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Post by zoe on Feb 7, 2008 20:03:24 GMT -5
Birds twittered in the trees, and the grass smelled potently of fresh earth. A soft wind ruffled the long stalks as a powerful mare entered the meadow, young stallion in tow.
She kicked back her head and reared, prancing slightly before falling back to the ground. The meadows were open, and deserted. She flared her nostrils and inhaled; the air was sweet.
She turned to her slave, eying him appraisingly. He stood just at 14 hands, she estimated, and full black. She noted the scars covering his body for the first time, and couldn't decide if they made him look rugged or simply pitiful.
She shuddered her shoulders, sending a few early flies up into the air. He could look however he wanted, it didn't matter to her. As long as her performed well.
"Elu, tell me," She said suddenly, "How old are you?"
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Post by ms on Feb 7, 2008 20:13:26 GMT -5
[glow=blue,5,300]Elu[/glow]
forever taken
“Two years Mistress.” He answered simply, not taking his eyes from the ground. He’s lower than her; he had to keep his head low. Of all the things he had learned over the past two years, that was foremost in his mind. He stopped just short of her when she did, keeping a respectful distance from her so as to not look like a foal by its mother.
She sounded so nice, asking him questions and not lashing out. Was she just toying with him? He sorely hoped not. With the thought of how masters could be mean or kind, his thoughts were caught by Nightingale. He really hoped that she would have a master that treated her kindly.
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Post by zoe on Feb 7, 2008 20:21:04 GMT -5
"Two years." Freyja repeated, toying with the words in her mouth. "Younger than I had thought."
Younger indeed. She had put the stallion at three, perhaps even four. He looked like he had suffered through much for his age, and she felt almost sorry for him.
Though she was a Master herself, Freyja had never quite understood why life was this way. A cruel master meant a terrible life, and you had no say in who ruled over you. She remembered her days with her kin; the master was cruel, but she was not a slave, just a normal herd member. She remembered the wimpering of the slave mares as the master said their foal was not good enough; she remembered the shrieks of those foals as they died under master's flinty hooves. And mostly, she remembered the tired, dogged look in the mares eyes when they discovered they were pregnant again, sometimes not even a moon later.
Freyja vowed never to do that to her herd.
"Elu," she asked kindly, "How did you get those scars?"
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Post by ms on Feb 7, 2008 20:32:05 GMT -5
[glow=blue,5,300]Elu[/glow]
forever taken
Elu swallowed at the question. No one had ever asked him about it in any good way. He had told Nightingale about them, sure. But his masters used them as a teaching tool. ‘How did you get that scar slave? Remember it? Good, now do you want another one?’ Shuffling his weight a little, he opened his mouth. He had to answer her after all.
“My past masters, Mistress. They were punishment and training.” He didn’t go into more information, confused as to why she was asking.
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Post by zoe on Feb 7, 2008 20:37:46 GMT -5
Freyja blinked. She knew that. Why was he so afraid? Had she done something to him? No, but that many scars couldn't mean a trusting past, she reasoned.
She tossed her head, cocking it to the side. The fresh grass of the meadow looked inviting, and she wished Elu would just relax so she could take a nap. But she did need to get to know the young stallion, and the sooner, the better.
"What can you do?" She asked, changing the subject, "what did your past masters use you for?"
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Post by ms on Feb 7, 2008 21:08:29 GMT -5
[glow=blue,5,300]Elu[/glow]
forever taken
“I can do much, Mistress.” For two years, he had seen enough to do as many odd jobs as she wanted. She need only ask. “I have been trained in everything but fighting. My masters used me for hauling, lifting, training of mares, teasing, anger… and other things.” He would rather not get into what other things were. He never wanted to remember that.
He lowered his head a bit more, chewing his lip. The grass under him looked good, and it had been a while since he had eaten. Lifting himself away from the green, he glanced up for a moment before dropping his eyes again. Master first, self last.
(Sorry, that’s all I could think up.)
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Post by zoe on Feb 8, 2008 17:16:37 GMT -5
Freyja flared her nostrils again, letting out a breathy gust of air. Poor Elu, she thought to herself. Although all this woe is me wimpering was slightly annoying.
She tried to think of something to do, but right now, all that was on her mind was land. She needed land to raise a herd; until she had a homeland, there was no herd. And what use would a young strong stallion be to a single master with no herd? Freyja began to wonder why she had picked Elu, anyway. A free-roaming male, or a slave female would have been a much better choice.
"No fighting, eh?" Freyja muttered, before lowering herself heavily to the ground.
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Post by ms on Feb 8, 2008 20:40:24 GMT -5
[glow=blue,5,300]Elu[/glow]
forever taken
“No Mistress, I’m afraid not.” He could tell that she wasn’t fond of him right now. It was rather obvious actually. He hadn’t meant to disappoint her; he was just answering her questions. Shuffling from side to side, he tried to think of what to do now to show his master that he was something to keep.
“Mistress, if I may be so bold. I can learn whatever you want me too. I can be very versatile.”
(Ugh, I’m sorry. I have no idea.)
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Post by zoe on Feb 9, 2008 11:05:02 GMT -5
"You can't just learn to fight." Freyja snapped. "It takes years of practice."
She wriggled her back into the ground, then rolled heavily back to her hooves. Freyja swatted her tail about, moping slightly.
What a useless thing she'd dragged herself into. Why did she choose a stallion anyway? It's not like she could promote him to alpha male or anything, he was so young and, not to mention, a slave. And a Master certainly does not carry the foal of a slave. She would need another mare to help her herd to grow.
"It's not your fault." She said shortly, not explaining why.
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Post by ms on Feb 9, 2008 13:07:46 GMT -5
[glow=blue,5,300]Elu[/glow]
forever taken
“I am young, I can still learn. Surely not every fighter comes with the ability naturally.” He clamped his mouth shut after that, backing away. He had spoken out of turn, and against her words. He hated feeling like he was useless though, and couldn’t help but try and amend it. There had to be something he could do for her.
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Post by zoe on Feb 9, 2008 13:14:08 GMT -5
Freyja glared at him, eyes flashing. Her blood pumped hotly in her limbs, and she trembled slightly. No, she must not strike him. Nothing was more dispicable than an abusive master. And yet, his impudence was bothering her. She has not told him he was useless; she had been kind about it. And here he was, repaying her by arguing.
A slave, arguing with his master.
"Elu. I have been kind so far, but I will not take impudence from you. I do not want to strike you, but there are plenty that would do nothing short of a beating right now. Count yourself lucky."
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Post by ms on Feb 9, 2008 13:32:57 GMT -5
[glow=blue,5,300]Elu[/glow]
forever taken
Elu knew he was luck from the second she started to speak rather than lash out. By all rights, he should have been knocked flat on his back for what he did. Bobbing his head, he let out the shaky breath that he didn’t even know he had been holding. He was going to count his lucky stars tonight… if he could find them that is.
“Of course mistress, forgive my rudeness.” He really did not want to speak out of turn again.
(So what are we going to do now? I know Elu seems useless, but there has to be something he can do for you. Bathing, pleasing… whatever I guess.)
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Post by zoe on Feb 9, 2008 13:36:40 GMT -5
"You are forgiven, Elu. But please do not doing it again."
Freyja sighed. Surely, there was something Elu could do for her right then.
"Elu, I want you to come scouting with me. We are going to look for a land to start my herd upon, a good land with lots of room to grow. I thik I have the place, but I want you to come and help me to see if there is anything bad lurking in the corners of it." She winked, and though the expression was odd on a horse, it somehow fit.
(He'll have a use, as soon as I get my hands on a female or two. ;])
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