Namid rode Shideezhi hard today, perhaps to make up for the days of laziness, spent idling away at street corners and in dark pubs, singing over and over the only song she ever learnt for the pleasure and payment of strangers. Or perhaps it was simply to feel the joy that one feels only when racing across the sun-drenched landscape on the back of a creature you trust with your life.

Of course, as perfect as that moment of clarity was, a Plains Elf, even one not by blood, must respect that ever mount has its limits, and Namid presently drew her appaloosa to a halt. Nearby she could see the roofs of a city rising from the landscape, but Namid had certainly seen fair too many cities recently for her liking, and besides, on such a beautiful day who wants to be frittering away their time surrounded by the noise and stink of a thousand others?

Namid leapt down from Shideezhi’s back and, as customary between the two, they shared a brief moment of tenderness, Namid leaning her head against Shideezhi’s sweating forehead. “Now little sister” She whispered “I know you like nothing better than a roll in the grass”

She pulled the heavy saddle bags from Shideezhi’s back, first the large, leather sack that held the horse’s battle armour, light enough for the horse to carry from place to place and carefully broken down into many pieces for ease of transport. Namid needed no instruction on how to rebuild it. She had done it many times in the past.

Then, with a slight groan more from the heat than the weight, came the bag which contained all Namid’s things, unimportant though they are. Finally she unstrapped her harp and dumped it unceremoniously on the soft grass before removing the horse’s sweaty saddle and saliva drenched reins. “You really are not as beautifully mysterious as you would have others believe, are you little one?” She said, before gesturing with a gentle tap on the rump that the horse may proceed to the patch of grassy meadow only just visible through the trees.

It’s surprising how a creature previously thought to have no energy seems to revert to a child once given freedom. Shideezhi bolted off towards the grass, rolled and rolled until her white, spotted flanks were smudged with green. She leapt, being the only operative word, to her feet and pelted off to explore some new smell. Namid watched her, and raised her eyebrows when she saw her begin to race back, obviously in her excitement scared by something no self-respecting war horse would be.

Namid shaded her eyes as Shideezhi ran back; trying to see what had surprised her so. She was shocked to see that it was a young lady, apparently minding her own business by the side of the road, much like Namid had been trying to do. Not sure if her horse had scared, hurt or annoyed the woman, or even if she had noticed her at all, Namid slung the saddle and bags over her shoulder, scolded the young horse, and began to make her way over to apologise.

“I’m sorry miss. I’m afraid my view from over there was not a good one, and I simply wondered if my mare had inconvenienced you in some way. If she has I offer my utmost apologies of course” She said, politely and softly to ensure no threat was taken from her words should the young lady not speak her language.