Closed Horses for Courses

[Ronan]

Timestamp: 10th of Winter, 512

These were worrying times for the Drykas, and with everything else going on, fears had been propelled by the waking up to the first frosts upon this day. Many whispered it was going to be a bad winter. Blizzards and all.

They couldn't afford that. Not now. Cold weather, ice and snow, would embattle them against the rising tide of sickness. Still, Ronan knew they were lucky, for the pox had no yet touched the Sunsinger pavilion.

It was all the more reason to get on with things they had discussed in seasons past. Ronan walked towards Tairell, hoping Sama'el would know what he was doing. He had never overseen the breeding of horses before, and when he was younger he had rarely gotten involved.

But this was essential, he thought. They needed good, strong horses for the future. He wondered how many had perished in the storm, knowing they had more than likely been out in the open. Helpless. Leo Varniak's words returned to him like a spectre.

There was something else that haunted him too, as he patted Tairell and waited for Sama'el. Breeding the horses to keep the generations going... well the same was true for Ronan. As the days ran past he became acutely aware of the need for the Drykas to be creating offspring. He remembered another's words. Vanator's. If not for love, for duty. It was quickly becoming a harsh reality.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

It seemed to Sama'el as though life had sped up since they had made their first attempt to travel to Avanthal. Denen had been abducted, their journey become an attempt to locate and free him. Then they had gone to Avanthal, been cursed and injured, but brought Ragnor's family back from their exile in the everwinter city that had melted in the storms. Dohaina's miraculous twin foals, Issima's death birthing Emrarre, Sama'el's ursine son. The rent Web, the pox, and everything.

Winter too had been full of things even so early in the season. Sama'el had wed Sandar on the first day of Winter, making her an official part of the pavilion. He did not love her as he had Dymphna, as he had Issima, but he was accustomed to her, and he knew that she needed them. She would be loyal to the pavilion, and that was good. Then Ravorel Shiningedge, Sayaph of the Watch, had died and been succeeded by the controversial Berilan Whitestream, who was already making changes. Sama'el was not yet sure how he felt about this, other than that he thought the Watch ought be led by a Sapphire clansman, who would be more ideal in this crisis with the Web in tatters. But to say so would seem quite self-serving, and so he was quiet and guarded his pavilion against the pox.

And the morning had been crunchy with the first frost. The herd was nosing around for their frozen breakfast, but Ronan had let Tairell away, and Sama'el had brought both Bigarren and Leto's Arias away so they could make some decisions for the coming Spring. Tairell was in her anestrus now, but their hope was she would have an early estrus, in Spring, and could be bred then.

Dohaina had become the dominant mare of the herd, which didn't surprise Sama'el, who had seen her appear calmly out of the teeth of a Cyphrus storm. He still assumed Zulrav was her sire. Her foals frisked about beside her, already cropping the grass from time to time, although they still nursed. Denen's Durno stood near Sandar's mare and Mealla's. The young Seme stuck together, and Horse, the Windrunner stallion, was fucking with Jyn's mountain pony. He could be such a bastard, Horse.

"Well," Sama'el said, "we ought to make sure Tairell is healthy and then discuss which stallion should be the sire, depending on what we want for a foal."

[Ronan]

Ronan nodded at his brother's words. Sama'el had arrived. It had only been a couple of days since Sam had wedded Sandar. It was a needed union, a wife for the Ankal. But it was not done of love. His previous thoughts returned, a heat rising inside him. He knew he had to marry, and marry soon. The pavilion was small, and Endrykas as a whole had lost too many. And how many more to this pox?

"Come on then, old girl," he said, walking up to her so Sama'el could follow suit. In truth, he hadn't checked her over properly for a long while. He started at her head, a soft hand gently gripped her mouth and opening it, checking her tongue and teeth for any signs of disease. But of course, she was fine in that area at least. He gave her a rub on the nose to keep her calm.

A hand ran down her neckline, feeling for any irregularities, before he returns to her face to look into her eyes. They were a little gunky, but that was common in all animals. They could clean that up.

"What kind of foal is it you seek? You're Ankal after all."

He smiled and returned to her face, checking the other eye for any wear and tear. The dark eyes looked back at him with all the passage of time. They were linked inexorably, such was the bond betwist Rider and Strider.

"How is married life treating you?" he asked. It came out rather sardonically, but it was not meant. In truth he was fishing for conversation. He had much on his mind, and not just Kavala. The pressing issue of producing offspring, and Vanator's words. Duty would compel him, and he was coming round to accept the truth of that.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sama'el paid close attention over Ronan's shoulder, not wanting to make him feel like he couldn't take care of his own Strider, but because, as Ronan said, he was Ankal, and ultimate responsibility for decisions fell on his shoulders. He didn't even mention the mucus in Tairell's eyes, knowing Ronan saw it. There was no point in belaboring the obvious; if Ronan let it go for too long, he might have to take him aside, but not today.

"Oh, you know," he said, "at this point, our herd is so small, I think we ought to pair every mare with every stallion just to see what we get. With a second generation, we can afford to be more picky a bout what we want. But Dohaina threw lovely foals with Arias' help. I'll want to see what she gets out of Bigarren and Durno eventually, because I don't know her bloodline. But you know Tairell's, yes? You know what her sire and dam look like, whatever they have gone through?"

He smiled and began to check Arias, because he hadn't in a while. Bigarren went out on circuit with him when he went, which wasn't often anymore. The Watch was either out repairing the Web, or staying close while the pox raged on. This was convenient now he was an Ankal, but he wished it had come in another way. So he knew Bigarren was in good health, and Arias had been last year. But he mirrored Ronan's actions with Leto's stallion. If he found anything wrong, he would suggest Bigarren, or perhaps even Denen's Durno for Tairell. Of course, if the horses started to find their own mates, all the better. That would be less work for them.

"Oh, married life is fine. It's strange, though," he admitted, because there was little he wouldn't tell Ronan if his brother wanted to know, "that the women I loved always brought tumultuous times. Sandar... I like her fine, and I love her in my way since she's my brother's cousin and because she has stuck with us through thick and thin... But while I don't love her like I did Issima, like I did Dymphna before that, and I don't even have the same butterflies as I did for that Athe girl who never stuck around...

"But she's here. She wants to be here, and she's not going anywhere. It's not a marriage of passion, but she might help keep the pavilion together, you know? She's not... she's not pregnant, but part of me isn't sure that will even be possible until summer when Lady Oriana should return to see how we've been raising Emrarre. I just hope I'm doing right there...

"Anyway, Sandar isn't going anywhere fast, so I'll likely breed her mare too. Endrykas is threatened. We'll need more horses, more people, to survive." This wasn't said as a judgment on Ronan, of course. Sama'el hadn't really pressured his blood-brothers to marry. Of course, Denen loved only Sama'el, but at least that had brought him a new wife. Leto, too, loved Sama'el. He wasn't quite sure how all that had come about, but they were his blood-brothers, and he loved them, so if anyone had aught to say to their detriment, Sama'el had several blades with which to answer them.

Of course, he prayed Ronan would find a wife or two. He knew there was a bond between him and Kavala, but it had been rocky of late. He didn't want to press, but he did, too. He wanted to know what troubled his brother, and what brought him joy. He wanted Ronan's children to grow up alongside his, assuming he was allowed any who weren't bears whose birth ripped their mother's insides to shreds.

"She's a good girl, is Sandar," he said at last, feeling bad that he didn't love her the same, but he couldn't force the feeling, either. "How...?" He paused, glanced at Ronan. "How are things with you?"

[Ronan]

Ronan nodded slowly. They couldn't afford to be picky until they knew what they had to work with.

"Tairell has always been healthy and strong. I'm sure her hardiness will serve us well in the offspring."

He rubbed her again, staring into those bold eyes. They looked back, measuring Ronan as she always had. But there was no superiority. Only a quiet companionship, that had carried through much of their lives.

Sam's words on marriage were met with understanding. Perhaps a season or two ago he wouldn't have agreed, but Vanator's words had profoundly changed his view of Drykas life. There were so many pressures, and so many threats to their survival. Sandar was Sandar. Sama'el was Sama'el. They didn't have to love to coexist, give the pavilion stability, and perhaps produce baby Drykas in the future.

"Who can guess the Gods?" Ronan said quietely, before looking back up to Sam's eyes and smiling. "I'm sure her decision will be just. You could have given up on that cub, but you allowed it into your life. She can't ask much more than that."

Sama'el's final words were met with awkwardness at first. Ronan was unsure what to say, other than the thoughts roiling in his mind.

"Kavala and I... it can't be. You are too kind to your family, Sam. You should tell it like it is. I know I must find a wife. We need babies." His words were frank, and his brow furrowed, pained somewhat at the cast off of the Konti whose soul was entwined with his own. "I will try. I understand how important it is. I don't think I want to live through the end of our people. We are worth more than that."

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

"I've always admired Tairell," he said. "Sturdy and beautiful, too." Sometimes he had wondered whether his blood-brother and he didn't have better luck with the equine ladies in their lives than the human ones. Well, human and Konti. He could understand the physical attraction to Kavala, even if he hadn't known her as a person. Back in Sylira, he had admired many a Konti lass from afar. It was strange to think they might look younger than him and have more years under their belts!

"Arias," he scolded softly. When he saw the stallion favoring a foot, Sam put his hand on his rump and crouched down beside it, maintaining contact as he reached for the hoof pick in his belt. "Don't be a baby," he chided, getting the horse to lift its foot so he could delicately work whatever stone or bit of stuff had gotten into the tender parts of his hoof.

"Well, it's not in me to hate the cub for how he came into the world. I can't say I don't hope She'll make him a real boy, or at least a Kelvic boy, but I'll keep him by forever anyway. Whatever transformation She worked, he's still my son. It's just going to be a bitch teaching him to ride a horse, I just know it!"

He got the little stone out and stood up, patting Arias on the rump. He snorted and headed back to the others, somehow preternaturally aware that Sama'el was done with him for the nonce. His tool went back in the belt and he gazed sadly at Ronan.

"As much as it's burned me, though, I want you to have love. I wouldn't trade the hurt for having never had a thing. I remember a song my Nana used to sing, something about without a hurt the heart is hollow. Well, Sunsingers ought to have full hearts no matter how much they hurt." He grinned. "I'm sorry, though. Things could change, but it's best not to tie your hopes on some chance in the future. She's chosen her life, and she won't let her brother or her friends rescue her.

"But no rush. Don't marry a girl to help you forget Kavala. Give it a season or two. Think about it."

[Ronan]

Ronan couldn't help but feel a swell of pride at his brother's compliments. Tairell was sturdy and beautiful. He only wished she could last forever, but that was not the way of the horseclans. That was not the way of the world.

He smiled understandingly. "I think you'll be just fine. You've accepted him as your son. I would think that was the aim of the exercise." He turned to Tairell's back end, lifting her tail to inspect her rear. As nasty as it might seem, it was a common place for infection.

When he had done a cursory check, he looked back up and caught Sama'el's gaze. A hollow one, to be sure.

"Perhaps you are right," was all Ronan could muster. Sam's support wasn't enough. It was all well and good, but he couldn't denounce Vanator's haunting words. Duty over love. The need for wives and babies overrode everything else. "And I agree about the pavilion. We both had so much ruin behind us, it will be nice to see this family bright and alive."

He turned to Tairell again, rubbing hands around her sides, checking again for lumps and inconsistencies. All in all, she was in good health. She turned slightly, eyes studying him. Horses never quite understood what their riders did to them, but Striders were a little different. They watched in respect, knowing their Drykas riders did so out of love.

"I will not marry for marriage's sake, but by the same token, I will take any chance I get Sam. You know our people rest on a knife's edge."

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sama'el sent a brief prayer in Oriana's direction, whichever that was. He just wanted Emrarre's fate to be what it ought to be, not the bearer of his father's curse. Sama'el kept an eye on Ronan's work with Tairell, approving. Kavala must have taught him a trick or two. But Arias seemed rather all right; all the same, he went through all the diagnostics to be sure. Leto meant well, but sometimes he got so wrapped up in whatever magics he was working in his tent that he forgot about the stallion.

"Well, let me know if you want me to start kidnapping healthy, beautiful Drykas girls for you." He grinned a little, but didn't mention the option of purchasing slaves from Eyktol, women who might be pleased to be freed, married into a Drykas pavilion. It suited many better than servitude in the desert oases.

[Ronan]

She was good. Nothing to report as far as Tairell was concerned. He released his hands from her side, stroked her nose, and finally gave her a knowing smile.

"Less of the kidnapping," he said sarcastically, turning back to his brother. "Back to the horses, Tairell is good. Healthy. I think we should breed whenever we can. It's not a good time to be waiting around. I suppose we could hold off until next season, but then we really should get on with things. What do you think?"

The thought of newly born foals prancing about the Pavilion brought a smile to his face. It would be a welcome relief, and a pleasant escape from all this death. New life would bring the promise of new hope.

[Jackalope]

Ronan

Award

Skill	XP Earned	Lore Earned
Negotiation	+1	The Need to Find a Wife
Observation	+1	Duty or Love?
		Importance of Babies

Witty Remark Here

Sam, let me know if you come back and I'll get you a grade. Wish I could give you more, Ronan. Gave a point of negotiation for trying to set up the best time to breed Tairell. Keep it up! If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.