Jaxn, Chapter 2
After Jaxn had gotten over his initial shock of seeing a pillow randomly appear in front of him, he lay down and tried to go to sleep. But sleep did not come. He spent a restless night tossing and turning. Finally he gave up and just lay on his back staring at the ceiling. As he lay there he tried to figure out what was wrong with him. It felt as though, somehow, a door had been opened in his mind but he couldn't see what was beyond the door. Suddenly there was a gap inside of him that he'd never noticed before that desperately needed to be filled.
He lost track of how long he lay there but slowly the sun began to rise and warm light filtered through the windows to fall across his face. Suddenly a voice sounded in his head that brought him out of his thoughts.
:Hello Jaxn:
Jaxn tumbled of his ledge into a heap on the floor. Slowly he got up and looked around him. Poking her head through one of the windows opposite him was a grey horse. 'White' he corrected himself, she was too dazzling to be just grey. Gradually he worked up the courage to walk over to her, when he reached the mare he reached out a shaking hand to stroke her neck all the time avoiding looking into her eyes. He knew that if he did then he'd end up being over his head in something that he would rather not have a part in. The horse snickered and shoved her head into Jaxn's chest; suddenly she lifted her head up and lifted his chin up in the process. Jaxn looked at her, still trying to avoid looking her in the eye but she was quicker. She looked deep into his gray eyes.
:I love you, and I choose you:
Jaxn turned and walked back to his makeshift bed.
"Why me?" he asked himself pitifully. "I'm only 13, I'm too young to go insane."
The horse looked over to him.
:You're very strange for a 13 yr old:
Jaxn glared at her.
"You don't have to keep doing that, I'm already insane."
He heard the sound of her laughing in his mind.
:Come on then insanity boy, the least you can do is take me back to my stable:
Jaxn laughed and walked outside. When he saw her properly his jaw dropped. She was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, and she was in a very formal sort of tack. Blue leather with silver touches and bells. He shook his head. Must have escaped from the royal stables. Jaxn suddenly brightened up a little. Maybe he'd receive a reward for returning her! With that in mind he made his way across to the buildings on the other side of the gardens. As they came nearer to them Jaxn spotted what looked like a huge set of stables next to an enormous paddock. It was so big in fact that he couldn't see the far side of it, and it contained more white horses though not in full tack as the one he was leading was.
:I have a name boy, Zanterra. I used yours so please have the courtesy to use mine: The voice said, breaking through his thoughts. He turned to glare at the animal.
"We've already established that I'm insane so keep the hell out of my head!"
The horse looked at him in surprise.
:Hmmm, I wonder if this boy is sick in the head to know so little:
"Oy! That's not fair!" he said in outrage.
The horse bowed its head slightly in acknowledgement.
:I am sorry youngling. That thought was not meant for your hearing:
"Oh, and that makes me feel oh so much better."
The horse snickered, but before Jaxn could make a retort they had reached the building. He pushed the door open and led the horse inside. Almost instantly a lad only a few years older than Jaxn was at his side and taking the reins from him.
"That must have been one of the quickest choosing's we've ever had, Zan." He said to the horse laughing. "You only left about an hour ago."
The boy turned to Jaxn.
"You should go and report to the collegium, I'll look after her from here."
Jaxn looked at him in confusion. Zanterra shook her head slightly and shoved the boy out of the way with her head. She walked out of the stable with Jaxn following.
:What he means dear, is that you should go to that tall white building over there and tell them what's happened. They'll sort you out with your, err, 'reward':
Jaxn sighed, but started off in the direction of the building.