Seeking the Stallion-Lord's Shelter
Four hooves beat a steady thunder as Vaults the Moon raced secret paths through the Marukani hills. The woman that rode his back urged him on with a song and the desperate crack of a riding crop. If the horse minded the pain he didn't show it, he simply ran faster mindful of his precious cargo.
Miles passed beneath them, but the gullys and ravines never opened to the wide plain and endless stables of the horse-god's sanctum. The woman felt it near, like she was pressing against a door, but her Essence wasn't strong enough, nor her rank high enough, to force an entrance. With rage she cried "Hiparkes," but still their path wore on.
Minutes more and she heard the rattle of her husband's breath in his lungs, even above the sound of the ride, as she held him near her heart. "This, then," she said, "is the worth of Hiparkes' blessing."
Then the horse-god was there, pale grey his coat and hooves like iron. His nostrils flared with wounded pride, hot breath smoking in the cool air. Vaults the Moon lost his pace, at once slowing out of deference and racing against the stallion. "Bitter words from so young a goddess," the horse-god said. "Your blessing may come with strong arms and loving lips, but mine is only the bond of horse and rider."
The horse-god slowed, stopped his race, and Vaults the Moon did the same. The two stallions circled each other, the god strong and proud, the other nervous. "You have come to me seeking shelter, Sweet Voice of Brass and Glory. You will find none in my stables."
The goddess met Hiparkes' liquid eyes with a steady gaze; only her finger, stroking her husband's still cheek, betrayed her. "Yet who is more deserving of it? Who has done more for horse and rider, and done it singing Hiparkes' praises, than Storm of Amber?"
(Storm of Amber did not stir to hear his name, for another rider, who neither god nor goddess thought to see, had already whispered it invisibly in his ear. "Storm of Amber," this rider said, "your circle is broken. Sapphire River at Midnight pledges herself to the Walker in Darkness. As your eyes have lied to show you the Unconquered Sun, so has Leaf Shakes the Wind who has vanished. Rivers Between Us, Open Skies Above and Song of the Silver Wind are lost in the Wyld. Even stalwart Nameless Ravine has fled the field of honor when his strength failed. You are alone in the Marukan, Storm of Amber. Time to give up the... ghost.")
"Stop up your heart, Sweet Brass," said the horse-god, "and the love inside. I smell death hovering around him. He lasted a beautiful few years, and even my heart beat as it had not since his kind last ruled Creation. But he was a fool to face Ma-Ha-Suchi and now he is done. Build him a barrow and move on."
Sweet Brass laid her arm over Storm's armored chest and crusted blood flaked away from a great hole. She pulled him, drooping in the saddle, closer. "Storm of Amber is a Lawgiver. Even like this, insensate, his heart pierced by the Wolf-Goat's spear, he lives. His sun has not yet set. He will recover from this wound; he needs only time. Can you give this to him and be counted as his ally when he wakes, or is your fear of the a Lunar too strong?"
"Fear?" Hiparkes reared onto his hind legs and kicked the air. "What you hear from me is wisdom. Ma-Ha-Suchi has spies in every tree and barn. He must know already that your lord and I have been allies. When his birds do not whistle to him that Storm lies on some mortal homestead, where will he come except for my stables?
"I would take Storm in if I could, and let him sleep. Or wake, if you think he ever will. But even I am not strong enough to keep a Lunar of the First Age from my home should he want entrance. Take him to Lookshy if you would keep the Wolf-Goat away, or find shelter deep beneath the earth."
"I will not take him from the Marukan. If you will not shelter us, I will seek out other haunts. If need be, Vaults the Moon will carry him, ever moving, until the day he wakes. Let Ma-Ha-Suchi catch him if he can!" The goddess pulled on Vaults the Moon's reins, and the horse moved slowly to turn away.
Hiparkes raised his snout towards Storm. "I cannot give him my shelter, Sweet Brass, but do not think I have no help to offer. Storm is the most important thing in your eyes; it is not the same for Ma-Ha-Suchi. Hide him well enough, and the Lunar will give up the hunt and search for other prey. He is old and clever, but it is long since he has faced a Lawgiver. He will have forgotten everything they can do. You do not need a garrison; some castle, with armies all around. You only need the place that Storm will survive and that Ma-Ha-Suchi will not look first."
Sweet Brass smiled at the horse-god over her shoulder. "You can be wise, Hiparkes, and steady enough to calm a panicked wife. When Storm wakes, I will tell him he should be glad to still have an ally in you." She sang again, then, and urged Vaults the Moon on.
