Page 55 of Of Blood & Bone: The Young Queen

I’m more than a little amazed to see it running free in the main paddock but am mesmerised by his natural beauty and how happy he looks. I'm so taken up with watching him I initially don't notice Barra on the other side of the paddock. He’s standing there, all dressed in black – black boots, trousers, and a tunic made from war cloth and black leather. It's very similar to the uniform worn by the Khaleeni but I've never seen it look quite as appealing on any of my female warriors, at least, it doesn't serve to enhance their natural attributes the way it does his.

His arms are crossed over his broad chest and his eyes are keenly attuned to the stallion’s every move, so much so he doesn't seem to see me approach until I am nearly by his side.

“Good day, sire,” I say in greeting as I approach him.

He turns and performs a deep bow and it's obvious he's slightly embarrassed. “Good day, Your Majesty,” he replies.

“It's good to see you looking so well,” I remark.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, I'm feeling much recovered.”

At that moment the stallion thunders by and the two of us turn our heads to look.

“The prince tells me you are most gifted with horses. Tell me, what do you think of my young stallion?”

“He’s a most impressive beast,” he replies and it's obvious from the look in his eyes he's in awe of the young horse.

“Yes,” I reply, “but proving quite a challenge to tame.”

He smiles, and it's a smile of such depth it lights up his whole being. “Why yes, I can see how he wouldn't respond to normal taming techniques. However, that's not to say he's untameable.”

I'm intrigued by his reply. “Oh? And do you think you’d be able to tame him?”

There isn't a hint of doubt in his answer. “Of course,” he says emphatically, “and that's the reason I'm here. The prince asked me to come and have a look at him to see if I could work with him.”

I’m more than a little surprised to hear the prince asked this of him, but it brings a smile to my face. “And do you think you can?”

The stallion thunders past again and he laughs as it kicks dust up into our faces. “Most assuredly. Granted, he's going to require more time and patience than other horses and I've no doubt he will test me, but at the end of the day he will do my bidding.”

I'm amazed by his confidence, not least because none of my stable managers, who are master trainers, have been able to do anything with the stallion so far.

“So, what's the first thing you will do with him?” I ask.

He doesn't hesitate in his reply. “Gain his trust. That's crucial when it comes to taming and training any horse, but especially so in his case.”

“Why so?”

“He's a wild thing, accustomed to being free and lord of his domain. You can't cage an animal like that and expect it to trust you. You need to give it as much space and freedom as possible and slowly establish a thread of trust which you then build into a bond.”

“So, are you the reason why he is running free so much in the paddock today?”

He nods. “Yes, I want him to burn off some of his excess energy but also to get used to my presence, especially when he is happy.”

I look at the horse and notice how much happier he seems. “Do you enjoy working with horses?”

A smile brightens his face, and his gaze goes far beyond the paddock. “Yes, this is the longest I've ever been without a horse by my side in my life.”

I notice the stallion has stopped running, and when I turn around to see where in the paddock it is, I see it walking towards us. Its head is lowered and it's watching Barra intently. It slowly approaches and I’m amazed when it comes up to the fence and stops opposite Barra. It sticks its head over the fence and lowers its head as if inviting Barra to pet him.

Barra slowly moves towards him and strokes downward from between his ears along his forehead. The stallion slightly raises his head as if he enjoys the touch of Barra’s large hand. Then Barra moves closer and starts to talk in a language I don’t understand, but the young stallion responds positively, moving his head in the direction of Barra’s voice.

“Go now,” Barra commands him in the common tongue, “take one last run before you must go in for the night.”

The stallion rears its head and takes off at a run around the paddock again. The sun is starting its descent and the sky is a kaleidoscope of orange, violet and blue. I stand there in silence beside this Ellerban man who exudes a quiet air of strength andconfidence, as we watch this beautiful creature enjoy his sense of freedom, and I feel something I’ve never felt before, peace.

The feeling is so deep and seductive I don’t want it to end, and I have the sense Barra feels it too. The colours of the sky deepen and are reflected in the ebony sheen of the young stallion’s coat, making it look like he has harnessed the sky itself as he performs run after run around the paddock.

I smile contentedly as I watch him and when I look at Barra I see the same smile on his face. He turns to look at me and the violet of the sky is reflected in his eyes in such a way as to make them seem otherworldly. His gaze doesn’t leave mine and I start to feel almost as if I’m under a spell. His smile deepens and in a deep voice he asks, “I hope you don’t mind me working with your stallion?”

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