered making some comment about ruining good food, but completely stopped eating as a voice he had recently learned was heard.

“I am not a stranger to this land, so I thought I might figure out your path of travel. You have bested the Nixoops up to now, but I still believe that my best hope is with them.”


Well, they are forced to change plans again.