It's time

Mary patted Buttercup goodbye and as she walked out of the box Tenac chuckled and shook his head.

“What?” she asked. He walked up to her and plucked several straws of hay out of her hair.

“How did you even manage to get it on top of your head?” he asked.

“I’m not as tall as you” Mary pointed out with a smile, and they started walking out of the stable.

“Is Addon your horse?” Mary asked.

“He is, do you want to see him?” Tenac asked.

“I would love to”

“Okay, come along, he’s in another stable” Tenac told her and lead her outside.

“These two stables” Tenac said, pointing at the one they just exited and the one next to it. “They hold the general horses. Any rider or aari can use them after letting the stable master know”

“The two stables over there” he said pointing at two stables that stood at a nighty degree angle of each other. “Are where the horses that are owned by a rider are” he continued.

“The last stable over there is for the horses owned by aari. Not many aari have horses, they mostly use the communal ones” he finished as they walked into one of the stable holding riders’s horses.

“This is Addon” Tenac told her, and Mary couldn’t help but stare at one of the most beautiful horses she had seen. It had a light grey body, and its head, legs, tale and mane were black. He was huge, but still graceful.

“He is stunning” Mary said and Tenac smiled and held out his hand towards Addon. The horse came to him and let him rub his hand all over its head.

“He is, and he is fast, smart and loyal” Tenac praised the horse. “Come, give me your hand.”

Mary cautiously walked up to Tenac and gave him her hand. She instinctively knew that Addon was nothing like Buttercup and he wouldn’t appreciate her patting him or coming up to close to him.

“Addon, Mary’s a friend” Tenac told the horse and placed her hand on his muzzle. Mary held her hand on that same spot until Addon snorted loudly. Then she gently rubbed his nuzzle and then took a step back.

“Have you always been around horses?” Mary asked as they were walking home.

“Yes, my father was a rider but more so, he was from one of the Che’hul clans. Horses was his life, and he would take me down to the stables or to my grandfather as often as he could” Tenac said. It was the first time he had mentioned his father and Mary could hear a hint of pain in his voice.

“How long has it been since you lost your father?” Mary asked, Tenac looked at her.

“We lost him eight years ago” he told her. “Just about a year before mother went to Dermes for the first time.” She nodded and couldn’t understand what strength the Lady had to possess to be able to make such a journey so soon after loosing her husband.

Mary remembered how Tariana had talked about finding her love and how much in love she had sounded when talking about it.

“The pain never goes away completely” Mary stated. They had never ventured into this topic before, but after their last walk Mary felt like it was okay to talk about these things with him.

“No, it doesn’t“ he agreed.

“What are a Che’hul clan?” sha asked, trying to pronounce it as Tenac had.

“The Che’hul are clans of nomads that live on the plains surrounding the city. Their life revolves around horses. Each clan has a heard of horses that they move across the plains, seeking out the best graze” he explained.

“Everyone knows that Che’hul horses are the best horses one can get. But the clans don’t sell their horses to just5 anyone. The few of their horses that are owned by non-clan members are most often gifts. It is a rare gift and a sign of deep respect and honour to receive one” he continued.

“Addon is a Che’hul horse, isn’t he?” Mary asked him.

“Yes, he comes from my grandfathers heard. Through my father I’m a member of the clan, even if I don’t live amongst them” he confirmed. “But I always try to visit with them when they are close to the city.”

They continued to talk about his family as they walked, he told her about his uncles and aunts and cousins that he had in the clan. Mary enjoyed hearing about them, it made the walk go by in an instant and soon they were saying goodbye, deciding they would see each other the next Sunday.

In the evening, when Mary had retired back to her room, she finally decided that it was time to send back a reply to Anna and Zerden. She was ready and she had been thinking about what to write for several days. She took out her writing tools and got comfortable at her desk.

‘Dear Anna,

I was happy to get your reply, even if parts of it made me sad. I’m sorry to hear about the state the city is in, and I hope that food will come, and that the sickness will go away. There is so much suffering because of it.

Congratulation on Zerden’s promotion, I understand how proud you all are of him. It is an amazing accomplishment.

I have been here in Salmis for two months and I have a hard time describing everything that has happened. Even since my last letter there has been so many new things in my life, and new people.

Fist I would like to give you a gift. Included with this letter you will find a small bag of tea. If you drink it each morning it will help you with the headaches. It should make them less common. I have also included a list of herbs that the tea are made of and in what proportions. They should be easy to get from the pharmacist.

It is Bettina that taught me how to make the tea. She is really an amazing herbalist and she have let me come along on her visits and have taught me many things. I feel truly blessed to have her as my family.

The same goes for Kopa, he takes care of me, even if he can be overprotective at times. We three make a good family. So good infact that they are going to addopt me so that we officially become a family. I am so happy about it.

The Lady has also been a big help to me and for me to adjust to my new life. She appointed her son, Tenac, as my teacher. He's one of the grey riders. He has been showing me the city, teaching me Salamis, and introduced me to new friends.

Now he is teaching me to ride a horse. Can you imagine me on horse? I’m so exited to try it. I haven’t gotten to the part where I’m actually on top of the horse yet. I need to learn how to handle it from the ground first. Tenac have chosen a really sweet horse, called Buttercup, for me to learn on.

Of lately I have been thinking about what to do in the future. Here in Salmisara, a woman doesn’t have to get married in order to secure her future. Last time I had tea with the Lady, she offered me to take part in the evaluation to become an aari.

I have chosen to accept her kind offer. If I pass the evaluation, I can then begin to train to become an aari. I think that is the best path forward for me. If I don’t make it this year, I think I will try again in a year. If I don’t make it then, I will take the hint and give something else a try.

As you probably see, there are a lot of things happening. I miss all of you, but I think I made the right decision in coming here. It feels like this is where I need to be.

I hope you are all well and that I hear from you soon.

Best wishes
Mary

Dear Zerden,

Thank you for your letter and congratulations on your promotion as well as your official engagement. I’m happy that your life is going as you have planed and wished for. I know how hard you have worked for your promotion.

I also thank you for worrying about me. Before you were one of the few people that did that and therefore, I placed that burden on you. But now I have a family and they take good care of me. I can therefore release you of having to worry about me. I will be fine.

I always have seen, and always will see, you as a friend. But now we can be friends without you having to take responsibility over me. I think that is a good thing.

Things are different here, as I’m learning little by little. I think it is a better fit for me here, I won’t get in trouble for asking to many questions or for wanting to learn new things.

Give my best to lady Sara and congratulate her from me on her good fortune in making a good match.

Your friend, always
Mary’