Many gathered outside the stable in hopes of seeing Siana’s test. Word had passed around like a blazing summer storm, being the most entertainment many had seen in a while. Saban was standing just outside her stall door, he watched Siana click her tongue to the stallion giving him cues to come towards her.

Nodding with folded arms Saban walked behind both Siana and her grey, Annabelle hid her evil glare within shadows from deep within the stable. War cleared around a few members catching Siana’s eyes, his stance calm along with his eyes.  But there was something untold deep within his eyes that had Siana holding their gaze a little longer.

Saban smirked at War as he also passed, whispering only for his ear to be blessed with.

“She rides without gear.” War’s eyes widened slightly, covering their shock before any could pick up on his disbelief. A slip of Lady Annabelle’s arm around his caused War to sting a growl together. Slowly looking at her without wavering War unraveled her threaded arm walking quicker than her legs could carry her.

Feeling her deep inset eyes burning his backside War grunted not carrying any. She might of charmed Marco with those looks of death, but he was not one to fall into a snake pit and be bitten the very same day.

He looked over each face that watched Siana walk on by, they broke apart allowing her and her steed room to breath. War carefully moved behind each member catching small glimpses of her face. Carefully heald just high enough to suggest she was proud, brave and fearless- but yet soft, kind and giving to those who would seek her affection.

She was proving every day to win over even the most taught of hearts. A child born of a traitor, was slowly becoming more kin than those born of the blood right. Blue sparkling river eyes held point, keeping each of her fluid steps in match with the grey who pranced generously behind her.

Without gear Siana was unable to correct the stallion should he become spooked, riled or even tempered. She’d have no choice but to work through it, which ultimately could be what fails her.

Stepping over rotting wood, Siana stopped turning towards Saban. She locked her eyes with his waiting for his cue. Hushed silence covered the field, giving the breeze free range to whisper through each and every one of interested eyes. Saban turned looking each over, catching their stairs and speaking loud enough for all to hear over blowing winds.

“Today, we bare witness to the testing of Siana. For she has been fortunate enough to win the trust of our beloved and missed Marconius’s steed, a beast so untableable even Marco’s himself swore that steed was Hades.” He waved his hands stirring the crowd, gaining roars from the remark. Sian stood patiently allowing him to have his unjust glory. It gave her time to ease her stallion, her hand stroked his graceful neck.

Each movement took some of his excitement away, leaving a still beast with dangerous eyes. Saban walked in a slow crescent coming back around to face Siana, he seemed ready to begin-giving her a nod to mount up.

Taking that as her signal Siana looked her stallion in the eye, with her eyes darkening his calm demeanor shifted to aggressive. Becoming that of a full warriors beast, many of the members stepped back becoming frightened to the stallion they had seen once before.

Saban moved when a heavy hoof flung his way, striking all who were too close for the stallions liking. Catching Lady Annabelle’s lips twitching into a smirk, Siana looked away licking her lips. She had been ready for this, planned it even. Knowing their fears was something Siana had taken great care in noticing, with all worried the stallion would become just what Saban had expressed so graciously, he ensured to awaken even stronger held fears. Taking a slow look towards War, Siana watched as he seemed unaware of her intentions. It brought a slow rising grin to her lips.

Pushing members back, her stallion screamed rearing high into clouds, striking them apart with both hooves. His kicks outward caught breaths, his snorts raised the hairs on backs, but it was his wild screams that sent waves of terror flashing through each and everyone of their eyes.

Siana watched them take generous steps back, she grinned loving the way each one feared his mass. How stunned they seemed to be with his sheer size charging towards them. She cracked her knuckles licking her lips once more for good measure.

“Shirgar, Veni ad me, equus.” Her tongue rolled each old symbol, till it purred from deep within her soul. Turning on his haunches, black eyes calmed, trotting to her side with a heavy snort. Lowering his front end, Siana took hold of his mane while swinging a leg up and over his wide back.

Sitting straight, Siana turned both her and her stallion’s body to face them off. Shaking his mane wildly, tossing each graceful strand against the breeze, a hoof struck out crashing to melting snow, splattering it thick mud up his leg.

“You wanted to see me ride the beast of Marco, and so I shall.” Her voice echoed over their faces, sweeping across blowing grass blades. War kept his arms folded, but his eyes moved just as quickly as fist fulls of sand through gapped fingers. They were taken by her, unable to look away or even breath normally. Marco had been one to ride with tight fists, yet Siana held no gear upon that very steed in which nearly killed so many kin, and killed those who were not.

She gave them an idol to look up to, someone who was strong willed, fierce and independent in her own skin, that even their cruel behavior hadn’t kept her facing downward. He was proud, so much in fact he even smiled for a moment. Listening to heavy drops of the greys hooves, splattering mug over white socks. The twitching of his ears as he listened silently to her orders, every muscle held so much power in its raw state they couldn’t look away.

With feet marching in place, Siana had the stallion moving to his own tune. She danced with him, a dance so exhilarating, so stunning War forgot to breath at times. Turning to catch a look at Lady Annabelle and Saban, War’s top lip pulled over his fang, they were speechless. Which for anyone having to listen to Annabelle, for even a moment, would be thankful to her cut voice.

To War’s unpleasing reminder that she’d get something if not a little of what she came for. Annabelle would not go back without something, even if it broke another to pieces. It was her ruthless behaviour that had tricked Marco’s into thinking she was strong, when in fact she was weaker than most. She was a fake, nothing but a snake in a wolfs skin, and War detested her very being.

He turned back to watch Siana ask for yet another difficult maneuver, one even Saban had hard ties to. A mastered eye could tell she was new to the move, but she kept her calm, pushed forward, and came out without to many mistakes. Performing all speeds, stops and even a backing of the stallion were all keys to a good war horse. They had to be quick on their feet, able to spin about without any warning or cue to be seen by an enemy.

Siana, was doing exceptional. For only having three days, her skills were better than most who’d been training far longer. When her test was over, she mere stopped back in that same center before. The grey pawed the hearty earth digging himself a fine hole, he knew his master was anxious, which made him the same.

“For those of you who still do not want this.” She thinned her eyes to all who looked, giving Siana a chance to hold their breaths for longer.

“Then come and take what is mine from me.” War caught the deadly hiss that permeated her tongue. He saw her fingers tighten around the grey’s mane, before he reared angrily striking out at any who were still too close for his comfort. Their actions together made it clear this wasn’t a game to them. If one thought to come for her steed, Siana would take their life, as same for the grey to her. He’d not let anyone harm a hair to her. Something War could respect….fully.

((Okay so that were looking tongue I wrote, which Siana spoke. This is what it means. “Shirgar, Veni ad me, equus.”   "Shirgar, come to me, my steed" Hope you like this chapter. Vote comment..you know the drill. ^-^ ))