[The Sanctuary] Warhorses (Ashar)

[Kavala]

Early Spring, 515 AV

The Konti Healer bent over the stout stallions flank and ran her hand down his sore knee. "It's not an injury, my old friend. It's age." Kavala said, glancing up at the big Seme stallion. She ran her hands over the joint, slightly inflamed from arthritis, and soothed it with Rak'keli's touch. Healing magic from the divine itself poured into her hands and pooled in the aging stallion's knee, reducing the swelling almost immediately and giving the big horse relief.

She straightened with a pat to his neck and without a halter or lead rope, lead him over to the entrance to the stallion's paddock and turned him out with the rest of the bachelors. Normally breeding and training facilities like The Sanctuary couldn't run their stallions all in a herd, but Kavala's facility could get away with it. Her Konti gift left no doubt in their minds what the 'rules' of conduct were. And truth be known, the boys were exhausted. It was spring and they'd all been busy. They had all earned a rest and were looking forward to it.

The geldings on the other hand, were getting out of control. Kavala had started most of them for the Kuvay'Nas and had the lot of them in the arena for one of the mounted division to come look at today. The sale was pending, just needing a sign off, and she knew it was her duty to take him out on at least one of the horses - his choice - and run them through their paces. Kavala wasn't nervous about it, but she was edgy to get the geldings in their new homes. The place was getting crowded, and with the two dozen extra males around, Kavala had long since decided her young warhorses needed jobs... and fast.

Otherwise they were going to drive her crazy.

So, in that light she'd pushed for an appointment, and the Kuvay'Nas had responded telling her they'd send someone out today. And as a result, she had gear ready, the horse gate open and welcoming... and had set aside the afternoon to take someone to wolf creek and show them what the horses could do.

As far as Kavala knew, he was authorized to put a nod in to get the sale pushed through. If she could get the multitude of shimmering warhorses gone, then she could concentrate on her two year olds, her yearlings, and her weanlings.

She only hoped the Kuvay'Nas hadn't forgotten and someone was coming out.

[Ashar]

25th of Spring, 515AV
North of Riverfall

What surprised Ashar the most was his own willingness - nay, excitement - at having been delegated the task of inspecting a group of horses for purchase. A year ago, even two seasons ago, Ashar would have groaned at the idea of performing such a tedious duty, yearning for the patrols out in the Sea of Grass or even as security in one of the parks of Riverfall. Something so menial as inspection would have made him balk. Now, with everything that was on his mind, Ashar was grateful for the excuse to be distracted.

Distracted from what? Distracted from his own thoughts. Distracted from the opportunity in the form of an offered a position in a squad after so many years of pining after such a spot, distracted from the reality that his dark brother had gone silent for the first time in their lives, distracted from the whirlwind of chaos that his life seemed to have devolved into. There was so much that Ashar should have been focused on, needed to focus on in order to find any meaning in his life, but he did not want to. Instead he took whatever excuse he could grasp to push such major developments off into the indefinite future, which was, to him, a black hole where he could shove all of his responsibilities and worries so that they were no longer his concern.

Only this was not true at all. Ashar was more miserable than he'd ever been before. And it was really beginning to show.

But all of these realities were thrown over the horizon that was the future, for right now all that mattered to Ashar was the feeling of the wind in his hair and the feeling of a mighty warhorse beneath his weight, the bouncing of a powerful gallop along the Kabrin road to the north. Truth be told, Ashar was already a little late for the appointment that the Kuvay'Nas had scheduled with the Sanctuary, so his galloping was as much to make up for lost time as it was to help him lose sight of his fears.

His mount was all but too happy to comply. A young but veteran warhorse, it complied with its rider's insistence to go faster and faster, shooting ever forward along the road. Its hooves beat the sound of war drums into the ground, though there was a levity to the rhythm that carried with it all the joy of being free to run and be. Past the orchards, the vineyards, away from the Bluevein and the bridge and the walls, the two men bolted toward their destination with all the impetuous brashness of youth.

As Ashar's tucked in head looked toward the coast in the distance, he saw the wall of the Sanctuary grow nearer. Before long, with the Kavran and warhorse shooting forward, it had risen along the cliff and approaching its full impressive height.

Ashar slowed down his horse, bringing it down from a full gallop to a close canter as he reached about a quarter kilometer away. With gentle pressure on the reins and a shift of Ashar's weight, he slowed his approach and took some time to mentally compose himself before meeting with the current owner of the stock. Even though this visit might be a mere token gesture on behalf of the Kuvay'Nas, it didn't change the fact that Ashar was representing the organization. It would not do for the military force of the city to make a bad impression on its business partners, for if they could not impress those who worked with them then how could they deserve the trust of the citizens?

So, when the Kavran began to near the gates of the Sanctuary, he deliberately slowed his horse once more to a trot as he entered the walled estate. Impressive as it was, Ashar had little time to dally admiring the construction. His warhorse padded into an interior courtyard focused around a pool of water, circling around the center of the complex. With naginata in hand and armor on display, it would be quite clear to anyone watching that he was the one sent by the Kuvay'Nas.