The horse lifted his head and snorted with a warning to his Mistress who knelt at the edge of the stream drinking her fill. Green eyes narrowed as she grew still, a hand drifted to the sword at her side as she listened to the surrounding forest. The large warhorse shifted closer to her in a protective stance and her small form rose to her feet with a slow, lithe grace.
Her gloved hand remained upon the hilt of her sword and with one gesture of her other hand the black warhorse melted into the trees at the edge of the creek side.
She stepped into the underbrush on the opposite side of where the horse went and she grew still and waited as the one who approached sounded like a whole army. She knew it was one person, mounted and not being wary or quiet and that puzzled her as the lands were in a grave state of unrest at this time.
Green eyes watched the brown horse come into the clearing and the man atop the horse slid off with a jingle of spurs and mail. She could see the light sword strapped to his back and his long dark hair was bound into a pony tail. He knelt at the waters edge and drank from his cupped hands but she knew he knew she was present and she tensed, ready to fight.
The man rose with a warriors grace and his hands went to his hips as he spoke directly to the bush she was hidden in.
"Come out of there now, or I'll have to go in and get you out." His voice was hard and filled with annoyance.
She began to move out of the bush but an explosion from the trees at the other side of the clearing brought the warrior to spin about, sword being drawn swiftly.
Her warhorse slammed him to the ground with a massive shoulder then his teeth nipped and herded the other horse to the far side of the clearing where he stomped and snorted with anger.
Her hand grabbed the other sword then drew her own and with a swift movement she came from the bush to press the point of her blade to the mans throat as he laid on the moss covered ground.
His blue eyes widened as he saw this woman, dressed from head to toe in leather and the movement of her small form brought spurs to jingling.
"Yield and state your business."
Her voice was laced with steel and the point of her blade remained steady at his throat. He could see this woman was not to be trifled with for even with her small size she was a seasoned warrior.
"Milady, I was just stopping for a drink. I am with Lord Barris as he is traveling to the capitol to see the King."
She listened to the man as he lay under the point of her sword then snorted and stepped back. With a swift movement her sword is sheathed at her side but she still holds his within her grasp as easily as he would.
"Get up then and be off."
Her voice brooked no argument.
He rose slowly but his blue gaze had to admire the beauty before him. Lean and strong she was but he knew that fiery red hair so tightly plaited down her back would be glorious under the sun if let to hang loosely down her back. Her eyes were like green spring grass and he felt himself staring at her longer than was proper as he dusted himself off.
An angry snort from behind him brought him to a standstill as he knew it was that devil of a warhorse there and he knew that animal would bite his head off if he made even the smallest gesture towards his mistress.
She noted his attentions upon her and an uncharacteristic flush appeared on her cheeks. Tio was behind him now and he pawed at the ground getting the attention of the man so she was able to examine him further. He was tall and well built as any warrior would be but his eyes were so very blue, like sapphires. His dark hair was bound and hung down his back; she wanted to run her fingers through it. Shocked at her thoughts she called to the horse.
"Tio, stand down."
The warhorse stepped back and snapped his teeth one last time at the man then went back to harass the other brown gelding.
He watched the devil horse go back to torment his horse and he spun to face her.
"Get that beast off my horse. He is no warhorse and is terrified."
He barked to her obviously displeased with the state of things.
A smirk appeared on her ruby lips and he had an itch to wipe it off her face but not with a slap but a kiss.
"Why aren't you on a warhorse? Or can't you handle one?"
Her voice was teasing and slightly derisive.
His blue eyes blazed with a growing anger as he glanced to her.
"I ride Ulther out of preference and he may not be a warhorse but he is my friend so call off the beast." He growled at her.
A snort escaped her and then she called to the warhorse.
"Tio, stop, leave the poor horse alone."
Black ears swiveled back and forth a moment and he seemed to almost want to disobey her but then with one last nip to the flank of the brown horse he wandered off to drink from the stream.
He could see she was enjoying this a bit too much and it irritated him to no end. He wanted to take her over his knee and paddle her but for some unknown reason he wanted to see how strong she really was.
Her gaze shifted back to him and she grinned at his discomfort. Her strides take her to stand before him; her spurs grow silent as she looked up at him with that grin.
"You are angry. Tell me your name angry one."
Her grin was wide, her green eyes sparkled and he swallowed as unusual desires came over him at that moment. He wanted to grab her into his arms and kiss her but he felt he needed her permission. For some reason he needed her approval of what he did. His frustration grew and his anger boiled.
"You haven't a need to know who I am."
He snapped at her and crossed his arms over his chest to show his defiance.
One delicate brow rose at his refusal to tell her his name and with a move faster than he had ever seen he was on his arse once again. Her knee was in the center of his chest and a dagger laid to his throat as her green gaze blazed at him.