Caught...talking in the Stables? [Neav]

[†Kazira Astras†]

Timeline: After The Curse of Cornelius Sigan
T.O.D.: late afternoon
Tag(s): Neav

Kazira had decided that today would be a good day to just get away from the other people in Camelot. She tolerated people for the most part but they were to nosy and to eager to take advantage of people. Not that any have tried yet, but lately it seemed as if everyone wanted to know her past and it was getting on her nerves. She didn't want to go to the forest to get ignored by Moros because he was annoyed with her; she hadn't received a job from anyone...not one. Though Kazira hadn't been really looking. she had been wandering around and saw the stables and decided that it would be as good as any place to relax and hide from people. Today she was wearing a light blue shirt with a brown belt over it with her dagger and short sword attached to it and her bow was slung lazily over her should along with a new quiver of arrows that she had bought with some money she had stashed in her boot specifically for the purpose of buying weapons, she was also wearing doe colored breeches with black knee-high boots, Her dark hair was left to frame her face and on her head was a band she made with leather that was braided with beads and the tied ends dangled on the left side of her head with a few white and gray feathers; most would over look the beads but if someone had gotten hold of the circlet they would realize that the beads all held many pentacles..

Kazira walked into the stables and it was like a breathe of fresh air; well, sort of. She saw a range of beautiful horses. This must be the royal stables She thought this because the horses were well taken care of and had very shiny coats. She walked up to a brown mare and smiled when her head bumped against hers in greeting.
"Well hello to you to Hun." That's when the other horses began nickering at her causing her to laugh. "Calm down, calm down all of you. I'll get to you all in a minute." deciding that she wanted to do something other than just sit around she grabbed a brush placing her bow and short sword against the stable wall. She began to gently brush the mares hair and had a conversation with her about the castle, Camelot, and other sorts of things that seemed to come up during the grooming. She was so into the conversation that she didn't seem to realize the outside world existed.

[neav]

((Tag! I please tag this thread, but I have no time to post tonight. I hope it is ok?))

[neav]

As soon as the stranger had entered the stables, Neav had known it.
He had been sitting in the tack room, cleaning the bridles and checking over the tack that had been used that day, when felt it. The chestnut mare - 'Fair Chance' to give her full name - was greeting a stranger and the most others were half interested, half jealous. Neav did not pause to think how he knew all this; he never did. He just placed down the bridle and cleaning cloth and raced into the stables.

Though Neav was only the stable-boy, he could not help thinking that these were all his horses. He felt protector of them all and hated it when any stranger contrived to enter his domain.
And such a stranger! It was obviously a woman, but she was wearing the clothes of a man. Neav was rather struck by this. He had never been told that women were not allowed to wear breeches and such; it was not the sort of thing that just came up in conversation. But he had never seen it happen and so the boy had assumed, somewhere in his mind, that there was a law against it.
He did not like the weapons she had bought with her either, though they did lean harmlessly against the wall.
But she was grooming Chance, and as far as Neav was conserned, she had no right to. That was why the stable boy, normally so shy, cried out:
"What are you doing here?" his icy eyes flashing. "Why are you grooming Chance? Who are you?"

He did not think how it would look, this skinny boy with ragged clothes and ragged hair confronting a lady who dressed like a man. He only cared for Chance. That mare turned to look at him with a hint of reproch. She had been enjoying the grooming. She thought Neav was being over-protective, and silly as Gillyflower.

((Thank you so much for waiting! ))

[†Kazira Astras†]

Kazira was shocked to hear a voice that she dropped the brush and looked at the entrance. The shock faded and she smiled her eyes dancing with mirth. It was a boy a rather ragged boy. She let out a small laugh before she calmly bent down and picked up the brush. She patted Chance's withers gently.

"It seems that I am grooming Chance. I just needed a place to get away from nosy crowds."She gave Chance a playful look. You could have told me your name before you got me talking." She said with a smile all she got was a snort in reply. Looking back at the boy her smile turned to a smirk. "The names Kazira. What's yours boy?" She didn't normally say things like boy or girl but she didn't know what else to call him. "You do know that it's customary to introduce yourself first before asking another's name?" She stated jokingly before walking around Chance giving her flank a short rub before walking over and placing the brush back where she got it giving the other horses a look be for laughing when she got annoyed nickers and neighs, she sat down on a stool and watched the boy with her hands in a complacent manner so as to not make him ansy.She honestly didn't know if he was mad that she was in the stables or because she was grooming a horse. He was rather skinny which made her wonder why but she didnt dwell on it for too long.
She found the thought rather amusing that the boy, as skinny as he was, would stand up to a total stanger, without knowing who his oppenent was. She'd give him credit; he was either incredibly brave or a total twit. She has yet to decided as to which one yet.

[Its no problem at all ]

[neav]

She was laughing at him. He had taken her by surprise, made her drop the brush, but now she was laughing at him. Neav blinked. This strange lady acted as though she had every right to be in the stables, grooming his horse. But she was not a lady of the Castle, she had stabled no horse of her own here, and if she were looking for work she would have asked. Besides, only men worked in the stables.

Neav put rested two protective fingers against the mare's forehead, listening in stony silence as the stranger introduced herself. Kazira. No title, no last name. Just needed a place to get away from people. That sounded surprising like himself, but Neav ignored the feeling. He was glad when she left the stall, though she did chide him about his manners. Neav thought that was rather unfair. She had been just as rude by wandering into his stables and grooming his horse!
But Kazira had not hurt Fair Chance, and so there was no real reason for Neav's anger. He had not really been angry; more like indignant. But because she had not hurt his horses, Neav backed down. Even if this Kazira was a nobody, she was older than him and so he ought to do as she said.

"My name is Neav," he said, though the way she seemed to laugh at him made him quite uncomfortable. "I'm sorry if I was rude..." He had a brief struggle with himself not to complain about her own behaviour, and lost. "But you should not have just walked in and groomed my Fair Chance without asking."

[†Kazira Astras†]

Kazira let out an unlady like snort when he brought up that she was rude. Yes hse had to admit it was kind of rude, but she didnt seem the harm in it but shrugged none the less. Nice to meet you Neav, do you have a last name?" She paused slightly looking at Chance with a small smile. "I didnt know that Chance was yours in all honesty. She asked me to brush her and I did. Though she failed to mention her name but we were having a nice chat about everything."

She thought back to his last statement. "Yes I';ll have to admit that it was a bit rude but I didnt see anything wrong with coming in here. I did not know there was a law written about it either." She smiled at him and stayed sitting on the stool. She wondered what was going through his head at the moment. Was he thinking that she was off her rocker with talking to the horses as if they understood. But if the boy knew about magic or not was left unknown to her but she couldnt help but say it. If he knew nothing about magic then he would just brush it off that she wasnt all there as many before had done. Kazira didnt mind though. She always just said that she loved animals and loved to dote on them.

Neav, she could tell that he was fiercly protective of the horses. Especially the way he was staying close to Chance. She admired that. She didnt like it when people hurt animals heck she hated when animals hurt other animals but she didnt interfere with nature as much as she did with the humans.

[neav]

Neav stared at this strange, strange girl.
She asked me to brush her and I did. She failed to mention her name... we were having a nice chat.
That was what she had said. As he thought over this, he automaticly answered her question.
"No, I don't. I suppose no one thought I would need one."
But all the while he was thinking, what does she mean by talking with my Chance?

"Oh... there is no law." Again it was an automatic answer, and he looked up at the mare as he spoke. "It was just... that you could have been anyone, really. You could have hurt her."
He put his feeling through Chance again, just to make sure again that she was fine. And he was surprised to find that she was only half attending to him. Her thoughts seemed to be focused, streaming off somewhere. It was like stand in the path of an invisible fan.
Neav frowned. Something was strange. No horse had ever felt like Chance did now.

What he was actually feeling was his mare 'talking' at the stranger.
"You must not be mean to him," Chance said, sounding more like a protective mother than anything else. "He is one of us. He is in our minds, though he does not talk like you do."

Neav could not hear her, but he knew something was different. He did not like it.

[†Kazira Astras†]

Kazira let out a sigh. Of course; that's how many families of low wealth were unfortunately; hers included. Only nobles and royalty of the like have last names that they use. The only reason that she had a last name was because of the knight that took her in (so to speak.) He wanted to pass on his name one way or another and since he had no living family Kazira took on his name in his honor when he passed. Kazira's eyes softened a little losing some of the mirth.
"Well then since you have no last name. I don't feel the need to give you mine. They're not all that important anyways." She mostly said this because to her it meant that they were on equal ground. She couldn't help but let out a soft sigh with his answer to her law remark. Jeez these people have no idea what a joke is do they She thought idly before smiling at him but not commenting.
When she was about to make a comment Chance had interrupted her telling her to be nice. Not thinking Kazira replied with a steady but soft voice.
"Miss Chance, I won't be mean to him. That I will swear on my honor." Kazira paused with a mildly shocked expression. " Really?! That's interesting." She turned her attention back to Neav a full blown smile on her face; she had never met anyone who could even remotely understand the animals around them.
"You can understand them!" She exclaimed jumping up and bringing the younger boy into a spontaneous hug. "I thought there was something special about you (besides your courage and protectiveness.)" Kazira had no idea why she had decided to hug the boy but she was excited; even though he couldn't talk to them like she could he could still understand what they were feeling and the like. Yes she had met many magic users but none could understand that regular animals that surrounded them everyday. Mostly they would just talk to the magical animals not really caring if the others would be more than willing to help for free. She spun him around in her arms like one would do with a family member before setting him down and plopping back onto the stool.
"How long have you been able to feel them? Understand what is going on with them?"

If she wasn't so excited she would have noticed Moros come into the stables and look at her like she had, had a whiff of opium powder. He had honestly never seen her so excited and he couldn't help but be confused as to what happened since he went hunting.

[neav]

Neav bit his lip, not sure what to say to Kazira's comment on last names. So he said nothing, half wishing that she would go away and leave him to his work. Neav never did have an easy time with people, but this strange lady seemed harder than most. Now she was smiling at him again, and... her gaze shifted to Fair Chance. And then she spoke to the mare as though in reply to some comment. Neav stared, wondering for the first time in Kazira was slightly mad. Horses did not speak words, or really even understand them. It will feelings and tones that they knew. If Neav was feeling tremendous love for a horse, it would have made just as much sense to the creature if he said "Oh, gobstoppers!" instead of "I do love you."
This was how he thought it, anyway.

But then he got the shock of his life, for the strange lady jumped up and hugged him, spinning him round as though he were her closest friend. Neav was astounded. No person had ever shown so much affection for him in all his short life. It frightened him more than any anger could.

He staggered back when he put him down, pressing himself close to Chance's side. He not understand what she meant... Chance sent waves of protection and sweet reassurance over him, and Neav felt a little better. But there again was that strange directed feeling in the mare's mind. That frightened him more than anything ever could. Never had his beloved horses done anything that Neav had not been able to understand.

Chance was saying, rather reproachfully,
There. You have frightened and you promised you would not. Our boy can be as flighty as a foal. He does not understand you, he does not know of your sorcery. Tell him that you speak to me, and tell him how!

[†Kazira Astras†]

Kazira couldnt help but flinch at Chance's scolding and hung her head down. I'm sorry Chance. I didnt mean to righten you Neav. Its just that, well you see, I can literally speak to animals and understand them. She looked up at him and gave a soft disarming smile but she stayed sitting so as to not make him even more jumpy." I apologize for the barbaric way I kind of jumped you. I was just excited to meet someone who could, in one way or another, understand the natural animals."

She looked towards the door and her smile brodened. It was her best friend and companion Moros. She quickly waved over the extremely large canine. "Now don't be afraid of him he's not going to harm a single one of you. He's a big softy. He's only here to check on me." She stated to everyone (this includes the other horses Neav and Chance.)

Moros sighed in exasperation. He's already talked to most of these horses but Kazira didnt know that. He knew that she was only saying that for the horses he hadnt met and the young human boy. Hello Chance. Its good to see you again. He stated in greeting with a little nod of his head.What did Kazira do to make the boy look like he had seen the undertaker? She never intentionally caused fear to someone; the boy looked as if he had been attacked or he saw something horrific. He gave Kazira a look not bother to ask verbally what she did.

Kazira gave a sheepish smile and told him softly that she had hugged the boy. And he was frightened afterwords; She apologized to Moros as well saying she didnt mean it. She was only excited to meet someone who could understand at least one type of animal. Moros couldnt help but nod his head. The trait for understanding animals was a rare one indeed. So he let her off the hook just this once.

[neav]

Chance did not look up at Kazira as she apologized, just kept nuzzling Neav and nibbling his hair. Neav stroked her forelock with shaky fingers and grew a grip on himself. The strange lady really did sound very apologetic... but what did she mean when she spoke with Chance? Was what it was, the funny feeling he felt in her mind? Chance speaking to Kazira in words?

Now Neav had never been jealous of anyone in all his life. But suddenly he was filled with a raging, unbearable jealousy that this stranger could actually talk with his horses, and that he could not. It was unfair! Neav, who had never hated anyone, hated Kazira in that moment.
"What are you then, a witch?" he said, too miserable to care that he was being rude. Horses were the only thing he had. And now someone could understand them in a way that he couldn't, and it felt like Kazira was taking his friends away.
"I only understand them cos I've been with them always."

Neav glared at the dog. He did not like dogs. They always looked as though they might attack, he thought. And though he felt that for some reason the horses did not fear this one, it would take more than a few words for the deep, natural fear of wolves to be completely quiet. Most of the creatures had their heads over their stalls, nostrils flared and silently watching.

[†Kazira Astras†]

She simply ignored the tone of his words and answered very truthfully. Yes. Yes I am a witch. I have been one my whole life. She had stated this bluntly but there was no other way to really say that. with the slight empathy she could feel that he was not at all happy with the news that she had just given him about her being able to talk to animals. But decided that she wasnt going to push the poor boy to like her. My father and mother were both sorcerors. My father was a seer and my mother was a witch of the old religion. I learned many things from them. I had a little sister you know. She was not a shy girl. Quite the opposite she was out going. She had the same gift as me but they died. So I decided to travel." While she was talking kazira had stood up and walked over to a black stallion and rubbed his nice smiling. He wasnt talking, but she knew he enjoyed the attention. She created a small ball of water and allowed the horse to drink the water. I didnt realize I would control elements with my powers till i was fourteen. I had an affinity with the two opposing ones of water and fire." She looked at Neav with sad eyes. I'm not asking you to like me, you may even hate me. But be glad that you have found some amazing friends. Even though you cant speak with words you have something better...Stronger than what I have. You have a true bond with them that makes them want to protect you. They are great friends, and with friends you dont need words to tell eachother how you feel. She meant every word of what she had just said. He may be mad at her for her abilities but he had something many wished they had. A True life changing bond. She only had that bond with one and that was Moros. This boy, Neav, had it with so many that it made her want to cry in sadness and joy. To her the boy didnt realize that his gift was one thing of true and pure inherited magic.

Moros watched Kazira with careful eyes as she told the boy her story (at least some of it). He wasnt as dumb as to believe that the boy wouldnt tell Uther after all of this was done. So he was weary, but didnt interfere or move from his spot next to where kazira had sat next to her weapons. His gold eyes took everything in and waited for what would happen next. Whether it was something good or bad he didnt know.

[neav]

A witch! Neav was astonished. When he had suggested it, he had never really supposed it to be true. He listened in silence, fingers wrapped tightly in Chance's mane. A witch!
But.... why had Kazira admitted herself to him? Did she not know that magic was illegal? That if she talked of such things so freely, she would get herself executed? Neav might be scared of her strange outbursts, hated that she could speak with his horses in ways he could not understand... but he did not think he wanted her to be killed.

Neav watched, a little anxious as Kazira made her way over to Kingfisher.
Witches were supposed to be evil, weren't they? But... that could not make sense. Neav might not have trusted himself to spot an evil person when he saw one, but he trusted completely that the horses would know. And they did not mind Kazira.
Even as he watched, Kingfisher was enjoying her petting. That black stallion was the pride of the stables, and he knew it. He accepted Kazira's attention in a lordly manner, giving little more than a snort and a shiver of nerves as the water appeared magically under his nose.
Neav himself could only stare, eyes so wide they threatened to swallow his face. As Kingfisher drank, Kazira continued her story.

At last it seemed she had finished and a silence settled over the stable, broken only by such horse-noises as were part of it.
The fact that Kazira was a witch had knocked his fear and jealousy sideways, somehow. He could not be jealous of a witch. Nor could he be really afraid of her, because she could be executed at any moment. It was hard to be afarid of someone who might soon be dead.
And that bought him back to his first wondering. Did Kazira no know about the law? At last he whispered,
"Magic is illegal. If you tell people, you will get caught and executed."
It really was only fair to warn her.
Oddly enough, it never occurred to Neav that he could get her executed. He was only the stable-boy, and a foundling at that; not really a person at all. So telling him was really the same as keeping silent.

[†Kazira Astras†]

Kazira kept the soft smile on her face and turned her attention away from the stallion but still kept stroking his nose slowly. Neav seemed to be less scared of her now; she didnt think about the conciquences of her actions. The thought of them never even crossed her mind when she told him.
"Yes I know about the law. I know it all to well. But I felt that it was a good idea to tell you what I was." She paused. "If I am executed then so be it; but i wont go down without a fight." She turned back to the stallion who finally decided to utter his name. Kingfisher. It suited him. She placed a kiss on his face before going back to sit on the stool.

Moros glared at her, but she just shrugged it off. He didnt like it when she told people what she was. I hated it when she didnt think about how others would react. He could only do so much to protect her and keep her from being killed; he was only one dog.

"So," Kazira started. "Are you going to tell the king? Or Arthur?" Again she failed to give the prince his title even if he wasnt there she knew that if he had heard it he would throw a fit about it. "Its alright if you do you know, tell them. Its what anyone in their right mind would do." She continued to smile at him, the same friendly smile that she was wearing earlier just toned down quite a bit. She felt as if he was a foal, like Chance said, he was very timid around others.

[neav]

"Yes I know about the law. I know it all to well. But I felt that it was a good idea to tell you what I was. If I am executed then so be it; but I wont go down without a fight."

Neav blinked. It was probably the bravest thing he had ever heard anyone say. Why was she like that? If he was a witch -- or rather, a warlock -- he thought he was run away from Camelot and hide forever. He did not think he could talk of being executed even half as bravely!
"You must be very courageous," he said simply. He watched her with Kingfisher, and something inside him smiled. The stallion liked her. Perhaps he also felt that she was brave. Though he did feel that the kiss was a little beneath his dignity, and snorted at Kazira as she returned to her stool.

The suggestion that he might tell the King, or Prince Arthur that Kazira was a witch rather startled him. He gave a small shiver. Prince Arthur terrified him. It had not been long since the Prince's stallions had run off into the woods... but he would rather not remember that. As for actually going to the King! That was so unthinkable it was almost a joke. And Kazira was smiling again, a little. Had it been a kind of joke? Neav shook his head.
"I never could," he said, not even sure himself if he meant that he could never approach those important people, or if he could never cause someone to be killed. And then, as if he needed a reason for not telling, he added shyly,
"Kingfisher would hate me. He likes you..."

The stallion in question gave a loud snort.
He is a impertinent boy and you are not to listen to him. Thus Kingfisher addressed Kazira. I like no one. I only tolerate.

[†Kazira Astras†]

Moros snorted at the boy. Kazira?Courageous? Its more like reckless stupidity at times. Kazira Laughed lightly and smiled at Neav again. "I don't think of myself as couragous, I know Moros certainly doesnt,I just think that I am being myself and magic is apart of me its something I'm born with." She looked over at Kingfisher and snickered but gave him the 'shut up' look.
"Well I'm Glad I'm Tolerable. Even if you dont like me." She couldnt help but smirking at the stallion. He was one proud horse. She wouldnt be surprised if this was the horse Arthur or even Uther rode. Though Neav confused her; what did he mean he never could? Deciding to ask her question Kazira leaned forward and leaned her elbows on her knees.

What do you mean...You never could? Kazira was genuinley curious as to what his answer would be. Moros watched with interest before he sauntered off to the other end of the stable and began having a conversation with the other animals. He was getting tired of watching the ongoings between kazira and the other humans.

[neav]

Kingfisher did not lower himself to answer Kazira's last remark. He just looked at her, inwardly sighing. Humans.

Neav absently fiddled with Chance's mane. He was no longer frightened of Kazira. Nervous, yes, but not frightened. It was strange how it changed things, learning that the person he was afraid of was in danger of being executed. And that if Neav had really wanted to
he could probably cause the execution himself.
Even if Kazira did not think of herself as brave, Neav thought she was. He could not imagine how it might feel to know you were breaking the law just by being alive.

He considered her last question. It was a difficult one, because Neav was not entirely sure what he had meant. He supposed it had been more than one thing... biting his lip, he tried to explain.
"I... I think I meant that...well - I hate killing things. Telling on you would be the same as killing you myself."
Neav said this almost as though he were confessing a guilt. He did not think how much of a joke his words might seem. The idea that this skinny, nervous, untrained little boy could kill someone with Kazira's skills was laughable. But of course that was not what Neav had meant. Even if the boy had the fighting the fighting skills, he did not have the stomach for killing. He was as nervy of death as a wild horse. Of course it was seen as a girlish weakness, hence Neav's tone of confession.

"Besides," He added, sounding equally guilty. If he had confessed to one weakness he may as well confess to two. "I would have to go as witness before the King and Prince Arthur..." again Neav gave an involuntary shiver. "And... I'd be too frightened."

[†Kazira Astras†]

Kazira couldnt help but smile at he boy. He was so kinda hearted, if not a bit timid. She felt as if he was like a little brother and she felt that he should always be protected instead of scorned. Kazira resisted the urge to pull the boy into another hug. "Well Neav you have a very big heart," she smiled at him softly."Does the royal family truly scare you that much?" She asked softly underlining anger etched into her voice. If they were unkind to this young boy she wasnt going to stand for it but she calmed down. Maybe he was just genuinly afraid of them because of their station?

She looked at Kingsfisher with curious eyes for a moment. "Who rides Kingfisher?" She asked to no one specific. She was curious that she couldnt help but for some reason she really liked him. He seemed like a horse that she could get along with. Moros was still talking to the other horses and not really paying attention to what was going on; only glancing over at kazira when her voice contained a touch of anger but then returned to his ongoing conversation. All in all things were alright. The situation was turning out better than the encounter with the Prince had. At least that's what moros thought when he was comparing this encounter to the other.

[neav]

Neav felt his cheeks grow hot and he stared at the floor. That had muddled him, to be told he had a great heart when he was confessing to something as weak as a fear.
Besides the fact that he was not used to compliments at any time, and was not sure what to do with this one.
Still staring at the stable floor, Neav missed the flicker of anger that passed through Kazira's eyes. Nor did he catch it from the tone of her voice, being unnatural at conversation as he was. To him, it just seemed like another question.
"Yes," Neav admitted. It never occurred to him that he might lie to save his pride. For one thing, Neav never told lies and for the other he did not really have a pride. He was not that sort of person. But nor would he gave Kazira the details of what had happened to make him so afraid... not unless she actually ordered him too. It would seem too much like complaining. Besides, it had all been his fault, really.

Only when Kazira asked about Kingfisher did Neav looked up again.
"The King," he answered, glancing over at that stallion. The only horse in the stables that was pure barb (most of the rest were Arabian or fell-horse crosses), he was the largest and most powerful of them all. Neav remembered when they had bought him as a foal at a horse-fair, five years ago now.
"Not always, of course," he added. Kingfisher continued to ignore them. "But he is his favourite."

[†Kazira Astras†]

Kazira watched as the boy looked at the ground and answered her question. She was curious as to why he was afraid of them but seeing as how skittish he was with 'normal' people she couldnt begin to understand how he would react to nobility. Though, if she had been anyone else she would probably be groveling at the kings feet now if she acted the way she did now. But she wasnt someone else, and she didnt grovel or become afaid of them. She would be fighting against them (at least secretly) just to spite them.

When Neav told her that the King rode Kingsfisher she was not overly surprised but let out a little laugh. She could see the king riding him and both thinking along the same thoughts about people. But kept her mouth shut about it. But she still let a small smile grace her face.
"I wouldnt doubt that he is the kinga's favorite" she giggled holding her sides."they both think and act along similar lines."

(sorry its so short my muse is being a brat and not inspiring me.)