Run, Hamster, Run! - 7. Past Life Partners

I lounge back onto the swing outside the barn, letting it rock gently back and forth while watching the clouds float past. My chores were done, meaning I was now able to relax and read on this gorgeous day while I waited for ma to be finished with her office work. Picking up my book, I opened to my bookmark and began reading.

Slowly my eyes began drooping, and I rested my book over my face, letting the warm summer sun lull me to sleep.

                                                                        *                                                                  *                                                                        *

The Clash of battle rang around me as I fought with all I was worth, valiantly making my way across the field on foot. The rat that had unhorsed me lay dead somewhere half a mile back, and I could hear Midnight off to my right. I knew he would be all right, and if we could meet up at some point, we could ride off this battlefield together.

The battle had been a long one, and I could feel my strength failing me. My left arm hung uselessly at my side, an arrow having found its mark in my shoulder through a gap in my armor. But I continue to fight on, hoping to make it back to my king’s side. And should I fall? Well, my life was well spent in his service.

I perry another attack from the right, then go to swing left, but I am caught in the back of the head with a hilt. I crashed to the ground in surprise, my armor clanging and rattling. I managed to roll just in time to watch the tip of a sword sink into the mud where I had been mere moments before. Fighting gravity, I clamber up to a kneeling position while breathing hard, my sword bearing most of my weight, and glare up at the knight who has betrayed me.

“I thought we were partners, Roarke.” I growl, bracing against my sword as I try to stand, failing to keep my face from showing the betrayal I felt. “We trained together, earned our spurs at the same time. You even own a charger sired by Midnight, for gods sake. What happened to all those nights spent together?”

“Partners?” He kicks the sword, making me fall face first into the blood-soaked mud. “Why would I be partners with a witch like you, Calletta?” A look of pure disgust is on his face, so unlike the years of camaraderie we have shared. The gentle knight I loved is gone, and I do not know why.

“I am no witch.” I spat, removing both the words and the mud from my mouth. This was bad. I’m prone on the ground, my sword gone. With Roarke standing over me like this, there was no way I’m surviving.

“How else could you have gotten knighted, if not for bewitching the king.” He kicked me hard enough in the ribs that I am forced into a kneeling position. Air whooshed out of my lungs, and I kneel there gasping for air. He reaches down, grabbing me by my braid and yanking my head backwards. “You spelled His Majesty and I, making us putty in your hands. I want to know why.”

“There is no spell, Roarke. I earned my spurs, just as you did, with pure hard work.” I grimace as he pulls the braid, so much rougher than the other times he has, not at all pleasurable. “If I had used magic, why would I train to be a knight, and not use it to enchant the king to become his queen.” I look into his ice blue eyes, and see a glimmer of clarity flicker their briefly, see the man I love once more, before the veil falls back into place.

“Pure witchcraft, more like. I should of delt with you long ago. Never allowed you to live long enough to tarnish the knighthood.” He drew his arm back, angling his sword. “I just wish I could see you burn for your witchcraft, but you have the king so bespelled that I know it would not happen. So, this will have to do.”

Fear flashes across my face as I watch his sword start to descend, but suddenly he is yanked sideways by my massive black steed and thrown to the ground. I fall forward without Roarke yanking my braid, only to find myself leaning against Midnights front leg as he steps over me to offer protection.

“Good Man!” I praise, giving the bottom of his muzzle gentle rubs with my bloody, gauntleted fingers. He drops his head to nudge at me, allowing me to twine my hand into the braid hanging out below his armor. I start hauling myself up when Roarke regains his footing and slashes upwards, slicing Midnight’s throat in a single movement. “NO!” I scream, my heart shattering as Midnight crumples to the ground, taking me with him.

“Uncanny Nag. I will be sure to remove his line from my stock. I will not have my herd tainted with your magic. Oh, you do not have to worry, witch.” He sneers down at me, not even bothering to use my name. I glare up at him with tears streaming down my face as I cling to my dying partner. “You will be joining your familiar soon enough.”

“How will you explain my death to His Majesty? He will not take kindly to this.” My hand tightens around Midnights braid when he gives one final thrash. I’m so sorry, my good man. I have failed you. I mentally apologize. May you find a peaceful rest.

“I won’t have to. Once you are gone, His Majesty will be free from your enchantment, seeing you for what you truly are. I’m quite sure he will reward me handsomely. Now, Shut your mouth.” A powerful swing had my head flying before I could say another word….

                                                                        *                                                                  *                                                                        *

I snap awake with a gasp, rubbing my neck after that all too vivid dream. Before I can think too long on it, the crunch of gravel catches my attention, and I sit up with a groan to watch the truck and trailer pull into the drive, coming to a stop in front of me.

“Afternoon Yuki.” I call out to the woman who emerges from the truck. She turns and smiles at me.

“Hello Ayla. Good to see you. Would you mind giving me a hand offloading these two?”

“Sure. Would be my pleasure.” I stand up out of the swing and approach the trailer. “Who do we have in here?”

“Their names are Cahir and Lumin. They came into Zephyr while I was running it, but the poor things were abandoned. The guy who brought them in paid for one month and just vanished.” Yuki explained as I helped her open the trailer. “And with me moving fully off the property and no one moving in, I couldn’t leave them there.” I take the first one as he comes off the trailer, a gorgeous palomino that is as sweet as can be. “This one is Lumin.” She tells me before returning into the trailer for Cahir.

I give a circle with Lumin, not wanting to take him too far from the trailer in case the two horses were herd bound to each other, but needing to give room for the other boy to come off. As I turn back to the trailer, my breath catches as my eyes meet those of the horse that seems to have come out of my dream.

“Would you mind walking Cahir? While he is a sweet horse and has excellent ground manners for one who has not been handled much in the last two years, his size intimidates me just a little.”

“S…sure” I hold out Lumin’s lead as I approach, but my gaze still fixed on the Friesian, even as his eyes are fixed on me. Neither of us seemed to breathe as I took the lead line. I held up my hand so he could get my scent. The second his nose touched it, I felt a spark of recognition surge up my arm. The greeting was short lived, as Yuki started walking towards the field that had been set aside for these two, and I had to follow.

                                                                        *                                                                  *                                                                        *

I visited Cahir every day for two years, just standing at the fence and petting him. Each time I came, I would whistle two short notes followed by one long one, a tone I had never used before but somehow felt right. His head would pop up at the tone, and upon seeing me, he would come cantering to the fence.

I could see on his face that he craved work. Every time I was in the ring with my horse, he would stand right at the fence and watch us. Seeing him yearning like that broke my heart. Yuki stood by the fence on the opposite side of the ring, so I approached her.

“Hey Yuki?”

“Yea, Ayla. What’s up?”

“How much do you know about Cahir’s training?”

“Not much, honestly.”

“Would you mind if I worked with him, try to figure out what, if anything, he knows? That way he could possibly earn his keep.”

“That’s a really good idea. Just be careful, ok? And don’t work alone.”

“Yes, ma’am”

I started with him that afternoon, going through the ground manners that every horse should know. I watched how he acted next to the mounting block, what he thought of weight across his back as I leaned there. Everything I threw at him, he accepted like a champ. On a whim, with only halter and lead on his face, I threw my leg over and settled into what I could only describe as home. His back felt like the most natural place for me to be, and he curved his massive neck to look at me.

My thoughts flash back to the dream I had the day he arrived, and something in me clicks into place as I stroked that neck. “We’re together again, my good man” I whisper, not knowing why those words leave my lips. He responds with a low nicker and nudges the toe of my boot in a movement that is both new, and yet deeply familiar. I know, deep in my heart, we are a pair from so long ago. “So many years, so many lifetimes.” A single tear streaks down my face, and a smile plays on my lips.

I look up to find my mother standing at the fence, a look of both concern and pride on her face. A gentle tap of my foot has Cahir moving towards the fence, guided by my legs.

“I heard that click from inside” She said as soon as I was close enough.

“Click?”

“Like two puzzle pieces fitting together. I will get to work on making him ours. No way I’m breaking up this match made in heaven.”

“Not heaven, ma. A battle field.” I stroked his neck again, soaking in the strength I felt under me, and felt like I was finally complete.