When it was clear that Razvan intended to follow, Encantador offered him a cheerful nod before turning all the way around and strolling at a brisk walk across the sun-baked land. His legs itched to move faster, for the thought of cool water was all too tempting to him as well, but had only to glance back at the other stallion and see how frail he looked to immediately rid himself of such an idea. He did not want to push his guest too hard, for he had no idea what precisely was wrong with him.
Encantador led Razvan further inland, away from the ocean and into the sun's glare, where after a short while the dry, flat earth began to rise upwards in hills of sand. When they reached these dunes, he slowed his pace, picking his way carefully across the shifting earth and keeping one ear twisted back to listen for any sounds of struggle on the blue roan's part. Several times he considered making conversation, but he would only part his lips to close them again, and resigned himself to leading the way in relatively strained silence.
Thankfully, it was little more than a ten-minute walk before the sight of a huge outcropping ledge of rock jutting from the earth came into view. It cast an irregular shadow over a pristine oasis, with trees and grass and a pool of clear water sheltered from the sun. "Here we are," Encantador announced, thankful for a reason to break the silence, and smiled with concealed pride towards Razvan as he settled himself on the ground, tucking his striped legs beneath him, beside a shrub. "Make yourself at home."
e n c a n t a d o r html, text, and character by shiva
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