Timestamp: 15th of Fall, 518 A.V.
Kelski had been spending a great deal of time with Moth. At first it was out of concern because the thin little gelding who Anja had declared not completely ruined had needed help. Then because she’d actually started enjoying the silver and grey four-legged companion. She watched him eat suspiciously, at first as if she’d take the food away. Then she watched him watch her suspiciously as if he was waiting for the terrible loads or the cruel whip. Kelski rather figured being a horse was a lot like being a slave. You had to do with someone told you whenever they told you and that was that.
But she didn’t ask much of the gelding. She asked him often to let her touch him. The Sea Eagle brushed him and brushed him, watching neglected horse hair fall out of his coat and reveal a shining dapple white coat with grey and silver points beneath. He was a handsome boy, really, with eyes as silver as her own. And he was funny. She hadn’t realized horses could have a sense of humor. He’d often find some bit of her clothing, a scarf or one of her pieces of leather securing her braid… and he’d steal it out of her hair or off her neck and play with it as a child would play with a toy, tossing his head up and down, pawing at it, and generally covering it with slobber. And if she acted offended enough and chased him, he’d take off, proud of his theft trotting off with the item usually dangling from his jaws. Laughter always followed him and a true affection grew between them.
Kelski began to trust him, taking him out with her sometimes on her runs at the end of a line like person would a beloved dog. He was really big for a dog though, and as his form filled out, she would run out, taking a long long way down the beach until she was too tired to go any further. Then she’d stand at his side, practicing mounting, with little vaults that her untrained body often fell short of. She tried anyhow, vaulting up and up and up even if she never managed his back. Someday she would. And when she grew too tired from such jumps, or he grew annoyed at her bouncing off his side trying to achieve his back, she’d find some driftwood or a pile of trash, clamber up it, call him over, and slide on. Then Moth would faithfully carry them back to The Gem.
He must like where he lived because on those long runs, when she pointed his nose towards home, he always moved out happily and gladly, trotting most of the way and sometimes even gently cantering. If she asked him to slow so she could enjoy the rain, he would. She always worked on her balance, centering herself between his shoulders, higher on his back than on his butt, and guiding him with her legs. She used the halter as a steering device too, but rarely took his bridle and bit. It just seemed cold, the iron rod through his tender mouth. And he didn’t seem to mind either way. So she left it off more than she brought it unless she was driving him.
Today they were driving.
Kelski needed to head to the Seaside Market to pick up supplies for The Midnight Gem. It was her turn to get groceries and pick up an order from the armorsmith. Kelski had finally ordered herself several pairs of leather gloves – one fingerless – and a full set of night leather armor. From the same leatherworker as the glove maker, she’d also ordered a tall set of boots perfect for running or fighting. She’d had several sheaths built into them along the rigid parts of her leg where they were made to look like decoration. And finally she’d ordered a repeating crossbow from a weaponsmith that frequented the market. She had clips on order to go with it. And if they were all done she’d pick them up.
The groceries, however, were the most important. So, she carefully laid Moth’s harness on him, began fastening the girth and breast band in place, hooked up his cropper, and backed up the cart to him. She hooking up the hames and tugs, putting the traces in place, and then fit his bridle onto his head over his halter and running the driving lines up through his harness and back to the cart. He stood quietly for it all, having seen the empty cart designed to transport passengers and not wood. Kelski wasn’t a confident horsewoman, being Kelvic it definitely went against her nature, but she wanted to blend in and take Moth places. She ended up checking the connections and harness over and over until she was sure it was comfortable and safe. Then she lead him out the front gate at the side of The Gem and climbed onto the cart.
They were off in a heartbeat, heading towards the market from Baroque Bay. Moth made the trip far easier than it would be walking, hauling heavy baskets of groceries or hiring a wagon. The money she’d saved from constantly hiring wagons was more than enough to feed him. Hay had been arranged from Jolly Good to be dropped off once a ten day. And Rodgers and Rodgers had began the work on the small stable she was having built off to the side of The Gem but not attached. There was a reason. Kelski wanted to imbue the stable as much as she had The Gem, using it as a second building, one focused solely on the animals in its care. It would be good practice, and Ember had assured her that her family often imbued the outbuildings, giving them life and purpose as well.
Moth pulled the little cart confidently, navigating the traffic with an expertise that Kelski simply didn’t have. He had a knack for knowing when and where he needed to zig or zag or hold his ground. Cart horses, evidently, had a survival instinct. And with Kelski’s hands light on the lines, it looked like she’d been driving all her life even though the horse could scent the fear rolling off the Eagle every time the traffic got congested.
They only went to the market, the forges, and sometimes out along the beach so once Kelski had pointed his nose in a direction, he knew thereabouts where they were going and took it upon himself to get there. The little horse was grateful for his new life and wanted to live it in the ease of mainly a pasture pet and sometimes a light cart horse. And to show his gratitude, he stepped out lively, lifting his legs high in a parade trot when someone might be looking. Kelski barely noticed, her knuckles white on the reins even though she wasn’t pulling at them.
They managed to get where they were going easily enough. A stop at the leatherworkers, packages collected, a stop at the weaponsmith… another package collected, a stop at the armorer and yet another package collected… and Kelski was pulling Moth up at a produce vendor who was right net to a meat vendor.
The vegetable man saw her coming and pulled out a basket and began filling it with her usual order. The Kelvic retrieved an empty one from the back of the cart and returned it to him. Handing him coins, she took the produce with a thanks and carried it over to the meat vendor, keeping Moth and the cart in sight at all times.
“I need something easier to cook than the whole turkey of last week. I have six people to feed all week, but none of us can cook worth a darn. And one is an Isur. For being shorter than I am, he eats a great deal.” She commented to the vendor. The vendor looked thoughtful, looked around, and gestured to a half of a pig. “How about pork? There’s a lot you can do with it and its hard to screw up.” He added, looking her over. “Why don’t you just hire a cook if you have that many mouths to feed?” He asked, looking thoughtful. “I mean you are that jeweler from the Midnight Gem. It should be in your means.” He advised, looking proud of himself for the suggestion.
“I don’t know any cooks.” Kelski replied with a smile. “If I did, especially one that knew Isur food, I would completely consider it. They’d have to be able to cook for Kelvics and humans too.” She added, thinking ahead. “Probably at least two meals a day with a prepared snack/lunch for some of them during the day.” She added. “Do you know anyone?” The Kelvic asked the butcher. He looked around and then slowly smiled.
Count: 1531
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