War entered the monumental Arena of the Horsemasters besides Death and heard the noises of at last one hundred horses before he even saw them.
"Behold! Our newest greatest treasure! Horses, which will trample down all our enemies!" Absalom laughed as he spread his arms to show them their newest trophies of Conquest.
Dozens of Nephilim forced the last remaining Horses behind a fence with staffs and wipes while one figure among them stood out.
It was a Horsemaster with a simple straw hat that he was using to calm the bulk of the horses and shoo them gently backwards into the fence ring.
"Who is that man?" Death asked by pointing at him.
"Ha! The only one that was clever enough to surrender and make himself useful enough to live." Absalom said and walked towards the Horsemaster and the Nephilim who were about to close the latest fence gate.
"We have several hundred Horses in the stables nearby but these are the best Phantomhorses we could get our hands on, if our slave is to be trusted." Absalom explained while walking.
"And with these mighty steeds at our disposal we will be the ruin of many worlds.
The leader of the Nephilim saw his horde already on a creation wide invasion as he reached the Horsemaster and grabbed him forcefully by the shoulder to turn him around.
"And this are really the best you got?!" he demanded to know.
The Horsemaster was struggling with himself to not jolt back and faced the Nephilim with his intense yellow eyes cautiously.
"The best I could muster, I can you promise this much." He answered softly.
"I hope for your shake that you are right slave!" Absalom grumbled as he turned around, noticing the arrival of Fury and Strife.
"Ah! There you are! Finally all together."
Until shortly before the two other Nephilim reached them they seemed to be in an argument about something, but it died down as they came closer.
"Good you made it. I was about to give the spoils to someone else if you wouldn't have shown up."
Absalom grunted.
"Regardless we are here. No point in being impatient." Fury said defensively and crossed her arms.
"What are "the spoils" anyway, some simple Horses?" Strife tried to downplay Absaloms implied treat while playing totally disinterested.
But even he got to admit that owning only one of the famed steeds of the Horsemasters would be better than any spoil he would be able to acquire in this ruined city.
"They are Phantomhorses." Death corrected Strife before the enslaved Horsemaster stepped in and spoke up.
"They don't need regular food, can care for them self, can be called into existence at nearly any place in creation and will create their own path under their hoof even if there is none if need be."
Strife raised an eyebrow. "So you are saying that they can technically fly."
"One could say that to a certain extent, yes."
"Well… Sounds nice. I am on board."
Absalom only scoffed at Strife and waved them to follow him closer to the fence.
"I value what you four have done today, even if some of you are more reckless than may be good for them."
Strife gave his leader only a wide grin.
"If it wasn't for you we would probably still sit outside the city walls while their cavalry closes in on us. You climbed the wall and not only survived to the top, you also held your ground and managed to open the gates while everyone around you died.
I acknowledge the strength of every single one of you, and I give you the privilege to be the first to choose from our host of horses.
Even before myself."
Strife only rolled his eyes at Absaloms generously last words while Death shook his head sternly at him.
"Our Horsemaster here will lead you trough the herd and you will choose your steed separately."
Absalom explained while patting the said man on his back.
"War, you were the first to set foot on the wall. You go first."
"Many of them are still wild, but they know me enough to not attack. As long as you stay close to me we should be fine." War made his way through the herd besides the Horsemaster noticing that despite their wildness many of them tried to get away from the Nephilim that towered over the Horsemaster.
He looked as many in their glowing eyes as he could, trying to determine which one of the horses was the one he would tame. The ones that didn't grudgingly retreat as War approached flinched when he looked them in the eye.
It was a crude way to determine their worth, but it was enough for War.
He found some horses that didn't back away or flinched, but once he inspected them he never found them to conform to his taste.
That was until he found a steed with ashen skin and fire emerging from within it.
Burning red eyes seemed to pierce right through the Nephilim as he moved closer without the horse backing away or showing signs of fear.
Instead it remained steadfast as War examined the heavy build horse with the fiery red hair.
"The magic with which it was created set it on eternal fire and the few people who managed to ride it said that its strength and power are nearly as unmatched as its temper." The Horsemaster said.
The horse neighed and shook his head around as War tried to grab a hold of it.
"Phantom horses are proud creatures. Even managing to touch one, let alone ride it, is a difficult honor to acquire."
War nodded. "I am going to take this one."
"Are you sure?"
War looked into the fierce eyes of the Steed and saw a similar spirit in strength and determination as himself.
"Yes."
Soon after the Horsemaster had led War and the steed of his choosing outside and behind a different fence Death was the next to take his horse.
"Do they all look that different?" the eldest Nephilim asked as he passed a Horse that was partly covered in chill ice.
"They are all naturally infused with magic, their power to disappear and reappear in nearly all of creation come from their powers."
"Then why are they not just disappearing and fleeing right now?"
"It would be futile." The Horsemaster answered and pointed up to the sky.
Death needed to look sharp and had some difficulty to spot the marks in the normal world that told him that someone had woven a magical Barrier over the entire Stadium.
"Until they are fully trained many of the most powerful horses are kept here inside the capital so we won't find them running thought the green fields of Heaven one day."
"That is a fine Barrier, I nearly would have missed it." Death said without hiding his respect.
"My people are good at more than looting and slaughter. What about yours?"
Death frowned at the captives words but choose to ignore them.
"I am here to find a horse, but so far none of the ones you showed me has shown any promise."
"Some find their steed in a moment's notice, others struggle with themselves to make the right choice for hours. If you truly want your horse to stand by sour side your whole lifetime you should take as much time as you need."
It was nearly half an hour later as Death emerged from the herd of horses with a undead looking steed whose white bones were visible on its neck and a pale smoke emerged from its hoofs and mouth.
"Were did you get that? Was it on discount?" Strife teased with a slight smirk while Fury didn't even bother to frown at his antics and Death didn't even listen.
"Who now? Me or him?" she asked as the Horsemaster lead Death and his Steed behind another separate fence and Absalom was done talking to one of his underlings and turned to them.
"I don't care. Decide yourself. Some of our Scouts reported that a huge host of Horsemaster riders is less than five days away. We need to give more Horses out to the rest of us much faster, so hurry up. I go and get this shit place defendable again."
Fury shrugged as Strife and the waiting Horsemaster looked at her.
"You know guys, I don't care either. You can go first for all I care."
"Yusss!" Strife squealed theatrical and high-fived the captive Horsemaster before he could react.
"Come on man, let's see if we can get a decent grass eater out of this one."
The Horsemaster silently followed the Nephilim to the herd, devoted and serene as ever.
"So buddy, why are you helping us anyway?" Strife asked as he shook his head at the fifth horse the Horsemaster presented to him.
"I would be dead if I would not cooperate."
The Horsemaster pointed out the obvious.
"Well, there are worse fates then death. And apart from your own people thinking you are a traitor or your own conscience haunting you for not having done more, there is also the possibility that Absalom will simply dispose of you after you helped us out."
"My father cared for his herd long before I was born. I just try to make sure that they remain in good care. My death would help no one."
"Absalom doesn't really care. And your precious horses will be used for conquest from now on. Really bloody conquest. And you are helping us here first hand. Sure that you are doing the smart thing here?" Strife asked with a raised eyebrow as he dismissed yet another Horse that was shown to him.
"I do what I can do best. And I have still hope that my people come and rescue me and the herd. Even if they don't. We Horsemasters are a long living race, if I can survive I can still hope for a better future and raising a new herd of free Phantomhorses."
Strife smirked.
"I would like to have your confidence in such a small glimmer of hope." He said, the teasing tone hiding the small amount of respect in his voice.
Without thinking much he tried to touch the white horse in front of him, but it suddenly faded into smoke and reappeared behind him, hitting him with its hoof in the back hard enough to throw him on the ground.
"They are very prideful. As I told your brother. They don't like being touched, especially by people they don't know or like."
Strife sighed as he stood up, rubbed his head and faced the rebellious Horse again.
"Look who is trying to be a smartass." He remarked as the Horse came cautiously closer, like it was tempting him to try and touch it again.
"Well, nothing is going to top that. I take him."
"There are a lot of other horses around you haven't seen yet." The Horsemaster remarked.
"And I want this one." Strife pointed out.
"A white Horse Strife? I thought you would go for black." Fury said with a smirk.
"Come on, everyone is going with black now days, I just thought that white would be a nice piece of change." He laughed right back.
"Let's see you do better." He added as the Horsemaster lead him and his steed behind the next separate fence.
Fury waited patiently until the Horsemaster returned and followed him as he turned back to the herd.
They had searched for a horse that suited Furys tastes for nearly half an hour as she broke the silence that had been between them the entire time.
"I don't think I got your name Horsemaster." she said.
"They call me Chiron the younger, my father was well known as one of the best Horse-tamer in creation. You might have heard about him."
She couldn't help but notice the small amount of pride in his voice as he spoke, despite the situation he was in.
"Chiron the Horse-tamer?" she asked to make sure.
"That's how they call my Father, yes."
"His deeds are well known around the campfires of the Nephilim."
Fury paused only for a second of doubt before she continued.
"We met in one of the side-streets of this city. He was a good Warrior and killed many of my brethren, but I put an end to his life. He died well."
Chiron the younger froze for a moment and looked around like he had forgotten where he was or what he was doing.
There were no tears on his face and no shaking in his voice, but the way this until now so serene and focused man couldn't even bring himself to continue was enough to see that this news had shook him to the core.
"I had hoped he would be able to escape the capital. He was always one of the fastest on a horse and certainly knew that we wouldn't be able to hold your people back once they breached the wall."
"Why didn't you make a run for it? One of your horses would have probably been able to get you out of here as well." Fury remarked.
"My horses are my live. What am I once they fall into the hands of your kind? I may be a prisoner, but as long as that means I can care for the horses I shared a lifetime with I am certain I am doing the right thing."
Fury nodded respectfully. "I am certain your father was thinking in a similar way. He knew his people were doomed once we took the capital and decided to defend it to his last breath. I stood by his side when he died and closed his eyes. He was a good man."
"But it didn't keep you from taking his life." Chiron said with sadness in his voice.
Fury was about to defend herself by pointing out that this was how Wars were fought and that his father had gotten a true Warriors death, but something within her held her back.
One lonely tear poured from Chirons cheek as one of the horses approached them.
It slowly moved closer to the Horsetamer and nudged his face with its head.
Chiron caressed the black fur of the Horse gently and even seemed to smile at the horses sympathy as Fury approached cautiously and tried touch the horse in fascination.
Suddenly the Horse turned around and rose up on its hind legs while kicking out at Fury.
She only managed to avoid the sudden attack by falling flat on her back and rolling to the side.
As she managed to get back on her feet Chiron managed to bring the Horse under his control but its red eyes were still fixated on Fury, burning with anger.
"I got to apologize. I wasn't focused for a moment. She is a wild beast, and as you can see, they are smarter then they look and care for the ones they come to like. She especially."
Fury nodded. How the Horse had understood what was going on and how she had seen that Fury had hurt the Horsemaster was beyond her, but they certainly weren't normal horses, that didn't need any more evidence.
"That is one dedicated horse. I don't think we need to search any longer."
"I hope you know what you are getting yourself into. I warned you that she is one of the wildest horses in the herd."
Fury tapped on the whip by her side and smirked.
"I am pretty wild myself."
"Please take good care of her." the Horsemaster said before he left the fence and observed the other Nephilim. War was pacing around his flaming horse as he had given up simply running after it a while ago since the horse had managed to evade him time and time again by turning into smoke at a moment's notice to reappear only some steps away.
Strife tried to force his horse into his direction by chucking small stones at it that it either needed to evade normally or by going phantom. But even that idea was not very successful as Strife chucked a stone in the hopes of the horse changing direction and jumping forward to catch it, only to fall flat on his belly as the horse just ignored the thrown stone and looked at the fallen Nephilim like it was amused at the sight.
Fury managed to direct her horse better by using her whip to force it into a certain way, but she had no more luck then Strife since the black horse was going in and out of reality as it pleased, always on guard to evade Furys attempts to capture it and even trying to run her over whenever she saw the chance.
Death didn't have any more luck and was already leaning on the sidelines of his fence, the horse of bones on the other side of the field waiting for another attempt of the Nephilim to try and tame it.
Absalom had told them to hurry so that other Nephilim would be able to get their own horses, but the Horsemaster knew that they wouldn't be able to tame them that easily.
Not today, that was for certain.
Note: at that point I noticed I would need at last another chapter to finish this. Hope you enjoyed it.