Shari and Luth rode in the vast rode of Notis along with their horses, passing towns, passing people, towns and heading towards the Central Province where the Province Gate laid themselves.
Luth, still not completely accustomed to riding a horse again, was still giving his best to manage well of his ride. They made snippets of conversations once in a while, not taking an break for a while; for if they wanted to reach the Province Gate and be rested enough for doing their duty, they must reach at the Gate before it was night.
After a while later, noon had arose and their conversation continued.
"Are you going to name your ride?" asked Shari, curious as to whatever he would decide upon.
"You do keep names for horses?" said Luth.
" Oh yes! always. Every night gives name to their horses, gives a sense of attention, you see." answered Shari, rather quickly then he patted his own horse's mare. "This one is mine, his name is Bala. I never really named him but the other knights did, yet it became so liked by them that I kept it and eventually it stuck."
Luth looked at the horse for a moment then sighed. "And how did the name even come to be?"
'Why, it is a ridiculous tale." he laughed, "I had been recent in the Order at that time, with the Milvor family taking care of my most expenses. Such troubling times. Then, like you, I too needed a ride and fortunately there was the same old stable. I reached the place to meet a group of horse. The keeper of he stable told me that there were among 5 that I could take. That is when I saw this boy," he said as he continued patting Bala's head, a little roughly from Luth's perspective, and yet the horse did not seem to be bothered a bit and continued striding forth. "And they told me that this was called a feral one. No one had even come close to sitting on his back, much less riding it. And me—oh, unknowing me—wanted to be the most among all and choose him as mine. The keeper warned me fairly, but who was I to listen to some old man? I took him to the field and the first thing he did was shove his hooves up my chest. I'm surprised that is did not even break my rib.
"As astounded as I was at the enormous strength that he had,—and potentially wished to pick another horse—I kept the temptation to myself and continue to struggle riding him. Nothing happened, except my body growing sour from how many times this horse had slammed me to the ground. One of the knight called it 'bal' which meant 'reckless' often in a foolish way. That eventually they began to call us.
"After weeks of endeavor, I managed to get his heart and ever since, the name Bala always rang in his ear. Couldn't tell you how merry I was, I mean drank 3 pints of the strongest beer that night."
Luth shook his head, as he had got what he wanted, a ridiculous story of a name that was blessed on a horse, and its owner who abused the power of the ability to name his horse. In the end he managed a stifled laugh.
"Your horse sounds like a hard-skin to me."
Shari nodded in agreement, he too knowing about Bala's abilities. "Sometimes I doubt it is leather."
Luth gave another short laugh but then turned back to his own horse, look at its features for a moment. "What should you be named?" he murmured, silently asking the horse, but it of course gave no answer.
"You have a beautiful one," replied Shari, "Reminds me of the description of one of those horse from the Old Tale. Like the ride of King Belhim of Glora. They wrote whole songs about him and his possessions. How did that one part go?
"'White was his mare, whiter were his eyes,
Harrow of the foes, enemies' demise,
Pleasant hooves, encoring his stride,
Greatest of horses, greater his pride.'
Something like that is correct."
Luth listened carefully then nodded, he understood that he was a graceful horse, fragile in body and can't likely carry great weight; but it carried him and his stuff finely. This was just a horse he had needed and a name would suit.
"Mehir," he muttered, slowly sifting through the horse's mare calmly, "yes, Mehir. It is a suiting name."
"Mehir," repeated Shari quietly to himself, "Such a suiting name!"
The sun reached an orange gradient at this point, soon to set, bound by its diurnal cycle. They had finally reached inside the crowded city, Flocia, which was the place where the Providence Gate was located, connecting Notis to the Central Province.
Their steps, mimicked those of others even in sound, for the place was compact in noises. There people bustled, around the small shops and dinners there. They sought a place near the gate, which they found by the time dusk had arrived and the sun had long cradled behind the curtains of the dark.
An inn they saw, in their eyes some relief had settled. Their mind was already tired from all the riding non-stop to get to this point so that they could get adequate rest for themselves before the Tribunal Member's arrival. And that they would certainly fulfil.
Though at this point they would not sleep without filling their stomach. And so they did, ordering two bowls of stew and other food that would do their purpose. A glass of Ale to wash it down and they were merrier than a moment ago.
Nothing bothered the peace of the moment, only the soft strumming of a lute went on in the background; followed by the song, of olden times, a common tune. Such was the frequency of the songs.
They took a room for the night in the inn, to get their sufficient rest—in dire need if it must be added. Shari, quickly paying the sum headed towards his room along with Luth, desperate for a good night's sleep. He would not want to disappoint the Tribunal Member with such sullen eyes that he had right now; now would the Member appreciate a caster with him in such state.
The room was not anything to take note of; just a table in the corner, the surface splattered with ink and a few sheets of papers stacked upon themselves in disorienting patter. As soon as they entered, there was the sight of two comparable bed, with enough size for one to sleep on each, with brown sheets and mattress covered with some white silken fabric. There was some dust looming about the corner but beyond that everything as clean, and not to any of their complains—which their moods were not in favor of anyways.
Between the two beds there was a table, upon it a candle-stand which held 3 candles of varying length; among two of which were lighted and one laid extinguished, being too small to kindle. A small drawer was beneath the table, that no one cared to check and Shari certainly did not.
He was soo eager for his sleep that as soon as he entered, he pounced straight on the bed, not caring weather it was comforting or not.
"I would be going to sleep," he said, burying his face in the pillow without sparing a glance, "get some rest yourself. I do not want you to be weary with the Tribunal Member."
Luth agreed and laid himself upon his bed, exhausting all his senses. Then he shut his eyes, then his mind; who was already willing for a slumber.
As soon as sleep took him, everything faded into darkness and something new emerged out of the it, a mote of light shone through and Luth again began to feel his arms. He looked at his feet, sound and healthy, he grabbed his wrist, feeling them. He felt no tiredness at this state, at this place. The flicker disappeared and then remerged brighter, spreading all over, passing in all directions, covering the darkness in light.
Soon a burning tree stood in front of him, passing heat upon all his body. He shut his eyes, and then within a blink the fire burst into nothingness; leaving the ashes of the remaining.
Now, he found himself in this scorched tundra, with no sound. Not of his step, nor of the cracking ashes beneath his feet. Luth felt unable to move, but somehow lifted his feet to move back. A voice came, from which direction he could tell now. A figure emerged out of the crack in the enormous tree, walking towards him. Its face was in a blur, his body like completely built out of ropes, mismatched and dislocated.
Luth found himself hardly being able to breath, and the smoke began rising from the ground, engulfing both of them. The figure said nothing, but came close to him and extended its arm.
Luth, with great effort, raised his as well, and being an arm-length far, he extended his arm in all might. Now, they both were only divided by the gap that was only a finger. He raised one finger of his knuckle. The smoke climbed his legs, scorching them as well. Their fingers touched and a beat was heard.
Then another beat, and Luth sat up instantly, finding himself on his bed. It stayed that way and he looked nowhere, but just sat, listening to the beat of his heart.