Post by Natasia Rashai on Oct 1, 2019 1:31:08 GMT
The day of the Trial dawned brisk and breezy as any Natasia Rashai could remember. It was spring, or nearly so, though you'd never be able to tell in Sidona. Natasia shivered as the breeze cut through her thick cloak and the plain though well-made tunic and breeches beneath it. She'd tried to 'borrow' the ensemble from one of the trainee guardsmen, but after bothering and haranguing him for the better part of an hour she finally won them from him on a contest of throwing knives. Of course, they didn't quite fit right, and she made constant corrections as she quietly picked her way across the courtyard to the stables. The garb fit the disguise, though; everyone in Sidona knew Natasia Rashai, the sheltered daughter of Kesan, Master of Horses. They would, hopefully, overlook the girl in breeches with her hair cut short.
She'd always found stables to be a bit of an understatement. She'd seen what over people referred to as stables during the odd adventure outside of Sidona, as well as at several of the inns inside Sidona proper. Small, tiny things capable of holding a dozen horses, maybe two at best. The stables kept by House Rashai's Master of Horses put all of them to shame. The building was squat and took up the bulk of the property within the courtyard, and Natasia knew from experience that it contained dozens and dozens of the finest horses Saldaea had to offer. Rashai breeding meant something, and as she crept inside the stables kept so carefully by her family, Natasia felt an intense surge of pride.
The building wasn't silent, despite the early hour. She could hear rustling and quiet nickering of the horses, and more than a few members of the household. Her father was up and gone by now, of course, to prepare for the Trial. That gave Natasia the opportunity she needed, and the first step was... Ah, there he is.
Nikiol was an older man who had served under her father for years, and Natasia heard him groan audibly when his gaze landed on her.
"Lady..." he began, holding up a hand to forestall her. "You can't--"
His voice was gruff and grizzled, a hint a sergeant used to a parade ground. Natasia didn't give him a chance to continue.
"Nikiol, please saddle River, I desire to take a ride this morning."
He grunted, nodding slowly before catching himself, and Natasia grinned. River, a well-trained mare, was disciplined and built for endurance, not speed. She would be the best choice from the Rashai stables for the trial, and Nikiol's grudging nod was all the proof she needed for that.
"No, Lady. Your father said this year was too early for you to participate. Go back to bed, you can be up in time to see them set off later this morning."
He crossed his arms, trying to look stern and forbidding. It wasn't difficult, the old man was gnarled and weathered, with visible scars crisscrossing his forearms and even a few fingers missing from his left hand. Natasia scowled and crossed her own, looking up at him only slightly. She was 14 and had come into her height early. She did not scare easily.
"I am going for a ride, Nikiol. That is all you know, and all you need know. Now either assist or get out of my way, I would like to depart before full sunrise."
Her voice was frosty and edged, a well-practiced version of the tone her mother used when simple persuasion failed. Her father would never think her ready, and Natasia was done waiting. Her cousins had passed their trial and had horses of their own by Natasia's age, and she wasn't going to wait any longer. They locked gazes for a long moment, then another, but Nikiol broke first. The old man groaned and rubbed his face with his good hand, but he stepped aside.
"Light burn you, girl, your father is going to have me quartered."
There wasn't any heat in his voice. Between Natasia and her father, Natasia had been far more successful in getting her way with people around Sidona, usually through being woolheadedly stubborn. She let out a snort, stepping by him to grab one of the saddles along the wall.
"You didn't see anything, Nikiol. Even if you did, Father wouldn't dare lay a hand on you. He knows things run smoothly here because of your efforts."
The honey mixed with the staredown's vinegar did wonders for him, and Natasia saw him puff his chest out as she moved toward River's stall.
"Careful, girl. The Trial is long, and not easy by any stretch. Your father may be right that it's too early for you."
Nikiol glanced around, confirming that none of the other stablehands were near enough to see her off. Natasia busied herself greeting River and preparing the horse to ride, though she bristled at the comment.
"If we listened to my father, I'd be kept inside the house until the Dragon is reborn again," she all but spat, glancing over her shoulder at Nikiol. "I plan to be the first one back. Keep an eye out for me."
She'd always found stables to be a bit of an understatement. She'd seen what over people referred to as stables during the odd adventure outside of Sidona, as well as at several of the inns inside Sidona proper. Small, tiny things capable of holding a dozen horses, maybe two at best. The stables kept by House Rashai's Master of Horses put all of them to shame. The building was squat and took up the bulk of the property within the courtyard, and Natasia knew from experience that it contained dozens and dozens of the finest horses Saldaea had to offer. Rashai breeding meant something, and as she crept inside the stables kept so carefully by her family, Natasia felt an intense surge of pride.
The building wasn't silent, despite the early hour. She could hear rustling and quiet nickering of the horses, and more than a few members of the household. Her father was up and gone by now, of course, to prepare for the Trial. That gave Natasia the opportunity she needed, and the first step was... Ah, there he is.
Nikiol was an older man who had served under her father for years, and Natasia heard him groan audibly when his gaze landed on her.
"Lady..." he began, holding up a hand to forestall her. "You can't--"
His voice was gruff and grizzled, a hint a sergeant used to a parade ground. Natasia didn't give him a chance to continue.
"Nikiol, please saddle River, I desire to take a ride this morning."
He grunted, nodding slowly before catching himself, and Natasia grinned. River, a well-trained mare, was disciplined and built for endurance, not speed. She would be the best choice from the Rashai stables for the trial, and Nikiol's grudging nod was all the proof she needed for that.
"No, Lady. Your father said this year was too early for you to participate. Go back to bed, you can be up in time to see them set off later this morning."
He crossed his arms, trying to look stern and forbidding. It wasn't difficult, the old man was gnarled and weathered, with visible scars crisscrossing his forearms and even a few fingers missing from his left hand. Natasia scowled and crossed her own, looking up at him only slightly. She was 14 and had come into her height early. She did not scare easily.
"I am going for a ride, Nikiol. That is all you know, and all you need know. Now either assist or get out of my way, I would like to depart before full sunrise."
Her voice was frosty and edged, a well-practiced version of the tone her mother used when simple persuasion failed. Her father would never think her ready, and Natasia was done waiting. Her cousins had passed their trial and had horses of their own by Natasia's age, and she wasn't going to wait any longer. They locked gazes for a long moment, then another, but Nikiol broke first. The old man groaned and rubbed his face with his good hand, but he stepped aside.
"Light burn you, girl, your father is going to have me quartered."
There wasn't any heat in his voice. Between Natasia and her father, Natasia had been far more successful in getting her way with people around Sidona, usually through being woolheadedly stubborn. She let out a snort, stepping by him to grab one of the saddles along the wall.
"You didn't see anything, Nikiol. Even if you did, Father wouldn't dare lay a hand on you. He knows things run smoothly here because of your efforts."
The honey mixed with the staredown's vinegar did wonders for him, and Natasia saw him puff his chest out as she moved toward River's stall.
"Careful, girl. The Trial is long, and not easy by any stretch. Your father may be right that it's too early for you."
Nikiol glanced around, confirming that none of the other stablehands were near enough to see her off. Natasia busied herself greeting River and preparing the horse to ride, though she bristled at the comment.
"If we listened to my father, I'd be kept inside the house until the Dragon is reborn again," she all but spat, glancing over her shoulder at Nikiol. "I plan to be the first one back. Keep an eye out for me."
