Disclaimer: I own nowt bu the made up ones k?
Human Foal
Chapter One,
"I leave tomorrow," Tobe told the horses quietly as he brushed them gently. Peachblossom whinnied softly and nuzzled Tobe's shoulder.
You shall make a great knight like your mistress,the horse told Tobe. Hoshi came foreword and blew gently on Tobe's forehead.
We shall miss our little Human foal,this comment made tears spring into Tobe's eye. He had cared for these horses for 2 years, feeding them, brushing them. They had been his friends in dark times, they had treated him more like their foal than their keeper.
"I shall miss you as well. My Lady says that in the holiday's I can come back and see you, well them as well," Tobe said to them quietly. "Just don't forget me."
We shall never be able to forget you,Peachblossom said resting his great head on Tobe's shoulder. Hoshi did the same on the other and Tobe flung his arms around the neck, as he would do later with Kel and Dom.
"Are you all set to go?" Kel asked her servant/adopted son. Tobe nodded, tears in his eyes. (Well you can't blame him, he is only 11!) "If you ever want to come home you can, we're just a letter away..." Kel became suddenly emotional and pulled Tobe into a hug, a bone crushing hug.
"I'll write allot," Tobe promised.
"You won't have time," Kel laughed through her tears, "Just write when you can." She released him and let her fiancé pull Tobe to him.
"Just remember what you learnt riding with the Own and you'll be fine," Dom said gently to Tobe who would soon become his adopted son. Tobe nodded before stepping back and over to his horse, Drax and mounted. Kel and Dom couldn't escort him to the palace so Neal was doing it for them.
"You all set?" Neal asked. Tobe nodded, took one last look at his 'family' before kicking Drax's sides gently and riding out after Neal.
They arrived a few weeks later and dropped their mount's off at the stables before Neal took Tobe inside and up to the training masters office.
"Oh one tip, "Neal said to him before he opened the door, "Answer with 'sir'."
The door opened to a dark office with a man, Padrig of Ha Minch the training master since Wyldon left.
"Good morning Lord Padrig, this is Tobias of Mindelan," Neal said as brightly as usual.
"Ah yes, Lady Knight's boy. Please take a seat both of you," Padrig said in a soft tone. Tobe sat down politely but Neal just flopped into a chair as casual as ever. "I have been told you have Horse Magic, is this so?"
"Yessir," Tobe said, looking at the desk.
"Then you shall have extra lesson's with Daine the Wildmage to help you with this gift. "You adoptive mother will have told you about the banquets and errands no doubt," Tobe smiled and nodded, having been amused many times by Kel's and Neal's tales of their years at the palace. "Have you a servant with you?"
"No sir," Tobe said politely.
"Well then palace staff will tend your rooms. One of the staff will lead you to your rooms now," Padrig said, writing something on a piece of paper before nodding to the door.
Tobe's room was small, probably because he wasn't really a noble. His things had been brought here and put about the room. The servant that would look after his room was called Betram and was only a few years older than Tobe. The washroom was simple, much like the one Tobe had had back home.
He sat on his bed and pulled one of his travelling packs over to him. Opening it he pulled out a book. The pages were uneven having had things stuck onto them that weren't the same size as the page and it was about half fool. It was Tobe's book of memories.
He opened it and on the first page was a sketch, drawn by him of Kel and Dom. It wasn't a very detailed drawing but it wasn't too bad either. Turning the page revealed a sketch of Peachblossom with a few hairs from his mane stuck in the corner. Tobe touched them lovingly before looking at the next page, nearly the same but with Hoshi. Each page was different, holding different memories. The pictures slowly got better, his skill having improved.
When he finished looking through the book he changed out of his travelling clothes and into a pale blue tunic and green breeches, a set Kel had given him. He ran a comb through his sandy blonde hair before pulling on his boots. The door opened and Betram entered.
"It is almost time for dinner, when the bell goes you need to wait outside your room for them to pick your sponsor, well actually your sponsor picks you," Betram said kindly. He noticed the book, lying open on a picture of Kel and Dom. "Did you do that?"
"Yes," Tobe said quietly. He'd heard about sponsors, and truth be told he didn't think anyone would want to pick him.
"That's really good. Do you mind if I...?" Betram turned invisible pages in the air. Tobe shook his head to say he didn't mind and Betram looked through the book, pointing out which ones he liked best. Three loud clangs of a bell sounded. "Dinner, this is your room key ok? I won't be here when you get back," Betram said putting down the book, giving Tobe a key and starting to unpack Tobe's clothes and put them away.
"Thank you," Tobe took the key, put it in his pocket and went outside the door. The other first year's pages were doing the same. Padrig was already walking down the corridor, followed by a group of older boys. The sponsors. Padrig began to address the pages.
"You have a hard year ahead of you, you will sweat, you will bleed, you will cry. You will work when you're tired, when your bones ache, when you are ill and when you give up all hope of completing you will still work. Tomorrow is your last day of rest for a long time, tomorrow your sponsor will show you around the palace and help you collect your supplies. The day after that, your training begins."
A/N There we go, I've been meaning to post this for a while.