Guarding was probably the most mundane part of my job. I disliked standing around, and had soon discovered that a mute guard wasn't much of a guard either. It was not like I could just scream to my colleagues for help. That did not mean that I wasn't going to do my duty though, just because something is challenging, does not make it impossible. I always carried a small, golden whistle around. It had been forged especially for me on Svartalfheim by the dwarves. The magic weaved through the gold allowed me to make a range of sounds, depending on the situation. I could pick from obnoxious and deafening to a soft warning.
I did not use it that often though and usually just kicked any problems down myself, though I doubted I could handle an invasion from the frost giants, I was usually just fine by myself.
Today however I did not have to stand staring at the same door, or marching the same area for hours. Today I was assigned somewhere different. Today was one of those days that made you love your job.
There had been some suspicious behaviour near the castle and the Allfather had decided to up the security. That meant that more soldiers and guards were marching the castle. They had no need of me inside so I was assigned to patrol through the forest at the edge of the castle, and report back any suspicious behaviour. This meant I was allowed to take one of the horses from the stable, and ride all day through the forest. It might not be a fun ride around the beautiful country, I was still on duty, but boy did it feel like that.
After changing into another outfit that was more suited for riding, I practically skipped towards the stables. I loved horses and I most certainly didn't mind my assignment for today. I got more and more of these assignments as of late. Not being able to speak had forced me to pay better attention to my surroundings, and thus I was one of the best when it came to finding information in the smallest detail. I was also quite skilled at tracking and had been riding horses since I had been young. Those magnificent creatures had always surprised me. They were so strong that they could seriously hurt any being, yet they determined us fit to ride them for hours. They carried the strongest man and the littlest girl. Their bravery and intelligence kept surprising me every time I met one.
The stable was probably something I would always dream off. Large, clean stables filled with the best of the best horses from around the nine realms. I used to sneak into the stables to pet the horses when I first started working as a guard. I had missed the horses that ran wild around our house. It had taken me ages to be able to touch them, but I hadn't minded. Just watching as they ran around the forest until they reached the clearing. Them playing in the clearing and at the river when I was washing clothes. That was enough for me. The horse we had at home for the farm work was often busy and most of the time I couldn't ride him. When it was winter and he had more free time, I was so much more busy because of the extra chores.
I managed to ride him regularly though, first in secret, after just not caring what my family thought about it. His name was Ameno, meaning the soft breeze. I loved that horse, even when he threw me of, or when he didn't want to run with the wild herd. I understood and accepted, never forcing him to do anything.
So when I had a tour around the stables on my first day, one name in particular had caught my eye. Ameno. There was a horse here called Ameno. His dappled, gray head looked nothing like the brown stallion I had left behind at home, but something inside me just clicked. This was the horse I wanted to ride.
None of the other guards liked him though, and he was never picked to go to battle with a soldier. They said he was slow and lazy. I knew different. I could see the intelligence in his large brown eyes, the knowledge he carried in his pointed ears. I was the first ever to choose him when training for the cavalry, and I was the first ever to ride him on guard duty. And suddenly he had become my unofficial horse. None of the other guard wanted him except me, so I got the privilege.
It really did feel as a privilege to ride this horse, who lived up to his name so much. He was in every way like the soft breeze, filled with promises and joy. I always loved the first warm breeze of spring, it was calming in a way to know winter was coming to an end. Both the Ameno's were very calm and felt very secure when riding. However the Ameno from the royal stables held with him the promise of something more. I still did not know of what more it was not a secret he had revealed to me as of yet, but it was still so much different than the old Ameno at home, who knew he was never going to be anything more than a farmers horse.
When I entered I could see a small, grey head hanging over the stable. Ameno nickered at me, urging me to move faster. However he wasn't the only dappled, grey horse that wanted my attention today. I could hear Sleipnir nicker and stomp in his stable. I could even see the wall he was behind shake with the force of his kicks. Figures that a horse with eight legs has quite the mean kick. Sleipnirs stable was all the way to the back, opposite the tack room. Ameno's stable was next to the tack room, so that meant when visiting Ameno, I also visited Sleipnir.
The grey, eight-legged horse was a legend, ridden by the one and only Allfather. Mothered by prince Loki. It had been quite the scandal when this little detail had been leaked from the castle, and the prince had to live in shame for quite some time. That was until Sleipnir proved himself to be the fastest horse alive, and probably also the smartest.
In the stables he had a different legend though. The most dangerous horse around. With eight legs to kick, and teeth to bite, added with the strength of the gods, this horse was no play around. His stable was the biggest of all, and also had the thickest walls. Where the other horses could stick their heads out, Sleipnirs stable was closed off with thick metal bars, to make sure he wasn't able to bit any of the guards or stable hands. Only a few could handle the horse, one being Loki off course, and that meant Sleipnir spend most of his time locked up in his stall.
I hopped over to Ameno to give him his apple, before heading over to the stable Sleipnir was currently breaking down.
Sleipnir whinnied and looked me in the eyes before settling down, he knew he would not get his apple otherwise. It did not matter how often I saw this horse, the intelligence in his eyes always astounded me. It felt like I was looking into eyes as old as the universe. Eyes that had knowledge I would never be able to comprehend.
I quickly unlocked his stable, not wanting to anger him by making him wait any longer than necessary, and slipped in. He happily took the apple from my hand, and while munching on me let me pet him. His soft and warm coat did look a bit dirty, and less shiny today. I frowned as I continued to stroke him, seeing the dirt cling to my hands. He had not been brushed. Not in quite some time. With a last pat on his neck I exited his stable, and closed the thick door. I walked back along the hallway until I found what, or rather who I was looking for.
Rayar was the head stable hand. He was currently checking one of the other horses. I gestured for him to come to me, and pointed towards Ameno. I knew he would come over when he was done checking the horse, so I headed back to Ameno and started brushing.
About ten minutes passed and I was about ready with brushing Ameno when Rayar came up to me.
'What can I help you with today Lady Kyra? Is something wrong with Ameno? I hope it is okay we didn't tack him up for you, but I know you rather do it yourself.'
I quickly shook my head to show him Ameno was fine, and shaking my hand in front of my chest signing it was fine that he hadn't tacked up Ameno. I did rather do it myself, as I was the one who had to ride and rely on both the horse and the tack.
He quickly relaxed after that, a serious complaint from a guard of my position could give him quite the trouble.
'What is it then?'
I pointed to Sleipnir who was watching us from his stable.
'Sleipnir? What is wrong with him?' I could see worry on his face. Sleipnir was an important horse, it was unacceptable if something was wrong with him.
I pointed to my brush, to Sleipnir and then to Ameno. Hoping for him to understand me without having to write it down.
'Sleipnir and a brush…' I could almost see the wheels turn in Rayars head. 'He hasn't been brushed?' he questioned me. I nodded, happy he had guessed on his own.
'Aye my Lady, it is true he hasn't been brushed as of late. The brute has been hurting so much of my helpers, no one wants to enter his stable. All are afraid of him.'
I pointed to myself and to the door of the stable and to Sleipnir. Not many were able to walk Sleipnir to the pasture, but as he had taken a liking to me I was. Rayar was a big, strong bulky man, and together with about four of five other men he had been able to the last few times, but it was not something he liked doing.
'We would appreciate if you did my Lady. We asked prince Loki, but he said he had no time to do the job of a simple servant.'
That made my blood boil, poor Sleipnir just needed to run to let go off some of his excess energy. And his mother was too lazy to take proper care of him. Such a lazy, stuck up prince!
I closed Amenos stable, grabbed Sleipnirs halter and crossed the hallway. Sleipnir almost jumped out of his stable with excitement when he saw his halter. I stood still in front of his stall, waiting for him to calm down. Not even I was able to control him when he was like this. He whinnied and stomped his hooves down in a thundering sound, urging me to come in. I was not budging though, and he quickly composed himself. I squinted my eyes at him, and he let his head hang low, my cue that he was going to behave. Thus I walked in, put the halter on him, and nodded to Rayar to open the stable.
'Sleipnir is coming through!' He shouted through the stable before shoving open the door. Sleipnir wanted to take a run for it but I quickly held him back. Walking with big, strong steps, my shoulder high, I showed to him that he had to listen to me.
His hooves slammed on the concrete floor with every step, and it felt like thunder itself was walking next to me. We walked to the biggest field, where Rayar opened the fence and I quickly unleashed the rope on his halter. How much I may have wanted, there was no way for me to let him enter this pasture in a quiet and organised manner. I could be glad he had behave like he had.
As I saw him dash and jump through the field and disappear out of view towards the far end, I wished I was allowed to put him out every day. I couldn't though, part due to my job, and part because it wasn't allowed. Odin did not want his trusted steed to be hurt, or in danger of it. When he was running free in the field, he could be hurt, or worse he could jump the fence and disappear. So the rule was that he could only go outside when he really had to. The man in charge of that decision was Rayar. He had probably decided that today was one of those necessary times for the horse to run around outside, before he killed someone.
'Thank you my Lady. I wish you would not have to do such a harmful job as handling that horse.' Rayar sighed as he looked to Sleipnir. 'But it is quite the magnificent creature isn't he?'
I nodded and patted him on his arm, signalling I did not mind. I loved Sleipnir, and was happy to help Rayar whenever he needed it.
I headed back to the stable to tack up Ameno. I had to head up before someone noticed how late I was. I did not want to lose the opportunity to ride.
Within minutes Ameno was tacked up and we headed off into the forest. Time to find some bandits I smiled to myself, before urging Ameno to pick up the pace.
