Chapter Six

I was at the training grounds at dawn, just like Moonwise had told me. There were about twelve other females, nearly all of them centaurs and a few fauns. They stood with a spear in one hand and a sword in another. I looked from side to side, unsure of what to do. After the hazy dawn had brightened into early morning, Moonwise arrived. She looked over our group and nodded. Then she looked at me and said, "You'll need a mount. Do you know how to ride?" I chewed my lip and shook my head no. She gave a grunt and then said, "All right. Come with me to the stables." I followed her to the long tent that served as a stable for the many horses that were for the battle. Some were regular horses and donkeys, but others were Talking Horses that had agreed to allow themselves to be ridden for the battle. And then we came to a stall where the most beautiful creature I had ever seen stood. He was the purest of whites, and his mane felt like silk and flowed all the way down his neck. He had a small amount of feathering on his heels and a small beard under his chin. And from his poll grew a sparkling spiral horn. It was a very pale bluish white and tapered to a sharp point about 16 inches from his forehead. I drew in an awe-filled breath as his liquid brown eyes moved over my figure. He looked so intelligent and it was as if he were studying me.

"This is Anduril. He is a unicorn. You will be riding him in the battle." I looked at her in shock. "Me? Ride him? But…shouldn't someone…umm, better ride him?" She smiled and raised her dark eyebrows. "Anduril is much more intelligent than a regular horse. Nearly as intelligent as a Talking Horse, only he cannot speak. He can understand everything you say, making him an excellent mount even for someone who has little or no skill riding upon a horse. That is why he will be better for you. He will take care of you in the battle, and can also fight. Now, we shall teach you to ride." With that she turned and began walking towards a big open field outside the horse tent. I looked back at Anduril and said, "Well…I guess we should follow her. So come on." I started walking after Moonwise, looking back to make sure he was coming. Sure enough, he was following right behind me.

Once at the riding ground, Moonwise instructed me to mount Anduril. I approached him, ready to climb up on his broad white back. But instead, he knelt to his knees, which made his back lower and easier for me to mount him. Once I was settled on him, he rose back up. I gasped and grabbed his soft mane for balance. Moonwise nodded and Anduril started walking. I leaned forward and held on to his neck as he walked, feeling extremely unsteady way up there.

Over the next few days, I would go to the horse tent at dawn, brush Anduril, and meet Moonwise at the grounds for my lesson. She would instruct me on what to practice for an hour, and then she would leave me and my unicorn alone while she went to train the other centaurs. My balance grew steadier and my confidence grew stronger as I practiced steering only with my legs. I would need both of my hands free to fight with. Anduril sensed the slightest leg pressure and responded to it. I squeezed with my right leg and he would turn right, and vice versa. I talked to him constantly, and he really did understand everything I said. "All right Andy, I guess we'll try cantering today. But if you feel me slipping, stop, ok?" We went from his comfortable walk up into a trot. His trot was bouncy, but I could sit it well now after all of the practice. Then I clucked my tongue, and he shifted gears and moved up into a canter. His ivory hooves drummed the ground with soft thuds of 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3. The canter was faster, but it was rolling and smooth and I found it was comfortable to ride. I relaxed, and we went all the way around the camp and back to the stable. When we stopped, I slid off of Anduril's back and threw my arms around his muscular neck. I felt proud of my accomplishments on horseback and felt ready for anything Moonwise could throw at me.

Well, maybe not quite everything. Moonwise made me practice galloping, fighting on horseback, archery on horseback, mounting and dismounting at a gallop, jumping, everything. I had my fair share of falling off, and my body had purplish bruises at various stages of healing all over it. My body was a rainbow. But at the end of my first month I had solid training in all areas. Moonwise decided I had come far enough to continue practicing on my own. I felt proud of my accomplishments and had formed a bond with Anduril, who I fondly called Andy.