Disclaimer is in Chapter 1

Tamura

Chapter 3

It was almost a month and a half before they had another free day. Tamura wasn't the first one up, most likely because Lancelot had kept her up with a set of dice. She had played half-heartedly toward the end and he'd finally taken mercy on her and let her sleep. She was however the second one to wake and as she approached the door to the barracks she spotted Dagonet resting against the outside wall, watching the sunrise. He looked over at her as she joined him for a few moments.

"You're up early." She commented softly so as not to wake the others.

"I like to watched the sun come up." He answered equally as quiet. "What plans do you have today?"

"I'm taking Arthur riding. Would you like to join us?" He watched her for a moment before nodding. "I want to warn you though…" She trailed off.

"About what?"

"He's terrified of you." Dagonet looked surprised. "You don't believe me, do you?" He shook his head. "He is. I think its because you're so tall." She laughed when he seemed to become perplexed of height being frightening. He just shrugged after a few minutes and started to walk toward the barn. Tamura trailed behind him.

Jols, a young stable hand met them at the door. He smiled politely and stepped aside. Dagonet immediately went to his mare. He talked softly to her in Sarmatian. She couldn't hear what he said, but the horse's ears flicked back to him constantly.

"Jols?" She called before the boy could disappear out the door.

"Yes, my lady?" She sighed. She'd tried hard to get him to stop referring to her like that, but it never seemed to stick.

"Is there a horse that is calm enough for Arthur to ride? He is to go with me today." The boy appeared to think it over for a moment. It looked as though he were keeping track of all the horses in his head, mentally cataloging them and discarding the ones that were unsuitable.

"Valeria, should be a good mount for him. She's by far the calmest. She was a foal his father bought for him, never got a chance to tell his son either. I trained her myself."

"Then I'm sure she'll be perfect. Does his mother know?"

"No. No one had the heart to tell her after the commander's death."

"How old will Arthur be, this coming year?"

"Old enough to enter the training. His birthday is in a month."

"Then perhaps we should give our future commander a gift." Jols eyes lit up happily at the thought.

"Perhaps we should. I'll saddle Valeria." He walked back to the saddles and chose one for Arthur before choosing a snowy white mare. She had perfect arch to her neck and strong legs. She pranced daintily on her lead but stood calmly by as Jols saddled her. Tamura tore her eyes away and went to saddle her own horse. A few minutes later, they were on their way to collect Arthur.

They met Arthur and his mother at their garden gate. Dagonet gave Arthur pause, but when he saw the pretty mare he was leading, all fear disappeared. His smile was infectious. His mother looked slightly anxious to see Dagonet with Tamura but didn't say anything. However her tight smile gave her away.

"My lady, have you met Dagonet?" Tamura invited.

"Not yet, but it is a pleasure." She said politely. Dagonet gave her slight bow and a quick, friendly smile. Arthur was watching the mare but was listening to the exchange. His eyes finally landed fully on the tall man beside his favorite recruit.

"Arthur, this is Dagonet. He is going to ride with us today." Arthur nodded and made the last step up to the mare and stroked her nose. The mare, almost as if she knew who he was, dropped her head to his shoulder and snuffled against him. His peal of laughter relaxed everyone.

"Arthur, may I help you up?" Dagonet asked, his voice a deep rumble next to Arthur's boyish voice. The boy nodded. He was scooped up and deposited on the back of the horse in seconds. Dagonet's large hands seemed to wrap completely around him. He checked and made sure Arthur had his feet in the stirrups and a good grip on the reins before he let go and mounted his own horse. Tamura looked at them sitting next to one another and could almost see Arthur as their son. She briefly wondered what their children would look like, but quickly pushed the thought away as trivial and impossible, especially with life as a knight.

"We'll be back in time for supper. I've packed lunch for us." Tamura informed his mother as she mounted her own horse. She nodded and watched from the gate as they rode off down the path. She knew in he heart that her only child was in good hands, the safest hands possibly in the entire fort.

They took the road out of the fort but away from the trees toward the coast. They were well aware of the dangers that lurked near the trees, and in the trees and thought it best to steer clear of any dangers. Arthur was quiet, looking around at the sky and hills, but it didn't take long for him to turn his attention back to their ride. He was already completely enamored with his mare.

"Tamura, what is her name?" He asked suddenly.

"Whose name?" She looked at him curiously, his question seeming to come out of the blue.

"My horse." His tone suggested she should have known what he was talking about, as if he would ask about anything else.

"Oh, Valeria. Her name is Valeria."

"Valeria." It was half whispered with reverence. The mare twitched her ears back when he spoke and put a little more bounce into her stride as though to say 'why yes, that is my name'. Arthur laughed. "What is you horse's name?"

"Arsalion."

"And yours Dagonet?"

"Storane."

"They all have such strong names."

"Their names befit their purpose. They are trained to be brave and to fight, just like us. They will carry us into battle. Their names must be as strong as their hearts already are." Dagonet answered. It was by far the most he'd ever said in one moment. Tamura smiled at him.

They rode over the hills, sometimes quickly, at an easy canter, sometimes slowly at a walk. They stopped for lunch and she and Dagonet took turns sparring with Arthur per his request. Afterwards they turned back toward the fort. By the time they reached the inner gate, Dagonet had taken to hold Arthur in his arms so as to keep him from falling while she led his mare. They handed him off to his mother who smiled at them happily and without reservations this time.

Dagonet and Tamura led the horses back to the stables. Jols took Valeria off to her stall and began to groom her. They followed suit with their own horses. Jols finished first and left them to their tasks. She finished first and was watching Dagonet from the stall door as he gave Storane the last few strokes of the brush and a quick scratch behind the ears. Then suddenly he was very close to her. His beautiful eyes were very intense as the looked down at her and she could feel his soft breathing on her cheek. His hand reached up and caressed her face with rough fingertips. Then his lips were pressed against hers in a searing kiss. She didn't react at first but then a warmth spread through her much like it had so many days before under his gentle teasing and she was kissing him back with equal passion. A soft clearing of a throat behind them had them springing apart and the turned to see Bors standing in the stable doorway.

"I came to see if you two were back yet and would be joining us for dinner, but I see you've already eaten." His bawdy sense of humor overtook them. Tamura blushed and then something new and wonderful happened. Dagonet started to laugh, at first a rumble in his chest the burst from between his lips and caught her by surprise with its rich quality. She was shocked into laughter herself and Bors chuckled along with them.

"We're coming, Bors." Dagonet slung an arm around her and followed him out into the night. He didn't let go until they were seated at the table with the others. They all took it in stride, some of them even smiled knowingly as if they had expected something of the sort to happen much sooner than it did. The only one who seemed unhappy with the new turn of events was Lancelot, who stayed stonily silent and kept his eyes fixed on his plate.