They arrived back home, and both Rita and the colt awoke with a sleepy daze in their eyes. They all climbed lazily out of the carriage and on to the crunchy snow. A blast of cold air greeted Rita and that woke her up tremendously.
"So, what are you going to name him?" asked Urag as they headed back to the college, colt in tow behind them.
"Zantorian the Second!" she exclaimed proudly, looking back to the colt.
"Of course," replied Urag in a chuckle. "Well, we're going to need a place for him to stay. There are no stables here."
"What about the courtyard of the College?" Rita recommended.
"Sounds good to me, as long as Arch Mage Savos approves."
"Yay! I know he'll say yes! He's nice." she cheered as she skipped off to the court yard, Zantorian II trotting behind her.
They arrived in the courtyard, and Rita stayed behind with Zanatorian II as Urag went to speak with Savos. She began giving him a tour of the College, pointing out which building is which and saying what everything is used for. He followed her around loyally, seemingly almost engaged and understanding of everything Rita was saying. Urag came outside with Savos and interrupted their tour.
"Hi, Rita! I understand you want to keep this little colt here?" asked Savos.
"Yes..." mumbled Rita shyly. She felt uncomfortable around people she didn't know well, especially people of high status like Savos.
"Well, that's perfectly alright with me, as long as he is kept in some kind of stable or pen."
"Thank you, Savos! He will be!" she shouted, replacing her shyness with excitement for a moment.
"Alright, I'll leave you to it, then." said Savos as he turned around to head back into the college.
"Thank you, Arch Mage Savos." Urag said gratefully. He turned around to Rita and Zanatorian II and gave a smile.
"So, I guess we better get building a stable, huh?" he asked. "Let's go ask the blacksmith for some wood and nails."
"Okay!" she agreed. They headed down to the blacksmith and bought all of the wood and nails he had, carrying it back in arm fulls.
They began work on the stable, Zanatorian II eyeing them curiously.
"This is where you'll be living, Zanatorian!" she explained to him. He let out a happy neigh and Urag chuckled at their ability of communication. Urag and Rita worked on the stable until sun down, stopping for lunch in between. They also picked up some carrots at the local inn so that Zanatorian II would have something to eat. They bolted the last plank of wood to the stable and congratulated each other on a job well done.
"Oh! We need the sign!" Rita remembered.
"Of course, here you go." said Urag as he handed her the sign and a quill. She scribbled "Zanatorian II" onto the sign, letters backwards in that cute childish way, and stuck it into the ground next to the pen.
"Look Zanatorian, it's really yours now!" she explained happily. He let out another happy neigh and trotted into the stable.
"Looks like he likes it." Urag said.
"I knew he would! We did a good job."
"Aye, that we did," he agreed. "Well, it's about that time for you to head home, kiddo."
"Aw, but I wanna stay here with you and Zanatorian!" she whined.
"Looks like he's already asleep." he said as he pointed at Zanatorian, curled up on the floor of his pen.
"Fineeeee. Thanks for building the stable, Urag. And for getting him for me. I love him."
"Anything to make you happy, Rita."
She replied to this with a grin, and gave Urag a tight hug around his waist.
