Centaurian

I hear the clank of armour and booted feet approaching before I see them enter, the fury on the mans face obvious as he drags the small female roughly by the arm and throws her to the ground before my stall.

“Speak now the truth, I warn you foolish girl, Hast thou had dealings with this beast beyond my consent or knowledge.”

She looked at him through teary eyes and sobbed “I have my Lord”

“Why dost thou see fit to act behind my back?”

“I wished only to save its poor life my Lord, thou hast decreed it forfeit for mere curiosity sake”

“Indeed I have spoken thus, you seek to second guess me in this”

his face is red and swollen in his fury

“Dare thee gainsay me in anything thou bitch. Perhaps thou had best worry about thy own pitiful life first”

He struck her with the back of his hand and she collapsed to the ground, he looked down at her in rage as he drew his sword and I tensed in fear that he had drawn it to run her through with it.
Instead he looked now to me and in his fury strode to the door of the stall pulling it open and kicking it back.
My bunched rear legs threw me forward into him and I swept him from the ground with a cry of rage, his sword dropping from his hand as I smashed into him and lifted him, the fingers of my left hand a claw taking his throat and lifting till my right hand grasped his inner leg.

I lifted him higher as I gained momentum crossing the barn and rammed him into the support of the roof, a sickening crack from his spine drowning out the squish of his head against the wall. I felt the impact jar my arms then his body grow limp, I shook his carcass again and bellowed in anger before I threw it from me in disgust.

I turned to find the female gaining her feet and looking from me to the body, and back again, her mouth open wide and her eyes showing her horror. She took a while to compose herself and I give it her.

“Thou hast killed the future King yet done this land a great favour, still they will seek a retribution paid by your blood, you must flee as best you can, as soon as you can before they discover his body”

“Men are everywhere on the estate and I stand out far to obvious, I would be halted before I could get to the woods, even I cannot outrun a crossbow bolt”

She looked around for a moment then settled on plan, reaching for the headstall I had worn yesterday she reached up to place it on my head and then smiled as she handed it to me. I took it as I realised what she had in mind and I quickly fixed it to my head, slipping the bit between my teeth.

She then bade me closer to the sliprail and climbing it, mounted my back, this time without saddle or stirrup. I passed the reins over my head and felt her take them as she settled. I felt her touch her heels to my side to urge me forward and as she rode me from the stable, I realised I was finally achieving my freedom, though I was hardly escaping.

None gave her a second glance astride the dumb beast she rode, once they realised who she was and we soon made our way beyond the sight of any human.

I felt her relax astride me as we made our way out, and I felt her gather herself to speak,

“ I owe you a great debt and I have treated thee less than admirable, thou hast given me a chance to rule my own people as I need not remarry now according to our laws to attain the throne.”

I tried to reply but the bit was in my mouth and it made a mumble come out, I felt her pull on the reins as she silenced me, to finish what she was saying.

“How can I even begin to thank you or apologise for how we humans have treated you, I guess a good start would be to get off and walk at least'

I felt her reach for the headstall and let it fall forward and clear of my mouth before lifting it clear of my head. She then lifted her leg over and slid to the ground, her palm patting my side as she stepped clear.

“Go now in good health with good wishes my friend, if ever my hand can be raised in your cause, you need only seek me out”

I looked down at her small face and lifted her chin again with my fingertips, looking into her face

“I seek for now only a kiss to part with, for I will return, thou hast given me pause for thought”

thought's I could keep only to myself till time helped me deal with them.

I kissed her without letting my eyes move from hers, even when our lips finally parted and as I drew from her I could not help myself

“Besides, when I return I must again carry thee on a ride, I think you may need those spurs that you tossed away after all”

I galloped off leaving her flushed in shame yet waving goodbye happily as I made for the woods and my freedom. At the edge of the trees I reared up to my full height and waved to her in goodbye and thanks, and reluctantly entered the trees, there thick trunks obscuring her from my view but not my thoughts.

Adventures and time have now past and I have returned to my people to enjoy my aging among my own kind. The story of my escape made good telling though now the young listen to it and pretend not to be bored, it's nice of them to consider an old man who tells stories over and over.

The Lady has passed from mortal life yet not from my memory, for humans live such short life spans but I wonder oft if she actually kept those spurs in case I returned.