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 Page 24
"Nag, my dearest equine friend," Saure said sweetly, setting down her things and placing a pale hand to each side of her gray muzzle, "you know I love and respect you… I just like my solitude, sometimes. It would be different if you were as dumb and deaf as men think you are, but since I confide in you... and you in me…" she raised her eyebrows at this to instill her point. "You are like a member of the family. And sometimes a girl needs time away from her family. I'll be here to take you out and ride you across the plains in three days. Consider this time… like a holiday. Alright?"
Nag snorted, unmoved. "You'd have me deaf and dumb. I can read betwixt your lines, girl. Get ye on, wherever it is ye go. I'll just waste away in me stall. Don't worry for me, dear, I'm old and un-useful." She pulled her old head from the girl's hands and trudged sadly back to her stall. Saure sighed with aggravation, throwing up her hands. Sometimes horses could act just as old crones do- spreading guilt wherever they go.
"’… and so it was that these two sons held equal right to the throne, and each considered himself worthier than his twin.'" Saure read aloud.
She and Fred had found a nice spot at the edge of the woods to sit and read in the westering sunlight. Fred had warned earlier that there were dark clouds rolling in, and it smelled of deluge-weather. Saure assured him that all her plants were on grow-benches in the green shed, and that her loft was well above flood level (should a flood ever happen by the house). Fred seemed somewhat assured by this, but he held his anxiety on the subject at bay in order to listen to Saure read. She enjoyed reading to him, and sometimes the voices she used were amusing. He was charmed by it.
Saure dangled her bare feet idly as she sat on the great cat's back, and as he lay on the soft summer grass of the meadow.
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 Page 25
The book she was reading was an older one, but one of her favorites because it was about elves, magic, and regicide.
"’Subjects in the land of Eldora cried out in protest. Never had such bad blood sprung between royal spawn. Most were open to two kings in lieu of one. The twins, Deldrith and Eldrich, would not heed reason. They set out to destroy one another, in pursuit of their late father's crown. Their father's spirit wept in shame and remorse, for he held himself responsible for their manward ways…' Manward… I think I translated that right…"
"Aye, you did. It's an elven term. Continue."
"Aye. '… He never truly taught them peace, compassion, or unity. He taught them that the world was a crueler place than it actually was, for he himself did not learn the truth till he was dead.
'There was a great argument, and Eldora was forced to take sides. The Heirs waged a great war that lasted a century and a day. Both died horrible deaths, and this is how their youngest sister, Caldethra, came to reign.'"
Lightning flashed in the distance, a pretty purple-blue in the failing light. Thunder rumbled dully twenty seconds later. This meant the storm was one hundred and sixty furlongs away. Both Saure and Fred had learned how to gauge the distance of a thunderstorm when they were young, one of the many things they discovered they had in common.
Saure closed the book, petting Fred on the top of his head. He purred deeply and swished his long tail.
"That's all for tonight. We'll hear about Caldethra's adventures tomorrow, then, I suppose."
"Oh, I can't wait." Fred said with more than a hint of sarcasm. Cats could be masters of sarcasm, it seemed. But Saure knew he was interested, just the same. She hopped down from his back and gave his side a good scratching. This, of course, caused him to roll onto his back so she could have better access to his soft, white stomach. She kept her nails long specifically for belly-scratchings.
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