Hecarim conspires about his future as the scent of apples fills the air.

A Natural Hunger

"It is a little excessive, isn't it?"

I turn the brush over in my hands. It's plated silver and its back is decorated with an embossed image of a rearing stallion. In its eyes, emeralds are set.

"But what of it?" What if this brush is worth more than man-at-arms? What if the silver could be used to mint coins? What if the emeralds were popped off and sold to fill bread baskets? It isn't for those things. All of it is just so it can be held in my hand. It exists to be admired by me and envied by others."

There is a snorting sound beside me.

"And, I suppose, it also exists to care for you, you Arrogant Bastard."

At the mention on his name, my horse's ears flick back and his dark eyes look over to me. He notices the brush in my hand and he looks into my eyes expectantly. I know what he wants; a bribe. He will behave and in exchange all I need to do is offer him a snack.

"If this is all it takes to keep you content," I say as I pull out an apple, fresh and bright red, from my pack, "then you are by far the easiest to please of my associates."

Arrogance cranes his neck over the stall's door.

"No, not yet."

The sticky sweet aroma of the fruit fills the room as its skin snaps. With care, I cut the fruit into several slices but only give one to Arrogance. He takes it greedily.

"I will give you rest so long as you continue to behave."

I know he will. He thinks he is clever, getting treats for simply standing still. I step into his stall and set about my task.

"You could be eating as well as the king," I speak to him as I begin to brush his onyx coat, "you are a horse of the Iron Order. And not just any horse. You are the steed of the Knight Commander. If I wanted to, you could be dining on what those barbarians say about you do with their fearful rumors; that we take the bodies of our slain foes, grind them up, and feed them to our mounts so that they have a taste for battle."

Arrogance snorts and shakes his head.

"I know. You don't need any persuasion to want to bite someone. You are foul tempered enough without a special diet."

I give him another slice of apple.

"Now, if not through your diet, how else shall I have others know your belong to a powerful man? I would have the farrier shod you in gold were it not such a soft metal."

Arrogance scrapes his hooves across the ground, as if to say that his shoes are fine as they are. Or perhaps, he is simply excited by the mention of the farrier. The new one is actually one of the few people in the kingdom he seems to like, which is fortunate for the farrier. He broke the ribs of the last one he did not like.

"Even if your shoes cannot be golden, I will find another way for you to exude wealth and power, so that I can exude wealth and power. What shall it be? Fine leather? Gilded barding? Orphrey on your caparison? Perhaps all of it?"

Another apple slice is offered and he snaps it up in an instant.

"Or are you simply content with your apples?"

For an answer, he makes a grumbling noise and licks my fingers. His tongue is as rough and unpleasant as usual.

"Bah!"

Reflexively, I wipe my hand off on my pants. These will need to be given to a servant for cleaning later.

"You will be given more later," I remind him, "then you can be content again."

At that word I scoff.

"Content. That feeling when all the basic needs are met. But then what? Am I supposed to simply stop just because I have everything I need? No. Contentment is a thing for beasts. Humans should not be satisfied with that alone. We need things to keep us moving, keep us working, keep us testing ourselves. To want is to be human. Desire, ambition, that is what separates us from beasts."

"Without it I would have never sought knighthood, never climbed through the ranks, never did what was necessary to ensure that I became leader of this Order. And with it I know will do everything that I must on the battlefield. I will churn the earth to mud, splinter shields, trample my foes and send them scattering in terror."

I feel my face pull into a frown.

"Or I would, if given the chance. Fate however seems to have other plans. I have scarcely taken control of the Order and now The Lion of Camavor lies on his deathbed. The Wolf is a foe not even he will be able to defeat. Oh that I could have served under him in his prime instead of his kitten. What glory I could have won! What legacy! Feared and admired for generations. Whether they loved me or cursed my name, I would not be forgotten. But that does not appear what my future will look like."

I let out a dissatisfied grunt and so does Arrogance. For several minutes, I focus on brushing him to try and pull my mind off such frustrating thoughts, but I have little success. With each slice of apple I feed him, I can feel restlessness tumble within me, like a wave swelling before it crashes upon the beach. But there is nothing for my frustration to crash against.

"So is that it?" I hiss at nobody, "am I supposed to learn to be content with my position? A Knight Commander with no grand battles to face? No cities to capture? No more charges to lead? If there are to be no more wars am I to become like you? Someone who sits and waits in this keep dining on apples? Bah!"

His calmness annoys me, as though he is ignoring me, but I know it is because he is a destrier, a warhorse trained to be unstartled by loud noises. I think I would be more angry if a small outburst like that alarmed him.

"No. There must be something I can do. I did not come this far for some untested child to stop me. There must be something."

If for no other reason than to keep myself from pacing, I begin to braid Arrogance's dark mane and as I do, a thought comes to me.

"Braids."

The world leaves my mouth like a sigh.

"Braided hair, a symbol of marriage in the kingdom. A way that I may yet continue to move upwards. The lion may day and the kitten may take the throne, but the Order will not bend the knee to him immediately. No, I will not. Not while the princess remains unmarried. Her hand for my loyalty. A fair trade."

"I believe I am a desirable enough bachelor, do you not agree? I have status, wealth, and more than handsome looks. Anyone woman should be happy to join her house with mine, even a royal one. I know what they will say too, that this alliance of the Knight Commander of the most powerful knightly order and the royal family will spell stability for Camavor for generations."

With a bit of green ribbon, the same shade as the emeralds on the brush, I finish tying the braid.

"And perhaps, since I will be so close to this young king, I could offer my experience and advise him on military matters. I do know the kingdom's foes better than he does. With them removed, there could be wealth here like never before."

I finish the braid and run my fingers along the length of woven green and black.

"And for you, why settle for an apple, when I could give you orchard? This marriage will benefit us all. Would you agree?"

I offer the last slice of apple to Arrogance and without thought or hesitation, he eats.