THE MAIDEN'S COLT
The woman
grunted and panted gripping the edges of the tree stump as the black unicorn
stallion thrusted deep within the woman. The animal's front hooves were on
either side of the stump that the woman lay face down over, her rounded ass in
the air, her slick, wet vagina filled with the huge engorged penis of the black
stallion. Blood from her virginhood dripped from her vagina. The stallion made
huge thrusts causing the woman to groan from the pleasure and pain it produced.
Finally, the beast came, filling the woman with his seed. Cum leaked from her
vagina, and the woman collapsed on the stump.
The great
black unicorn lowered his head, and snuffled the woman's hair affectionatley.
She smiled at him, then groaned with the big beast removed his penis, and
stepped back from her. On wobbly legs the woman stood up, cum and blood running
down her thighs. She walked over to the magnificent stallion, and layed her
hand on the beast's neck. The animal lowered its head and suckled on the
woman's right nipple. The woman closed her eyes and groaned in ecstacy as the
stallion nipped and suckled her entire breast and the firm little nub of her
nipple. As the stallion suckled, the woman ran her hands up and down the
stallion's neck. Opening her eyes, she saw the stallion's penis come out of its
sheathe and grow in length and size.
"Again?
" She asked smiling. The stallion bobbed his head. The woman went around
and knelt beneath the stallion underbelly, and took as much of the penis into
her mouth as she could. She then began to suck until the stallion came again,
shooting his seed down her throat. She choked on the amount, and some of it
leaked from the corners of her mouth, but she tried to swallow as much of the
unicorn's cock as she could.
Sometime
later, when both were sated, the woman lay once again face down ont he tree
stump, and the stallion nuzzled her bidding her a fond farewell. The stallion
then dissapeared into the forest.
The cottage
was hidden deep within the Cascadian Forest. It was a small modest cottage with
a thatch roof, and wooden walls. One fireplace and an iron stove kept the
little cottage warm even during the coldest days. Outside the cottage was its
single well, chicken coop, small barn shed complete with wooden pen where a
goat, two sheep, and four pigs lived and the tree stump were the woman used a
small handled axe to split logs of wood. When she had split the wood, she
carried bundles of it over to the side of the cottage were a stack of split
wood awaited the ones she held in her arms. A farm cat curled on top of the
wood moved out of the way and began to stalk the chickens. The woman stacked
the wood she had just split, then went over to the well with a bucket she
picked up at her doorstep and walked over to the well to draw some water. As
she brought up the rope, a small neigh caught her attention. She turned and
smiled at the little black colt that ran out of the woods kicking up his
hooves, the black horn that shined like opals spiralling from the colt's
forehead. Halfway to her the unicorn changed and became a boy that looked
fourteen years old but in reality was barely two.
"Mommy,
mommy!" the little naked boy cried as he ran, laughter filling his voice.
She hugged
Jimmy, then with a light swat to his bottom said, "Oh, Jimmy. Go put on
some clothes." The little boy made a face at the mention of clothes, but
went inside to do what his mother told him.
When he came
back out, however, he wore only a woolen kilt. The cold mountain air never
seemed to faze the half unicorn, half human boy. He took heat and cold in
stride, and seemed annoyed by clothing.
Though the boy
seemed fourteen, his mind was only a year old. And though he was half unicorn,
and would no doubt live a very long time, unfortunately, his human body aged
quickly due to the fact that for every year a unicorn lived, a human would age
seven years. Grace did not understand. Part of unicorn magic, she supposed. But
Jimmy's father had assured her years agon that the human body would stop aging
when Jimmy reached five years. However, because he was part human his mind
would mature like a humans. Luckily unicorns were virtually immortal, and according
to Darksong, Jimmy's unicorn father, the boy had inherited that quality as
well. Unicorns could be killed but only if the spiralled horn was cut off. And
no self respecting unicorn would ever lower its head to a unhelpless human with
a sword or axe in their hands.
Except in the
case of Darksong, who had been lured out and captured by hunters who had bound
the unicorn, then cut off his horn. the stallion had died instantly leaving
only a pile of dust.
Jimmy helped
his mother fill the bucket with water, then carried it inside. Once inside,
Grace began to cook. Unicorns, unlike horses, were carnivores. They hunted and
ate meat. They did not graze on grass and hay. So the eggs, and milk were
acceptable to Jimmy's system. Unfortunatly, unlike unicorn mares, Grace had not
continued lactating, and Jimmy was not yet of an age were he could be weaned.
After all unicorns were not horses, as Darksong had been fond of saying.
The mixture of
goat's milk, eggs and sugar were good for the growing unicorn colt. As they
were eating, Jimmy suddenly cocked his head. The colt, like all unicorns, had
heightened senses, and Grace knew the pose meant he was hearing something no
one else could possibly hear.
"What is
it, Jimmy?"
"Horses.
Lots of 'em. Heading this way." Jimmy answered.
Grace turned
pale. Suddenly even she could hear the pounding of hoofbeats, and the shouts of
men. Picking up the axe, Grace went outside. Jimmy followed even though his
mother had said to stay inside.
The men who
rode into the clearing wore ragged clothing and rode mangy geldings, but they
were armed. Two of them carried torches, one which threw his onto the thatched
roof. The rest surrounded the boy and his mother. The leader smiled.
"Rafe
slow down. I haven't got your long legs!"
Rafe, son of
Lord Ryf, turned to look at the owner of the voice. Walking at a hurried pace
to try and catch up with the young lordling was a short young man with long
chestnut curls, and blue eyes wearing the robes of a Blue Wizard.
"Oh come,
on, Master Blair. My mother will kill us both if we don't make it to dinner on
time." Rafe practically whined.
Blair stopped
to catch his breath in the middle of the streets of the city of Adus Ker.
"I am not as young as I used to be." Blair complained.
Rafe laughed.
Age was a running joke between the two of them. They had been friends since
Rafe was a child. Blair, as one, if not THE, most powerful wizard in the
kingdom was over three hundred years old, and still looked as if he was in his
twenties. Blair had explained that magic tended to preserve magicians.
Blair wasn't
sure what caught his attention, but something, perhaps a hand of one of the
gods of fate, forced him to begin walking down a side alley that led to the
slave market street. Rafe, jaw dropped open, shut his mouth and followed the
mage.
"Blair,"
Rafe hissed, "What are you doing? This is the slave market's street. Are
you crazy?"
Blair wasn't
paying any attention to Rafe, however, for his gaze was focused on the hastily
built stage where the slavemaster was attempting to control the small fourteen
year old boy he had on the stage with him for sale. The boy was struggling
fiercely with the ropes that bound his wrists, and growling and snarling at the
slavemaster. The audience was laughing at the antics, but a small bid was
started.
"Poor
little mite." Rafe said shaking his head.
Blair nodded,
and looked closely at the boy. And what he saw frightened him. The most
powerful wizard in the Wizard's circle was shaking at the sight of the boy who
with his mage sight transformed into a black unicorn colt. No one else saw the
transformation because they did not have mage sight. They only say the small
brown haired boy with blue eyes fighting his bonds.
Before he or
Rafe realised what he was doing Blair called out, "Three hundred!"
The bidding
ended right there.
Blair paid the
slavemaster the three hundred, and man gladly handed over the rope that was
attached to the boy's bound hands.
The boy looked
at him with his icy blue gaze, eyes red rimmed from crying, fury written all
over his face.
Blair untied
the boy's wrists, and flung the rope away from them, and it burned to ashes in
mid air. The boy's eyes widened at that and he swallowed back his fear and
looked directly at Blair, "I will not lower my head for you, wizard."
Blair looked
at him, "I don't expect that, boy. I bought you to protect you from those
who would."
The boy looked
confused.
"What's
your name?" Blair asked.
"Jimmy."
was all the boy said, and seemed to be all he planned to say as well.
Blair looked
at Rafe, "I guess there's going to be one more for dinner."
Rafe just
rolled his eyes and looked long suffering.
Blair placed a
hand on the boy's shoulder and steered him away from the slave market street,
with Rafe following behind. Amazingly, the boy followed obediently.
"So
Jimmy, where are your parents?" Blair asked.
The silence,
and tear filled eyes gave Blair all the answer he needed, but the boy said,
"They hurt mama. She kept screaming, and I tried to help her, but she made
me promise not to change in front of the bad men."
"Change?"
Rafe asked, "What does he mean by that Blair?"
"I'll
explain later, but not here, on the streets."
Rafe nodded,
and they continued their journey to Rafe's parents' home.
At the Inn
they were staying at, Rafe went into the stable and had the stableboy saddle
his and Blair's mounts.
When the
stableboy brought out Stepper, and Blade, Rafe swung up into his gray's saddle.
Blade pranced a bit, but Rafe kept a firm rein, and the stallion settled. Blair
mounted Stepper, the blue roan gelding, and reached his hand out to Jimmy, who
looked at the horse with a dubious expression.
"Come on,
Jimmy. Its alright, Stepper doesn't mind you riding him."
Jimmy looked
at the gelding's eyes, and saw the confirmation there, then took the mage's
hand, who swung the boy up behind him on the roan's rump.
Blair clucked
at the roan, and Stepper broke into one of his high stepping trots that gave
him his name, and Rafe nudged his stallion to follow the blue roan.
Two sunlengths
later, Rafe and Blair were riding into the courtyard of his father's manor.
Servants came to take the horses, and Rafe, Blair and Jimmy dismounted handing
over the reins. The servants looked at Jimmy curiously, but said nothing as
they attended their duties.
Blair and
Jimmy followed Rafe into the manor house where Rafe's parents awaited him.
"Rafe,
what took you so long?" His mother asked hugging her son.
"I
apologize, Mother, but Blair felt the need to buy something."
The woman,
shorter than Blair with graying mouse brown hair, and brown eyes, looked at the
mage curiously.
"What on
earth did you buy?" Rafe's mother asked.
"Him."
Blair answered guiding the boy to stand in front of him.
The woman's
eyes widened, "A slave, why on earth..."
"He is
not a slave, Lady Ryff. He is to be my apprentice."
Lord Ryff
looked at his son, then at the mage, and finally at the boy.
"Then it
is settled. Come, dinner is getting cold."
Blair smiled,
Lord Ryff was a practical man. Smart, but simple at the same time.
"I will
take my new apprentice upstairs, and see to his bath and changing into some
clothes. We will join you momentarily." Blair said. Lord Ryff nodded.
Rafe followed
them up the stairs as the boy whined that he didn't need a bath.
"Yes, you
do. No argument, Jimmy." Blair said firmly.
"Blair,
are you going to tell me what's going on."
"Rafe, I
am sorry. I can't let your parents know. They are a bit too old fashioned and
closed minded for comfort."
"Well, I
hope you don't think I am."
"No, of
course not, Rafe. I did have a hand in your education after all." Blair
said with a smile as he motioned for one of the servants to fill a bathtub.
Jimmy had his arms crossed over his chest and looked as if he were sulking.
Rafe laughed.,
"Alright, so what's all the secrecy."
Blair waved
his hand and formed an invisible shield around them that would keep anyone from
overhearing.
"Jimmy
here is half unicorn." Blair answered as he helped the boy out of the
dirty brown tunic he wore.
Rafe's eyes
widened in shock, You're serious!"
"Yes. I
am. I couldn't allow the boy to fall into the wrong hands."
Blair picked
up Jimmy and set him in the filled bathtub. He than soaped a washcloth and
began to clean the boy.
"Your
right. A half unicorn human. The gods only know what kind of power he
holds." Rafe said.
"Exactly.
Though I don't know exactly how I am going to explain to your parents why
little Jimmy here will grow up faster than normal."
"Huh,
what do you mean?"
"Rafe,
he's half unicorn. Though unicorns are immortal, they grow up from colts just
like horses. Usually a unicorn can mature within three years, both mentally and
physically. But the boy is also half human. His mental growth will parallel a
human's, not a unicorn's. But his physical growth will be that of a
unicorn."
"Which
means exactly what..." Rafe asked feeling stupid.
"Jimmy,
how old are you?" Blair asked the boy.
Jimmy held up
two fingers, "Two." He said.
Rafe sat down
on a nearby stool in shock.
Three years
later...
The wind blew
in from the sea, the scent of salt and the slight feel of moisture riding with
it. Banners whipped in the wind, the black wolf on blood red moving if it were
running.
On the parapet
of the Tower that was the home of the powerful wizard, Blair, stood a tall man
wearing nothing but black breeches made of soft doeskin. Jimmy looked out onto
the ocean, and laughed in the face of the wind, feeling the salty moisture
settle on his sensitive skin.
"Jimmy!
You better get your butt down here, boy, before I tan it!" The voice was
that of an older woman who was standing beside the foot of the ladder that led
through the trap door and up onto the parapet.
Jimmy thought
about ignoring his Nanny, an old woman whom Blair had hired nearly three years
ago to take care of Jimmy. The woman knew that Jimmy was half unicorn. She had
not even blinked when Blair had explained what that would mean. Blair had
declared many a times that she was a lifesaver, and a goddess to boot,
especially on days were Jimmy was beyond hyper, and apt to cause mischief.
The tapping of
a slippered foot, however, told Jimmy that she was dead serious. Sighing, the
unicorn went to the trap door, and grasping both sides of the ladder, slid down
it to the very bottom.
When he
reached the ground, a swat to his butt from a hard hand made Jim turn to look
at her.
"Sliding
down that thing is dangerous. YOu could have hurt yourself. Now let em see your
hands." The Nanny said.
Sighing yet
again, Jimmy held out his large hands to her, palms up. Nanny knew of Jim
penchant for getting hurt and never knowing it thanks in part to his ability to
turn his senses up and down at will. Jimmy had once burned his leg against a
hot iron,and had played for an hour before someone finally noticed the raw
blistered burn on the boy's upper thigh. He still carried the scar. That had
been about a year ago.
As she
suspected there were scratched on the surface of his palms, and some splinters
embedded within. Clucking to herself, the woman pulled the splinters from the
boy's palms, then used a handkerchief to wipe the spotting blood.
"Go and
wash your hands, then wait for me in the nursery." She ordered.
Jimmy huffed
at that, but did as he was told.
The first year
he had been with Blair, some three months after Blair bought him, the wizard
had found the old Tower, and using his magic had fixed it up. Though he had
claimed Jim as his apprentice, young Rafe was the one really being tutored in
the field of magic. Jim didn't need to be taught magic. For unicorns it was
instinctive. That first year, Jim had run away eight times. Blair had
immediately found him using his magic, and returned him to the castle. The
first time, Blair had explained to Jim that he couldn't leave. That he was
Jimmy's guardian now. Jimmy had screamed at him saying that he was not his
momma, and that Jim would go live with a herd. It was then that Blair had told
him that there were no more unicorns left in the Northern forests where Jimmy
had been born. Jimmy hadn't believed him, and Blair warned him not to try and
runaway again for the next time he would be punished.
Blair had been
true to his word, and the next time Jimmy ran, and was caught, Blair bent the
boy over his knee and gave him a good spanking.
Apparently it
had not been enough of a deterrent, for Jimmy had escaped again. And again.
Each time the punishment was more. A spanking, no dessert, groundings. After
the eighth time, Jimmy had practically given up. However that didn't mean that
he never got into trouble. Unicorns were mischief, and Jimmy being only half
was no exception.
And even
though now, Jimmy looked like a grown man, he was only five. His height, and
size did not deter his Nanny one bit. She still claimed to Blair and to Jimmy
that she could still bend him over her knee. And she still did.
In his room,
Jimmy washed his hands, and his Nanny, Elda, came inside. When his hands were
dry, she looked them over to see if there were any more splinters still in the
skin. Finding none, she nodded satisfied.
"You stay
off the tower roof. You hear me young man. Its dangerous up there, you could
fall."
"So"
Jimmy said not understanding. If he fell then he would shapeshift to an eagle
and glide to the ground, or soar into the air.
Elda sighed.
Of course he didn't understand. The boy could be hurt, but felt little pain
depending upon how his control was, but he was also a unicorn, and unless
someone came along and sliced off the boy's horn, he would live forever.
Elda shook her
head, "Nevermind. Just don't go up there."
Jimmy
shrugged.
"Now,
dinner will be ready in an hour, so wash up and get dressed. Blair is having
guests over."
Jimmy gave a
disgusted look. He hated clothes. They were to confining, and unlike his
mother, Blair didn't allow him to run around nude or in just a kilt. After all,
his mind may have been part adult part child thanks to his unicorn heritage,
but his body was all adult.
Nanny left the
room to give the unicorn privacy, and sent in the servants to fill the tub.
There were few
servants at the Tower, and those that were there knew that Blair was a powerful
wizard and that Jimmy was half unicorn. Blair had a binding spell on his
servants which kept them from revealing any secrets they learned to anyone,
even under torture. The servants had known the spell would be in place before
they had hired on. They had accepted anyway.
Henri, Blair's
head servant, came in to the nursery with the other servants who were filling
the tub.
Jimmy looked
at Henri. "What?" He asked.
Henri crossed
his arms over his chest, "Elda wants me to make sure you take a bath this
time. Your little trick of splashing water everywhere, and getting none on you
won't work this time."
Jimmy just
glared. Damn...he hated baths to.
After Jimmy
took his bath, he dressed in his new black leathers. Doeskin sleeveless shirt,
buckskin breeches, and boots all dyed a deep rich black. Henri escorted him down
to the dining hall where he met with Blair and Rafe at the entrance doors.
Jim stood with
his arms crossed, sulking. He would rather had been able to stay in his room,
or go for a nice long gallop. Unfortunately, Blair did not let him go galloping
outside the castle without Blair accompanying him on horseback. Which wasn't
going to happen while Blair was hosting guests.
"Quit
sulking, Jimmy." Blair said. Jim just glared at him. Blair sighed.
"Let's go
inside." Blair said to no one n particular. He opened the doors and walked
through the throng of guests with Jimmy and Rafe at his heels. Blair was
wearing blue robes made of silk that signified his status as a wizard. Rafe
wore a light blue tunic belted at the waist, and light blue loose fitting pants
which signified his status as Blair's apprentice. Jim just looked dangerous,
and his icy blue eyed gaze did nothing to change that. People stepped back from
the tall man.
They moved up
to the dias where a long rectangular table was set up. Down both sides of the
hall below the dias were two other long rectangular tables in which his guests
seated themselves. Servants carried in platters of food, and jugs of wine.
A man dressed
in dark green robes sat on Blair's right. The man was tall with dark skin and
eyes, and Jim could feel the power radiating from him.
The green
wizard eyed Jim, "So this is your problem child, eh Blair. Your shield on
him is good. Luckily very few wizards would be powerful enough to see through
your shield to the truth beneath."
"You being
one of them, eh Simon." Blair smiled.
"Of
course." Simon said arrogantly.
Blair laughed.
"Its good to see you old friend."
"And you
Blair. When you sent the Council your letter on your little problem, I must say
you caused quite a stir. There has never been a unicorn human born within any
of the council's lifetime. And they've been around for centuries."
"So what
have they decided?" Blair asked.
"Their
afraid, Blair. The Snow Mountain herd is the last unicorn herd left. The lead
stallion was killed eight months ago by trolls. The only colt born to that herd
is even younger than this one." He said indicating Jim.
"Kincaid
sent the trolls then."
"Of
course. Kincaid's power is steadily growing. His master feeds him power, and
every unicorn he kills weakens us. We can't protect them, Blair. When the last
unicorn dies..." Simon trailed off shaking his head sadly.
"Then all
magic dies." Blair finished.
Simon nodded.
"He knows this. That's why he will kill everyone of them until there is
only one left. And that one he will imprison for eternity and syphon off the
beast's powers to continue his own."
"And Jim
being half human is even more powerful than a full unicorn, even at his
age."
"You
think Kincaid will try and take your unicorn?" Simon asked.
"He's not
my unicorn, Simon. He's my ward. I have to protect him until he's old enough to
take care of himself."
"How old
is he now?" Simon asked.
"Five. In
fifteen more years he will gain full maturity, and full use of his powers.
Kincaid will not be able to take him."
"I hope
so. He may be our last hope to keep magic alive."
"He
will."
"How long
until he's sexually mature?"
"Ten more
years. Why?" Blair asked.
"Do you
have a good Healer here?" Simon asked his tone changing. Blair couldn't
recognize it.
"Yes.
Why? Simon what's going on."
"The colt
of the Snow Mountain herd will be sexually mature before he is. If we are going
to send him to live with the herd when he is old enough, we can't have him
become a rival to the colt's dominance."
"By the
Hundred Gods, what are you saying?" Blair's voice was full of shock.
"Blair
you need to have him gelded before he reached sexual maturity. The Council has
decreed it."
"NO! I
refuse. There's no need for him to go to the herd. He can stay here."
"Blair,
he's a unicorn. It doesn't matter that he's half human. Unicorns are herd
animals. They need the herd to be safe. This," Simon indicated the castle,
"is a poor substitute for a herd."
"He's
been doing fine." Blair mumbled.
"Has he?
He's been chafing at the bit, I'll bet. Fighting you every step of the way.
He's a male unicorn. Eventually he will break free of whatever reins you have
managed to place on him. He was born to be a stallion, and to be lord of the
herd. That's not going to happen. It can't happen. If he stays here and you
don't do it, what happens when your horses go into heat. What about the women
here at your castle. Are you going to keep him locked up? That's cruel.
Castration will calm him down, and keep that from happening. It won't hurt him
any more than it hurts to castrate a bull calf, or a young racing colt. But you
have to do it soon."
Blair placed
his head in his hands trying to hide the tears.
Jim only half
heard the conversation and understand little of it. He was more interested in
his food, and annoyed by how his clothes felt. But then his sensitive hearing
heard Blair's soft sobbing, and he wondered what had made his guardian so sad.
Then he shoved THAT bit of sympathy out of his head. Sympathy for humans? For a
wizard. Jim's father would be pawing the ground at that. Jim proceeded to
ignore Blair for the rest of the evening.
Instead, he
concentrated on the myriad of conversations that were floating around the room.
He understood little of what anyone said, he just enjoyed the different tones
and nuances of everyone's voice. Oblivious to his fate, Jim ate his raw
venison, and drifted with the voices.
Salty waves
crashed against his powerful legs as Jim galloped along the shore of the ocean.
His heavily built body with its muscled forequarters, and large hooves with
hairy fetlocks made one believe that Jim was a warhorse, bred for to carry a
knight in heavy armor, but the spiraled horn shining like obsidian revealed
Jim's true nature. Neighing, Jim picked up speed, running faster than any horse
could ever hope to run.
From his seat
on his own red sorrel gelding, Blair watched the young unicorn stretch his
legs. It had been two years since Simon's visit and the decree from the
Council, and Blair had yet to follow that decree hoping against hope that
something would come up that would give him a reason good enough for the
council not to have to geld the magnificent unicorn that raced along the shore
before him. Though his human appearance remained the same, the unicorn body had
filled out, and Jim looked like a full grown stallion.
Yet, he had
not sexually matured, and in his mind and emotions, Jim was still a young
child. Constantly getting into trouble like any young child, but because he was
a unicorn trouble seemed to find him.
Three months
back two trolls had been lying in wait for the young unicorn. They had attacked
when Jim had snuck out of the castle grounds. The trolls had some magical
protection, but were not impervious to physical attack.
Blair had
found Jim triumphantly eating his attackers, tearing into the bloody meat with
his teeth.
Blair had
stopped him from eating the trolls since troll meat would make unicorns sick.
Jim hadn't known that, and had been angry enough to attack Blair to protect his
kills. Blair had to use a something he had sworn to himself he would never use.
The bridle made of silver that Simon had gifted him with. The bridle had a a
combination of spell from both human and unicorn magic, and once placed on the
unicorn's head, had brought Jim to heel. Blair's arm still hurt form where
Jim's hooves had broken it into four pieces. The Healer had saved his arm, but
it was still healing.
When Jim had
returned to his senses, he had pointedly not apologized for hurting Blair. He
had still been angry that he wasn't allowed to leave the castle. He still
considered himself a prisoner sometimes, not as a child. Even though he was
reminded of it daily.
That night,
the little troll meat JIm had eaten had made the young unicorn sick. Jimmy had
spent most of the night vomiting, sweating, and cramping.
The Healer had
been able to do nothing, and had told Blair to let it run its course.
Reaching down
and patting the gelding's neck, Blair returned his mind to the present as he
watched Jimmy shapeshift in mid stride to a black jaguar.
The beautiful
black beast snarled and leaped through the sand. A huge leap into the air, and
Jimmy shapeshifted at the height of the leap to a black eagle.
The bird flew
high into the air. Blair watched. A glint from the eagle's leg had Blair
wincing from guilt.
The troll
attack had been the first of many, and the feel of trolls and other evil
denizens within his territory had Jim on edge. He wanted to hunt them down and
destroy them. Blair would try to stop him when the instincts would take over,
but would only end up fighting Jim for dominance.
Blair found
himself wishing more and more than he could shapeshift into a unicorn or at
least a horse, and fight Jim one on one and show him who was the dominant one.
It would calm the young stallion and force his instincts to acknowledge Blair
as lead stallion.
To protect
Jim, Blair had replaced the silver bridle, and had snapped it securly in place,
and refused to remove it. Even the Nanny had begged Blair to remove it. Blair
had held firm. Then he sent men armed with magical weapons, and protective
spells to hunt down the trolls and other creatures that had been sent by
Brackett. Until Brackett was stopped, Blair had no choice but to leave the
bridle in place.
So when Jim
shapeshifted to any of his other three forms, the bridle changed to fit the
form. In eagle form it was a small silverband around one clawed leg, in jaguar
form, a silver collar, and in human form it was a silver necklace that Jim
called a collar and refused to acknowledge it as anything more than that.
Sometimes the sight of it knotted Blair's stomach, but he left it in place.
Because there was another alternative. Something that would keep Jim from
becoming territorial, and dangerous. The Council's decree still weighed heavily
on Blair's mind. In a choice between two evils, the lesser and less permanent
seemed to be the better choice.
The old
Grimoire was huge and worn with age, but the spell on it that prevented the
words from fading was still in place. Blair stood before the tall wooden stand
that held the old book, and carefully read through it.
"Shapeshifting
for a human magician is dangerous." Blair read aloud mostly to himself,
"Since the human mind cannot really fit into that of a beasts, the
magician risks brain damage, and the inability to return to human form."
Blair snorted,
"Well no shit, tell me something I don't know." He told the book not
really expecting it answer.
However, he
wished it would. It was so damn frustrating. Shapeshifting would take care of
the problem, but even Blair, the most powerful wizard couldn't risk it. Closing
the tome with more force than necessary, Blair cursed and walked out of the
library.
Frustrated,
Blair went down to the stables. A nice long ride would help to settle his
nerves and perhaps allow him to think.
At the
stables, Blair saddled his new red mare by himself. Jaem, his head stablemaster,
stood leaning against one of the stalls watching as Blair saddled the mare.
"I just
don't know what to do, Jaem." Blair said.
"I know a
good animal Healer who could do it." Jaem said.
"No. That
is the absolute last resort. There has to be another way. But other than
shapeshifting, I just don't know what to do."
Jaem looked
uncomfortable, squirming about, opening his mouth as if it to say something,
then closing it.
"Okay,
Jaem, spit it out. You have an idea, let's hear it."
So Jaem told
him.
"By all
the gods, I can't believe I am actually contemplating this." Blair said as
he looked over the spell he would need. Beside him, Rafe was sitting patiently
on a stool.
"Its a
good idea," Rafe put in.
"Its a
damn good idea...I just don't like it." Blair continued. "Aaah shit,
I'm completely out of griffon's blood."
"No your
not. Remember, you had me collect some when Jimmy killed that one that decided
that it wanted to roost on the tower."
"Oh yeah,
I did forget that. Looks like I have all the ingredients. And this is the easy
part."
"Its
still a good idea, and its a lot less horrible than the idea of gelding
him."
"Your
right it is. I just can't seem to work my mind around it. Oh well. Let's get
started on the spell. Go and get me that griffon' blood, some fennel root, ram
horn dust..." Blair began rattling off the ingredients, and Rafe went to
work collecting them all from the shelves that line the walls of the spell
room, handing them to Blair who poured the correct amounts into the small black
pot on his work table. *Oh man, I hope this works.*
Blair looked
over at Rafe who was carrying the pot that Blair had used to make the
components for the spell. "I'm still not sure this is a good idea."
He said for what seemed the thousandth time.
Rafe rolled
his eyes as they walked down the corridor. "I know." He said
sarcastically.
Just that
moment, Jimmy came bounding up the stairs. "Eww, what's that smell.
Gross." Jimmy said wrinkling his nose. "Your spells are always
stinky."
Blair grinned,
"That's how I know I did it right."
"Yeah,
right. Whatever. What are you planning to do with that anyway?" Jim asked.
"Its just
a spell I am trying." Blair said.
Too young to
be suspicious, Jim just shrugged, and finished his climb up the stairs.
"Stay off
that damn Tower!" Blair yelled up to Jim.
"Fuck
you." Jimmy said and disappeared down the upper corridor.
"Jeez
when did that kid get that mouth." Rafe said shaking his head.
"I don't
know but it needs to be washed out. Take the potion to the stable. Jaem will
have everything ready for you. I am going to go get Jim." And with that
Blair headed up the stairs.
He found Jim
exactly where he had told the unicorn not to be. "Where in the world did
you learn a word like that?" Blair asked.
"Fuck
you." Jimmy said.
"Keep
talking like that, and I will bend you over my knee." Blair said.
"Just try
it." Jim said. "Your not my dam, or sire. Leave me alone, and let me
go."
"So the
trolls can get you." Blair said.
"I kill
trolls, they do not hurt me." Jim said arrogantly.
"Jim, I
am only trying to help you. If your dam were here she would be teaching you
things like not eating troll meat, and how to fend for yourself. That's what I
am trying to do."
"NO!!!!
She isn't here because your kind killed her!!!! They hurt her and they killed
her, just like they did my sire. I will not lower my head for you or
anyone!!!" Jim shouted. "So fuck you!!!!"
Blair had
always backed up what he said he would do, and not matter that Jim was angry.
Jim was always angry, and Blair was calm in the face of Jim's anger. In his
calmness, he reached out with his hand and his power and grasped Jim's arm. The
power flared, and the unicorn could do nothing to stop Blair as he took the
recalcitrant colt over his knee, pulled down Jim's pants exposing the bare
human butt and whacked that butt with his hand hard.
Jim, unable to
fight back, screamed at him. It hurt, even though Jim had his senses dialed
down, but mostly it was the humiliation. Nakedness did not bother him. He had
always hated clothing, but having Blair spanking him was humiliating to the big
young colt.
When he was
done, and Jim's butt was a bright red, Blair released the colt. When the power
faded, Jim shoved Blair, who nearly fell off the top of the Tower, then shifted
to an eagle and flew to the ground, where he shapeshifted back to human form
now completely nude, his butt still red and sore. Blair stood up, then stepped
off the Tower and his power floated him down. Jim watched him.
"Take
this off." Jim said pulling on the necklace, "I am leaving."
"Where
are you going to go."
"The Snow
Mountains. I will challenge the other one and take his place. You will not geld
me, whatever that is, and you will not keep me here."
"You
can't go. You are not old enough to challenge the stallion. And you are half
human."
"I am to.
I am old enough. Take it off!!"
"No."
Blair said calmly.
In anger Jim
transformed again, and the huge unicorn reared up and tried to strike out at
Blair with his hooves, but Blair tightened the magic and Jim only struck the
ground.
At that
moment, Jaem and Rafe came out of the stable. Jaem was carrying a saddle, and
Rafe a bridle.
"NO!!!!"
Jim screamed, and tried to get away. But the magic refused to let him. He
reared again, but could do nothing. Blair took the saddle from Jaem.
Jim's body
shuddered when the saddle was placed on his back. He could smell the concoction
that Blair had made all over the saddle. Blair tightened the straps. As he did
so, he rubbed his hand over Jim's proudly arched neck and whispered soothingly.
Jim only became angrier and bared his teeth. He tried to snap at Blair, but
missed.
Rafe handed
Blair the bridle solemnly. Blair took it and tried to place it over Jim's nose.
The stallion refused to open his mouth for the cold metal bit. But Blair was
stubborn, determined to do this in the hope that gelding the magnificent colt
could be avoided. He could not challenge Jim as a unicorn, but he could
challenge Jim as a man. And as a man, he forced the bit into Jim's mouth, and
buckled the bridle into place. Placing the reins over Jim's neck and onto the
saddle horn, BLair placed one boot into the stirrups and swung his leg over the
saddle until he was mounted on the colt.
Jim neighed
angrily, baring his teeth, pawing the ground.
With a flick
of his wrist, Blair removed the silver halter and thus removing his power over
Jim.
That was all
Jim needed. Rearing angrily, Jim began to buck, and twist, doing his best to
remove the rider on his back.
Blair hung on
for dear life, knowing that if he lost this battle, Jim would surely kill him,
and leave. Blair had no doubts that Brackett would then catch Jim, and use him
to destroy the last of the unicorns. Blair used all the skill his father had
taught him to stay on Jim's back as the big unicorn colt bucked and reared.
It took
several hours, and Blair had never been so sore in his life, but finally Jim
reached exhaustion. The big colt stood legs splayed, head down, nose nearly
touching the ground. Sweat lathered the black flanks, withers, chest and rump.
Blair was still in the saddle, shaking nearly as bad as Jim.
The spell on
the saddle and bridle had hampered Jim's shapeshifting abilities, and Jim had
been unable to shift to any other form. It was a powerful spell.
Blair reached
down and patted and rubbed Jim's neck as the unicorn panted heavily. Rafe and
Jaem came up to them.
"You did
good, Blair. I'll call for Megan to come out. She'll be able to do something
about those sore legs so you'll be ready to do this again tomorrow." Jaem
said.
Blair looked
at him, "What do you mean?"
"Blair,
do you really think it would take only once. You have to keep doing this until
the day comes when you mount him and he does not fight you. That could take
days or even weeks."
Blair moaned
as his abused legs made themselves known.
Slowly, Blair
slid from the saddle and took the reins over Jim's head. Jim's blue eyes
watched Blair's every movement, anger flashing through the exhaustion. Blair
walked toward the stable and Jim followed.
Inside the
stable, Blair removed the saddle, but kept the bridle in place as he rubbed Jim
down thoroughly. Unlike regular horses, Jim was in no danger of foundering. He
used curry brushes and brushed the colt's dark coat while Jim stood silent and
still, exhaustion having calmed him for the moment. As Blair brushed the shiny
coat, tears fell down his face. Jaem was cleaning the saddle of sweat, drying
it off. When Blair was done, Jaem brought the saddle over. Blair placed it back
on Jim's back, and tightened the straps, but left them loose enough that they
would not encumber the colt. He then removed the bridle, taking the bit out of
Jim's mouth. He then rubbed down the colt's nose, stroking the velvety hair.
Rafe handed him another halter, this one also covered int he potion. Blair
placed it over Jim's nose buckling into place, then removed the saddle.
Snapping a lead to the halter, Blair led Jim to one of the empty stalls that
had been cleaned for this purpose. Leading Jim into the stall, Blair closed and
locked the heavy oak door, then removed the lead. The trough was filled with
water, and the bucket filled with raw, bloody meat that Jim devoured quickly.
Blair turned
to leave but stopped when Jim said, "You will not win. I will never stop
fighting."
With that
said, Blair scrubbed at his eyes, rubbing the tears away, then walked out of
the stable.
Tomorrow was
another day.
True to his
word, Jaem brought Megan, the Healer, who managed to ease the soreness of
Blair's thighs and butt, and gave him a potion to help him sleep that night.
Morning came much to quickly for Blair. He himself took the raw bloody meat to
the stable and dumped it into Jim's feed bucket. The big colt wolfed down the
meat and glared at Blair with his light blue eyes.
Blair hardly
ate. He was to busy getting an earful from Jim's Nanny, who was mightily upset
at the turn of events.
It was Jaem
who rescued him. "Leave him be woman. Or would you rather I call for
Master Taggert to come geld the colt. This is the only way. Now let him eat in
peace."
The Nanny
burst into tears and fled the room.
Two hours
after breakfast, Blair went into the stable. He snapped a lead to Jim's halter
and brought him out of the stall. Tying it to a hitching post, Blair then
proceeded to place the saddle on Jim's back, then removed the halter to replace
the bridle and bit.
If Blair had
thought that the ride the day before had been difficult, it was nothing
compared to what Jim did now.
The colt used
every trick known to horses to remove his rider, and some that a horse just
couldn't perform. He rolled over twice hoping to dislodge Blair, but Blair just
moved flawlessly, leaping off and then getting right back on before Jim could
regain his hooves. Jim did several backflips that would have broken a real
horse's back, and nearly broke Blair's.
Eventually the
colt slowed down, and exhaustion set in, until finally Jim quit trying to
dislodge Blair and stood covered in sweat and nearly close to collapse.
When Blair
slid off, he turned his head and puked, his stomach churning from the jarring
it had taken.
The rest of
the day, Blair spent making sure that Jim was taken care of, while he himself
was given a massage by Megan to ease the bruised and battered muscles.
The days
blurred into one another, until Blair hardly recognized any of them. He ate
when food was brought to him, drank when it was given to him. He went through
normal daily activities without really thinking about them. The only event that
occurred each day that Blair's mind was fully trained upon was when he seated
himself in the saddle. Everything else melted away and he concentrated on
remaining seated, ignoring the curses that Jim had begun to level at him. Blair
hardly noticed that the curses got fewer and that the ride became smoother
until the day he realised that Jim was running full tilt along the sandy beach,
not bucking, or rearing, not trying to dislodge his passenger, but running. And
he realised with a heavy heart and a sore body that he had won.
Though the
battle was won, the war still waged. Two weeks after Jim had finally stopped
fighting having Blair upon his back, Jim was reinstalled in the castle and
allowed to shift from form to form. Though Jim did not try to run away, he
still broke rules every so often just to do it. Blair never used the saddle for
punishment. He wanted Jim to enjoy the rides they had together. So one day he
had Jim come with him down to the stable. Behind the stable, they built a huge
bonfire. Jaem came out of the stable carrying a beautiful saddle dyed a deep
black with silver buckles, and a black leather bridle and bit to match. Blair
carried the other saddle, the bespelled one which he hand to Jim, and nodded
toward the fire. Jim smiled and with his strength, threw the saddle with the
bridle hanging on the horn into the fire. He then shifted to his unicorn form,
and Blair placed the new saddle on his back, and the new bridle on his nose,
bit in mouth, and mounted up.
That day they
rode for hours, along the beach, through the surrounding forest, and even into
the nearby town with people watching in amazement.
It was Jim
himself, taught by Jaem, who took care of the saddle and bridle. Cleaning the
leather carefully, oiling the saddle, and learning to fix any broken pieces.
And it was Jim who often as not initiated the long rides they took together.
Some days Jim would come up to Blair, nuzzle his back or chest, then present in
invitation for Blair to mount and ride, sometimes bareback, sometimes with the
saddle.
Then one day,
Blair discovered that Jim could easily get jealous. Blair, needing to go into
town, saddle up the roan mare with Rafe saddling his grey gelding. Blair
mounted up, as did Rafe and they rode outside the stable only to have Jim
appear.
Jealous anger
drove Jim to bite the mare, who wisely backed down from the bigger colt. The
mare squealed in pain when Jim used his hooves to drive her back, angry that
Blair would ride her.
"Jim,
what the hell!!" Blair shouted trying to calm the mare.
"YOU RIDE
ONLY ME!" Jim screamed his blue eyes burning like fire.
And Blair
suddenly realised the problem. He leaped off the mare's back, and threw the
reins to Rafe who caught them neatly.
"Okay,
Jim. I'm sorry. Your right, I ride only you. Its okay now." As Blair spoke
in the soothing voice, he reached out and petted Jim's proudly arched neck. His
touch and voice soothed the big colt, and finally Blair turned and told Rafe to
bring Jim's saddle. Rafe nodded. He dismounted form his own grey gelding,
grounding the reins, then led the mare inside to be cared for by Jaem. Rafe
then returned with the black saddle and bridle.
Still speaking
in a soothing tone, Blair placed the bridle on Jim's nose. The colt eagerly
opened his mouth to take in the cold metal bit, and stood still as Blair
buckled the straps in place. Blair then placed the saddle on Jim's back, and
mounted up. He nodded to Rafe who mounted on his gelding, and together they
rode into town.
From that day
forward, Blair never again rode any of his other horses. If he had somewhere to
be, Blair would ride Jim, or he would Travel using his magic. Blair understood
that as much as he controlled and owned Jim, Jim also owned him, and could
become extremely jealous. Blair was to find just how jealous Jim could become. Five
years later....
"Oh yeah,
yeah, that's good, harder, Blair, harder..."
Blair thrust
his hips in a strong fast rhythmn, his large leaking cock pumping in and out of
the woman's wet pussy, as the blonde woman lay stood on hands and knees and
panted, Blair hands gripping her large breasts.
They were o
focused on their fucking, neither one noticed the large black eagle that glided
in through the window and landed on a wooden perch.
The eagle
cocked its head, blue eyes staring at the scene before him on Blair's bed. The
eagle turned its head upside down to get a better look, then fluffed his
feather, head shaking.
The woman,
grunting and groaning, opened her eyes and saw the magnificent eagle staring at
them in the mirror.
"Blair..ugh...Blair,"
She said between poundings of Blair's cock into her already sore pussy.
"Blair...mmm...there's.... maaaahhh.... bird....mmmmoooooooh...."
"Hmmm."
Blair said as he pounded away. He looked up and saw in the mirror above his bed
Jim, in eagle form, staring at them. Blair cried out as he came, seed spilling
inside the woman, their cries echoing together.
Jim flared and
hissed at the sound, beating his wings in agitation.
Blair pulled
his now sticky cock from the woman and stood up making a shooing motion with
his arm. "Jimmy, get out here!" He said.
The eagle
hissed.
"Go on,
get out of here. Now!"
Jimmy still
refused to move, and his focus turned to the woman, and he bated and hissed,
feather flaring.
"Jim, I
am going to get a hickory switch if you don't fly off, now."
Jimmy cocked
his head and looked at Blair. Blair had only just started calling him Jim
instead of Jimmy, and he was surprised Blair had used it them. Jim launched
himself from the perch and flew out the window.
Blair turned
to the woman, "Sorry about that, Cassie."
"Its
alright," the woman said as she began gathering her clothes. She then
picked up the money on the nightstand that Blair had left for her, then left.
Blair watched
her leave. He rarely used whores, but sometimes a man, even a wizard, needed a
good fuck. Blair stood up and washed his cock and groin area clean with a washcloth
from the basin at his nightstand. When he was done, Blair dressed and went
downstairs.
********
Jim listened
to the stablehands from his perch on the loft.
"Mmmm...now
there's a whore I wouldn't mind sticking my dick into." John, one of the
stable hands said as he watched the woman that Blair had been wih leave.
"See how
she was walking. Blair must have mounted her and rode her good and hard."
The other stablehand, Dorn, said.
Jim cocked his
head and watched the woman walk down the road, his eyes zooming in on her. Jim
screeched, and took off in a flurry of feathers, startling the stablehands as
he flew out of the barn an began to circle one of the towers.
"Shit
that was Jimmy. You think he heard?" John asked.
"Duh,
shit for brains, of course he heard us."
"We
aein't supposed to be talking like that around the kid."
"So? Get
over. Kid probably didn't understand a word we said. Now get back to work. The
stalls aein't cleaning themselves."
Jimmy circled
the tower, then glided into Blair's window. He shifted to human form, standing
at six foot two inches, and inhaled the strange scent coming from the bed. His
blue eyes took in the rumpled mess. At ten years, Jim was slowly coming up
toward sexual maturity. At his age, Jim was like a young teenager, sexual
stirrings and urges cropping up ever so often. The smell of the sheets was
causing his own cock to stir, but Jim ignored it, not understanding. Instead he
shifted to jaguar form and flowed down the stairs tracking Blair's scent.
Blair received
no warning until he felt the large weight fall on his back knocking him to the
ground. The growl in his ear told him the identity of his attacker.
"Jim!!"
Blair shouted. "What the hell..."
The wizard
felt the form on his back shift, and then felt strong human hands grip his
arms. "You ride only me!" Jim growled in his ear.
Shocked, Blair
turned his head to see the anger and jealousy in the unicorn's eyes.
"What?" He was confused. "I haven't ridden any of the
horses..."
He was cut off
by Jim vehement voice, "You rode her!"
Finally
something clicked in Blair's brain. But why Jim would think that Blair had been
riding her was beyond the wizard's grasp. "Jim, get off me, now."
Blair tried to make his voice firm.
Jim got off
but not before growling once more, "You ride only me!"
*Jeez, we
gotta get this kid over his jealousy.* Blair thought. "Look, Jim I wasn't
riding her. She's not a horse or a unicorn. I wasn't riding her."
"You rode
her. They said so. You rode her."
*They?
Hmmmmm...who in the hell was talking like that around Jim.* That made Blair
angry. He had told all the servants to treat Jim like a child, which he was,
which meant not talking to him or around him as if he was an adult. Especially
about sex. "Who said?" Blair asked.
Jim got angry,
"It doesn't matter! You rode her!"
"Jim
she's a human!"
"So am I.
You ride only me!"
"I wasn't
riding her! I swear."
Jim suddenly
became frustrated. Blair knew that look. Sometimes Jim's ancient unicorn
instincts warred with his young fragile emotions, and Jim would get frustrated,
unable to communicate the emotions. A frustrated unicorn was not a good thing.
Jim shifted to
eagle form and flew up into the high ceiling of the castle, flying in circles,
frustration mounting.
"Jim.
Come on, I'm sorry. But I wasn't riding her, I promise."
*"Then
what where you doing???"* Jim mind sent.
"Its
called sex Jim. Mating."
*"You
mated with her?"*
"Yes. We
mated. No riding involved. Okay."
"*Why
mate?*"
*Oh jeez kid,
you would have to ask.* "Why did I mate with her, or why do we mate?"
"*Both*"
"We mate
to have children. But its also pleasurable. It is fun. Do you see?" Blair
had been hoping that this particular conversation wouldn't come up for years
yet.
The eagle that
was Jim landed, and Jim returned to human form. "No. You ride only
me." And with that Jim became the jaguar and stalked out of the room.
"Shit."
Blair said dropping his face into his hands. "How can this get
worse."
"Hell,
Blair don't say that. You'll curse yourself." Rafe said as he walked into
t he room.
"Did you
hear?" Blair asked.
"Yeah, I
did. Kid's got a major complex about this riding thing. He goes ballistic if
you even pet a horse."
"I know.
And now I may have to curtail my sexual activities just to keep him from
killing my lovers!"
"You
could..."
Blair
forestalled him with a raise palm, "No, I refuse to even go there. It is
completely unethical. For all that he looks like an adult, he's still just a
kid. I refuse to get into a sexual relationship with him just because he's
jealous of my lovers. It IS wrong."
Rafe shrugged,
"Its your choice. But eventually he'll mature, and he won't be a kid any
more. What are you going to do then?"
"He's
quit trying to run off. He only gets stubborn every now and then. I think the
riding has done the job for us."
"I hope
so."
****************
Outside the
castle Jim changed from jaguar to his true form and stomped around the
stableyards. The horses in the pen began to get nervous, sensing the young
stallion's agitation. The stablehands stayed clear of Jim, and the unicorn
ignored them.
Suddenly Jim
stopped, nostrils flared, ears perked forward.
On the road a
dust storm stirred, and revealed a rider coming at top speed.
Jim watched as
the rider came closer, then shook his mane.
The
stablehands rushed out to greet the rider, who was dressed in Royal purple and
blue. An Emperor's messenger.
The rider
halted his lathering horse in front of the stablehands. He swung out of the
saddle, his eyes widening at the sight of Jim, but then training overcame him,
and he spoke. "I have a letter for Wizard Blair."
Jim stepped
forward. "I'll show you the way." He said still in his true form. The
messenger stared in shock, then reasserted himself following the unicorn into
the castle.
Inside Blair
and Rafe were still in the parlor when Jim trotted in followed by the
messenger.
The courier
did his duty presenting the wax sealed letter with the Imperial mark in the
purple wax. Blair took it then had Rafe take the man to the kitchens to see
about getting the courier some food. When they left leaving only Jim and Blair,
the wizard opened the letter and read it.
"I've
been invited to the Imperial Palace of the Rising Sun for the celebration of
the Emperor's son and Heir's eighteenth birthday." Blair mused.
"That's
great." Rafe said as he came back in having heard Blair's comment.
"We are going, right?"
"As if I
have a choice. You don't turn down the Emperor even if you are a powerful wizard."
Blair said.
"So when
do we leave?"
"At the
earliest, perhaps day after tomorrow. At the latest, we could leave next week
and still make it in time."
"Why
don't we just Travel?" Rafe asked.
"Because
for something like this you are expected to bring a proper entourage, and there
is no way I can Travel an entourage."
"Sounds
like a long trip." Jim commented.
Blair looked
at the unicorn. There was still a hint of jealousy int he blue eyes, but there
was also an eagerness. "Yeah. should take us about a fortnight, maybe
longer depending on the weather and conditions of the road."
"Then you
will ride?" Jim asked.
Blair almost
laughed. Jim didn't care where they were going so long as Blair planned to ride
Jim, "Yes, Jim. I will ride."
Jim smiled as
only a unicorn can, "Good. No need to kill her then." And with that
Jim trotted out of the room.
"You
think he was serious?" Rafe asked.
Blair looked
at Rafe, "When have you known Jim to joke about something. Unicorns are
always serious."
Rafe's eyes
got wide.
One week
later...
Blair stepped
out into the courtyard pulling on his leather riding gloves with Rafe walking
beside him. In the courtyard several wagons drawn by heavy horses, and riders
on long legged hunter horses awaited them. The caravan held mostly servants,
with a few of the hostlers, and seven guards. At the head of the caravan
standing proudly with his neck arched, tail held high wearing the silver worked
black leather saddle and bridle was Jim. Beside Jim, Rafe's grey gelding was being
held by one of the stableboys. Blair could tell that Jim was making it a point
to ignore the gelding.
When they
reached the unicorn, Blair mounted up into the saddle easily, Rafe following
into his own horse.
Once Blair was
in the saddle, Jim pranced a bit, eager to be off. Blair patted the colt's
proud neck soothingly, then raised his arm to signal the caravan moving.
They stopped
at noon to rest the horses, and themselves. Jim took the respite to hunt,
bringing back a deer which he eagerly devoured. Several of the servants managed
to loose their lunch watching as the unicorn tore into the large buck he had
killed, swallowing raw bloody pieces whole....in human form no less. Rafe told
Blair later that he thought Jim had done that deliberately. Blair agreed.
When they
stopped for the evening, Jim curled up before the fire in human form, and
watched the flames, eyes half shut dreamily. Blair had set up a tent for
himself and Rafe, and the others had either slept in the wagons or on the
ground in sleeping rolls.
Morning found
them back on the road, with Jim trotting and prancing, full of energy and
eagerness.
By the
afternoon, Jim was prancing and shying in agitation. Blair began to notice.
"Easy,
Jim." Blair said patting the unicorn's neck, "What's wrong."
Jim shook his
head, then stopped suddenly. Behind them the wagon train halted.
Jim began to
paw the ground digging deep furrows into the hard packed road, lowering his
head in battle readiness, glistening black horn parallel to the ground.
"Trolls."
Jim snarled, and Blair sat up straighter and began to search the area with his
Sight.
"Dammit,
they're shielded. Godsdamm Kincaid." Blair shouted angrily.
Rafe searched
with his Sight but found nothing, "Blair what is it?"
"An army.
A damn army of trolls shielded from Sight. I wouldn't have seen them except
that I was actively searching for them. We are surrounded."
The guardsmen
drew their swords, but Blair knew that it was a useless gesture. "There
must be a least a thousand trolls, all armed, and all hungry."
Jim snorted,
then reared suddenly trumpeting a challenging neigh. It took everything Blair
had to stay in the saddle.
"Jim,
there is no way in hell you can take them all on! We'll be slaughtered!"
"Is there
anything you can do?" Rafe asked.
"The
shield gives them marginal protection against magic. I would be lucky to
destroy half of them before it drained me."
Then Blair
felt it. A build up of power, and Blair turned to look at Jim's horn that was
suddenly glowing a deep purple. Then a backwash of energy, and a blinding
light.
When it died
down, Blair looked around in shock. They were no longer on the forest rode.
Instead the entire caravan stood on a grassy hill overlooking the Imperial
City.
Blair's mouth
dropped in shock.
"What
happened?" Rafe asked.
Blair looked
down at the unicorn who was now covered in foaming sweat, "Jim...he
teleported us away." Blair said in shock.
"What!
But I thought that a unicorn couldn't do that until..." Rafe trailed off.
"Until
they were mature." Blair finished.