“For all evils there are two remedies - time and silence.”
― Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
Even the stars hope to see,
The buds of hope that bloom for thee.
Taytim was not at all what the tall galleon had expected. He had wandered among province folk of the empire, they loved to tell stories and talk and chatter. Many of them enjoyed the company of soldiers and hoped to have a good exchange of tales. Taytim was similar to these folk with one exception that Rodrigo rather liked: she did not delve for his personal truths and history. The little mare never bothered to pry his past open. Rather she spoke of simple things like her thoughts of how some acted, and her own experiences living alone and moving about. Rodrigo found her to be intellectual and rather pleasant company, much more than he had expected. The ashy bay did not protest to the belle taking lead. His ears flicked back and forth as he listened attentively to her words while at the same time keeping a keen eye for enemies, disturbances, signs of danger, and the ever elusive blooms.
They had come upon a mountain and Rodrigo eyed the peak from base to its top-most tip. The peak would not be an easy trek but his companion seemed bent on making it. He smiled calmly as they set off one hoof fall at a time. The beast was patient, and quiet. He listened more than spoke. When he did speak it was to offer only brief thoughts on matters. "Soldiers have to be able to live anywhere at any given time. I imagine thieves and vandals are the same." While they made the climb he would also ask on occasion if Taytim wished to stop a while, sometimes calling a stop even if the little lady did not wish it. He did concern himself with her health and that of the infant she was carrying, though he might not admit it outright. When she struggled he would catch her with his sure steps. Where the path became steep, he would help her. This was Rodrigo's true nature, and it came out naturally without so much as a thought or hesitation. The beast could not see…but healing was coming over him, the wounds of the past losing their sting with the days he was spending on the isles.
New scents filled the air. Rodrigo's sixth sense was telling him to walk with caution here, though he could not tell just yet why. Now at the top and what looked like the entry way to a new dwelling of equines, Rodrigo scanned the lithe which he now held suspect of danger. He caught Taytim's words but did not reply right away. The breeze came and was refreshing to the light layer of sweat that blanketed his frame. He had only glanced briefly to the edge before he looked about again and on high alert. "It is quite nice, yes." It was the soldier in him, and the beast was not one to ignore his gut.
RODRIGO
the spaniard |