Within the castle stables, a large jet black stallion with long full mane stands perfectly still, its ears pointing forward, attuned to its masters silent call. When suddenly, neighing loudly, he rises high in the air to come down with tremendous force again and again upon the heavy wooden gate that bars his exit. Soon, unable to sustain this barrage for long, the gate begins to shatter. Until Sir Justin’s stallion, Danod, leaps across the remaining barrier while stable hands rush to close the large barn doors. 2
Nostrils flaring and eyes ablaze he gallops across the floor. Trained for war and commanded to come, he is likely to kill any who would dare stand in his way. 3
When from high in the rafters, the owl, seeing the barn doors about to close, decides this is just the right time to make a hasty departure. The large bird, swooping down out of the rafters, distracts the stable hands just long enough for Danod to reach them. For a fraction of a second the stable lads consider grabbing for Danod's trailing reins. Yet, one look at this huge black stallion's stance and determination was enough; quickly they backed away and let him be. 4
Rushing out into the open courtyard, he sees the gathering men carrying pitchforks, stakes and hammers. Neighing loudly, he rises on his hind legs and paws at the sky, his jet black silhouette becoming a symbol of power and grace. His powerful hoofs come down on the hardpan to make a sound like a clap of thunder. 5
Yet, when he sees the men pose him no immediate threat, he quickly rushes pass to reach Sir Justin's side. As the stable hands are running about, another horse had also broken down her stall and had run out of the stables. 6
The black mare was quick and agile. She avoided the hands of the men at each attempt to grab her. Seeing the door to the castle open as men flowed out to help, she darted towards it, seeking out her friends who she knew to be within the castle itself. 7
Duncan, the Siberian tiger, upon hearing the mare’s frightened calls, had run outside to see what was going on. Making it to the door about the same time as the mare was about to come in. The two passed each other then stopped and turned to meet on the steps again. 8
Duncan could sense the fear in his friend and reared up to rest his huge paws on her neck. Leaning to the side of her face as she turned it to look at him, the white tiger licked her cheek to comfort her. 9
Lady Morgan was not as fast as Duncan, but had followed him from their bedchamber. She came out to find them still on the steps. Moving to them, she motioned for the stable hands to stop their feeble attempts at capture, then petted her mare Freiya to get her even more at ease. She looked to the stable hands. "What has happened to put such fear in my mare?" 10
It was then she heard the tale from the stable boy, who had the misfortune of encountering what he referred to, as a dark elf. She lifted a brow. "Dark elves are not all dark. I have met some who would do you as much harm as a speck of snow falling upon your brow. Where is this dark elf? I wish to see for myself of whom you speak with such fear."
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