Closed On Horseback (Vanator)

[Chandray]

While they rode on, Chandray followed the advice Vanator gave. When Zamora went troublesome she pulled the reins again, the way she had now learnt to do it. She was already getting better at controlling the horse and thought the animal didn’t seem to have given up completely it wasn’t trying to throw her off anymore. The horse made several more small tries to take back the command and Chandray repeated the pulling of the reins each time, until the horse actually seemed to stop being difficult. Now when Chandray wasn’t forced to struggle to stay on the back of the horse anymore she had room to pay more attention to her company. “Zith” she said. “I have never see one, to be honest. They seem to be odd beings. The tales I have heard about them are terrible. Do you think there’s any risk ...“ She gave a short laugh. “There’s always risks outside cities, I know that, but how is the situation right now? I’m going to ride out another day, just to explore. I thought I’d follow the river…did you come from that direction, or … She had to pull the reins again. Zamora had just been waiting for Chandray to forget her for a tick. Chandray couldn’t help it, she must laugh at the horse and how persistent it was. “She hasn’t given up she’s only waiting for the right opportunity” she said. “I must admit I’m beginning to like her.” “I moved to Riverfall in winter”. She had deciced to tell Vanator a bit about herself. “ It’s an interesting city. And with so much history … I can’t say I know much about the akalaks, but as their life span is so long I have been thinking there can be old akalaks with memories of the world as it was hundreds of years ago. I haven’t seen any really old looking akalaks though. I guess people who are four hundred years or may have tired of taverns … but they will maybe put in an appearance at city festivities?” She glanced at the man. She didn’t know if he was interested in the topic of very old akalaks. Chandray was, as she hoped to eventually learn more about history and old times. As the daughter of anthropologist she had been brought up to find culture and history interesting , though she hadn’t followed in their footsteps. In later years she had started to think more and more about things like these. But she realized that other people might find this interest a bit “mossy” so she wasn’t going to elaborate more on it right now. “The horse seems to obey now. But she’s walking very slowly, isn’t she? How do I make her move a bit faster? “

[Vanator]

The riders had established a decent pace, Chandray managing to keep Zamora pretty much on task, her confidence seeming to grow the longer they walked, her spirit cheerful in spite of the challenge her rented horse posed. Vanator turned his attention to path ahead as the young woman asked about the Zith, a subtle darkening settling across his countenance.

"There is little chance of running into them in the daytime, though they are getting bolder and appearing in the twilight of dusk and dawn. I can't tell you enough how much you do not want to encounter them. But these are dangerous times, Chandray. Slavers, night lions, grass bears, glassbeaks, all venture close to the city from time to time. The Akalak patrol the area around Riverfall, and a contingent of Syliran Knights ride the Kabrin Road heading north from the city, but one should always use common sense when riding alone."

Vanator paused as Zamora tested Chandray and she corrected him. The Drykas did not want to scare the woman, but he did want her to understand the dangers of the region. He would hate to hear that some evil had befallen her. His eyes drifted again to the rapier she carried. "I hope you know how to use that." He added, donning a grin to help dissipate the sober advice he had offered.

Chandray was friendly and open, sharing more of herself without being coaxed. She seemed very interested in the Akalak, which was understandable. To humans, they were almost an enigma. Long-lived, physically imposing and beautiful, and their personalities intriguing. Those traits had lost their luster for the Drykas man. He had seen the colorful residents of Riverfall from an early age, and though they the did seem rather mythical to the child Vanator, as he grew and saw his father interact with them, he found they were men just like the Drykas. Kavala's involvement with them added confusion to his opinions of the Akalak as well.

"They are a curious people, I give you that." Van paused again, deciding whether to voice his thoughts or not. He decided Chandray had asked, so he would speak. "But the longer I know them, the more I see we have more in common than difference from us. They have like desires and faults, and regardless of their age, that doesn't seem to change. They can be noble, and they can be real horse's asses sometimes. I don't agree with all the policies of Riverfall, but I became a citizen because, for better or worse, right now it is my home." Vanator looked over at Chandray, a brow quirked. "But you know, I really haven't seen an old looking Akalak either." He laughed. Vanator was not a scholar or very academic. His view of the world was seen through personal experience. He didn't know the history of the Akalaks, or analyzed their social behavior, what he knew of them is what he saw of them.

"Oh, if you want her to move faster, try kicking your heels into her side and see if that works."

[Chandray]

Chandray did as she was told and used her heels to tell Zamora to move on. It actually worked. The horse speeded up and at first it was fine and exactly what Chandray had wanted, but then the animal continued to run faster, like it found it fun to run. She could feel it’s body shift into a new rhythm, another movement pattern, as it went from fast to even faster. There was nothing to do bar lean down over the horse’s neck, cling to it with her knees and try as well as she could to just match the way the animal moved and stay on it’s back. She couldn’t ask questions, she couldn’t listen to instructions, just ride. So she did … Chandray wasn’t experienced at riding, but mentally she had her fencer training to lean on. Attack, riposte, dogde and parry, the footwork like a dance at high speed, all the time with self-discipline and focus, in front of the point of another sword … Riding wasn’t the same thing, but Chandray had the physical strength and the presence of mind that was needed to ride with the horse instead of panicking and falling off. The sound of hooves against the ground seemed to be all she could hear at the moment. She couldn’t ask for advice now. But she could do what she already had started to learn, and try to use the reins to control the horse. And so she did, though it somehow felt like the animal had the reins in a firm grip between it’s teeth now and didn’t respond much to her attempts at making it slow down. This didn’t make Chandray give up though. It wasn’t possible to just give up, on the back of a horse galloping at high speed. So she continued to follow the horse’s movements and she continued to pull at the reins. At first Zamora seemed totally indifferent to this but Chandray forced herself to go on, pulling harder and harder at the reins, and she thought she felt the horse start to respond. She was going to control this animal or die trying. The latter option didn’t seem like just words. Thanks to Zamora’s sudden “willing cooperation” they were nearly at the gates of Riverfall. Hopefully she would somehow have the horse under control and make it slow down before they rode into the streets of the city. Chandray tugged even harder at the reins now and felt the animals movements change again, and again, until they moved at moderate pace starting to slow down to walk. Vanator Denusk was riding beside her. She hadn’t been aware of it, and wasn’t sure if she had gotten the horse under control all by herself or if he had done something to help her. She looked at him and managed a shaky smile. “Thanks for everything” she said faintly. “We seem to be home. “

[Gossamer]

XP AWARD!
Thanks for threading in Riverfall.

Character: Chandray
Experience: Socialization +1, Riding +5, Horemanship +2, Observation +4, Interrogation +1
Lore: Horses: Being thrown off when a horse spooks, Drykas: Use a yvas, not saddles or bridles, Riding: You must be confident and in control, not uncertain. Riding: How to get a horse to stop eating grass and pay attention to the rider, Vanator: A Good Teacher, Vanator: Incredibly Helpful, Riding: How to control the speed of a horse

Character: Vanator
Experience: Socialization +5, Teaching +5
Lore: Chivarly: Rescuing damsels in distress, Chandray: Determined and Smart, Chandray: Beginning rider, Chandray: Good Listener Who Pays Attention, Teaching: Encouraging A Student

Additional Note: Nice little instructional thread. I awarded generously. If I missed anything let me know.