Excerpt: Sigea

Southeastern Parreden was a very gorgeous place to visit. At least, Nilrem had always thought so. The majestic peaks of the Rimvouge Mountains brushed the sky all around him as he made his way through the small emerald colored valley. His dear companion horse of many years, Seraloway, trod on at a leisurely pace, simply enjoying the sweet smell of the tall grass and the rustle of the wind through the trees.

There was no need to hurry. They had plenty of time.

It was during one of these leisurely intervals that there came the sound of loud hoof beats and frantic laughter from somewhere off in the trees that dotted along the lower slopes of the valley walls to their right. Both Nilrem and Seraloway glanced over in the general direction of the sounds and sighed in unison, both wondering where the cause of the sound would jump out at them from next.

The source of the sounds didn’t jump out at them this time like had happened before. This time there was simple contentment as a white stallion with a young boy upon its back came half flying over a fallen tree and landing gracefully not too far ahead. He continued on his course, darting straight across the meadow and making a wide loop to come back around.

“So improper,” Seraloway said with a half whiny, shaking her head in disapproval.

“Oh come now, you were never that way when you were that young?” Nilrem asked, barely suppressing a smile.

“I only did as commanded by my master, like any good Aigior would do. Edwardian does it just, well, because.”

“Does that make me as improper as Caleb, then?”

Nilrem chuckled as the old mare gave out a sigh, continuing slowly through the tall grass as their two younger companions came trotting up to them. The young stallion pranced as if on parade, lifting his legs high as he came up level with them. The boy on his back flashed a large, toothy grin, his wavy blond hair bouncing as they went along.

“C’mon you guys! Why’re you going so slow?”

“There’s no reason to hurry, Caleb. We have plenty of time to get there,” Nilrem replied.

“Yeah but I’m bored,” the boy said with a pout. His horse kept up the prancing.

“When you get to be my age you learn to appreciate the simpler aspects of creation. Take the time to admire the mountains, and the sound of the wind through the trees. These are precious gifts indeed.”

“Pfft. It’ll take me a million years to get to be your age.”

Nilrem raised his eyebrows. “Three hundred and forty seven,” he corrected. Caleb couldn’t help but laugh at this, while the young stallion tossed his head and whinnied in amusement.

“You’re older than I thought!” the boy shouted, much louder than he really needed to.

“Laugh now, young one. You won’t find it so funny once you reach this point.”

“Whatever.” Caleb slumped forward onto his mount’s neck, which caused the stallion to stop his prancing.

“Giving up so easily? Want to go for another gallop?” the stallion asked.

Seraloway turned her head to look at the younger horse. “You know, Edwardian, it would serve you well to try and at least set a better example. Such ruckus behavior could cause injury to both you and young master Caleb.”

“I only wish to make him happy,” he replied, grinning in the only way a horse can.

“Yeah, Sera. We have fun,” added Caleb.

“She’s right, you know. This is only your first of many adventures. It wouldn’t do well to start out on a bad note,” Nilrem nodded.

Caleb sat up with a frown to protest. “Nothing’s gonna happen! Not like I can fall off. I mean…” He shot a nervous glance in Nilrem’s direction. He was raising his eyebrows again. Not good.

“Casting spells unsupervised, are we?”

“No, I mean, I just…”

“Haven’t you gotten into enough trouble with your governess as it is?”

“Oh come on! It’s not like the spell was complicated or anything. And who cares about Sari? I’m too old for a governess. I have you now. And besides, I wasn’t unsupervised.”

“Who was there with you then?”

“Ben.” Caleb flashed another toothy grin.

Nilrem frowned at his charge. “Two seven year olds do not constitute a properly supervised spell!”

“Nothing happened.”

“But it could have. I am not to catch you casting spells without me again. Is that clear?”

“Fine…”

“Come again?”

“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

Nilrem had a feeling sinking feeling that it would.