The moment their hands clasped he was again struck by the sense of familiarity, an aura he had not sensed in what seemed like centuries. Could she be like he was? It had been so long since he’d been among any of his own kind that he could not be wholly certain. He offers a smile, pausing a moment but cannot find the words to ask though the question shines in his eyes.
“Yes, you’re quite right,” he chuckled, glancing about the stables, admittedly a bit lost among them. “I see where they’ve stored the food and noticed the well on the way in, but I have yet to figure out where the blankets and brushes are kept.”
“Ymir? That’s a lovely name.” The nicker pulls his attention and he sees a mare that had been summoned by her name, or perhaps the mention of the fruit that she loved and Richard could feel some of his apprehension easing. “And I see she is just as lovely herself.” Behind him Eclipse nickered excitedly at the sight of the other horse and nudged Richard to get closer.
“Forgive her, she’s not used to being around other horses. I daresay she is eager for the chance to make a friend.” Most horses were uncomfortable about his presence; though he would never hurt them, their instinct still warned them against the danger. Eclipse had been raised in his presence; others however… Richard paused. For the multitude of horses here… none seem agitated for his presence. How… ? Was it possible they all used to the presence of a dragon? But how?
His eyes fell upon Martel once again.
“Ah yes, please.” Richard nodded once, realizing his pause might seem rude. “I would appreciate that very much Miss Martel. For only having been here a month, you seem to know your way around quite well, I can only hope I will be as oriented after a months’ time.”
She watched the way his eyes moved around, tracing over the various horses that had already been brought in from the pastures minding their own business in the stalls, something stirring in his expression. It occurred to her belatedly that he would expect the horses to fear him, to fear them both, sensing the dragon form that lay concealed beneath their human exterior. Many of them had been fearful at first of her, as most horses tended to be. However, in lieu of the companionship she had been graced with in her own world and having only Ymir as a source of comfort, Martel had spent so much time in the stables that they had grown accustomed to the sensation of a dragon nearby.
She gave Richard another gentle smile as his gaze returned to her, wondering if he had sensed as she had the similarities they shared. The summoner would know if her instinctual guess was right. Somehow the summoner had known about her without her saying anything, as well as knowing her strengths and things about her past she hadn’t shared. It was a strange and mysterious power unlike anything she’d encountered before. Still, Martel preferred to confirm it with Richard himself rather than just ask someone else. She longed to have another companion like herself. Perhaps it was just selfish seeking him out so soon but she hadn’t been able to resist the draw of a companion who would understand the dragon blood.
“I should like it very much if Ymir has the chance to become friends with Eclipse,” she laughed, watching the mare nudge Richard forward another step towards the stall Ymir still peered out of. She stepped past the pair to greet her own mare, holding out one hand for Ymir to sniff to show that she hadn’t actually brought any fruit this time. “Maybe later,” she promised the mare, then returned her attention to Richard. “This stall is actually unused, so you are welcome to stable Eclipse here.”
In fact, the stall on either side of Ymir’s was empty. Being used to her aura did not mean the horses were all completely at ease with her presence so the other riders tended to leave a one stall space. Richard was still watching her with that hint of a question lingering in his eyes and she wondered how to broach the subject. If she was wrong...she didn’t want to be rude, but she did want to confirm that they were the same.
“I suspect that if you do use this stall, the one next to it may open up” she confessed. “People move the animals around regularly but they tend to leave an empty space near any areas that I might be.” She ran one hand over Ymir’s neck, taking some comfort in the familiar texture and warmth. “People and horses both tend to leave space. I suspect you’ve...experienced that yourself, haven’t you?”
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