Falik led his small white mare, Sakina, a beautifully gentle horse, into the stables and began wiping her down and grooming her.

The training master had pushed them hard today, practicing sword fighting on horseback. For Falik it just added to his troubles with fencing. It wasn't that he was a terrible fencer, he just wasn't ever quite good enough, not for himself as an incurable perfectionist and certainly not for the fencing teachers.

At least he was a decent horseman.

"Mithros be blessed for small mercies!" he muttered, groaning slightly as he stretched up to brush Sakina's mane. Somehow he had to improve his fencing.

"What good is a knight who can't swordfight?" He asked the good natured horse, leaning his cheek against her side and patting her.

Natalia who had been visiting her horse, Trickster, heard a voice and stepped out of his stall. -You're always busy now.- the big stallion muttered. "Oh don't whine!" she told him playfully.

Walking over to the man she first looked over his mare. A beautiful white mare that looked to be well taken care of. "Hi! My name is Natalia. Your horse is very beautiful." she said happily. She loved it when people took care of their horses. It was a good quality she looked for in people.

Stepping up slowly she let the mare sniff her hand before offering her a peppermint.

Falik was jogged out of his self pity by a girl's voice. She was offering Sakina a peppermint and Sakina seemed to aprove of this young lady.

"Thank you." He replied to her compliment, smiling wearily in spite of himself. His exhaustion over-ruled his normal shyness, besides anyone who was fond of his horse was good in his books.

He extended a hand to her, saw the dirt on it, scrubbed it on his breeches then offered again. "Falik Al Basiri, overworked, overtired full time page and part time awful swordsman. Pleased to meet you."

Rean rode Kenshir in at a full gallop. Stopping quite suddenly, the gelding stamped his hooves. Rean grumbled, "I really don't appreciate this, Kenshir. I mean, really. I almost fell off twice." She growled crossly. Dismounting, she glared at him. She really loved her horse, and she would go to any length to keep him alive, as she had in the past. Lately, though, he had just been more cross than usual. It may have been the coming winter. Kenshir hated the cold. He wanted to go to the Bahzir lands. Her mothers lands. She had kept that secret very well. She turned around to put him in his stall, and saw Falik and Natalia about five feet from her. It didn't even occur to her to be embarrassed. "Hey." She greeted them, her angry mood slipping away. She smiled, and seeing Falik's horse, she raised her eyebrows. "She's a beauty." She murmured, making sure to keep Kenshir away from her so he wouldn't even have the chance to nip.

Falik smiled at Rean, one squire he was always glad he knew.

"She's a queen of the desert!" he replied patting Sakina's nose, "one of the finest horses of the Bazhir.

In fact," he continued, forgetting himself and slipping in to historian mode, "Sakina's kin were the key to beating down Tortallan knights time after time...if you would ride stallions it's no more than you deserved." He grinned wickedly, then checked himself, blushing furiously. Not only had he sounded like his father, he'd slipped in to the "them and us" kind of talk that he hated himself.

He looked at his companions apologetically.

Rean shrugged, not bored, or upset by this. "That sounds interesting." She smiled, "Kenshir is a gelding of course, and I wouldn't give him up fo anything." She patted Kenshir's shoulder, and mentioned, "Kenshir is a Bazhir horse also." She decidedly didn't mention her mother was more than half Bazhir. Her father had forbidden her to tell anyone. She may trust these people, but she had an oath to her father.

Kenshir snorted, and looked calculatingly at Sakina. He grunted his approval, and looked over at Trickster. Rean laughed, "Well, Sakina must be a good sort, Kenshri likes her." She looked at Falik for his consent before she would let the mare smell her.

"And a fine gentleman Kenshir is too." He replied. "by all means..." he added seeing Rean wanted to approach Sakina.

"Her name means gentleness in our language." He told the ladies, "she lives up to it. She wouldn't hurt a fly unless she needed to."

He was curious as to how Rean had ended up with a Bazhir horse, although most Tortallans would admit that Bazhir horses were the amongst the finest in the land, many knights still preferred to ride large warhorses instead.

"Have you ever been to the Bazhir lands in the Great Desert? I grew up mostly in Persopolis, of course it serves little purpose to our people now that the Nameless Ones are long gone. Just another reason to thank Mithros for the Lioness I suppose."

Rean shifted in a way that would make her almost sem uncomfortable. "No.. I've never been to the Bazhir lands." She said guardedly. Kenshir had only seen his lady like this once before, and that was when she had been questioned by some other Bazhir.

Rean smiled, and let Sakina sniff her hand. She murmured apologetically, "I don't have any mints on me." She patted the mares neck, and stepped back out. Kenshir nickered, and clopped over to Falik. He sniffed the boys face.

Rean admitted, "Kenshir is rather big for a Bazhir horse, but he's still pure desert. She ran her hand along his flank. He had been a gift from her mother's parents, who lived in the desert. Rean's mother had died in childbirth, but her parents took great care of their only grandchild.

Falik frowned slightly, he couldn't quite put his finger on it, but his questions about the home lands made Rean slightly edgy for a second, quite unusual in this young woman. He was distracted by Kenshir sniffing his face, which tickled.

"He is a handsome sight alright. My tribe, The Fire Song, they trade in horses so I grew up around them. Thank the gods, it's made me good at something or Lord Genlith would really hang me out to dry. I'm sure The Voice is sick and tired of hearing about my bruises from my less than special skills with a sword!"

Damien whistled as his horse, Lala pranced into the stable, he looked up and saw Rean, Falik and a girl.

"I am always running into you people!" he said in a mocking suspicious voice, "are you two stalking me?" his serious face flew into a full range smile, "well maybe I'm stalking you two!"

Damien jumped off his horse patting the black horse as he started walking to the small group, the horse followed, a little jump to it's step to match Damien's. He pulled an apple from his pocket and held it out to Lala. Lala seeing the apple did a little excited prance before she took it.

Damien smiled as he looked at the other three, "is this a horse party? Am we allowed to join or must we leave?"

Rean grinned, always happy to see the hilarious squire. She raised an eyebrow questioningly at him, "Well. We all do seem to be everywhere." She glared at him, poking him in the chest with her finger, and winked, "Maybe I am stalking you." She paused to pretend to think. "No, no, I don't think I am. I have better things to do." She grinned, and then turned to Falik. "Well, me and Natalia have weapons training almost every day. You could train with us." She turned to Damien. "And we would need another person." She grinned, then turned to Natalia, suddenly wondering if that was okay with the other girl.

Falik looked eagerly towards the stable hand.

"Natalia, it would be an honour if you would fence with us."

Sometimes Falik's manners were exceptionally proper, his father had taught him to treat everyone alike, reguardless of their background.

He added:

"but only if you don't dent my bruised pride any more." He grinned.

Natalia grinned "I would love to, and I promise I won't." she was glad everybody here was so nice. -See,- she told her stallion with mind speech -I was right to come here.- The horse grumbled back but Natalia blocked it out. "I'm Natalia Baynes, by the way." she said to the other squire who had showed up. His horse too was well cared for and she smiled.

A slight frown entered her face when she turned to Kenshir. Normally the gelding was happy and cheery. Today he seemed...down. "Have you noticed anything about Kenshir latley Rean?" she didn't ask the question to directly so the girl wouldn't worry.

She realized what a big job she had taken on here. There were so many horses she still hadn't even meet. Like this Lala. But she would meet the mare in a moment, Kenshir was worriying her. -Whats wrong friend?- she asked the horse.

Damien smiled, "terrible sorry I forget people don't know me," he looked sad for a second, "it's not an ego boost when people don't know me," smiling he said, "but then again I don't know everyone, Damien of Seajen in the flesh!" he smiled giving a players bow.

"And this lovely lady to my left," he gave his horse Lala a pat, "this is Lala. Ain't she a pretty baby, she's my angel!" he gave this horse a small hug around the neck, the horse in response pressed her nose against Damien's chest, only to back off and lick his face. "LALA I already took a bath today!" he said laughingly

Rean laughed, but then turned seriously to Natalia. "I have noticed he's been .. down. I can't really explain it." She frowned, and for once, she looked worried. She patted his neck.

Kenshir looked at Natalia, his golden eyes pleading. -I worry for my lady.- He told Natalie. -She goes to that Chamber place you humans have every couple days, and comes back cold and shaking.- He gave a sigh, or as much of a sigh a horse could give. -She is getting wearier every time. And this keeping of her secret! Her heritage is nothing to hide! Curse her sire!- He snorted, and nuzzled Rean's shoulder. She patted his head.

Rean sighed. "Do you know what could be wrong with him? He almost seems worried." She mused, thinking. She turned to Damien and Falik. "Have your horses been acting differently?" She asked.

OOC: Only reason I could think of for him to be worried. I think she's going to tell you guys about her Bazhirness soon.

Falik shook his head slightly and looked puzzled. "Not that I've noticed," He replied.

Turning to Natalia he raised an eyebrow. "You speak with the horses?"

He pondered this for a second, he'd heard a lot about wild magic in his time at the palace. It had been suggested that the Bazhir had a lot of natural magic that ran through them and connected them to the land and to the Bazhir as a whole so he supposed that it was only natural that this girl was tied to the horses.

Natalia smiled at the squire. He seemed to love his horse, which in turn Natalia appreciated. "Natalia Baynes, at your service." she said attempting some sort of flurish but failing miserably. "I was never good at etiquitte. Or any sort of good posture unless while on a horse!" she said jokingly.

She nodded absently at Falik, "Yes, I'm what they call a wild mage." Natalia turned her attention back to the black gelding.

Registering what Kenshir said she nodded. Slowly breathing in, and then out, she opened herself up to her magic. Placing her hands on the gelding's face sides she closed her eyes. If anyof them possesed magic they would of seen copper flowing from her to the horse.

Natalia saw the Rean Kenshir spoke of. She was nervouse. She saw a picture of the desert..what could that mean? A bright blaze of magic. She shifted her magic away from that. Of course Rean had secrets. So did she, but Natalia wouldn't let herself...spy on her friend. She found Kenshir, in his stall, pacing. Where was his lady? Was she there again? Why did she keep going there? Hurting herself like that?

Natalia knew these thoughts. Trickster had them. When a horse was devoted with ever fiber to his owner, they got these thoughts. She promised Kenshir, -Your lady will be alright. She is just worring about the future, something you don't understand. If you want, when she goes there,- she sent him a picture of the Chamber, -I can work you, or let you play with Trickster so you don't worry-

Falik watched as the girl placed her hands on Kenshir's head. He concentrated using a little of his gift. He was no powerful mage but it didn't take very much to look using his magical sight and see the copper fire flowing between the girl and the horse.

He blinked rapidly to clear his eyes, although spots still swam in front of him from the flare of the copper coloured fire. He was aware that his mouth was slightly open in awe. He'd never experienced wild magic before.

"Gosh." was all he could manage.

Damien tilted his head to the side he raised his eyebrow in curiosity, shrugging and looked at Lala, she kept taking a few steps forward and a few steps back. He raised his eyebrow higher, "What you want to talk to the wild mage too," he gave a small laugh, "you are so impatient!"

Looking at Natalie, he'd wait till she was done with Rean's horse to say that Lala wanted to talk to her. He rubbed Lala's neck as he waited, she almost seemed to purr, Damien just smiled at the horse

Rean watched worriedly. She hoped her friend could help Kenshir. She loved her horse more than anything. She raised her eyebrows at Falik. "Yeah, it's pretty extraordinary, isn't it?" She laughed at Damien's comments to Lala. But still, the shadow of worry didn't leave her face. She kept her eyes trained on Kenshir and Natalia.

Kenshir sighed, or did so as much as a horse could. -That would be nice. Trickster is my friend. I just do not understand why she does this to herself.- He stamped ont he ground, startling Rean. Her eyes filled with worry. Kenshir calmed himself. -I will try not to worry as much.- He promised. -But she needs to go find what her father forbade her too. Soon, before she is lost to the Bazhir.- Kenshir had a fleeting impression he shouldn't have said that.

Gasping Natalia stepped backwards a little. Bazhir?? But Rean would of told them, a part of her argued. But who knows her better than her own horse? the other side said. Deciding Rean would tell them when she felt she needed to, she walked back over to Kenshir

Stroking his face she said "Your a good boy Kenshir. I'll turn you and Trickster out later to play. Just don't worry." Giving him one last pat she looked to Rean. "H-He'll be ok." she said her voice betraying her.

Damien looked at Natalie he hesitated slightly before he said, "Natalie I don't know if this is a problem or anything but my horse is excited to see you, I think, I haven't seen her this happy since, well, since we went to my home last year," he gave a small smile, "so is there any chance you can talk to her and see what goes on in her head," Damien leaned forward a little, "can you ask her to stop trotting in place when I'm suppose to be at a stand still?" as an after thought he rushed into saying "but thats only if your up for it, if not it's kewl I'm sure you'll meet her later."

Falik was fascinated by the process that was going on around him, but he frowned a little, Natalia seemed a little shaken, perhaps it was just the magic working through her, he found using a lot of his gift exhausting.

"I wish I could show you all what it looks like, the wild magic I mean. It's....it's breath-taking. If I were a stronger mage I probably could."

Natalia nodded absently at Falik. She managed a weak smile for Damien and nodded. Walking over to lovely mare she placed her hands on the mares face. Running her hands across her body she found her to be in excellent health and shape. "You take very good care of her." she murmered.

The horse looked her in the eyes. -Your a pretty one!- she told the mare, rubbing her neck. -I'm sure your a really good mount for a squire and I can tell Damien likes you a lot. I was wondering though if you could stand still for him instead of prancing in place?-

Damien smiled, "Well I try, sometimes she makes it hard on me," backing away so that he could give Natalie some room.

Lala gave a little prance when Natalie touched her, she quickly said to Natalie's mind Thank you! I am pretty aren't I'm fast too! Damien said so, he take such good care of me, especially in winter time, i don't like the cold, i hate the cold! its so... cold, yup I love heat, we went down south to visit these people wow were they nice, and there was hot sand, and it was warm and i got to race I didn't ever come in first but it was fun I loooovvvvveeee to move, its fun. Damien takes me on runs everyday and its so much fun and we jump and play and he whistles I like it when he whistles its fun cause i prance and play and he whistles and its very fun. He talks to me, its nice. Wait... who are you what are you, you smell like horse, but you don't look like horse. Where are your hoofs? why are you on two feet? I'm Lala its short for Lailah cause Damien's brother he couldn't say my name, so he called me Lala i like Lala better cause its fun, and i like fun. you look like Damien's type, the footed type, but you speak horse, do you speak to all the other horses? these other horses are nice, but they tell me I talk to much and i move to much I guess i could cut down when Damien needs me to stand still, can he take me on more runs? I like to run... with that the horse finished tilting her head to the side waiting for a response.

Natalia laughed at the energetic horse. -Its sort of like I'm horse on the inside, and human on the outside.- She turned to Damien and relayed what the horse had said. "She said she will try and not prance if you'll take her on long runs. She loves to run."

-I know the other horses like you.- she said silently to the mare. She stroked the mare and sighed. Here there were such healthy, happy horses. At other stables she had worked at the horses had been abused. She had barely slept those days. Constantly working with the horses to regain their weight and trust. It had been horrible at some of them. Natalia had wanted to leave but how could she leave the poor animals?

Sakina gently butted her head against Falik as all this was taking place. Falik frowned, he wasn't sure if his horse would want the same attention as the others.

Sakina spoke out mind to mind with Natalia.

Just tell my little friend here that I am well, he couldn't do more for me if he tried, nor I for him. He will only stand there and worry, as is his way, if I say nothing.

Sakina was used to looking after Falik and his fretful moods. She would not share all the fears and worries Falik whispered to her after a hard day with these strangers...not unless she thought he was in trouble.

Natalia nodded at the mare. Looking at Falik she said "Sakina is fine. She says you could not do anything more for her. She loves you very much."

Glancing around at all her friends, she shifted her weight to her other foot. Thoughts, whizzed through her mind. "Umm I think I...theres something I have to do." she stuttered.

Stiff legged, Natalia walked off.

Just too many thoughts swirled through her mind.