Riding Like the Drykas

by **Taylani** on December 2nd, 2013, 10:46 pm

In Syliras slavery was outlawed vehemently, slavers killed on sight and the slaves freed then and there. Sure there was some problems when a particular slave didn't want to be free, but in the end it was better all the way around. Wasn't it? Surely no one wanted to be a slave, and coming to Syliras and being freed would ultimately make them happy once they got used to it. At least in Taylani's mind it must be.

"Not everyone purchased at the auction is a slave. In fact the vast majority are not, captive yes, slave no. Some of us are neither any longer." She felt compelled to explain, only because he had made it sound as if all were slaves which she understood could very well be something he had believed. It was important to Taylani for people to know she was never a slave, and that she was no longer captive either.

On top of Freedom, she no longer felt dizzy or extremely frightened, instead she simply felt awkward and gangly. For a former dancer that was a new experience, for normally she was in firm control of herself. Unlike the Drykas who rode horses before they could even walk, Taylani hand to hold onto the Yvas with both hands to feel comfortable. By now she had found out that Drykas trained horses, and of course striders, were 'steered' by the knees.

The only problem is being relaxed enough not to clamp both legs together over the side of the horse. Making a visible effort to relax, Taylani shifted so that her right knee was pressed into Freedom's side gently. The horse immediately responded, turning to the right but not moving forward for Taylani hadn't given that signal just yet, and because as soon as the horse moved she clamped her legs against the horses' side yet again.

"You belong to Aran huh?" She asked once she got control over her movements again, her blue eyes shifted to the Drykas with a brow raising. "And what would Aran need for a slave? Can't be bothered to clean his own clothing? Cook his own meals?" Again that silly tongue of hers, ran off before she could stop it, however she did manage to clamp her mouth together. She read the other's discomfort as merely discomfort over talking of his slavery, not discomfort over talking period.

She softened her tones, when she was speaking clearly to Kaiphur, "Perhaps this will be just a way point on your journey." Once more her right knee pressed into Freedom's side, and once again Freedom moves on command but this time keeps moving because Taylani didn't clamp her legs...unfortunately the horse just walked in a wide circle because she didn't relax the pressure against her side with her knee.

by **Aran Windblown** on December 2nd, 2013, 11:23 pm

Aran tilted his head as he studied Kaiphur. "If you wish to spend your own money, then that is fine," he said finally, offering her a smile to show that he wasn't upset. He wasn't entirely sure that it worked. "I would be glad to help you find a coat of good quality."

Taylani asked why he needed a slave then; Aran assumed that Kaiphur wouldn't want Aran saying why he had bought the girl, so the Drykas ignored Taylani's jab, studying the way she rode carefully. "Loosen up," he called, moving to the center of the circle she was currently riding. "If you are tense, then Freedom will pick up on that; she is welll-trained, she won't spook, but she won't relax, either. Horses feed off of your emotions; if you want them to trust you, then you must trust them." He watched the woman for another moment before turning back to Kaiphur. "Do you wish to start now?" he asked softly, still wary of spooking her; that was all he needed, especially in front of the spitfire former captive.

by **Kaiphur** on December 4th, 2013, 8:24 pm

Kaiphur smiled, a genuine smile, when Taylani referred to this stage being just a “waypoint”. She had a cheery outlook, and it was one he wished to share someday. “Yes. Yeah, Taylani, maybe it is. I’ll see.” It would be nice to see other places. Endrykas had its charms, but so far his stay here had been marred by isolation and loneliness. Her sharp-tongued jab at Aran made him tense again, but he gave a subtle nod of appreciation towards his master when he didn’t give away Kaiphur’s secret. Aran was on his best behaviour today it seemed.

“I think I’m ready to give it a try.” He looked at Laithe. She wasn’t too big, but it might still be challenge getting on top of her. “Don’t laugh!” Kaiphur went up on his tiptoes and tried to get a firm grip of the saddle – no, Yvas – to hoist himself up. He didn’t need anyone else helping him on this time. Kaiphur had survived on his own, gained muscles, foraged, ran… Surely he could get up on a horse? Making sure the others were slightly distracted by their own activities, he gave two small jumps and on the third put some force behind his legs to perform a small leap. “Ah… Yes!” He let out a small cheer. Some progress had been made – he had landed his belly on top of the Yvas. A delicate amount of shuffling, rotating and turning quickly put him in an upright position – even though he was clinging rather nervously to Laithe’s neck whilst his feet tried to tuck themselves in under her round tummy.

“Is this okay? Is my posture okay?” He called, unsure how to get her to move. Maybe it was a good thing she was staying still for now… The world was a bit too high up here, a bit too unstable. When he had clung onto Aran just a few nights ago, he hadn’t looked around as the world around him had been a blur whilst the strider pelted through the streets. Now everything was clear – the blades of grass, the mountains far away, the white tents and pavilions and little Drykas going about their living. It was scary and unnatural.

Exhilarating.

by **Taylani** on December 5th, 2013, 6:45 am

On top of Freedom, Taylani realized that she was still pressing her knee into the horse's side so she quickly relaxed that leg. Her posture remained upright, thanks to her years as a dancer her control of her own body was steady and firm. So the balancing on top of a moving animal was not difficult, unfortunately she was always having a hard time relaxing her body so that her muscles and bones were fluid with the horses movements.

Instead her body was jarred with every step of the horse, until she was growling under her breath and having to forcibly unclench her muscles. It would not do any good to escape horrible morning sickness that so many of the other captives were enduring only to be miserable because she couldn't figure out how to move with a petching horse.

She watched the other two carefully, even as one hand pried itself off the Yvas handle, to lean down and pat Freedom's neck letting the horse walk in a lazy pattern, never far from the other two for fear that the horse might take off...or rather that she might inadvertently send it a signal to take off.

She watched as the Drykas man spoke to his slave, not a captive but a slave which sent an even colder chill through her very soul. A captive had the privilege of being considered potential Drykas..almost as much as the Drykas' children were. For she had learned that the Drykas were not considered a Drykas not until they were windmarked. Not even if they were born to Drykas. So Captives, in a sense were on the same level as a Drykas child. Watched, taught, so that they didn't run off and get into trouble but hoped for more.

A slave was totally different. Which made Taylani wonder about Aran. being brought up in Syliras where slavery was condemned and outlawed, she herself saw nothing natural about subjugating another human being. Yet she heard the way Aran softened his voice when he spoke to the other, which caused her to raise her brows a little at his tones. Certainly did not speak to the other as she imagined a Master would a slave...certainly not how Fallan had originally spoken to her. With the voice full of authority and command, brooking no resistance..yet patient with her inevitable resistance...just that train of thought caused her lips to lift a little before she remembered that she was suppose to be trying to get more comfortable on Freedom.

She finally got the horse to pace slowly, in a even stride, her body still a little stiff but at least only one hand clung to the Yvas like a lifeline, the other continued to stroke the horses mane.

by **Aran Windblown** on December 5th, 2013, 12:29 pm

Aran watched from the corner of his eye as Kaiphur jumped onto Laithe, the majority of his attention focused on Taylani as she and Freedom walked a slow circle nearby. "Good," he called, nodding slightly. "You still need to relax, but that is a very good start. Remember, you must trust her to take of you as she trusts you to take care of her. You are a herd of two; you must look after one another."

Aran turned back to his slave when she called out, running a horseman's eye over her form critically. He noticed Laithe was standing a bit tensely; most likely because Kaiphur's toes were poking her in the side, telling her to move forward, while Kaiphur's stiff, wooden posture told the mare to stand still. Aran moved forward, running one hand firmly down Kaiphur's leg, encouraging it to relax. "You do not have any stirrups when using a yvas," he explained. "Your leg, if it is tense, will constantly be telling Laithe to move forward." Taking Kaiphur's foot in both hands, he rolled it slowly, loosening the tendons. "Relax your ankles. Your heels will give the most prominent cues, telling Laithe to move forward. However, when you wish for her to slow down or halt, those cues will come from your back and seat. But we'll work on that later." He studied Kaiphur's position for another moment, adding, "You must also relax your spine, particularly your lower back. If your back is stiff, it inhibits the horse's movement just as an improperly positioned yvas would."

OOCI've been riding my whole life, and my mom's a horsewoman/riding instructor and has been working with horses for almost 40 years; almost everything I say here is something she's told me at one point or another, mixed in with advice from other trainers, haha.

by **Kaiphur** on December 8th, 2013, 12:04 am

Aran’s words soothed him. His body was tense, always so tense… It was unnatural for Kaiphur to just let himself relax. But he trusted Laithe, and he had to admit that he did trust Aran to some degree aswell. For such a strongly built man, he had a very delicate touch… Kaiphur brushed this strange thought from his mind. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and let his feet dangle. He could feel Laithe shift her weight slightly as she was able to feel more natural, too.

“This isn’t easy for me, Aran.” He spoke quietly, hushed. He wasn’t sure if he wanted Taylani to hear everything. “I’ll try to chill out more.” It was strange when every cell in his body told him to cling on for dear life – this was unfamiliar territory, it was too high, what if he fell… Yet you had to loosen up to be able to ride properly. He shuffled his body until he was more comfortable. More relaxed.

He saw Taylani was making steady progress. She wasn’t a born Drykas! It was quite inspiring. Kaiphur wanted to move too. He wanted to be varried by something for once. He let his toes lightly touch Laithe’s side, and she moved forward slowly. “Yes! Yes… She is walking for me! And I don’t have to pull her this time…” He smiled at this small accomplishment, finally he was able to control one thing even if it was just the pace of his horse. The movement didn’t feel to odd or awkward, it just felt sort of natural.

"Thank you, Aran." He spoke gently in Pavi, smiling at his master with genuine gratitude. He didn't feel like a slave when he was riding like this, even if he wasn't going at any great speed. This man may have supported his slavery, but he had given him a home too. Aran was teaching him. Then the same thoughts crossed Kaiphur's mind again. He doesn't believe me. He thinks I'm faking it for sympathy or some kind of release... I'll show him. Maybe they could learn from eachother...

It wasn’t scary like the night he had held on whilst Aran had sped his strider through the city... No, this was calming. A happy time.

The first time Kaiphur had felt that way since he’d came to Endrykas.

by **Taylani** on December 8th, 2013, 12:29 am

What was it with these Drykas and their herd proverbs. Fallan had used the exact same analogy with her before, about herds and leaders. She was not a horse, never would be a horse yet these Drykas almost act as if they were part horse. It was kind of silly in her mind, but then again she knew what her friends in Syliras would say to her refusing freedom after a season of rape and emotional turmoil.

Grunting she continued to move in the ever widening ring, slowly getting used to the walking gait. She had never ridden just to be learning to ride, all the times she had found herself on a horse was to get from point A to point B so this was actually opening her eyes to her posture and her own gait. She wasn't worried about what they were doing, where they were going, she just was focusing on Freedom.

She leaned over and patted Freedom's neck and experimentally tried to change Freedom's direction. She pressed her left knee into Freedom's side, and Freedom moved fluidly to the left almost as if she was already turning left so smooth was the turn. Taylani knew she had had nothing to do with that, that it was all Freedom but it gave her a boost of confidence.

She turned her attention back to the other pair, her brow raised once more. Her red hair bounced around her shoulders as Freedom's gait went from a walk to a trot. Once again she had to get used to it, for now her body was actively leaving the back of the horse. Every bone jarring bounce taught her just a little more, the first to hang on, the second to not clench her teeth that hurt, and finally the third found her lightly squeezing her thighs which surprisingly kept her from actually bouncing up.

The new gait almost made her lose track of her thoughts on the slave and Aran's interaction. It looked odd to her, the way they spoke to each other. She looked at Kaiphur more closely, wondering if there was something she had missed.

Information :

by **Aran Windblown** on December 8th, 2013, 12:42 am

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Aran nodded, patting Kaiphur's knee gently. "I know," he murmured. He stepped back as Kaiphur encouraged Laithe to move forward; Aran was ready to intercede should the Gildling look like she was going to act out. She didn't, though; at least not yet. Aran tilted his head at the odd phrase-- Chill out? What did that mean?-- but he dismissed it, more worried about Kaiphur not falling off.

Although, Aran amended, spotting Taylani and Freedom trotting, perhaps I should be more worried about Fallan's woman. "Swing your hips," he called, turning towards Taylani. "Move with Freedom's movement; she will throw you in the air, if you squeeze with your thighs and swing your hips slightly, you will better move with her."

When Aran spotted Taylani's assessing gaze, he stood taller, straightening his shoulders, raising an eyebrow, silently daring her to comment. Kaiphur may be his slave, but he cared about her; he wanted her as happy as possible-- a limited possibility, he had to admit, but he still wanted her happy. And that did not include others who might make life difficult for the two of them. After a moment spent watching Taylani both to make sure she was staying on Freedom, and also watching for any hint of what the former captive might be thinking, Aran turned back to Kaiphur and Laithe.

"You're welcome," he murmured. "How are you feeling on her now?" he asked, walking next to the pair, glancing over at Taylani; she seemed to have the basics down for the most part, but one never knew what might happen with horses; Anyalvis still managed to surprise Aran most days.

by **Kaiphur** on December 9th, 2013, 9:46 pm

“I feel good.” He smiled again. “I mean, of course it is a bit uncomfortable and everything is so high up here… But I feel like I am capable of riding a horse. I feel like I’m supposed to do this!” Kaiphur let Laithe speed up again she was soon moving at quite a pace, circling around Aran. It almost made the new rider dizzy – then he remembered to relax and just let himself embrace the feeling. He was doing well! One day he would be the most famous horseman of them all! He would be the quickest learner, the legendary horse tamer... He noticed the birds in the sky chirping merrily and he whistled at them, carefree. It was a faint, weak whistle but it was audible- one curious bird even tweeted back. He felt at one with this beautiful landscape, the rolling hills in the distance and the ebb and flow of life in the region, of wind, frost, of rain and thunder… His thoughts got carried away.

Suddenly he remembered Syliras. The horses he would look after there, the only creatures that wouldn’t judge him. The only creatures he could touch without being brushed away. He rode further out, where the grass wasn't so flat. He had to pick up speed. He had to distract. Kaiphur tried to focus on the grasses again, on every pounding beat of Laithe’s hooves, Aran’s soft hands… No! A voice broke through the walls he had built up in his mind…

“She had soft hands too…”

Kaiphur suddenly jerked, becoming stiff and uptight… His legs jarred awkwardly and Laithe panicked. She was used to the gentle touch of her light new rider, and all of a sudden he had completely stilted and nicked into her side – Her hooves stumbled over a crumbling branch and flurry of birds flew up in protest. She bolted, rising up on her hindlegs then taking off in the opposite direction towards the tents. Kaiphur panicked, clinging on wildly but he didn’t respond quickly enough.

He landed flat on his back, just missing the branch. He sat for a few seconds, dazed, mulling over what had just happened. The old thoughts had infiltrated his brain just when he was starting to feel at ease – and they had caused this. Letting out a groan, Kaiphur rolled onto his side and peeked over the grass. Laithe had come to rest close to Aran, still looking slightly nervous but she hadn’t ran away. He ran his hands through his hair and his arms responded with a dull ache.

His joy at finally riding the Gildling had spawned a small amount of confidence. Whilst he may not have sustained serious injury, Kaiphur’s pride was hurt enough. “Why?” He sighed to himself, blushing red. “This would be bad enough back home, but before a Drykas? I’ll never live this down…”

by **Taylani** on December 10th, 2013, 2:14 am

Taylani felt more comfortable on her horse, while she was no where near as fluid as the Drykas were with her motions at least she didn't feel like she was being bounced to death. She leaned forward, and then stretched her long torso upward, allowing the cloak around her shoulders flutter in the breeze for a second. Spotting the tent that she and Fallan had been sharing while they wait to decide if they were going to follow his family up the run or not, she shifts her knee and turns Freedom in that direction.

With a nod to the two, seeming, men Taylani slowed her horse to a walk and carefully moved with Freedom toward home. Being careful of any people that might be roaming the tents, she didn't let the horse gain any speed not trusting she would be able to actually stop the horse in time if it was going at any rate. of speed.

ooc :

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