Season of Winter, Day 50, 513 AV
Xira rubbed his eyes with a gloved hand and yawned. He peered blearily out of a window, one of the precious few in the citadel that exist in the hallways, Syna was taking her place in the sky and her heavenly court heralding her arrival in tones of pink and orange. It was too early in the morning.
Already the Nettle district's businesses were opening up and the public was eagerly going about its business. The young courier-to-be couldn't imagine why these people wanted to be up so early. Sure, many of them were peasants and did this to maintain their routine. Yet, planting season wasn't for another couple score of days. Xira would rather be in bed, warm and cozy till the afternoon bell if he had the choice. But it was not his choice, his mind, or body, or perhaps soul decided to torment him by making too energetic to sleep much more than a couple hours at a time. He was sleepy, maybe even tired, but no amount of laying in his bed would put him back to sleep.
In any case, he would stop procrastinating and go see a man about a horse. His horse, or at least a horse that he would buy. Thus he made his way through the Nettle district without incident to exit out into the Windmount District. Out into the cold, again. It was exciting to go out and get a horse; it something he had never done before, and it made the young man's sides shiver in anticipation, but maybe it was just the cold.
He had been in this district before with Temur, but the wide open space after the claustrophobic confines of the Citadel was always enough to take the young man's breath away. Ten acres of flat, open space, interspersed with corrals, fences and low roofed wooden structures housing the horses in question when they weren't out grazing. The fields were winter-yellowed and covered in hoarfrost, though Syna was doing her best to melt the faux snow. Xira wasn't much of a farmer, or a horseman, but he wondered if they planted winter cropgrass or if they just let the grass grow wild.
A bump against his back roused him from his thoughts, and a yawn not quite completed as he turned to see what his aggressor was. A muttered apology and a light wave told him all he needed; he was holding up traffic and people were trying to get past. He flushed and apologized politely. Last thing he needed was a knight to come along and order him along. So naturally he made his way down the well worn path to the barns.
Dawn had just come and already the barns were bustling with activity. Of course, the young man considered glumly, horse people are always early risers. Especially Temur. But then again, what would I do if they were not open? Wait around for them to wake up? Xira watched young stablehands move around bales of hay and sacks of oats, moving this way and that. They cleaned out the night's droppings and cleared out the stall's hay. It was almost intimidating to be around such productive people.
The smell of horses wafted out the barn. Xira couldn't say that he particularly liked the smell, but there was nothing overly offensive of the scent either. If anything, it was tolerable, especially when you had as many horses in one place as this one. Xira peered about looking for the people in charge, but a tap on his shoulder indicated that a person in charge had found him. Mounted on a tall, beautiful Tiaden warhorse, no less than Serena Windmount was peering down at the stickish figure. "An early one, aren't you?"
Xira stammered a bit, having nearly jumped out of his skin from the surprise, "y-yes Ma'am. Good morning Serena."
The young woman regarded him with a small smile, "Haven't seen you around for awhile. Where's Temur?" Her lips tugged downward when Xira shook his head, "Oh, I am sorry... Um, I forgot your name, sorry about that too. Temur was a good guy, took good care of his horse..." She trailed off, So, what can I do for you?"
Xira brightened a bit now that they were off such a sore subject and replied readily, "I am here to buy a horse." He gave her his best smile, "I need a good mount to carry me to the lands beyond those walls." He gestured to the walls, "That way I can be a courier like Temur was."
Serena swung down from her horse, who waited patiently, and took hold of the reigns. Right then, what was your name?" Which Xira supplied politely, " Alright Xira, we have a number of suitable mounts I would think. Let's go take a look." She then led her tall mare and her newest customer into the barn.
Xira rubbed his eyes with a gloved hand and yawned. He peered blearily out of a window, one of the precious few in the citadel that exist in the hallways, Syna was taking her place in the sky and her heavenly court heralding her arrival in tones of pink and orange. It was too early in the morning.
Already the Nettle district's businesses were opening up and the public was eagerly going about its business. The young courier-to-be couldn't imagine why these people wanted to be up so early. Sure, many of them were peasants and did this to maintain their routine. Yet, planting season wasn't for another couple score of days. Xira would rather be in bed, warm and cozy till the afternoon bell if he had the choice. But it was not his choice, his mind, or body, or perhaps soul decided to torment him by making too energetic to sleep much more than a couple hours at a time. He was sleepy, maybe even tired, but no amount of laying in his bed would put him back to sleep.
In any case, he would stop procrastinating and go see a man about a horse. His horse, or at least a horse that he would buy. Thus he made his way through the Nettle district without incident to exit out into the Windmount District. Out into the cold, again. It was exciting to go out and get a horse; it something he had never done before, and it made the young man's sides shiver in anticipation, but maybe it was just the cold.
He had been in this district before with Temur, but the wide open space after the claustrophobic confines of the Citadel was always enough to take the young man's breath away. Ten acres of flat, open space, interspersed with corrals, fences and low roofed wooden structures housing the horses in question when they weren't out grazing. The fields were winter-yellowed and covered in hoarfrost, though Syna was doing her best to melt the faux snow. Xira wasn't much of a farmer, or a horseman, but he wondered if they planted winter cropgrass or if they just let the grass grow wild.
A bump against his back roused him from his thoughts, and a yawn not quite completed as he turned to see what his aggressor was. A muttered apology and a light wave told him all he needed; he was holding up traffic and people were trying to get past. He flushed and apologized politely. Last thing he needed was a knight to come along and order him along. So naturally he made his way down the well worn path to the barns.
Dawn had just come and already the barns were bustling with activity. Of course, the young man considered glumly, horse people are always early risers. Especially Temur. But then again, what would I do if they were not open? Wait around for them to wake up? Xira watched young stablehands move around bales of hay and sacks of oats, moving this way and that. They cleaned out the night's droppings and cleared out the stall's hay. It was almost intimidating to be around such productive people.
The smell of horses wafted out the barn. Xira couldn't say that he particularly liked the smell, but there was nothing overly offensive of the scent either. If anything, it was tolerable, especially when you had as many horses in one place as this one. Xira peered about looking for the people in charge, but a tap on his shoulder indicated that a person in charge had found him. Mounted on a tall, beautiful Tiaden warhorse, no less than Serena Windmount was peering down at the stickish figure. "An early one, aren't you?"
Xira stammered a bit, having nearly jumped out of his skin from the surprise, "y-yes Ma'am. Good morning Serena."
The young woman regarded him with a small smile, "Haven't seen you around for awhile. Where's Temur?" Her lips tugged downward when Xira shook his head, "Oh, I am sorry... Um, I forgot your name, sorry about that too. Temur was a good guy, took good care of his horse..." She trailed off, So, what can I do for you?"
Xira brightened a bit now that they were off such a sore subject and replied readily, "I am here to buy a horse." He gave her his best smile, "I need a good mount to carry me to the lands beyond those walls." He gestured to the walls, "That way I can be a courier like Temur was."
Serena swung down from her horse, who waited patiently, and took hold of the reigns. Right then, what was your name?" Which Xira supplied politely, " Alright Xira, we have a number of suitable mounts I would think. Let's go take a look." She then led her tall mare and her newest customer into the barn.
OOCFamiliarity to be established in flashbacks
Let me know if the font choice needs to be changed.
