[The Sanctuary] Warhorses? What do we need warhorses for?

[Kavala]

Continued from here....

Kavala was indeed home. Standing in the main arena in front of a stallion that was dappled grey and enormous in size, she was tapping his front hoof with a whip and asking him to lift it on command. He did so, and then she'd lean over and gently tap the left foot, and he'd strike with that. She turned, clicked her tongue, and he set off beside her with her well out of harms way but still within his reach with the whip.. She held the whip out in front of her, a long extension of her arm, and each time she'd tap, he'd strike. It almost looked like he was dancing. Suddenly she shoved the whip violently up in the air making a cue with a strange pavi word, and the stallion went up on all fours and struck out with both hooves at the same time. It was an enemy crushing move, dangerous and deadly to behind. But Kavala simply smiled in pleasure, once he came down, gave him a slice of apple, then scrubbed his neck with a deep scratch.

"Good boy Ghost. You're catching on. We're going to have you killing Zith in no time." She added, then glanced up and saw the girl leaning against the fence. Kavala heard what she had to say and nodded. She tucked her long whip onto her shoulder, and sent the stallion off to play. Walking over, she joined Septimus at the rail and leaned against it.

"So, work... sure yes. We always have work here to do. What kinds of things are you interested in? Will you tell me a little bit about yourself. I understand you are a squire, but what do you enjoy and what are your interests. Are you here in Riverfall alone or with a bondmate?" She was curious and Kavala often used interviews to satiate that curiosity.

[Septimus]

The woman was a beautiful Konti, and Septimus almost instantly felt a good vibe from her once she approached the railing. Considering Kavala's work with the stallion that was just displayed Septimus judged her to be a woman with many secrets, many powers, and many orders. The Kelvic also sensed kindness as well though and a respect for animals. "I do believe I can do any needed task from pulling things to herding (after showing me the ropes a bit of course), but I don't see the point in dragging things around when I'm sure you have a ton of animals that could do that for you. With that being said, I can be on the gentle side when not training. I like to work, to be challenged, and I like to see a bit of sweat as well when I work. I would love to do something equine related but really whatever you have available I find is all the necessary. I'm here in Riverfall with a friend but he is probably off training yet. In that case, no bondmate yet, ma'am." Septimus shifted her weight to one side, examining the Sanctuary more closer. It was a beautiful place with beautiful details all around. She figured it'd be an honor to work in such a place. It was so peaceful and quite relaxing. Even though she'd be working, she figured she'd be relaxed while working and at ease. Her wary self would be calm and her conscience would more than likely feel safe and laid back rather than how it had been on edge. Perhaps this was the reason she had been so stressed lately? She had been alert, scared, and quite frankly walking on a high wire lately with training. The Kelvic had been doing this to herself and fortunately, she had found a great escape for now. Before the battle. But before that time came about she would find herself breaking her back to gain muscle, speed, and strength. After all, this was part of being a Squire right? A War Horse? Her attention was set full on Kavala, awaiting for any possible orders she was ready to dish out and serve to the hungry Septimus. After all, she had broken her practice dummy this morning and she was unsure, unless she worked, if she could afford a new one until she got paid.

[Kavala]

Kavala walked right up to Septimus and without asking laid her hand on the woman's shoulder. She frowned, shook her head, and opened her konti gift letting the kelvic's emotions wash over her. Feeling enough, understanding too much, Kavala withdrew her hand and shook her head. "The last thing you need right now is work. You've been trying to hard to be something you aren't. When is the last time you got to go out and just be a horse? Frolick in a herd, tease a stallion, or play grab-ass with a bunch of yearlings? Lady, you feel overworked and stressed and genuinely out of your element." Kavala said softly, looking concerned.

"I think the last thing you really need is a job. You instead need a vacation." The Konti said, looking perplexed. But she knew that kelvics had needs, just like everyone else, and sometimes those needs superseded their requirements to just be whatever their animal was.

"I'd be remiss giving you any other job but spending time out with my herds on watch. And when I say on watch, I don't mean standing rigid on a hillside guarding them. That's their stallions' jobs. What I mean is being there if someone tries to steal or attack. And at worse case coming to find me or anyone here if there's trouble the horses themselves can't handle. Being on watch means being out there, blending in, grazing, playing, having a good time." Kavala said, being firm in her thoughts.

"I'd pay four gold a day for something like that. And if you helped give riding lessons as a mount, I'd give you an extra gold a day." Kavala said. "For as long as you can stay that is." She added, looking for all the world like she wasn't actually trying to set the warhorse up with a vacation.

[Septimus]

The Konti was right and the anguished Septimus knew that with every word she spoke. Septimus couldn't hide it for this Konti's gift had told her everything and there was no need to lie for Kavala knew everything. What was this feeling? Sadness? With every word she spoke Septimus thought and analyzed it trying to find a flaw, but there was none. Why try to find a flaw even, Septimus? She's right! You're a petching horse! Not some maniac training machine! I mean, damn, feel your muscles! They're so sore, they're in so much pain! And you're doing this to yourself! When Kavala spoke her task and the job she offered, Septimus almost instantly jumped on it, her eyes swirling and bright as well as an excited smile on her face but soon fading. [i]But what about Xuphim? What about training? What about the Syliran Knighthood!?! The battle quickly approaching in 10 days! then she stopped herself That right there is what she's talking about! You cannot make decisions for yourself without the Knighthood and petching training being etched into your mind every waking moment! Septimus looked her in the eyes with her own pale icy blue ones then swallowed hard. Anyone could see her eyes were fiery and thoughtful with her mind calculating the outcomes of everything she could possibly say. "I'll do it." Septimus smiled brightly then looked at her feet, then at the Konti once more "For five days, starting today if I can, I'll do both tasks but then after that, it is a must that I return to my training for the battle, that unless won, will harm Riverfall. After that battle, I'll come back and work for fifteen days, if this experience feels right, and after a few days of recovery and celebration for the battle. A Kelvic does have needs." Septimus chuckled "Thank you Kavala. Thank you so much! Oh, by the way, I'm Septimus. Sound like a deal?" The Tiaden War Horse held out her human disguised hand for an agreement and greeting. The Kelvic had butterflies in her stomach, for it was full of excitement. She got to be a horse and practically mess around like normal horses do and only look out for a herd and be getting paid for it. She was getting to just be a normal horse for five freaking days. In the long run, it was probably best for her mental health anyways! Anyone could see the girl was happy, but her looks were compared to nothing she felt on the inside. It was like a poor homeless child waking up in a castle suite with presents, robes, new clothes, a ham, delicious food, fresh water, and more. And that was not a good thing for Septimus one bit! If she was this excited about getting to be herself, what was she actually like during training? Who was that person? "I mean if today is alright with you, I mean I can always come back tomorrow or whenever you feel is best." She was doing it; that fast and excited paced talking she did whenever she was anxious. "Sorry." she apologized then fell completely silent, looking at Kavala through hopeful and young eyes. That one part of her was shaking it's head, wanting to scream and scowl her for doing this; ready to tell her to get the petch out of there and get to training! But that other part was encouraging Septimus, and this other part had gotten into that horse part of her mind, who, in the end, would override that human side's judgement until she bonded and was told differently.

[Kavala]

Kavala smiled. "It's more than fine if we just have an arrangement that I'll pay you for the days you can work. Just come on in, check in with me so I know you're out there, and I won't have to send a watch rider out with the herds when they go in the mornings." Kavala said, looking Septimus over. That way Septimus could come and go as she liked, and only work when she was able too.

"You know, lady, you feel awful sore. You look like your moving badly." Kavala said this in a soft concerned voice, not critical more concerned. "Do you need something for that? I have a lot of things that can help." Kavala said, gesturing to the clinic. "If you'd like, follow me to the clinic yard. I work on a lot of our own horses there. Sometimes they get really sore during their training as well. " Kavala said, looking thoughtful and gesturing for her to follow the healer.

"Shift here? I think I can help those sore muscles." Kavala said, when they reached the yard. "I'll be right back." She slipped into the clinic and came back with a bottle of something that smelled strongly of mint. "This is witch hazel, something I distill here, with ginger, peppermint, lavender, juniper and wintergreen in it. I think you'll like it." Kavala said, pouring some of the oil out onto her hands and quickly moving over Septimus' form, rubbing the oil in her sore limbs and shoulders. She set the bottle of oil aside after coating her hands and began to carefully work on rubbing it deep into Septimus' tissues, working from her ankles up to her shoulders first on the front legs, then on the backs, careful to re-coat her hands when the oil was getting worked into the skin too much and leaving a lacking on her hands.

"You should take some of this with you. You can actually use it on your rider too if you have to carry a knight into battle. Make him or her trade off... give you a good oiling down in exchange for oiling them down. Always volunteer to go first though, so you can relax as they are doing it and don't have to get busy right away afterwards." Kavala suggested, continuing to work on the warhorse as she spoke. There was a lot of Septimus to oil.

[Septimus]

"Sounds like we have an agreement, Kavala. When would you like me to come for the riding tutorials? To be a mount of course? And seriously, don't worry about it! I should be-" Kavala had walked off anyway. The way her voice sounded made her trustworthy in Septimus' opinion, like Kavala wouldn't hurt her and she was safe with her. Following her new employer's words, Septimus removed her clothing (being sure to fold them up), and then shifted. The feeling that washed over Septimus when she was in her true horse body was like a great sigh of relief to be back to herself. Like she was herself again rather than walking in someone else's shoes. When Kavala returned, she explained to Septimus the concoction's contents. The Kelvic softly responded with a dip of her head and slight snicker. The Clinic Yard was just as beautiful as the rest, and as Septimus began examining this location's details bit by bit when Kavala began massaging the oil into her coat, skin, muscles, and tissues. Instantly, Septimus took a deep breath of relaxation as the concoction had already begun it's job instantly providing Septimus with a well wanted relief of her sore and aching muscles. She was glad Kavala didn't listen to her to when she said she was alright, because this was seriously hitting the spot. The war horse's body language showed it too. Septimus' sky blue eyes went to half-way opened as Kavala kept working at it and her right hind foot was soon left to just kind of hang there. Her ears were droopy rather than pricked up or pinned back against her jet black head. That feels absolutely lovely. Damn, where has this stuff been all my life?!? After this little reward, Septimus wouldn't mind working for this Konti any day she was asked. No one had ever given her this kind of treatment. Ever. Period. And the Kelvic had only met the Konti for ten minutes! The woman obviously had a kind soul and a good heart with good intentions. Or her horse mind thought this with full confidence in Kavala. Take some of this with me? That would be absolutely fantastic! More like amazingly fantastic! A slight chuckle escaped her horse lips which came out more like a half suppressed snicker as she took in the Konti's advice I'll be most definitely sure to remember that, ma'am. Then it hit again, the thought of the battle. However, with all that was going on around her and Kavala working magical wonders on her tired aching and sore muscle, she easily pushed this out of her mind and gently nudged Kavala with a thanks. After all, she didn't have to do this. She could've been a complete witch about things and assigned her to pulling hay bails many many times a day with one gold for her pay and then not even given her this treatment. How better could my luck get? I have come across the most amazing woman to work for who is just, well, wow. Both sides of her conscience were agreeing with each other on this one. For the most part, it was like a war between the two all the time. A war that was uphill, downhill, upside down hill, diagonal hill, and even stair shaped hill for both. They could never agree on anything and they each had something to say about it, always. They were silenced at the time as well.