Disclaimer: I don't own so, you know, don't sue.
ON TO CHAPTER 10!
Artemis watched as an old beat up Ford rolled its self out of the Fitzpatrick's driveway as he was coming in. On the back with bright pink were words that read, "BEWARE: 'SNEAKER' GESTAPO DRIVING" distinctively scrawled with hearts and flowers all around. Artemis was sure that the sign would strike fear and awe in the hearts of law breakers; just as sure as he knew who painted it so lovingly upon the vehicle.
It had been about a week sense he had visited the Fitzpatrick house. It would be different this time. There would be no Butler and no parents. No one was there to get in the way of Steffen and no one was there to interfere with what Artemis had to say.
The night before he had bounced a plan of action off Butler, who in returned, pointed out how unpredictable Steffen (along with the rest of the gang) could be. No, this would be research and study day.
His car pulled up, Butler patrolled and opened the door, and then proceeded to escorted Artemis to the front door. Even before the bell was rang Emil opened the door and smiled.
"WHERE THE FUCK IS THE ASPRIN! JESUS CHRIST!" Shouting echoed through and out the door, hitting Butler and Artemis full force.
Artemis caught a glance of Steffen storming down the stairs in a pair of pajama pants with no shirt. "THE MEDICINE CABINET!"
"..." Emil rolled his eyes and ushered Artemis in with a simple yet graceful wave of his hand. The boy was wearing a pair of jeans that looked about one size to big and worn through at where the knees should have been.
Artemis himself had been forced to wear a pair of black slacks and a deep red dress shirt. Butler was glancing around and Emil looked at him, tilting his head to the side. As if in recognition Emil's eyes widened and he started to make the gesture. His arms hovered above his head as if to show some thing of height and then pointed to the door. Butler furrowed his brows and Emil tapped his wrist.
"What time?" Artemis froze. Did Butler understand that message that quick? He knew Butler was multi-lingual, but this wasn't even a patterned language. Perhaps Butler had picked it up somewhere in all of his 'Butler' extensive training. This only made Artemis more determined to understand what the boy was saying, even if he wasn't trying to convey a certain message.
Emil closed his eyes for a moment, counted on his finger, and held up two digits. Butler glanced at his watch, "Where's Mrs. Temair?"
"She went to the fabric store and she'll be back in about half an hour." Steffen had finally made his appearance, leaning against one of the many walls, elbow resting in the palm of his other hand with a class of water at his finger tips. Still clothed in his pajama bottoms, it was no doubt that Steffen had woken up only moments before their arrival. "And you're welcomed to stay if you want or don't believe us."
Soon Steffen was down on the ground grasping his shin and a very angry Emil was glaring down at him. The glass of water had been caught before it hit the ground in the same movement the kick was issued. Butler was impressed by the speed and accuracy the blow was dealt. Apparently this action had been perfected over time.
"I'm quite sure you won't kill each other." And with that, Butler left his charge and headed out, softly closing the door behind him. He was sure Emil would handle any miss deeds.
Some how, Emil had been able to disappear from the scene, leaving Artemis with the pain filled teenager. He mentally sighed and glared down at the boy on the floor. Soon enough, Steffen was starting to make his way up off the ground.
"Every time, Jesus Christ..." Artemis raised his brow, connecting this reaction with the time he came over for dinner with his parents. Steffen was standing next to him, rubbing his sore shin. "I don't know what the hell you want to do."
Li ana came crashing down the stairs, her hair tucked up in her hat and she was sporting an old pair of overalls. She was carrying a bucket full of nets. Emil was able to swiftly dodge her as he came around a corner with a small tea-cup.
"Off tad-poll hunting again?" tilting his head to the left, Steffen was able to talk to his stampeding sister.
"I'm going to catch the little punks if it kills me." Her determination would rival that of Napoleons'. Artemis was rather pleased with it. "Oh, hi Artemis, want to come?"
"Oh no you don't. I don't trust you at all, you'd toss him in and that would be the last of dear Artemis. That will not do!" Steffen replied as he looked past his sister. The glare on his face was directed at Emil, who, simply blinked back and scuttled up the stairs. Artemis narrowed his eyes: this was going to be a long day.
After a good minute of silence, Steffen turned to Artemis and sighed. Once again, the taller boy leaned against the wall again. For a moment Artemis thought the he was going to just go back to sleep. Artemis rested one arm on his hip and just glared.
"This isn't a dream." Steffen nearly jumped out of his pants and started to rub his temple. "And don't say it's a nightmare, even for you that is a bit cliché."
"How true. I suppose I should give you a tour." Steffen took a deep breath and pointed up. "You entered the grand hallway. As we continue around this corner you are led to one of the four main intersections in this house. This one is call the Kitchinner, because it intersects with the kitchen and the dinning room. My mother found it cute."
Steffen led Artemis around, pointing to different section of the house. They started in the back, working their way to the front and up. Steffen took him through the kitchen and into the pantry. After moments of flinging objects around, Steffen found what he was looking for. A small door lay hidden in the very back corner. Cracking it open, the door moved out ward, allowing the two boys to easily walk with in.
"This one of the passage ways that we use. It connects to the formal and in-formal living rooms. We call it the mouse trap, not to be confused with the rat trap on the third story." Steffen slide to the far door and opened it. "This is the formal living room."
Artemis took a step inside the room. An oak coffee table had papers scattered about it, and tea was left steaming. Dark red walls surrounded them with cream trim and a white ceiling above. The couches were pushed up against the walls and a small white china cabinet rested in the corner of the room.
"God damn, he always forgets his crap." Steffen was now organizing the papers and picked up the tea. "Well, this is it. Decorated via mom saying it was too plain. She actually said that about everything in this house."
Artemis glanced around the room, his mother would have done the same. "Your father and she bought it on the promise that he would let her decorate it with in reason."
"Right you are old sport. But we must carry on into the next room." With a swift movement, Steffen was once again leading the way and crossing the hall. They entered a room full of computer parts. Half of them were just that. Half of something that used to be.
Technician tools were strewn about. Computer chips and hard drives were ripped apart and put back together. It was a computer graveyard. "This is the tech room and also where Seth spends most of his free time."
Passing under an archway, the boys were now engulfed with papers and books. Tables stacked high with novels and littered with pens. Shelves reached the ceiling and some of their contents looked as if they were ready to explode out of their restraints. "This is where both Philo and I spend out rainy days."
One lonesome ladder stood discarded next to another door. This room had the musty smell of old books and wine, the color scheme was a rich dark green with hard wood floors and large long tables. Plush lazy boys were scattered among the tables as well.
After about 30 minutes into the tour, Artemis had only seen the first and second story. His legs were ready to collapse and he needed to sit down. Steffen seemed to be waking up as they moved onward and became more informative about the house.
Artemis concentrated on telling himself that he had one story to go. After that he would demand a moment to rest. Reaching the top of the stairs he saw Steffen was already to go and half way through the doorway of the next room. Artemis was quiet surprised by what he saw.
There in front of them stood Emil with what looked like a molten tower of wax. Emil was now wearing a pair of scientific goggles, an apron, and a pair of shorts covered in wax stains.
"Well, this is Emil's room. And that's the wax tower he's been working on for about 7 years. Pisses the hell out of the old man. But that's only because we've been able to disconnect the fire alarms in his room. Many things have been sacrificed to that thing." Steffen snickered at a flaming taper sticking out from the middle of the wax. "Mom's just worried he'll burn his fingers off."
"What a shame that would be." Artemis glanced around the room. These walls had not been decorated or painted. Absolutely nothing had touched them. No pictures and no posters dare cover the wall, it was barren. The only color in the room was the cedar dresser, bedposts and headboard, and the night stand. The carpet was a deep blue and the covers to the bed were golden, shimmering in the afternoon light.
"I know! He wouldn't be able to paint." Fire flew past Steffen's head, and Artemis noted that Emil had a hair spray bottle aimed at a match. Somehow, the smile plastered on his face allowed Emil a spot of recognition in Artemis' brain just someone he'd have to be careful around. Setting the tea cup he had found earlier down onto a small dresser right inside the doorframe, Steffen shut Emil's door and started again with the tour.
After winding their way through various passage ways, Artemis finally was allowed to sit down. They had finally reached Steffen's room. It was decorated with many different things. People and outlines covered the walls, music notes were started on the ceiling but never finished, and words spilled around the corners. The closet was covered with what Artemis understood to be Disney characters. The bed sheets were the same red as the one in the formal dinning room, piled on top was an ebony-knitted blanket. An amp was resting in the corner with a bass guitar next to it.
"This is about it." Silence befell onto both boys. For Steffen, he was planning the next thing to do; Artemis was just enjoying the pleasure of being able to sit down. "Is there anything you would like to do? We've got a pool table in the informal living room, DDR, game systems. My sister went and bought new badminton sets or there is the favorite of harass Emil for ideas."
"You did a wonderful job of planning this." On the desk was a computer with a chair and Artemis was relieved to sit down.
"Now all those simple things are simply too complicated for my life." Defensively, Steffen raked his fingers through his hair and collapsed on his bed. "Hey, I've had my group of friends since pre-school; I've forgotten what you do on the first day someone comes over."
"So you're going to go steal some from you brother. My, what a creative boy you are." Artemis admired his fingernails.
"Alright, fine. We'll do my chores, how's that sound? Good? Great! I'll get you a pair of shoes and pants." With that all said Steffen began tossing about random pairs of pants. Finally he stopped at a pair of ratty jeans. "Here, I'm sure with a belt these will fit. What size shoes do you wear?"
"I'm not wearing those. And a size 5 in men's will do." Artemis replied, eyeing Steffen as though he had just done something incredibly stupid.
"Do you want to ruin those pants and have a nasty ass rash?"
"No."
"Then wear these." He threw the jeans and a belt at Artemis, who, caught them hesitantly. Artemis noticed Steffen pulling a bookcase away from the wall and knocking on it a few times. The wall opened and Emil's head protruded through it, goggles pushed up onto his forehead. "Hey, can I borrow a pair of boots?"
Emil furrowed his brow and pulled back.
He's questioning why.
"Well, I guess you might need yours, but do you have an extra pair? And put the new stuff on, I want to see who it would look better on. I'm not having you go out looking like a clown." With a wave of his hand, Steffen dismissed Emil from their presence. Emil disappeared back into his room.
Artemis expected to hear clothing and things being tossed around, but only a soft shuffling could be heard. Soon enough the red head appeared again. This time with a pair of leather lace up high tops were thrust into Steffen's hands as Emil shut the door.
"You can use the bathroom down the hall, I'll have to change as well" Artemis resisted the urge to just stay put, but, having the feeling Steffen would just change right there and then, he rose from the swivel chair and left with the jeans. "Meet me down in the kitchen."
As he fumbled around the bathroom (having some trouble getting his legs through the baggy pants) Artemis found himself fighting with the belt. Apparently, he'd have to go get another one or poke a hole in the one he was given. The later seemed like a better idea then the second option. Another problem was that this was Steffen's smallest belt, so he'd have to ask someone else. Artemis refused to have his pants sagging all the way to his knees again.
Walking a crossed the hall he tapped on Emil's bedroom door and waited. Inside he could here a slight thud and crack. Emil opened the door and sighed, Artemis noted that he had interrupted Emil in changing because his white dress shirt was half buttoned and was not tucked in. Artemis wasted no time.
"Do you have a belt I can borrow?" Emil seemed to think about it for a moment before he reached over and grabbed a black leather belt with a small silver buckle. He handed it to Artemis and smiled, then slipped back into his room.
So, being left with a belt he hoped would work, Artemis slipped it on, tightened it to the third hole, and found himself wandering down to the kitchen to lace his boots up. Well, so far this has been very educational Po, Artemis noted, not only am I learning to control my boredom, but I'm learning to read what a mute child wants to say without using any form of true sign language.
To Artemis' credit, he didn't get lost on his way down to the kitchen, hell, he didn't even get lost in the kitchen. Kudos to the boy. Sitting on one of the stools set in front of the kitchen counter, Artemis waited for Steffen, who trudged down wearing jeans that had probably seen better days. In his hand he held two black velvet helmets. Artemis had no doubt in his mind where this was heading, and a little red flag went up.
"We're riding." Not a question, it was a statement.
"Damn you are good. It took Tom till we were tacking up." Steffen mumbled. Granted he probably said it in his normal tone, but with his head being shoved into the fridge it was morphed into something else. "Have you ridden before?"
"Yes." Artemis remembered his mother taking him into riding with her in Budapest when they went on vacation when he was 6. Somehow, the impression that horses hated him had rubbed off.
"Alright then, I'm sure you can ride Robin." Pulling out of the fridge, Steffen set three bottles of water into pack that was on the counter. "I'd pack a lunch, but my sister would kill me if you didn't have some with everyone that will be home..."
Resting his head in his palm, Artemis tested the waters of talking Steffen out of the idea. "Steffen, lets be honest here, we both don't want to be here."
"Actually, I really don't want to leave" Steffen was dodging the subject.
Artemis was not playing games: this was business. "You know what I mean."
Steffen continued to poke around in the fridge. "Honestly. I couldn't give a flying fuck. Right now, you're more of a problem than anything. However, seeing as I was vetoed by my siblings, your presence is requested." Slamming the fridge door shut, Steffen grabbed the pack and was headed out the door.
"I hope you band doesn't let you write the songs." Artemis slipped off his chair and followed Steffen. Parked under the eves was a three-wheeler and Artemis heard keys jingling. "I also hope you were taught how to drive and this isn't a random test of nerve."
"You know, you should trust people sometimes. You do know what trust is, don't you? It's something friends do." Steffen called over his shoulder. "Do you want to walk down there?"
"We're hardly friends"
"Hop on and I promise not to kill or maim you. Just keep you feet up." He set the packs into the cart that would be dragged by the three-wheeler and started the machine. Artemis narrowed his eyes for a moment, but then decided why not? He'd been with worse automobile drivers in worse conditions; why not take a chance on the wild side?
Steffen moved up, allowing Artemis to slide behind him. Artemis could not tell if Steffen said anything because the engine was too loud, and suddenly they were already moving. Clutching onto the other boy, Artemis watched as they moved out. After about seven minutes Artemis could see the barn.
It wasn't painted red, in fact, it wasn't even painted, it was just there and you could see the age in it. Though, before they got to it, Steffen stopped the three-wheeler abruptly and Artemis had to cling to stay on. Artemis turned to see what the fuss was about and spotted some other kids riding up.
"Fucking O'Conellys." Steffen muttered, glaring over at them shoulders hunched over the handlebars. Artemis could sense family rivalry as soon as the others rode right up to the fence.
A dark haired boy rode up on a blood bay horse and was followed by two others. "Well, if it isn't dear sweet Prince Steffy? He has someone new with him."
"Wow, Kevin, great observation. Why don't you keep moving, I'm entertaining company, and yours is not welcomed." Steffen replied, reaching for the ripcord. Artemis eyed the other boys, one had a blue helmet and the other two had white.
"If I remember correctly, Steffy, you stopped first." A boy riding a bay spoke up.
Nodding to the horses that the other boys were riding, Steffen grinned a little. "Well, I was trying to figure out if you were riding jack asses or mules, because Artemis and I are going to go and ride real horses. You do know what those are, right Conner?"
"Steffen, you know as well as we do you can plainly tell these are horses." The blue helmet replied. It wasn't a voice of reprimanding, but Artemis felt Steffen tense up.
"Patrick, always the voice of reason." Steffen was seething with hate. "Tell me again why you have yet to command the troops."
"Where's sweet Emil? We want to make sure he hasn't started to talk, because then, when those games begin, we can steal him." Kevin jeered, leaning over his horse to look at Steffen. "And, sense he can't talk; there will be no screaming from him. You will simply not know you lost a man."
"You couldn't catch Emil if you tried. You're too fat Kevin and way too stupid." Steffen ripped the cord and Artemis was thrown forward into the other boy. "Thanks for the warning" Artemis had to raise his voice slightly to get Steffen to hear him.
Steffen finally slowed down when they got to the barn and it seemed his temper had cooled The other boys had not followed them. Artemis could tell that their fence ran parallel with that of the Fitzpatrick and went on for quiet some difference. Steffen brought them to a stop and turned the three-wheeler turned off.
The barn doors were already opened as they walked through. Steffen set the helmets on a small table and proceeded to disappear into a room. Artemis followed.
"Okay, this is the tack room. Technically we're supposed to put out helmets in here, but I don't. There are mice and I don't want them ruined. Also, all the tack for the horses is here: hence tack room. The grooming tools are in here as well. First aid for both us and the horses, here." After the brief explanation, Steffen lifted two halters. One was labeled Robin and the other labeled Marcus Arielus.
Artemis received the one that would belong to Robin. "Well, first we're going to teach you how to catch your horse."
"What are you doing? Giving me a lesson?"
"Fuck yes, but only in the mere basics." Steffen made his way out of the tack room. "I'm not catching you're horse for you."
From there Artemis could see the hay loft and a few sparrows' nest. The barn was very big, but very homely. A few horses were in their stalls and others were out in their paddocks.
Exiting the barn Steffen led Artemis to a gate and unlocked it, letting Artemis go through first and shutting it behind him self. Both boys entered the paddock and walked around.
Steffen trudged ahead. "They better not be in the fucking back..."
"And if they are?"
"We'll ride them to the front. Just don't tell the old man." Steffen tossed his head in the direction of the house. "He'd be so fucking pissed."
"Do you always swear this much. It shows lack of vocabulary." Artemis swayed to and fro, not really caring if Steffen swore or not, it was completely up to him what came from his mouth.
"Yes. Hey look, there's King." He pointed to a large chestnut was grazing in a separate paddock next to a fence. "I'd show you how you how to catch him because he's right there...but he's kind of...temperamental."
"Who's that?" Artemis pointed to a large dark dapple gray, standing next to a tree and peering at them.
"Watch. He's Emil's show horse. Fucking amazing those two." Steffen started walking backwards to properly speak to Artemis. "Good chemistry, lots of respect between horse and rider."
Artemis remembered Emil's white riding shirt. "Emil's riding today, isn't he."
"Damn you're good." Shaking his bangs out of his face and adjusting his frames, Steffen continued on. "It took Eric a month to figure out Emil could ride."
He knew Eric was slow, but that slow? "Are you serious?"
"As a heart attack. But really, we'll be here all day if we don't get our horses and I keep comparing you too my looser set of friends."
"I'm not so sure I want to be your friend if I'll be a looser." The bickering had become a game now, nothing too dramatic, only sporting.
"Oh hush, you just think you don't want to be my friend. But anyways, that's your mare there. She is old, but she's like a big dog." Steffen pointed out a bay mare, lazily lounging under a tree. "In the old days, people used to mount on the left and all that. Now you should actually try and switch off because you could cause back problems. Also, always talk to a horse so they know you are there."
Steffen began to walk toward the mare, who, just looked at him as if he were nothing. Artemis followed, and even then, she just lazed on.
"Stand right here." Steffen placed Artemis right below/next to Robin's poll. "Now, the front part of the halter is here, and what you want to do with the lead rope is slip it around her neck. She won't move...but it's just a precaution with all the horses."
Artemis did as he was told, slipping the lead rope around her neck and holding the halter by the muzzle piece (not the real name, but makes sense for all you non-horsy people).
"Now, just slip it over her muzzle and bring that strap around her ears and buckle. But leave enough room so that your fist could fit in it." Steffen showed him how, and then took it off and handed it back to the other boy.
Artemis pointed to the third whole on the top. "Or where the hole is marked"
"Yeah, that works too. Just start leading her up to the gate and wait for me. If you hear Emil tell him Watch is in the pasture."
"Is there anything I say to her?"
"If you want, you can be like "Hi ho Silver." Artemis gave Steffen a look that basically told Steffen he was stupid. "Alright, just say walk on or click."
Artemis started moving forward and asked Robin to 'walk on'. Sure enough, it worked. Steffen didn't lie to him.
Now, I'm not sure if any you have ever led a horse by yourself for the first time, but it's really interesting if you think about it. This animal could kill you and yet it's allowing you to lead it to work. See, it's really kind of a nice thing in that this animal has so much trust in you and that they allow you to lead them wherever (most horses). These thoughts were what were going through Artemis' head as well. Though he was not a horse person, he did not mind being near them. They were not filthy and they did not slobber like dogs. They were graceful and powerful. In some countries to this day, horses were considered to show power and wealth.
It was a wonder that the Fowls did not have any. Of course, he probably wouldn't have ridden even then. He watched for any sign that might give away Robin's decision to bolt, but as they came to the fence, she just went back to lazing about.
He was startled however, when her ears darted forward and she craned her large head around to see what could be coming. Artemis ignored her head on his shoulder and began to plan for what was coming at him.
For a moment, all he could see was a mass of black dashing towards him and the first rational thought was to jump out of the way. Unfortunately that plan of action was killed by Robin because she was standing next to him. It also didn't help if she didn't move. Well go figure; if she wanted to bolt she'd have no problem. I, on the other hand, am not a horse and cannot move as quickly. Another thing he noticed is that the black mass had a halter on and was shaping out to be a horse. So, by evaluating the situation, he concluded the horse was under control or would slow down before it came to Robin.
"This" he heard Steffen's voice from behind the horse "is Marcus Arielus. He's an Arabian. His brother is in one of the far paddocks...we might see him today. But Marcus is one of our more favorable riding horses on trail rides and I think he likes Robin and Watch a little more then his brother does."
This was all very educational. "And Robin is..?."
"Oh! Robin was my sister's first horse; my father gave it to her on Christmas one year. She's half quarter horse and half Saddlebred." Steffen tied the lead rope to the halter. Perhaps Marcus had made a mad dash for the gate and broke the clip. "Makes for a funky trot, but a very cool canter or lope. My sister use to show her in dressage and she's a five gaited horse. Most of these horses are three."
"Making her worth more." He wasn't completely stupid in the terms of horsemanship.
"Exactly. But she's a good horse, she doesn't spook easily." Steffen had swung the gate open, allowing his horse to pass as well as Artemis and Robin. Locking it back in place, Steffen started to move his horse around and Robin just followed him into the barn.
Hooking his horse as well as Robin up to the cross ties, Steffen ducked over and into the tack room, emerging with a bucket of assorted brushes.
"This Potter; is not a golden snitch. It is fact a curry comb." He held up a circular rubber brush with nubs as brush hairs. "You brush everything but the legs, head, and belly. Also. You go in small counter clockwise circles. Then you take the hard brush and flick the dirt off, and it can be used anywhere but the face. The dandy brush goes everywhere, especially the face. Then I'll teach you to pick feet."
"How exciting." These creatures had more brushes than his mother.
"Better than Mr. Reagan's discussions." Steffen shook his brush at Artemis, mocking the stance their teacher had used with them, Artemis found it very amusing. Most kids hated their teachers because they gave them too much to do, but it seemed that both of them hated the students because they didn't listen.
"...That's true...but I'd rather not think about that man. I could have wasted my time doing something more important than that class." Artemis had already started to brush Robin on the left side and was moving on to the next side.
About 10 minutes past and Steffen was giving Artemis lessons on picking out the muck. Artemis noted that both horses were not shoed, and questioned Steffen about it. The response was that they simply did not need it until they were to be showed. Robin simply lifted each foot for him and was very patient. Unlike Marcus, who, every 30 seconds would slam his hoof down next to Steffen's foot. Steffen reprimanded him with a swat on the leg, which made a loud popping noise, and reaffirmed the action with a firm 'no'.
Steffen then showed Artemis how to bridle his horse. Warming the bit between his hands, Steffen explained why they did this. "Seriously, would you like and hard piece of ice shoved into the back of your mouth? It's the least we could do, other than having a soft bit." When Steffen showed him, robin decided to be stubborn about the whole affair, repeatedly not opening her mouth as well as being quick enough to 'spit' the bit back. Artemis was sure Steffen would loose his patients, but he didn't. Instead, he seemed to find it funny.
"Score!" the bit was in and the throat latch was done up. "go ahead and lead her into the arena, and I'll tie Robin on the post."
Artemis did as he was told and led through the gate and shut it. Waiting in the middle he watched as Marcus tried to dash up the small hill and bound in the arena. It was interesting to watch Steffen continually circle his horse and try to walk. Robin kept one ear on the two outside the fence and one on Artemis, though he was as silent as she was.
Steffen stopped and tied his horse to the post and watched him for a moment. Marcus seemed to calm down but his ears were constantly changing directions. "I know when I turn my back he'll try and break the latch again."
"So why not bring him in here?" Simple solution and Steffen laughed.
"I would never have time to focus on you." And Steffen ducked under the wood and into the arena. "Alright, first we're going to work on bareback. That way you have at least a little better balance than without. When we see Emil, we'll tack up for a trail ride and make it back before lunch."
His mounting skills were less than graceful. Steffen had offered him what was called a 'leg up'. This set up is where Steffen laced his fingers together and had Artemis set his knee in them and both of them heaved up. Artemis using his leg to spring up and Steffen using his arms to give Artemis a little more height. He and Steffen were both unaware of each other's strength and almost overcompensated, which would have sent Artemis over the other side. Once he was up though, he was there to stay.
Steffen went over the basics. To both Artemis and Steffen's surprise, Artemis actually had good balance. The only thing that Steffen had to keep reminding Artemis about was his heels and arms. Every time he got his hands down his heels went up, and every time the heels went down the hands came up. Artemis was loosing patients, and was sure Steffen was having a shit fit. Artemis knew that Marcus was causing a fuss and that was probably not what Steffen needed. When Artemis did chance a glance at the other boy, he noticed he was smiling. Artemis averted his attention in front of him and brought Robin to a halt.
"What am I doing wrong now?" exasperated, Artemis found hi self getting just a little frustrated with his 'instructor'.
"Well, it's just very amusing how you naturally have a proper dressage position... if you'd keep those heels and hands down." No matter what happened, he'd always point out that fact. "Emil had the same problem...so we set the stirrups on his feet and if he dropped them he'd have to dismount and pick them up."
"Lovely. Hello Emil" Artemis looked past Steffen and nodded to the auburn hair boy. No longer wearing the wax stained shorts. Emil had dawned a tan hunter's jacket as well as a pair of white breaches with black knee boots. Watch was outfitted with what Steffen would explain to be polo wraps, a black English saddle with a white saddle pad and a matching bridle. Marcus had clamed down extensively and Emil waved a gloved hand at Artemis.
"Jesus Christ, did you have to fight to get out of the house?" Emil sighed and pointed a crossed the fence and stuck up his nose.
Steffen motioned for Artemis to come to the middle and watched as he dismounted. "Fucking Nazis, patrolling the fence like that." Both boys left the small arena and headed back to the barn.
With a whirlwind of leather and metal, Artemis found himself getting in the jyst of tacking up. Steffen wasn't rushing, but it seemed as though it was done in a flash, and soon all three boys were heading back out towards the pasture.
Unlocking the paddock gate, Steffen allowed his horse to pass, then Artemis and Robin, Emil and Watch close behind. Silence was woven around the boys as they walked further out towards a small forest. Artemis found his legs to be slightly sore as he walked next to Robin.
This short walk gave him time to evaluate his day, and how it was being spent. Surely, he reminded himself, that this was not a waste of his time. This whole 'force-your-kids-to-be-friends' thing had some deeper meaning, and he would thank his parents in the long run. Artemis glanced at Steffen. A very long run, he corrected. Though, he had lengthened his knowledge on horsemanship and he was absolutely going to need that later in life.
First Emil mounted up, then Artemis and Steffen fell in line, still shrouded in silence. Artemis remembered Steffen explaining about a horse only needing body cues and different pressure signals to get them to do what the rider might or might not want. It seemed as though that was what was going on between them. The silence was not awkward, just dead air, there wasn't that much to talk about. Artemis followed Steffen as he led the way on a dirt trail entering the wide spread trees. The afternoon sun had not risen yet, and the morning dew still clung to the grass. Artemis' borrowed pants were soaked at the bottom, but he could not tell because the boots prevented the wet from seeping in.
"How are your stirrups?" Steffen asked, looking behind him. Artemis shrugged and Steffen settled back into the front. "Can you post?"
"Yes."
"Let's trot." With that, Steffen signaled Marcus to trot, and Robin started off with out being told. Artemis found it a challenge to stay on the right diagonal, look ahead, and keep his helmet from cracking him in the face.
Trees pasted in a small blur and Artemis felt just a little lighter, but as soon as the small flash of security popped up, it was shattered. He felt a gush of wind past his right, immediately Marcus spooked and Steffen was swearing. Artemis saw the disaster play out in front of him.
As Marcus came up Steffen was not so lucky, his helmet crashed into one of the tree branches, knocking him out. Slow motion became a must as the boy fell to the ground. Urging his mount to help the fallen boy, Artemis felt another gush of wind and Robin took off.
Clinging to her mane and taking up a jockey's position, Artemis prayed that she would stop, and watched as she dodged the branches in their way. Trying to catch hold of the reigns, Artemis nearly took a tumble of his own, but someone caught him and his reigns. As soon as it had started, it was over. Robin had slowed to a halt and Artemis was left clutching her mane and looking at who stopped them. Robin was shifting as he looked up; Emil was sitting there, looking very startled and worried. Artemis was too out of breath to say much, and Emil seemed to understand.
Emil smiled reassuringly, and led Robin back to where the accident had occurred. Artemis was trying to remember which direction they had come, but it seemed they would not need it. Steffen had woken up in a bad mood and Artemis could hear his swearing a mile away.
"I'm going to fucking kill them that was fucking trespassing, next time I'm taking John's shotgun and popping a cap in those sons of a bitch's ass." Yes, that was definitely Steffen, his lack of grammar and vocabulary live and vivid. Artemis let out the breath he had been holding as he spotted Steffen on his feet.
Artemis could add two and two, but to get it verified at this point would be a nice thing to have. "What happened?"
"O'Conellys, came and harassed the hell out of Marcus. He's still green, so he spooked as soon as that horse pasted him. And then they raced Robin." Steffen patted her softly on the neck.
"I thought you said she wouldn't spook." So much for that trust thing Steffen was preaching about.
Steffen dusted his pants off. "She doesn't. She just has a racing problem. You know, horse road rage."
"Thank you for the warning." Steffen glanced at his watch and sighed, grabbing a hold of Artemis' reigns. "What are you doing? You're not riding with me."
"We should head home anyways; Temair is in the middle of making lunch." Steffen stepped on Artemis' foot. "Give me your hand."
Without waiting, Steffen took a hold of Artemis and swung himself behind the other boy. Artemis had to sit deep to avoid getting pulled off by the other boy. Once again, they were off, small bickering came up between the two, but was settled easily by a glare of doom from Emil. He was now leading them both because both had fought over steering privileges.
Catching Marcus at the gate they were relieved to find he had not been injured, and his tack was still in place. Dismounting yet again, Steffen led the way into the barn, helping Artemis understand the basics of un-tacking. After that had been done, Emil sat in the trailer part of the three-wheeler and the two boys sat up front. Artemis was once again, clutching on for dear life and watched the scenery pass in a blur. Just as the rest of the day would.
It seemed to have merged into one picture frame. He didn't remember saying goodbye and he didn't remember getting home and falling asleep in his bed. The days adventure still fresh in his mind. Somewhere, a small bond had grown, and he would have to realize it sooner or later. For both Steffen and him, it would be best if he did it sooner rather than the later. He could barely hear his cell phone go off and did not notice his mother peeking in to make sure he wasn't dead and still in one piece.
Alright. I have never owned a horse. I work at horse camps and I use to ride. These accounts are based on my general knowledge, that of my friends, and co-workers. Do not take the information from this and try to ride or tack up by yourself. It takes practice to get good at anything, especially riding. Also, you don't need to point your heels down when you are riding bareback because you don't have a saddle. It's just a teaching method. Always wear a helmet (even though I don't sometimes) and ride in pairs.