Chapter 6: The Queen
Edin shut the gate behind her and leaned against the fence, watching Minara and Lissna. Minara threw her head up and whinnied, scared. She trotted in a circle in confusion. Lissna nuzzled Minara, calming her down. Edin smiled, noticing Lissan looked happy for the first time since her foal was still born. That’s so sweet, She thought.
Minara calmed down, and started running around and trying out her legs. Even in her gangly long-leggedness that all foals have, Edin noticed how nice her gaits were. Minara moved freely and gracefully, her front legs extending in front of her and hind legs collecting underneath. She moved with the grace and elegance of her birth mother, Sirie.
“Wow,” Riko breathed, no doubt seeing in Minara what Edin saw. Edin looked at her mother, Kali, to see what she thought of Minara.
Kali was watching Minara intently, analyzing her movements. Edin caught her eye. “What do you think of her?” Edin asked her mother.
Kali looked at Edin. “She is an excellent mover,” She said. “And her conformation is nearly flawless. Her only setbacks are her extremely long legs and wings. We had a feeling Sirie was going to have an early birth because her belly was larger than normal, but I think it was Minara’s legs and wings that made the birth early. Minara’s size is still very small compared to our other foals.”
“Wouldn’t she grow into her legs and wings?” Riko asked.
“Yes, but that will take a while, and she will always be a bit small, I think.” Kali said.
They watched Minara for about ten more minutes, and then the Ruk staff were starting to show up. Kali left to go tell them about last night’s events, while Edin and Riko kept an eye on Minara and Lissna.
Lissna watched Minara frolic around, occasionally nickering to her, as if telling her to be careful. “Imagine what she’ll look like when she’s older,” Edin said to Riko.
Riko nodded. “If your mom decides to sell her, she’ll fetch a really high price.”
“Yeah…” Edin said, letting her voice trail off. She didn’t like to think about selling the foals when they were so young, it seemed to take away the beauty of nature if you put a price on it.
They stood quietly for a few minutes, watching Minara, until hoofbeats broke the silence. They turned to see who it was.
“Hello Edin, Nightfire,” Queen Journa greeted Edin and Riko. She was seated on her Chosen Stallion Magnfiesk, which meant magnificent in Talu. The stallion truly was magnificent, too. He was a stunning grullo, with pale blue eyes, and a mixed black and white mane and tail. His large wings were light blue, with the flight feathers tipped in a dark pine green. He had an almost metallic sheen to him, making his coat look silver.
Edin and Riko bowed their heads, greeting their queen. Journa dismounted, and looked at Minara and Lissna. Her mouth dropped into a silent o as she saw Minara. “That filly is Lissna’s foal?” She asked Edin, noticing Minara’s build was different than Lissna’s. Minara was small, and speedy, while Lissna had a large and powerful build, something she passed onto her offspring. Many of her foals went on to be Fliers due to their athletic and strong build.
The queen was very interested in Kihlara breeding, and often came to the Ruk a few times a season to look at the foals and see which mares were bred to which stallion.
“Not exactly,” Edin said, then explaining to the Queen that Minara’s mother died and Lisna adopted Minara.
“That’s a shame,” Journa said. “Sirie would have produced so many good foals.”
“She would have,” Edin agreed.
“I have never seen the color black on a Kihlara before,” said the Queen, mesmerized by Minara’s unique features.
“My mother hasn’t either, she didn’t think it was possible.” Edin said.
“Do you know where she is?” Queen Journa asked Edin. “I would like to speak to her about this season’s foals, especially this filly.”
Edin wasn’t sure how she felt about whatever the Queen wanted to do with Minara, but she obliged. She was her queen, after all. Edin pointed to where her mother was talking to a stable groom, and watched as Queen Journa walked away, with her guard holding Magnfiesk and walking behind her.
Edin and Riko kept watching Minara and Lissna for about half an hour, rattling ridiculous theories about the strange star in the sky off of each other, laughing whenever it was outrageous. Soon they were gasping for breath, their sides aching, and getting strange looks from the Ruk staff.
“W...wait… what if….” Edin said, trying to control his breath. “What if the star isn’t a star at all, but a portal to another world?”
“Or….” Riko wiped a tear from his eye, laughing so hard he was crying. “What if the star and Minara were related somehow, and the star was magic, and somehow managed to give the magic to Minara?” They cracked up again, laughing at the absurdity of it.
~Characters~
Sandwens:
Kali Moonphase~ Ruk breeder/manager. Edin's mother. Average height, with light skin, brown hair, and green eyes,
Edin Moonphase~ The Astronomer's Apprentice. 13 year old girl. Tall for her age, with light skin, long, straight black hair, freckles, and green eyes.
Astra Smith~ The Astronomer. Edin's mentor. Average height, with tan skin, black hair that is usually worn in a messy bun, brown eyes, large round glasses.
Riko Nightfire~ Edin's best friend. Rider in the Sky Guard's Dust Patrol. Average height, tan skin, dark brown hair, brown eyes. Kihlara mount: Sorren.
Queen Journa Stormrunner~ Leader of the Fifth Clan. Tall woman with light tan skin, dark brown hair, and hazel eyes. Kihlara mount: Magnfiesk.
Kihlari:
Sirie~ Silver bay mare with gold feathers tipped in red, flaxen mane and tail. Minara's birth mother. Deceased.
Minara~ Black filly with bright amber feathers tipped in dark brown, bright blue eyes, huge white blaze, four very tall stockings.
Sorren~ Dapple gray stallion with teal feathers, thin stripe on face, two hind socks.
Lissna~ Chestnut mare with spring green feathers, star on forehead, and one hind white sock.
Magnfiesk~ Queen Journa's Chosen Stallion. Striking grullo stallion with light blue wings with flight feathers tipped in dark pine green, pale blue eyes, wide blaze, black points, black mane and tail with lots of white hairs mixed in. (pronounced: Maan-fyesk)
Oh, Riko, you don't know how right you are. (I SHIP THEEEEM!!)
YA GOT IT RIGHT RIKO! *shoves past him towards Minara and hugs her* *kisses her nose*