Hannah walked briskly hoping to keep Darik behind her. She needed to appear as the alpha male((or female in this case.)) leading the pack to its new destination. And then Darik would be behind her, making him her insubordinate gamma who would have to listen to her every word. Except, Darik was right beside her. He didn’t at all know that Hannah was trying to using a twisted form of symbolism against him, he just wanted to talk to the black haired beaut. He figured if he could talk to her just for a few minutes, she would fall in love with him just like every girl did.
“So babe, where are we heading?”Darik just asked an innocent question, yet her response was anything but that. ”Don’t call me Babe.” Hannah snapped uncharacteristically. She took a few deep breaths before replying again. She should give Darik a few chances to redeem himself. There was a chance that there was something wrong with him that made him the jerk he was today. Maybe if she found a bit more about his history Hannah could make him much more soft and tender. “You are going to help me train an important man’s horse that is staying here with us. We usually don’t train horses, and we rarely let them stay here. But this man has powerful connections and paid Killroy a large sum of money. So don’t screw up.”
They went into a part of the stable that was royalty for horses. Everything was fresh and clean, and each of the stables faced the open pasture of the stables. Each stall was almost twice the stall of a regular one, allowing the horse much more comfort. They could also stick there head out in the wind so they could feel the willowing breeze, or could hide in their shelter whenever they wanted a break from the billowing sun. There was only occupant, and it was gorgeous. It was pure black, no markings tainted its perfectly silky coat. Darik knew he wanted the type of horse whatever it was. He asked and Hannah replied. “His name is Roger and he’s a Nightwalker. He must have been recently acquired because he doesn’t listen to anybody. He’s more vicious than a Ravok Bloodbane so don’t touch him.” Hannah then left to get a horse for Darik to ride.
Darik stared at the horse, entranced by its eyes. He couldn’t resist holding his hand by the edge of the stall. He was ready to snap it back in a moment’s notice incase it tried to bite him. It did just the opposite of that, it actually started to nuzzle his hand with its mane. Darik didn’t know how it was vicious, it seemed like the nicest horse ever to exist. He started to whisper to it, as he petted it. “You’re vicious aren’t you? You enjoy the blood running down your enemy throats and the screams of all those you’ve murdered? Or how about the burning of villages or the death of the pure?’ Darik had to stop talking to the beast and petting it when he heard Hannah coming back with a horse.
”What are you doing? Get away from it!” Darik stepped back as Hannah ran over to him. He then got to see the horse he would get to ride. It was completely chestnut for the exception of its rump. The rump looked like someone had just dumped a load of flour on it. The horse was also fully tacked courtesy of Hannah. It also had one odd object on its back. An identical object also rested on Hannah’s head. It was in the shape of a scooped out egg. It’s top looked a lot more reinforced than its bottom.
After Hannah checked out the horse, she walked up to the remaining egg shaped thing. ”What is that?” Darik was curious, it looked like a safety device but for what part of the body? ”It’s a helmet, and you’re wearing one.” She had made her way to Darik with the helmet and plopped it on his head. She then used a piece of rope to tie it under his chin. ”But why, I look stupid!” Darik was almost whining with his tone of voice. ”With your skill sets, it will save your life. And you could look stupider, I could have given you the one painted pink.” Did Hannah just threaten Darik?
Hannah went into the stall and wrestled two pieces of equipment on Robert. A specially crafted horse muzzle was quickly put on it before it realized Hannah had entered. But then it moved its head back and forth as Hannah tried to slip a rope around it. She didn’t even try to put tack on it, its thrashing would have made it impossible to put on. After she led it out of the stall, Darik picked up his horse’s rope and followed her. They walked out about twenty yards to the right till they reached a fence. She quickly tied a rope around Robert, and Darik was about to follow suite. Instead, she held out her hand to stop him.
”Don’t, I am tying him up because he is fidgety.” Fidgety is an understatement. He was like a demon who had just been sprayed with holy water. Hannah must be a lot stronger than she looked, because twenty yards was a feat with that horse. Still, she looked tired. ”We need to get you mounted up first.” That was just an excuse, Hannah was tired. She needed some time to regain all of her energy. Also, she would never admit it…but she wasn’t at all looking forward to mounting Robert. That horse was more stubborn than a mule, and all of her training techniques hadn’t worked on it.
”I am not a child, I know how to mount.” Darik went to the stirrups and expertly used them. It wasn’t hard to put one foot on one and then flip one over the horse. Hannah was impressed, he actually did it quite efficiently. He held his hands in the air as he showed off. ”See, piece of cake.” ”Wow Darik.” That’s all Hannah could muster.
She also saw the disaster before it happened. They say arrogance is a downfall and its literally true. The horse took a few steps forward and Darik’s hands weren’t on the reins for balance. His balance was off from bragging so he fell to one side. His right foot came off the stirrup, but his left foot didn’t. This caused Darik to hit his helmet on the grass. Then he was dragged across the ground as he was dazed. Hannah stopped the horse while letting giggles come out of her mouth. She usually didn’t like people failing, but Darik was Darik.
He unhooked his foot from the dastardly device and looked at Hannah. ”Ya I know, your right. Helmets are useful.” He got back on the horse, this time holding the reigns. ”Okay this time follow my instructions for falling off.” ”Wait what? Fall off on purpose? Why? ”Three reasons: 1. Because when you aren’t wearing a helmet you don’t suffer a concussion. 2. Because I said so. And 3. I influence the man that gives you your paycheck.” There it was again, she threatened him! Still, her threats were successful. With only minor grumbles Darik listened to her.
The horse started up again and this time Darik kicked out of both stirrups first. Then, when he fell he tried to relax his body. He landed feet first but his motion turned him into a ball. He had tucked his neck and head in also so he was like a rolling hedgehog. After he was done rolling, he got up excitedly. ”YA! I DID IT!” Darik couldn’t help contain his excitement. ”Good, do it again. Practice makes perfect.”
He did it three more times before he complained again. ”I’m sore, can I stop?” Hannah was sitting cross legged enjoying the entertainment. ”Is your neck or back hurting?” That was important, if either of them were hurting he needed to see a doctor.”Nope, everything but that. ”Then nope, keep doing it” After a couple more successful tries Darik looked like he couldn’t even mount the horse anymore. This is when Hannah called it off and handed Darik a canteen. He sloshed some water in his mouth then fell down on the grass. He looked almost dead, so now she would have to not mount the horse because she had to wait till Darik was feeling better. It was only polite to do so. |
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by Darik on November 29th, 2011, 10:52 pm 
