Sir Gavin and the Horse

     After I mentioned Sir Glasswaite, I decided to write a short story about him and post it here. I changed his name to Sir Gavin, which rolls off the tongue a bit better.


-Sir Gavin and the Horse-

     Alynor’s hooves hit the sand with a soft and rapid thu-thud. The ocean air assaulted Sir Gavin’s nose. The King’s Rangers were behind him, and he hoped he was far ahead enough to allow time for the transfer. Alynor would soon collapse of exhaustion if they did not complete it.

     He heard the hunters' cry. A chill ran down his spine. They were only after him, though, and didn’t know he could transfer. If he succeeded, he could reach Ryia before she was executed.

     He leaned forward and whispered in Alynor’s ears as he gently stroked the horse’s neck.

     “My friend, this transfer must be quick. It will be dangerous. But after, I will do the running. Will you transfer?” Alynor huffed, barely more than breathing out a little heavier. But Gavin understood.

     “Ryla is in danger, as is her mare. Will you transfer?” After a moment, he felt Alynor’s mind relax, prepared for the transfer.

     Gavin glanced behind. There seemed to be three dark shapes following him. If the moon were out, he could judge their distance better. He’d know better whether there was time. The rangers saw in darkness as though it were sunlight, and shot better on horses than most men standing.

     Gavin turned forward, and focused his attention on what he could see. He pushed on the image, and it shot down his arm and through his hand. Alynor’s vision, in turn, rushed up Gavin’s arm. He took a breath, trying to come into focus. He had to take a second, to let the vision attach. Otherwise, they would just switch right back.

     He heard the thud of an arrow in the ground behind him. Alynor whinnied; he knew that sound all too well. He tried to speed up, but there wasn’t enough energy in his muscles.

     So Gavin skipped down the regular order of transfer. He tensed his muscles tightly, hoping it would be enough to keep him in the saddle, and pushed the energy to Alynor. His mind remained behind. His body was leaning over, could fall any second.

     Gavin reached out now with the fire of his own mind, the core of his being. He expanded the flame to touch Alynor's, and experienced that moment of flash, that fraction of a second where he couldn’t figure out where he was or how he’d woken up here.

     But the memories didn’t come back.

     There was something unfinished.

     Behind him, there was a "thump." He recognized that sound. He knew the kick of sand by his feet meant arrow. Arrow meant danger.

     He felt like there should be a rider on his back. He was missing someone, but he couldn’t stop to look. Danger was behind him, and he needed to get to…

     Gavin couldn’t remember the name of the place he ran to. He could picture it, though, and could picture a woman’s face. Unsure of the destination ahead, but certain of the danger behind, the only thing he could do was run.