Carrot's hooves had carapace lining the side and tips. Red carapace that toughened over time, becoming impervious to wear and impossible to tear. The Telinete was known to wander the ridges lining the far south of the desert. For there is where those who hunt them go to gather in their throngs.
To bring down a single Telinete Rhino that's standing still would require not less than a hundred men. To bring down a Telinete on the ran is impossible.
All these things were spoken to Niada when she was a child, there in the dimly lit hut forged of mud and thatched grass, her grandmother had cradled her to her bosom and spoken of the animals and plants and people of the realm. She'd felt safe there, and warm. It all sounded so distant, things she would never experience. Things that would forever remain foreign.
Now she was covered in blood and muck of tissue and skin. The sun dried the blood to her black skin but her hair still dripped and the iron tinge of life force formed a miasma around her and the Telinete Rhino she rode, Carrot.
For days they'd assailed roaming bands of Binorian Hunters. They'd parted ways with the one whose voice stirs her heart, Ishar. His task was to journey the desert, in search of the Kolotians, her task was to take Carrot and wreck so much havoc on the Binorian Hunters who hunted her lover's people. To take their attention away from their immediate sport, to have them follow her until Carrot made her aware of Ishar's whereabouts.
Sometimes she envied the bond Ishar had with Carrot. In a place beyond the mortal plain, a link formed between man and beast. And it was with swift guarantee that Carrot could tell where Ishar is and who Ishar is with. And several nights back he'd bellowed, rattling her awake where she slept. A war cry, she could tell the difference between the sounds Carrot made. She knew then that Ishar was in a battle and that he was soon to unite with the Kolotians.
And in the wee hours of midday the following day, Carrot made her aware that Ishar had united with the Kolotians. And according to plan they were to journey to him, unite once more and bring with them proof of his power.
They were behind her, she knew this by the dust cloud rising to the south, Binorians numbering in the Hundreds, hunters all of them with need for revenge and a need to exact their superior presence. Carrot paced faster than their horses could and longer too, they were forever behind her and Ishar at the front. She was coming and that was all that seemed to matter to her.
His lips, sometimes she would remind him to wet them so as to ensure they don't crack. She'd remind him with wet sloppy kisses and he would hold on to her like a drowning man to an oar. He feared losing her, and he never withheld this from her. Ishar shared all that was in his soul, creating a picture perfect image of just what she meant to him.
They'd laid down beneath the fourth moon, staring at the stars and joking that the pin pricks of blinking lights upon the sky was the seed of some God. It was then when they'd come up with a destination, the Talisi wanted to hold on to Ishar after the events on the Ganidan Plain, the Remu spy, Edda, wanted Ishar to become a part of the Remu Court. And the Binorians wanted Ishar beheaded before the masses. They all wanted a part of him, they all wanted to chew on bits and pieces of his essence until there was nothing left to hold, nothing left to touch.
Yet in the desert his people wandered, suffering, unaware even of his existence. He'd voiced his desire to her, just as the clouds parted and the fourth moon hang like a silver talisman in the sky. And she'd fallen deeper in love then, his voice never rose an octave with her save when he laughed. Ishar's laughter was always so genuine, but when he opened himself to her and enabled her to see the chasm within him that called to know his people, she had offered herself to the cause.
Niada was powerful, this much she knew. Ever since she bonded with Ishar, becoming an item, she found herself syphoning power from him without even being aware. Ishar had one day told her 'The reason your eyes glow amber at times and you wield some of the power I have is because you were the promise Ovek made me, with a trade I would save you. This is your portion.'
Power, she felt the strength, durability and something else, as if her soul was tethered to a God. Yet she felt shielded, the price she ought to pay for the power was being paid by someone else. Ishar. How many times did he start a conversation and then just stop abruptly and stare, as if questioning all he had to say? Sometimes when others spoke it would seem as if he listened but upon conclusion he would have no idea what was being spoken of. Other times he would say things without being aware to whom he was addressing, treating enemies like friends and friends as fools and lovers as... No, Ishar always treated her with love.
Niada feared still, feared losing him to insanity. Just as he feared losing her to oblivion. But when she was in his presence, he regained bits and pieces of himself to the point where he almost appeared normal. But she'd decided before it all, through madness and sanity he will always be hers.
Now Carrot's pace heightened, he'd caught Ishar's scent meaning they were close. Behind them the dust cloud raised by thousands of horse hooves spoke of the horde intent on laying waste to her. I lead you to your death Binorian fools! She tilted her head back and laughed, white hair stained with blood flowing in the wind, and her eyes glowed amber.
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