The Dusty Saddle
Male, Female
Prologue
The thought of love to all means many different things to some whether it would be an opinion based on past experiences. Or a philosophy surmised from that we see it through our eyes as one watches in others splendor. Love can either make beings wage war like what Paris of Troy and Helen of Sparta, caused Agamemnon to wage war on Troy for years with the inevitable destruction as Troy burned to the ground and thousands of people die because of their little romance. For some cases love can create something rather beautiful like a new born foal in the early morning of spring. In this story the love between an Arabian mare princess of the Sapphire Empire named Adira doomed for an arranged marriage to a cruel stallion prince named Ajmal and a lonely Palomino stallion named Apollo a heart of gold who longs for love. These two are entwined in the fates to a bigger event that is happening than fight out of a loveless engagement.
The evil revolting alliance between prince Ajmal and the thieving murderous predatory leader named Silver claw that has a thirst for equine blood. The Prince delivers Adira and receives her family fortune while Sivlerclaw gets a taste of royal mare blood. While Apollo, the strong tender hearted defender of the Sapphire Empire meets Adira. In her attempted to escape the palace. Where Adira, sits alone under the lone tree; hoping to seek guidance from those gone before her. In her dire time of need in the ancient gardens of knowledge. From that moment their loved blossomed as they find the terrible truth behind in their pasts and their futures. As the story unfolds will love truly conquer all?
Chapter 1 A lonely heart - North wall of the Sapphire nearly midnight
It was the middle of my shift as I look out over the beauty of the sands the way moon light caresses the curves of the mounds of the sand. The whistle of the eastern winds fill my ears as they face the direction of their origin, other sounds escape my interest the footsteps of other guards. We equines are rather known for our heightened senses than most species; the only ones who can match us are K9's and big cats. Like our degree of vision we can see almost all the way around us but we are blinded directly behind us. That's where the hearing and smelling comes in handy to prevent us before we are attacked. Soon I hear the padding and purring of my good friend Desmond, he's a white Bengal tiger he was almost big and muscular as I was I know what you are thinking but the majority of big cats like to live in peace with others. Others are just tired of the carnage that they create and want to seek peace with others as well as themselves.
"Hey, Apollo how have you been? I have not seen you in a while; did you go home with chestnut filly I set you up with?" Sometimes I get tired of him setting me up with these dim witted females, he even tried to set me up with his sister we never found anything in common. Surprisingly he was mature about it, Desmond is a good guy though it's just in his mind he still sees me as a lady banging bachelor stallion. We used to go down to the Silver Mane Inn and pick one out and see if we can take them home. I turn around to face him with a smile to try and cover some of my misery and loneliness. "Oh, hey Desmond I have been meaning to get in touch with you. She was very nice mare but I only brought her to the door and declared us just as friends." Desmond sends his look of disappointment as he sits on a crate close to the archer notch "Apollo you have been on your hooves for hours please sit with me" He kindly asks as I sit on the crate opposite of him as I lay my bow on its side. I could not help but look into his eyes as he sets his paw on my muscular shoulder.
"Apollo I am rather worried about you. You have not seen a female in two years, and when you do have one in your embrace you politely turn them down and send them home or take them home. But never went pass the door have you changed?" I think there for a few minutes pondering my history and the feeling in my heart. I feel his concerned stare I knew it was only a matter of time before I have to give him an answer. I take a deep breath and look back in his kind golden eyes, if there's one way to get the truth out of me he knew it. We have been best friends since we could walk.
I sigh and look in his eyes and finally spoke "Desmond I feel lonely, every time I hold the hand of a female who adores my company. I don't feel the same way about her" Desmond looks at me with confusion as his tail twitches back and forth. Most see him as a dumb muscle head but he's a very deep thinker sometimes. He has his moments where he hits the nail on the head. Other times I could not help but laugh and tell him where he got it wrong, he kind of gets a sick pleasure of catching me in a fox like trap of wit. "I am just in the search of a mare who can fill the hole I feel in my heart, I am just starting to wonder if I will ever find her." . With a low grumble he gives me a gentle hug, his warm soft fur against my coat.
After a few moments he receded and took a minute and started to speak. "Apollo there is no such thing as a perfect female; you just have to find one that is close." Desmond placed a claw on my chest over my heart before speaking again. "The only one who can tell you whether she is right for you is your heart. Not I nor the gods or anyone else you can't give up you are one of the best stallions that any mare could ever have. You will find her someday or she will find you, sometimes you just have to leave it to chance. "I thought about what he just said and I could not find a single whole in his logic. But I knew I was going to try to bring him down but just to mess with him I will let him have it. I know that it will drive him nuts for the next couple of hours then again maybe not.
I look at him with a cocky smile. "Well well well, look at this the mister hung feline is actually giving me a lecture on love. Is he thinking of giving up his bachelor prowling tiger lifestyle? Settling down with a nice tigress has a few cubs?" I got him again I could tell by the look of his face and the way his tail is twitches, before I knew it he gave me a half ass punch in the shoulder. "Shut up!" He knew it was coming, I could not resist I give him a slap on the shoulder back. "Hmhm thank you I do feel better and you're right I can't give up on my pursuit on love. So when does your shift end?" He stands up stretching before he sits down again before he answers me. "The same time as yours, you want to go and have a few drinks just you and me not a female hunt?"
After that response I think a few minutes I look at him I did not want to see him disappointed I smile with a chuckle. "Sure it would be nice to go for a few drinks and not go home with extra baggage. Unless I have to drag your limp ass home. After you've had one too many." Desmond laughed with a throaty growl before showing that grin of his. "Oh come on, that was only one time! And I did not eat much that night." I love the way he pleads his innocence I look behind me as my ears twitch behind me as I hear another pair of hooves clopping on the stone. It was another one of my good friends John a Clydesdale from Scotland as you imagined, the only stallion I know who is bigger than me or Desmond. He was a giant of a stallion, he was also our general he is both sides of the coin. A real hard general, whom does not tolerate any nonsense from anyone. But on the flip side he can be fun enough to drink you under the table at the local tavern. But he is wiser than anything he taught me and Desmond everything we know.
He clops closer and closer as he stands over us with his massive bulk at our side giving a nicker and a booming laugh. "Hey boys! How is the night watch so far?" Don't let the jolly voice fool you he can be a real strict sometimes, but that is part of being a good leader. I look into his eyes when I speak to him just he always taught us to. "The lands are safe as always, I saw nothing beyond my vision. So I heard there is big news buzzing about that fills my ears what is it?" John grinned with the satisfaction of our report, he sighed in a pause in answer to me. He looked to me as if something was bothering him, of course this had me concerned as well. "Well the emperor has found a suitor for his daughter." I chuckle a little scratching my mane I heard about this princess I have never had the pleasure of meeting her. I met the emperor and empress once when I was promoted.
The emperor who went by the name of Gerard was older than John but just as wise if not wiser and very humble. He would actually listen to the commoners and give gold to a starving child from his own purse. He is truly a ruler of the people, free of corruption. Many a leader can learn from him just by walking in his horseshoes.
I look to Desmond as tail twitches him showing the same concern as I. "So John. How does the princess feel about this suiter? She must be happy right, it's almost every mares dream to be married to a stallion prince." I ask, John looks to me with an attempted smile, I know he's hiding something. But to force information from a veteran Clydesdale, is strongly not recommended. John finally took a breath and told me. "To be honest boys, I came here to see if you have seen her. See she's escaped the palace, if you see her. Please ask her to see reason and come back and talk it over with her father and mother. You two I trust more then the emperor, I know you both won't let me down." I could not believe what I am hearing. What could be so horrible about this marriage, that she would flee the palace in the middle of the night?
I look to John as did Desmond beside me I lay my hand on his massive shoulder rippling and packed with muscle. "John if I see her I will talk to her, but it's going to be hard for me to identify her if I never seen her." I said before asking. "So how will I know it is her?" John only chuckled and nickered in his usual way "Apollo I have taught you how identify an enemy without a description. I think you can identify a royal run away mare. I have always told you to find a balance with your instinct, your mind, and your heart." That's one of many reasons I love him like a father, or a smart ass uncle. I could only come to the conclusion that he is right and that I am confident in my abilities to find her.
John slaps his hands on me and Desmond's shoulders. "Now you boys are off, go have some fun. I will send two guys up here to take your posts. Even two of my bravest and craziest need some r and r. And Apollo stays sober enough to drag his feline drunken self home." Desmond only laughed to cover his underline growl; I could not help but laugh to. In an outburst Desomnd spoke. "Hey that was only one time! How many times are you two going to bring it up?" I and John laugh even louder, teasing him. "Until you learn hold your own in the hobby of drink." I said in laughter barely able to keep my breath. I and Desmond finally walk our way down the stairs saying our good byes
.
Before I turn on my hoof, looking back to John to ask one more question. "John, you sure you don't want to join us?" Once again he puts on a smile "I am fine now you two grab a few drinks and have a good time. You two need rest and relaxation; a tired and stressed soldier is not suit for combat." I only leave him with a nod as the clop of our hoofs fade out of each other's ear shot. We enter the town with an expectation of drunken adventure. But we truly had no idea what destiny will unfold for us, only the gods will know.