Amazingly the girl's horse was still standing in pretty much the same spot when I remembered it half an hour later. This time I paid more attention to the horse since her rider wasn't around. It was a huge horse, not like the quarter horses we used on the ranch. This one was jet black with white streaks in its mane and tail. It lowered its massive nose into my chest when I got close enough. Hoping I had a treat I guess. Either way, I have no idea how the girl, Sage, had a chance of standing up when it does that, cause I almost couldn't. Sage barely bigger than Kimiko, taller though. Speak of the devil.
"His name is Mage. Be careful around him. He, uh, doesn't like everyone." She looks very uncomfortable watching me this close to her horse, but then her face cleared and she beamed a million watt smile at me. "He likes you. You're Clay Bailey, right?"
I nodded. She just kinda folded and wound up sitting gracefully on the ground. The horse moved past me and lay down behind her. She looked up and patted the grass beside her. So of course I sat.
"You know I don't think the girl likes me much." She said looking a little confused and down.
"She kind of liked the guy you replaced." She cringed when I said that.
"I was afraid of that, but I can't change his mind." She said as she flopped backwards, folding her hands under her head. How does she do that and still look graceful?
"The Stars are even different here. Were you homesick when you first came here? I am trying not to be. But I used to be able to walk through the lanes and not see a person or a building for hours. It's too cramped here, with all these people in this tiny compound. I'm sorry. I complain much for someone just arrived. Know anywhere I can put Mage without him doing too much damage?"
I led her to a small building near the outside of the temple grounds that looked like it had been a stable a long time ago. It was kept clean of course, but it smelled old. She looked around making sure that there wasn't anything on the ground that could hurt a hoof before she let the horse go in. She was seeing to the hors's needs, but I swear I could hear her stomach growling from here. She gave Mage a final pat and left the stable.
"So is dinner soon? " She asked grinning at me. I couldn't help but grin back.
We got back to the main temple and dinner was ready waiting on us. Master Fong arched an eyebrow at me, probably because I was still grinning like an idiot. Then when she also sat beside me the other one went up. I just shrugged and served myself and her. Sage I have to say made a huge effort to be friendly with Kimiko. Omi already accepted her before she arrived but he was starting to like her now as well. He was asking a lot of questions about her past and Ireland. Which she answered all of them without hesitation, she hid nothing from us. She was born in America, Tennessee actually, then moved to Ireland around the time she turned 8. She found out at age 10 she could control air. When she caused a whirlwind that blew a brutal handler off of Mage's back. Then at age 11 she began training with an actual sage in the highlands of Scotland. Master Fong had known about her all along but had chosen Rai for his leadership abilities instead of her for her easygoingness. I can tell he still regrets his decision about Rai. Kimiko unbent enough to ask her about the fashions in Ireland. I kinda tuned them out at that point and was eating with a bit much enthusiasm I guess because I didn't hear Kimi ask me something till my mouth was completely full of food. It took longer to chew that mouthful, with everyone looking at me then its ever taken me to chew anything. When I could finally ask her what she said, Sage was almost beside herself with laughter.
"I said that you would probably love to go riding with her, and show her the grounds when we are not training tomorrow RIGHT CLAY??" Kimiko was trying to dumb it down for me. I hate when she does that, but I chose to answer the question instead of argue with her.
"Yeah be mighty glad to. Only I don't have a horse"
"I believe Mage may be big enough for the both of us." She said tilting her head and grinning at me in a way that made my heart beat just a little faster.
Kimi scowled at her, I only caught it out of the corner of my eye and it was gone so quickly I almost missed it. I guess she doesn't like not being the center of attention or something.
"Goodnight all. I am tired and I have a feeling tomorrow might be a bit rough. I've never handled a Shen Gong Wu before, please be patient with me." Sage, still grinning stood and bowed. Then quietly left the room.