Sanjuro was still wary of Cion the Fireborn, little was known about the stranger foreigner.
But Lady Callista seemed to trust him so he was not questioned by Shono or the rest of his house.
This could be a boon or a threat, the omens couldn't decided. So he picked up a bushel of the finest apples he could find in the kitchen and set off to speak to the only other being in the palace who knew anything about the wanderer.
But Lady Callista seemed to trust him so he was not questioned by Shono or the rest of his house.
This could be a boon or a threat, the omens couldn't decided. So he picked up a bushel of the finest apples he could find in the kitchen and set off to speak to the only other being in the palace who knew anything about the wanderer.
Speedy hated being inside a stall. Sure it was cooler outside, had fresh water and a good brushing from the stable hand but he couldn’t wander around and go where he wanted. It was also the first time he had been away from Cion since his essence woke up his own and it felt odd, like a part of him was missing. There was also the issue with the gray stallion across the way. Apparently he thought he was something else because he was bigger than the other horses and even had the audacity to give him dirty looks.
He was eyeballing the latch and pretty confident that he could easily flip it up when a shadow fell across his stall. The white stallion flicked his ears forward questioningly, not sure if he was supposed to talk although he didn’t much care at this point since his friend had abandoned him. The masked man smelled good, like sweet fruit so Speedy put on his begging face and sniffed the air around him.
He was eyeballing the latch and pretty confident that he could easily flip it up when a shadow fell across his stall. The white stallion flicked his ears forward questioningly, not sure if he was supposed to talk although he didn’t much care at this point since his friend had abandoned him. The masked man smelled good, like sweet fruit so Speedy put on his begging face and sniffed the air around him.
The Azuma had little use for horses in the densely forested mountain, but even he had to admit this was a magnificent beast.
"Your friend is doing fine, getting to know his new companions. He asked me give you his regards and keep you company for a bit." he said, taking an apple into his hand and closing the stall behind him.
"I am called Sanjuro, Exalted of Izanami the Goddess of Azuma Mori. Whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with?" he made it look like he was holding the apple absently, but was making sure to tempt the horse.
"Your friend is doing fine, getting to know his new companions. He asked me give you his regards and keep you company for a bit." he said, taking an apple into his hand and closing the stall behind him.
"I am called Sanjuro, Exalted of Izanami the Goddess of Azuma Mori. Whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with?" he made it look like he was holding the apple absently, but was making sure to tempt the horse.
Speedy decided the best way to get the treats was to maintain his pretense of being a regular beast. This man was clearly strange, no one else wore masks to hide his face but he didn't know that it did little to hide his scent. When tempted with the apple he did want any proper horse would do; he shoved his muzzle into the man's arms nuzzling him as he looked on, trying to appear as hungry as possible.
Sanjuro pet the horse, deciding to buy himself good will with the apple. The best was apparently tight lipped without it's master around. This may not be as simple as he'd hoped.
He grabbed himself a brush, perhaps the smell of the apples outside the door would make the beast speak up should he feign ignorance of its desire.
"Such a powerful animal, larger even than the steeds of An-Tir. Are you perhaps a descendant of the horse god?" he said, expertly brushing the creature's mane.
He grabbed himself a brush, perhaps the smell of the apples outside the door would make the beast speak up should he feign ignorance of its desire.
"Such a powerful animal, larger even than the steeds of An-Tir. Are you perhaps a descendant of the horse god?" he said, expertly brushing the creature's mane.
He chopped the apple happily and was pleasantly surprised at the extra brushing. Perhaps this was a new and improved stable boy, except he swore the masked man had been present when they had arrived at the palace. Speedy knew there where more apples to be had but he thought maybe they would come a bit later if he was patient. Not that he was a very patient creature.
The stallion seemed to puff up at the praise but still remained mute for the moment.
The stallion seemed to puff up at the praise but still remained mute for the moment.
Sanjuro was beginning to think he'd imagined the horse speaking before. He finished up the brushing and played one last gamble.
"Well my friend, I must return to my duties, I will let your master know you are well." he put up the brushes and made for the door. He picked up the apples and began to leave.
"Well my friend, I must return to my duties, I will let your master know you are well." he put up the brushes and made for the door. He picked up the apples and began to leave.
Speedy snorted indignantly when the man tried to leave without giving him any more apples. "Leave the fruit." He said stamping his foot.
A wry grin stole it's way onto Sanjuro's face. He had been right all along.
He made his way back into the stall with the whole bushel. He set it down.
"I knew I'd heard you speaking, your master is truly blessed to have such a noble and capable companion. Tell me, do you have a name? And how did you and the Fireborn come to meet?" he asked.
He made his way back into the stall with the whole bushel. He set it down.
"I knew I'd heard you speaking, your master is truly blessed to have such a noble and capable companion. Tell me, do you have a name? And how did you and the Fireborn come to meet?" he asked.
Speedy wasted no time sticking his muzzle into the bag of apples. ”Cion isn’t my master, we are friends.” he said through a mouthful. ”You can call me Speedy, who are you?”
Friends, that was something he could work with he supposed.
"I am called Sanjuro, I am the Great Khal's champion and chief of security." he said, offering the animal a small bow.
"Apologies, I've never met a horse that was equal to the man who rode it, I meant no offense. How long have you and he been friends Speedy? He hasn't told me much about you, despite the curiosity I've shown." a small jab to see what he would slip.
"I am called Sanjuro, I am the Great Khal's champion and chief of security." he said, offering the animal a small bow.
"Apologies, I've never met a horse that was equal to the man who rode it, I meant no offense. How long have you and he been friends Speedy? He hasn't told me much about you, despite the curiosity I've shown." a small jab to see what he would slip.
"The great whose whats? Well I suppose nice to meet you apple-bringer. Who said anything about equal? I am clearly the superior party in this partnership." Speedy swisher his tail impatiently. The man was full of flattery. He liked thag. "We have been friends since the leaves changed color. If you're looking for an actual time frame, I'm sorry but I missed that lesson on talking horse school. I wouldn't expect him to say much. I am a fantastic beast but the last time I spoke in public there was a near riot about stud fees and I might be a stallion but I won't mount just any female in heat you know. That's barbaric."
"Apologies, my friend, my people live in a place too dangerous for horses. Of course you are the superior one. Stronger, faster and with a sharper wit. I won't make the mistake again." he apologized. So they hadn't been together long.
"How about your friend? He seems a flirtatious man. Does he mount every woman he meets? Is he as noble as you are, Speedy?" he suspected it was the case.
"How about your friend? He seems a flirtatious man. Does he mount every woman he meets? Is he as noble as you are, Speedy?" he suspected it was the case.
Speedy snorted, amused by the man. "A place too dangerous for horses seens like an awful place to live. Him? No he does not, only the ones he finds comely which I can hardly understand why he thinks big teeth so unappealing. I think he is very noble or I wouldn't have chosen him as my rider. His brain might be small but his intentions are good. Or could be anyway."
"Hard places breed hardy people." he said the old adage with a bit of humor.
"That is good to know, there are many comely women who would be off limits for him in this place. I'll be certain to warn him, but perhaps you can help keep your friend in my Lord's good graces, noble Speedy." he said. It may help, it may not.
"Tell me of your home, my new friend, I love to hear about distant lands." he leaned against the wall, hoping the horse's words would continue to flow a long time.
"That is good to know, there are many comely women who would be off limits for him in this place. I'll be certain to warn him, but perhaps you can help keep your friend in my Lord's good graces, noble Speedy." he said. It may help, it may not.
"Tell me of your home, my new friend, I love to hear about distant lands." he leaned against the wall, hoping the horse's words would continue to flow a long time.
”And horses.” Speedy corrected him. ”I was always under the impression that it was the women who had a hard time seeing Cion as off limits,” Speedy flicked his ear. ”My home? It was a muddy stall in a farm that overlooked a lake. The pigs next door did nothing but stink and the farmer liked to hit me with a stick. Thank you for bringing up that memory.” The horse snorted and tossed his man. What did this look like? Casual tea?
"I meant no offense, Speedy. That must have been hard for you." he walked across the room and took the remaining apples away from the horse. This was getting him nowhere.
"I must get back to my duties. It was a pleasure." he said, opening the door and walking out.
"I must get back to my duties. It was a pleasure." he said, opening the door and walking out.
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