Post by Samantha Lueken on Jul 13, 2008 22:28:34 GMT -5
Samantha sighed heavily, her eyes closing briefly before opening once again. She so very tired, but she could only imagine how her horse felt. They had been riding the past two days from Narnia to Tashbaan in Calormen. They would stop when night finally fell, and sleep by a campfire. Or at least her horse would. Samantha wasn't partial to making the trip alone, she was only nineteen. Yet her friend's silent company eased her worry only slightly. When the sun would peek over the horizon, the girl would be back at her journey. It was made once a year to buy non-talking horses and bring them to her family's farm so that they could be trained and sold in Narnia to those who wished to buy them.
Samantha finally reached her destination around noon, the sun high in the sky. Upon reaching the main market, she felt so out of place. Calormen people were often of a darker pigment. The fact that she was as white as winter snow made her feel like a needle in a haystack. Riding a horse in the street was probably a bad idea; people all crowded around her tightly. Yet she continued to fight her way through. As she approached the edge of the market, a larger stand appeared at her left, animals roped off and in pens all about. Dismounting from her steed, she led the animal to a railing and tied him there before disappearing into the maze of paddocks.
Within the next hour, Samantha emerged with a tired smile on her face. With fifteen horses to train within the next year, the girl found she would have her work cut out for her. She would pick up the animals she bought later on that night, and arranged with the owner of the stand to allow her to keep her horse here until then. Patting the horse on the shoulder, she began to walk back toward the heart of the market; she had seen some delicious looking fruit stands. Not having eaten since breakfast early that morning, Sam's stomach was being to rumble in hunger. Soon she found that tantalizing stand, with all sorts of fruits to choose from. Her eyes were wide with anticipation of the sweet juices as she picked up an apple, smelling it. Picking another one for her horse, she paid the man behind the counter. She was about to leave when she was bumped slightly on her side. Looking up to apologize, she met the face of a familiar Narnian man. Your majesty! I'm so sorry, I did not realize it was you. The girl went into a low curtsy, dropping one apple on the ground as she did so. She felt people's eyes turn to her as it probably seemed weird; a girl dressed in men's clothes curtsying to a man.
Samantha finally reached her destination around noon, the sun high in the sky. Upon reaching the main market, she felt so out of place. Calormen people were often of a darker pigment. The fact that she was as white as winter snow made her feel like a needle in a haystack. Riding a horse in the street was probably a bad idea; people all crowded around her tightly. Yet she continued to fight her way through. As she approached the edge of the market, a larger stand appeared at her left, animals roped off and in pens all about. Dismounting from her steed, she led the animal to a railing and tied him there before disappearing into the maze of paddocks.
Within the next hour, Samantha emerged with a tired smile on her face. With fifteen horses to train within the next year, the girl found she would have her work cut out for her. She would pick up the animals she bought later on that night, and arranged with the owner of the stand to allow her to keep her horse here until then. Patting the horse on the shoulder, she began to walk back toward the heart of the market; she had seen some delicious looking fruit stands. Not having eaten since breakfast early that morning, Sam's stomach was being to rumble in hunger. Soon she found that tantalizing stand, with all sorts of fruits to choose from. Her eyes were wide with anticipation of the sweet juices as she picked up an apple, smelling it. Picking another one for her horse, she paid the man behind the counter. She was about to leave when she was bumped slightly on her side. Looking up to apologize, she met the face of a familiar Narnian man. Your majesty! I'm so sorry, I did not realize it was you. The girl went into a low curtsy, dropping one apple on the ground as she did so. She felt people's eyes turn to her as it probably seemed weird; a girl dressed in men's clothes curtsying to a man.