Companions Chapter 05: Mourne's Prophecy
#5 of Companions
[Companions Chapter 05]
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WARNING! The following text contains explicit adult subject matter. It is not intended for anyone under the age of 18. If you are under the age of 18, then you must stop reading now. The author has taken steps to ensure that this story does not appear in any subject-inappropriate or age-inapropriate forum. This version has been posted with the author's permission to Yiffstar.com.
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* _COMPANIONS_
* by Evoquus
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* (c) Copyright 2002, Evoquus, All rights reserved.
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* Feedback is appreciated: [email protected]
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Rating: NC-17 for explicit sex: M/M, Human-Stallion, Anal, Oral
Chapter 05: Mourne's Prophecy
When I awoke an hour later, I was still draped over his chest and he was still inside me, though he had softened considerably. I wondered what his seed was doing to me, now. The previous time he had "fertilized" me, there were ruptures everywhere. Much of his essence was spent repairing the damage and keeping me alive. But that wasn't a problem this time, so his essence was now free to pursue a secondary agenda. Whatever that agenda was, the effect it had on me was clear: it made me feel great!
My arms lay splayed on either side of his rib cage. I gently rubbed the ribs of my mate with my fingers as he dozed, enjoying the present, but also wondering about our future. We will make love "A LOT" he had emphasized. That is a fate I can live with. And each time we do it, I'm going to become a little more like him. How much more? Each time he cums, he must inject me with at least a pint of essence. He could easily replace my entire body mass in less than a year. Conceivably, every cell in my body could be impregnated. Then what?
I will remain "mostly a man" he had said, but he wouldn't elaborate. Wouldn't or couldn't? Whatever happens, I would have no regrets. That's kind of a cool thing about knowing that one's destiny will be beautiful. It can encourage risk-taking that one might not do otherwise. Not imprudent risks, mind you, but knowing there will be no regrets gives an extra edge when making life choices. What an adventure this has become.
Unfortunately, making love a lot will not pay the mortgage unless I start up a porno website, and I'm pretty sure that isn't in the stars for me. And though he is fairly cheap to feed right now, I still need to eat food that doesn't grow by the side of the road. At some point reality of living in the 21st century was going to set in. It was inconceivable that with all that had happened to me so far, on Monday, I might have to be back at work while my Companion stayed home doing the dishes and watching Oprah.
A whickering informed me he was coming out of his snooze.
"Pleasant dreams?"
"Very," he sighed, followed by a yawn and a stretch.
"Your essence is turning me into a horse, isn't it."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I'm starting to feel as good as you look. I can even feel my tail."
"You don't have a tail. It is probably just a lingering aftereffect of the link."
"Maybe. But it still might be fun to turn into a horse."
Thinking about food made me suddenly realize that I hadn't had anything to eat for more than twenty-four hours, and a pang in my stomach grew to remind me of it. So I sat up and squeezed while I let him slide out of me, keeping a tight rein on the hot stuff he left behind.
"I need to get something other than you to eat." I said, while putting on my clothes. "And Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do."
"Pardon?"
"You know... your wife, your son, any other in-laws I should know about."
"Oh."
"I'll bring the eats back here so we can have a nice long conversation over lunch. Got it?"
"Yes."
"Be back in a minute." I kissed him on the nose and left.
In town, I went to a deli and ordered a large sub. Then I made it two, because my stomach told me to. I was amused at the long skinny loaf of bread the server pulled out. In a few weeks I'd be able to fit that whole thing up my ass. Then she got out a knife and sliced it open, which made me wince and decide to think of something else for a change. It didn't help that the deli case was filled with fat rolls of sausage, salami and bratwurst. They all belonged up my ass.
When I returned with my sandwiches, my Companion had already started on lunch in the meadow. I didn't take much offense at that, but I WOULD have to teach him some manners someday. I pulled up a chair next to him and joined him, eating in silence for a bit.
"How's the grass today?" I asked, after swallowing a mouthful.
"Fine," he said. "How's your sandwich?"
"A little dry, but it's okay." I took another bite, then had to wait for it to go down. "Anytime you're ready," I said. "You don't have to stop eating. I know you can talk while you graze."
"Yes," he said. "I just don't know where to begin."
"Let's start with your estranged wife and son."
"You already know practically all there is to know. I have a betrothed mate and a son as a result, but they both disappoint me, so I do not share my life with them. My life belongs to you, now. You need not feel any jealousy."
"I'm not jealous at all, because I believe that too. I just want to know what I've gotten myself into. Tell me about Hipponaur."
"We are a nation and race of equines. There are not many of us, maybe a thousand spread out around the world. We typically live in cliques, you might call them herds, of twenty to thirty individuals. We remain hidden, because, as I have told you, we tend to be exploited by humans."
"But why are there so few of you in existence? For a race that has lived as long as you... are you infertile?"
"No, we are not an infertile race, but there are physiological conditions that regulate reproduction. There are also political conditions. It is very complicated."
"Politics? You're kidding!"
"We are a sentient race. Of course we have politics. The eldest of each clique is its de facto benevolent dictator. The general rule of Hipponaur law is 'live and let live,' so for the most part, the Elders keep their noses out of everyone's business."
"I envy you."
"I said, 'for the most part.' When it comes to reproduction, the Elders make it very much their business. Destiny designed a Hipponaur mare to mate for life with a single Hipponaur stallion. The stallion's seed bonds the mare to him, making her more compatible with him and less compatible with anyone else - much like my seed is doing to you. After several weeks of daily bonding, the mare and the stallion become one. At that point, the mare can ONLY be made pregnant by her bond mate, and she is infertile to all other seed. Before a mare has reached sexual maturity, the Elders choose her bonding stallion and force the two to be one."
"Some human cultures also have pre-arranged marriages," I pointed out.
"Perhaps, but at least some of those marriages may succeed. The Elders purposely choose bond mates that are socially incompatible. They would never admit it, but everyone knows it is true. The mares are understandably unhappy being bonded to someone they can't stand to be with, and generally leave to go live in another clique before ever getting pregnant. Once bonded, the Elders don't care who the mares have sex with, which is just about everything that breathes, except their bond mates."
"Why on Earth would the Elders do that to you?"
"To keep our numbers small. Our low birth rate offsets our long life span, keeping our numbers relatively constant, so we can remain hidden from humans. The reproductive rules for stallions are even more strict. A stallion must never mate outside his species. Some unfortunate genetic consequences have occurred."
"So, your association with me could get you busted?"
"Yes, I have broken several fundamental Hipponaur laws when I started bonding with you. The punishment for my crimes is up to the Elders to decide, but it could mean my death if they discover us."
"Oh shit! Zhorelle knows!! Do you think she'll tell them?"
"I doubt it," he said, unconcerned, "because then she would not be able to torment me anymore. Plus she communed and linked with you, herself. That alone could be grounds for exile."
"Well, I won't tell if you won't."
"The irony is, when a Hipponaur foal is born, it is an event that is celebrated around the world, despite the unspoken discouragement. Even Varyl, the eldest Hipponaur, who is probably the oldest living thing on the planet, makes a point of visiting every newborn foal to give it his blessing. To be honest, I do see the wisdom in keeping our numbers in check. We could easily overpopulate this world, otherwise."
"But your nation is stagnant. You don't grow as a culture. Isn't your life rather tedious."
"Not really. There is a lot of equine mentality in our race. We don't have ambition to explore and conquer like humans do. We enjoy the simpler things: sunshine, grass, companionship, and sex. That's about it."
"What about starting a family?"
"That is the one aspect of human life that I envy. You can choose your mate, and if it doesn't work out, you can choose another. We don't get a choice, and although a Hipponaur stallion can have more than one bonded mare, the Elders still try to arrange it so that he won't desire either of them, and vice versa. Some stallions have forced themselves upon their bond mares, but the mare always has the upper hand and can usually find a way to terminate an unwanted pregnancy."
"Did you force yourself upon Zhorelle?"
"You experienced it yourself. What do you think?" he said, somewhat indignant. "You know what a seductress she is. She planned to use our son to control me. It worked for a while, until he was big enough to kick her ass."
"And what about Bouceph?"
"He has too much of his mother in him. He takes more than he gives to this world. I have long since given up on him."
"But he's your son!"
"You forget that he is probably over a thousand years old."
"Oh... I see your point."
He shook his head. "I should never have bonded with her, I did not even want to. Even back then, I knew my destiny was to be with you, but it was my duty, according to the Elders. If it makes you feel any better, I was actually thinking of you while bonding with her."
"Really? That long ago? That's sweet," I smiled. "How many other Hipponaurs have human mates?"
"None, that is, no stallions anyway. We have no desire to slay innocents, especially intelligent ones. An unnecessary death is a terrible thing for a Hipponaur to live with for the rest of his life. A Hipponaur stallion and a human, be it man or woman simply doesn't work. The human always dies of internal injuries once the stallion loses control. There is something about the coupling of stallion and human that brings out the Primitive in us. I cannot explain it. It does not happen with mares."
"I know what you mean," I said. "I was there both times, and there was no comparison. For Zhorelle, you were simply horny. For me, you were even more horny, but that paled in comparison to your murderous desire for my blood. Zhorelle said I was lucky to be alive."
"You are the only living exception. I knew you would somehow survive, so I took the risk. All other stallions know of the danger, so they stay away from humans. Mare's are a different matter, since their encounters are generally non-fatal."
"Yes, just like my non-fatal encounter."
"And I apologize again for that. Her rape of you was nothing personal. It was just another way she found to hurt me. And she used MY OWN LINK TO DO IT!!"
"Hey, calm down, I'm okay."
"She's VINDICTIVE! And HATEFUL! And RUTHLESS! And as EVIL as Mourne's Proph..."
Rovaun froze, his mouth in mid-chew. Then his jaw slowly opened allowing cud to dribble out onto the ground. Something was very, very wrong.
"Rovaun?... Are you okay?"
His eyes stared at me, searching for an answer to which a question had yet to be posed. My spine thoroughly tingled in his glare.
"What is it?"
"Nooooo..." he said, in a chilling ghostly moan.
"WHAT!? Tell me!!" I stood up to calm him.
"No, no, no, no, no...." The horse bolted down the meadow to get away from me as if I had the plague. He snorted and jumped around trying to work out whatever dilemma had just manifested. I was pretty sure this had something to do with destiny, which would explain why he had to mull it over outside my presence. From the looks of him, it wasn't going well. I tried not to panic. He had been wrong about these things before. But something told me that Destiny was about to hit me on the back of the head with a frying pan.
He stood frozen again, looking at me from a distance. "Rovaun!" I shouted, but he didn't move. I started walking toward him and he turned and ran. Whatever it was, he had to work it out for himself. There was nothing for me to do but wait for him to come back. Again, I sat with my head in my hands trying to figure what I had done. Before he wigged out, the last thing he was talking about was Zhorelle, but he had already absolved me of any responsibility in that encounter. I could think of nothing that he could blame me for that would make him act this way. After about 20 minutes, he returned, plodding, his head dropped low in defeat, vanquished by an unseen foe. I stood up to meet him.
"I should not bond with you anymore," he said morosely, "and it might be best if you wash my seed out of you."
"Rovaun! Talk to me, Goddammit!!"
He raised his head, but still looked beaten. "Mourne's Prophecy is a vision that all Hipponaurs have seen at least once in their lives. It details the death of the Hipponaur race. Our destruction begins with the sexual union of a human male and Hipponaur mare."
"WHAT!!?" I fell back into the chair.
"The union produces twin Centaurs, a male and female. Conceived in jealousy, hatred and deceit, the Centaurs create an incestuous race that embody these terrible traits, and others. They have a hatred for all things Hipponaur and Human. They wreak havoc on mankind, but mankind will survive. The Hipponaur race, however, does not stand a chance against them."
"Rovaun, I know what you're thinking, and you're wrong!"
"The human who fathered them is known as 'Mourne's Wraith.' None of us have seen him up close in our dreams, but before he died, Mourne told Varyl how to recognize him. We must go to Varyl immediately."
"Oh, okay. No problem. Let's go. Wait a minute. Let's NOT!" I folded my arms in protest. "Rovaun, this is LUNACY. In the thousands of years your race has been on this planet, I find it hard to believe that I am the first human male to be seduced by a Hipponaur mare. Hell, it sounds like they ALL probably do it! Zhorelle, alone, must have had at least a dozen men before me, probably hundreds! Believe me, there are plenty of lonely horny men around who would jump on a willing mare in a second!"
"You are correct, and that is exactly why the Elders force all mares to bond with stallions before they can conceive. The prophecy cannot be fulfilled if the mare cannot be impregnated by human sperm."
"Well, there you go. You fully bonded with Zhorelle, right?"
"Yes."
"So what's the problem?"
"I have also begun bonding with you."
"So?...Oh..........shit." This complicated mess was starting to gel. I was no longer fully human. There was clear evidence that I was already more compatible with Rovaun, which could mean that I was also more compatible with Zhorelle. Despite the thousands of years the Hipponaurs have staved off Destiny, the Bitch may have finally found a loophole.
"Do you think Zhorelle knew this when she raped me?"
"It is possible. She has seen the vision, too."
"But then she would be knowingly bringing about her own destruction!"
"Yes, and it is exactly the kind of thing she would do. She is impulsive and bored with her existence. She may have seen an opportunity to go out with a bang. We must go to Varyl."
"Why don't we just go find Zhorelle and kill her. It sounds like you want to do that anyway."
"Because destiny will not allow it. If she is the Centaurs' mother, then we won't be able to kill her before she gives birth. And if we do find her and kill her, then she would not have been the Centaurs' mother in the first place. We cannot win with her, so we must find Varyl.
"But what good would that do," I asked, pleading for a change of heart from him. "Whether I'm Mourne's Wraith or not, they will find out about us, Rovaun. What happens to our future then?"
"Our future is beautiful. I have seen it many times. I don't know how the short term events will play out, but my conscience tells me that this is the right thing to do."
"But if I AM this Wraith, won't the Hipponaurs have me killed?"
"No, that's just it, the Wraith is destined to save the Hipponaur race from the evil he has spawned. He is an extraordinary human that is highly regarded among our kind. I can see those traits in you, Companion."
"Have you seen me as the Wraith in your visions?"
"No, but you know that doesn't..."
"And what about Centaurs? They must pop up pretty soon in your timeline, then."
"I have only the one vision regarding that. Mourne's Prophecy is very clear in my mind, but it never changes. I know of no one who has ever had a supplemental vision to corroborate the prophecy. Because of that, it is simply regarded as a part of destiny that cannot be understood until it actually happens. We know it will happen, but we try not to dwell on it."
"All right, if we go to Varyl and he identifies me as Mourne's Wraith, then what?"
"You won't like it."
"No shit."
"As the only human who can survive a stallion's mating, you will partially bond with as many Hipponaur stallions as can be summoned. This will make you compatible with their bonded mares, enabling you to father a race of loyal Centaurs who will defend the Hipponaurs against their murderous brethren."
I stood up slowly. "Are you fucking telling me, that my fucking destiny is to FUCK every fucking Hipponaur on this entire fucking PLANET!!"
"It is not as bad as it sounds."
"And the whole point is to make even MORE Centaurs! That is completely ridiculous! Why would these new Centaurs be any different?"
"I don't know. It apparently has something to do with the conditions in which they are conceived. The first union produces twin Centaurs who are conceived in jealousy, hatred and deceit. But the Hipponaur army contains more genetic diversity, and the mares conceive in order to save the race, not destroy it."
Something didn't sound right in his explanation. Not the explanation itself, but the words he used to explain it.
"You said almost the very same thing before about the twin Centaurs. I mean, you used the very same words: 'conceived in jealousy, hatred and deceit.'"
"Yes, that is how I remember the vision. It has always been that way since as long as I can remember. Destiny is SUPPOSED to be consistent. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Yeah,... maybe. But come on, Rovaun, me being Mourne's Wraith is so NOT being one with you, it just can't be true. It is impossible for me to have both destinies."
"I, too, cannot see how both destinies are possible, but that does not change my mind about seeing Varyl. If there is the slightest possibility that you are Mourne's Wraith, then it is my duty to Hipponaur to follow through. I cannot force you to come with me, but I believe my true Companion would do so."
"That's a cheap shot, and you know it."
"Yes."
"What if, instead of killing Zhorelle, we just give her a hysterectomy?... Oh what the hell! Let Destiny fuck me in the ass again! How do we find Varyl?"
"There is a clique I know of that is ten day's travel from here. They will know where Varyl is."
"Ten day's travel... How far is that?"
"About 200 miles."
"Why don't you just get in my van, and we can be there before sundown."
"That is an acceptable alternative."
It took a few minutes to remove the passenger and rear seats so that Rovaun could ride shotgun. He climbed into the van from the rear gate and shimmied up to the front. There was no question that we were going to attract some attention on the road, but I didn't care. Still, it was a good thing we were in California.
We hit the road and headed east to an Indian reservation near Nevada. Traffic wasn't bad, but I've never had so many people honk and flash me hand signals other than the finger. It was like they all knew of my sexual proclivities, or maybe it was just my imagination. Of course it didn't make us any less conspicuous when Rovaun insisted on riding with his head out the window.
According to Rovaun, Mourne was Varyl's grandfather. He was so old, that it was theorized that he may have been one of the very first Hipponaurs. No one knew where they came from or how they came to be. He may have been the first being to ever see his destiny. The Elders weren't stupid. They knew how destiny worked, that it couldn't be prevented. Yet they took steps to do that very thing, by basically sterilizing all mares.
And I could certainly understand the mares' beef. If I had only one chance for a lifelong companion, I'd sure want to have a say in the matter! And if my mate were screwing around with someone else, I'd be pissed off and jealous, too. Suddenly Zhorelle's behavior didn't seem so unexpected. In fact, it seemed downright predictable, which then made the prophecy illogical. Why would the other mares suddenly care about their race? They don't have children and they can't stand their mates. Why would they want to give birth to Centaurs? And even Centaurs didn't make sense, anatomically."
"Rovaun."
He brought his head inside. "Yes, Companion."
"Has a real Centaur ever been born?"
"I have never heard of one actually walking the Earth. I have only seen it in visions."
"I know in Greek mythology, most of the Centaurs were brutal and ruthless - certainly creatures to be feared. And they came into existence by some guy mating with mares."
"Yes, I am familiar with the myth."
"But if you think about it from a biological point of view, a Centaur would not be even close to what the offspring of a human and horse would probably look like. A Centaur is the top 3/5 of a man attached to the bottom 9/10 of a horse. It doesn't make genetic sense. Think of all of the duplicated internal organs - and six limbs instead of four - that makes him an insect! A Centaur is more likely to come out of Frankenstein's lab than a Hipponaur mare."
"Your scientific analysis of the implausibility of a mare giving birth to Centaurs is flawed only by the mere fact that it is actually going to happen."
"Fucking piece of shit destiny!"
"What you said."
What was I doing? I was purposely driving my van with a full grown horse as my navigator, to some secret location where a bunch of other horses would decide my fate. Why was I doing this? Because I believed him to be my soul mate, lover, and life companion. Did I truly believe it, or did I just want to believe it? I don't think I'll ever know. But I DID know that the farther east we traveled, the more likely we were about to crash my van into the beautiful stained glass window that was to be our future.
The two destinies were incompatible. There was no other way to look at it. I could not be one with Rovaun and be one with the entire Hipponaur population. Therefore, I cannot be Mourne's Wraith. I simply CANNOT... BE! So what's going to happen next? Either Rovaun will have a change of heart and we turn around, or, we waltz up to the Elders and Rovaun confesses he is a treasonous mass murderer and the Elders say, "Okay, say three 'Hail Mary's' and go live happily ever after." Oh, man, my head hurts.
A truck towing a horse trailer merged onto the highway in front of us. A cream colored tail hung out the back and danced in the wind. We followed it for a couple of minutes, even though it slowed us down. It took my mind off my troubles for a bit.
"I know what you're looking at," said Rovaun.
"You're looking at it, too."
He snickered.
We enjoyed the scenery in silence for a little longer.
"Ever do it with another stallion?" I asked.
"Why would you ask such a question?"
"Hee, hee, hee - an evasive response. That answers my question."
"No it doesn't."
The truck and it's cute horse butt exited the highway. I resisted the urge to follow, and continued toward our destination.
"Rovaun, what happens when a Hipponaur mates with a regular horse?"
"The results are tragic, so we do not do it. The offspring, is physically an equine, but its mind is confused and psychotic. We cannot mate with non-intelligent species."
"So that makes humans basically the only other alternative to Hipponaurs."
"Yes, if we could just figure out how to not kill them when we mate."
"What about artificial insemination?"
"How romantic."
"Yes," I snorted, "there would definitely be something missing in the relationship. I'm glad WE don't have that problem."
"Me too," he said, somewhat suggestively. It was impressive, how so few words from him could make me suddenly hard, even after I had already ejaculated two week's worth of gism earlier that day.
"We're going to be all right," I said, more to myself than to him. "We'll get through this, somehow."
"Yes, we will, my Companion. Have faith in your destiny."
"Fuck destiny, remember? I'm putting my faith squarely on YOUR shoulders, your big brawny sexy shoulders that I'd love to be rubbing naked against right now, you walking stud farm."
"Easy now, keep your mind on your driving, you sex-crazed deviant whose face I wish I were sitting on."
We both giggled like schoolgirls. Eventually, as it always does, the mutual giddiness faded and ended with a sigh.
"You know, I really don't think I'm Mourne's Wraith," I said, matter-of-factly.
"I think you are," he replied with an equivalent emphasis.
"How is Varyl going to know?"
"I don't know. He doesn't say, except that it is vital to our future that the Wraith's identity remain unknown until it is time to act. For that reason he does not disclose how to recognize the Wraith."
"But what if he died? Then no one would know."
"It is not his destiny to die before identifying the Wraith."
"There you go again, letting destiny plan your moves."
"It has worked so far. And this time, I know there will be no mistake."
"What mistake?"
"Varyl is not infallible. He has been mistaken before about the Wraith, but not this time. Our destiny will be beautiful, so I have no fear of him."
"WHAT MISTAKE!?" I was now paying much more attention to my passenger than the road.
"You need not be concerned. About two hundred years ago, another human was brought to Varyl as a possible Wraith candidate. Varyl incorrectly identified him as the Wraith. Afterward, Varyl confessed that he had misunderstood something Mourne had said to him about the Wraith's appearance, and that it would not happen again."
"I'm not the first?? You said I was the first to mate with a stallion!!"
"You are the first to survive. The other human, tragically, did not."
"WHAT THE FUCK!?" I slammed on the brakes and pulled off the road. Rovaun's massive weight was pushed into the windshield, which popped out and shattered over the front of the van. The safety glass didn't cut him severely.
"Oh my God, are you okay?"
"Yes, I believe so," he said, climbing out through the front of the van. "This is serendipitous. We are here."
"What!? We're in the middle of nowhere!"
"No, the middle of nowhere is about an hour's ride south, which is where we are headed. You may mount me now."
I wasn't in the mood for double entendres, so I gathered some supplies into a backpack and climbed onto his back without comment, grabbing onto his mane for support. He took off into the forest, apparently well familiar with the terrain. Without a saddle, it was difficult to maintain my balance on his back, but unlike a regular horse, this one cared very much about the well being of his rider, and was quick to compensate if he felt me slipping. I appreciated that and still felt like a turd.
"I'm sorry about the windshield back there," I said.
"It is all right. I had forgotten how jumpy you can be when you hear disturbing facts about destiny."
"I'm glad you brought that up. 'Disturbing' is a little too sanitized for me. Varyl killed a man suspected of being the Wraith. That's a bit more than 'disturbing,' don't you think?"
"Varyl did not kill the man. He was not the stallion who attempted the bond. It was a tragic mistake that we all regret, especially Varyl."
"What about the stallion who killed him?"
"Kronan is in self-imposed exile. He refuses to mate with anything, and cannot forgive himself. The human pleaded for him to stop, but he could not help himself. None of us holds him accountable for the tragedy, nevertheless, he simply awaits the end. Two souls died that day."
"Was Kronan the human's companion?"
"No, that would be Parceph. He, too, was devastated by the tragedy and remains celibate. He still lives with his clique, though. It is his own form of exile for communing with a human."
"But he must have done more than commune with the man, Rovaun. Don't you see? They must have mated! And I'll bet Parceph's bond mare found out, just like Zhorelle did! It's not a big stretch of logic. He drew the same conclusions that you did."
"No, Varyl specifically questioned Parceph about that. He denied mating with the man."
"Well, maybe he doesn't have quite the high moral standards you possess. Maybe he wasn't sure about his companion being the Wraith and was just trying to limit the damage if it turned out not to be."
Rovaun was quiet, mulling over the possibilities, not sure of what, if anything, they pointed to.
"This just doesn't smell right to me," was the last word of that conversation.
The terrain we traveled was beautiful and lush with conifers. We hiked through flowing creeks and along dry riverbeds. The air was fresh and full of lively chatter. It was vastly different from my parcel. Not necessarily better, just different. I wouldn't mind having a place out here, too. My sure-footed steed knew exactly where he was going. It was rather pleasant touring the woods with him in silence, just as rider and horse. That he was possibly leading me to my death was not particularly comforting, but I trusted him.
We came into a clearing that looked like it might have been an ancient Native American meeting place. There were large granite boulders that made a natural, amphitheater for maybe forty people. Benches out of stone and rotting wood lined the stage. In the distance, several horses took note of our arrival, then quickly got to their feet and ran off, just like any wild herd would do.
"Wait here, Companion," Rovaun said as he lowered me to the ground. I sat on a rock and did as I was told. Rovaun approached the position where the other horses had been, and emitted a complex neigh-whinny, that kind of sounded like "Olly-olly-oxen-free." Several horses emerged from the trees and crowded around him, whinnying what sounded like a welcoming hello. Then all twenty or so suddenly went silent and turned their heads to me. I had figured I'd be the star attraction, but this was rapidly becoming uncomfortable. Three stallions, led by a light brown palomino broke ranks with the others and fearlessly approached me, with Rovaun close behind. They stopped just short of causing me to jump to my feet.
"If you can hear my thoughts, human," said the palomino, "please rise and tell us your name."
"My name is Daniel," I said getting to my feet. The palomino did not break eye contact, but the two that followed him looked at each other, and there was a murmur in the crowd behind them.
"I am Harlok. Tell us why you have come here." He looked just like Mr. Ed, but his voice was that of a sage. There was no question this was the Elder.
"I came because Rovaun asked me to. He is my Companion."
"Would you say that you came of your own free will? You needn't fear retribution from Rovaun if you were coerced. We will protect you from him if it comes to that."
"No!... I mean yes. I am here of my own free will. Rovaun would not harm me."
"Has Rovaun linked with you?"
"Yes."
"Then how do you know that you are not under his influence right now?"
"I... don't know.... He isn't linking with me now, I'm sure of that."
"That is so, but the effects of the link can cloud a neophyte's judgment."
There was certainly no denying that. I showed fantastically poor judgment during my link with Zhorelle. Still, I shook my head. "The times he linked with me had nothing to do with why I am here. He is my true Companion. I know that I would have accompanied him here even before we had ever linked. I trust him with my life."
"And would you also give your life for him?"
Would it come down to this? That was not why we came here! Still, there was no doubt about the answer. "Yes. I would give my life for his, and I know he would do the same for me, and for any of you. He is an honorable being who has earned my respect and love."
"Rovaun believes you could be Mourne's Wraith. Do you share that belief?"
I took a deep breath and let it out. "No. I do not."
That response caused a considerable stir among the clique. I didn't care if it was the wrong answer. It was the truth.
"Rovaun," said Harlok turning to him, "it appears that your companion does not share your belief in his destiny, and yet he came anyway. Therefore, he must be very loyal to you. One more question," he said, turning back to me. "If it is decided that you are indeed Mourne's Wraith, are you willing to proceed with the multiple bonding to Hipponaur stallions?"
This would take several deep breaths to get out, but eventually I confirmed, "Yes. If it will save the Hipponaur race, especially if Rovaun's character is at all typical of your race, I will gladly do whatever that requires."
All of the Hipponaurs whinnied and stirred with nervous excitement. Something very interesting was about to happen in their idyllic, but otherwise mundane lives.
"Rovaun," the Elder said aloud for all to hear, "it appears your companion is indeed an extraordinary individual with integrity and honor. I believe he is a valuable asset to Hipponaur, whether or not he is the Wraith. Therefore, it is my judgment that you should be pardoned of any and all crimes with respect to any association with this human, according to Hipponaur law. I do not see your destiny my son, but I wish the two of you a long and beautiful future. To all of Hipponaur, this man is an honored guest in our house. Treat him with the respect and kindness that he deserves."
At once, all of the Hipponaurs crowded around us and introduced themselves to me, and I promptly forgot all of their names. Rovaun made his way over to me, and I gave him a big hug and a kiss which elicited smarmy "aawws" from the crowd.
"Your timing is impeccable," said the Elder to the both of us. "His Eminence is due to arrive here, tonight." The Elder turned to leave. Rovaun and I looked at each other in disbelief.
"Rovaun, of all the places Varyl could be in the world right now, doesn't it seem just a bit too coincidental that he should be coming here?"
"Not coincidence. Destiny."
"Yeah, you keep on believing that."
A huge Clydesdale towering over the both of us introduced himself. "I am Azgard," he thundered.
"It is a pleasure to meet, you Azgard," I said, quite intimidated, "I am Daniel."
"If you are the Wraith," he rumbled, "I look forward to bonding with you."
He lumbered away, sporting a massive erection that made Rovaun's look like a piccolo.
"Me, too," I whimpered. "Rovaun, does Azgard always walk around with a hard-on?"
"Not that I recall, but it is not unusual nor improper for Hipponaurs to be aroused."
"Isn't Azgard's presence here indisputable proof that I am not the Wraith? Don't you agree that it is physically impossible for me to mate with him and live?"
"Not impossible, but it IS very unlikely."
"I would insert a few more 'verys' into that statement," I said, as I watched the mountainous equine recede.
"Tantau?" A cute young little filly came up to my chest.
"Excuse me?" I said politely.
"Do you know Tantau? You look like him."
"Shhh, Malaya," said an older stallion behind her. "Please forgive her, she is a little confused."
"Salutations, Hurroll," said Rovaun to the stallion.
"And to you, Rovaun, and his Companion. It is good to see you again."
"And how is Janx?" asked Rovaun scanning the crowd. "I do not see her here."
"She moved away long ago, Rovaun, you know that."
"Yes, forgive me," he said. "I was not aware that you had a new foal. Congratulations!"
"Yes, congratulations," I said. "She's adorable."
"Thank you," he said, "she is very precious to me." His voice was shaky. Both Rovaun and I picked up on it immediately.
"Is something concerning you, Hurroll," Rovaun asked diplomatically.
"Malaya is having a dream that is... unusual," Hurroll said, as if revealing a dangerous secret. "None of us has ever seen anything like it. She is almost one year old and His Eminence has yet to give her his blessing. I know he has been busy lately and mending broken bones, but I was dearly hoping to get his blessing before her bonding. And now this dream has us all worried."
Then he brightened up. "Last week we received notice that His Eminence was finally coming to visit our clique, and he apologized several times about his long overdue blessing. So now he will be here tonight to bless my little girl." He and daughter smiled at each other.
"Is Tantau a human that she dreams about?" I asked.
Hurroll looked at me as if my question were a breech of etiquette, then he turned to his daughter. "Malaya, how about if you go tell your friends that His Eminence is coming to see you tonight." She departed, knowing full well why she was asked to leave.
"Tantau is not human," he sighed. "He is somewhat humanoid, perhaps, but we don't know WHAT he is. None of us have seen his kind before."
"Um, please forgive me if this request is improper," I said in all sincerity, "but is it possible that you could show me this dream?"
Hurroll looked at Rovaun as if unsure how to respond. Then he turned to me. "I have never linked with a human. I don't know how to show you..."
"Can you show the dream to Rovaun? He can link with me."
"I... suppose that would be all right. Rovaun?"
"You may proceed," he said.
The two stallions made eye contact, and I could hear a faint whine while smudged images appeared in my head. I wasn't quite in tune with Rovaun, but I was getting closer. If I ever became one with him, I wondered if I would be able to send as well as receive. When the whine faded, Rovaun did indeed look troubled. Then he turned to me, and the whine built again, much louder this time, and much clearer. And I saw Malaya's dream.
It was mainly a visual experience, like an old home movie. The image even fluttered and jumped in spots as if the film had been broken and spliced. There was also a faint soundtrack of background sounds consisting mainly of playful laughter. The overwhelming emotion expressed in the dream was unquestionably that of young love. It was not disturbing in the least.
The dream centered around a single character who was both equine and human. If a good looking man could morph into a good looking horse, this fellow was just about halfway in between. The dream started with a close-up of his face then slowly zoomed out to reveal his whole body, which he held in a sexy pose for the camera. His overall stature was that of a normal-sized man, but his head was almost entirely equine, and his face was more expressive. He could smile, and leer, and mug for the camera. He had broad human shoulders, and his arms and hands were folded across a ripped and pumped chest, which was covered with a dusting of soft horse down. Below the navel, he became more equine, with a nice set of genitals that any stallion would be proud of, and an ass and tail to match. Though he had hooves for feet, he had no trouble standing upright, tipping a hoof, or walking and running just like a man.
Then a female voice can clearly be heard calling, "Tantau!" causing the horse-man to run at the camera and wrestled it to the grass while screams of laughter filled the air. The scene jumped to a different shot of the horse-man riding on the back of a young mare along a shoreline, the two obviously in love, and here was the part that was undoubtedly disturbing to the Hipponaurs. As the camera zoomed out and panned the beach, there were hundreds of horse-men and horse-women, as well as human men and women and children frolicking on the sand and in the water as if this were a typical summer day. One human teenager was teaching another young horse-man to surf. Others were swimming or body surfing. And on the sand there were single sunbathers and romantic couples. Nearly every combination of male, female, human and horse-person could be found in each others arms. I wanted to see more, but then the film went black.
Hurroll looked at me awaiting a critique from the honored guest, but I didn't know what to say. Finally I just had to be honest. "I found the dream... very pleasant."
"I know!" he said, as if relieved to find someone other than his daughter that agreed with him. "It is a beautiful vision, however this vision is completely new. We're worried that there might be something wrong with Malaya. She seems perfectly normal in all other respects."
"I'm not a Hipponaur psychologist, so I can't diagnose your daughter, but if it were up to me, I'd let her have this dream. It seems harmless to me."
Rovaun quickly interjected. "I think we should let His Eminence decide about the dream."
"Yes, I completely agree," I said, stepping back from my overstepped bounds. "Um, could you all please excuse me for a moment."
I went back to my backpack and rummaged through it. It contained few necessities for an overnight campout, but thank God it had what I was looking for: a pencil and piece of paper. I sat down and immediately sketched the image of Tantau while it was still fresh in my head. The image was crystal clear and detailed - the Hipponaurs had perfected an amazingly effective form of communication with their link. I tried to capture the sexy look in Tantau's eyes, and the upturned smile, head slightly down and offset a bit in profile. Arms folded under his slanted shoulders that counterbalanced his stance as he stood on his right leg and relaxed his left, and his tail peeked around from behind. And of course, though he was fully retracted, I didn't short-change his genitals. And there was something else from the image that was too subtle to notice the first time, but was becoming clear in my mind. He wore a small gold chain around his neck, and on it was a tiny horse. I couldn't tell if it was a red stallion or not, but the irony was amusing.
I'm not a great artist by any means, but I think I captured the moment adequately. And I must say, he was something to look at. I was starting to feel just a wee bit jealous of Malaya. I went back to join the crowd looking for her. She was with another filly, perhaps a couple of years her senior.
"Hi Malaya, can I show you something? It's kind of a secret."
She turned around and asked excitedly, "What is it?"
I showed her the picture I drew, and she stifled an excited scream, "Tantau!! Isn't he beautiful? Is that for me?"
"Um, yes, I will be happy to give it to you, but it has to be all right with your parents, okay?"
Suddenly she lost interest. "My father will never say it's okay. He hates him."
"We'll see. Maybe I can change his mind."
She tried to smile but ended up looking sad again. I felt bad dangling her lover in her face and then taking him away, but I did at least get confirmation that the portrait was accurate. I wrote "Tantau" underneath him, then tucked him away in my backpack.
It was getting late in the day when a fanfare of trumpeting Hipponaurs announced the arrival of the Great and Powerful Varyl. I already didn't like him from what Rovaun had told me about him, so it was a pleasant surprise when he put my preconception to shame. He was a beautiful proud black stallion that appeared to be in the prime of life, and he was as friendly and jovial as Santa Claus. The years were very kind to this oldest living thing on the planet. When he spoke to the children, his voice was that of a kindly old toy maker.
"Where is my darling little Malaya?" he asked, searching the crowd. He saw me, but made no notice. Malaya's father nudged her forward. "There you are," he gasped. "My! No one told me you were such a pretty young thing. Give this old horse a hug."
He got down on his knees to be at her level and they hugged necks while she giggled. He was better with kids than I ever was. I warmed up to him quickly.
"Being the head of the proud nation of Hipponaur is a tiresome responsibility," he sighed. "So many dreary duties and policies to direct and oversee. But do you know what, Malaya? I still have the BEST job in the world! Because I get to visit every darling little foal, and welcome her into our world." He beamed at her.
"Would you like to see the dream, Your Eminence?" asked her father.
"Oh, not now. That can wait," Varyl said in a huff, then sweetened to Malaya, "Right now I want to give the lovely Malaya my belated blessing."
"My dear," he said tenderly, "I am so sorry that it took so long for me to meet you. Do you know that I was climbing up a hill one day, and a big ol' tree came down on this big ol' horse and knocked him flat! I couldn't walk for six months! And I knew you were waiting for me and I just felt awful about it. Well now I'm here, and you're here and it is time for my blessing. Malaya, I wish you a long, happy life, with a handsome loving mate and many happy and wonderful children just like you!"
He hugged her again, and the Hipponaurs whinnied and stamped their applause.
"I'm going to marry Tantau!" Malaya said loud enough for too many to hear. The crowd suddenly got uncomfortably less noisy.
"That's wonderful!" Varyl said gleefully, saving face for everyone, who then managed to stir up some lively banter again.
Varyl stood up and approached me. "Now, I understand that there is another guest of honor here tonight. I am Varyl," he said, bowing to me.
"I am Daniel," I said, returning the bow. "It is a great honor to meet you, Your Eminence."
"I have already talked to the Elders. They seem contented with you, and that is good enough for me. So I imagine you wish to know if you are the true Mourne's Wraith."
"Yes, Your Eminence, that... is my wish."
"I understand your trepidation, my son. To discover one's destiny can be an unnerving experience. I don't see any reason to prolong this, so let us settle it now. We will need two witnesses, one of your choosing and one of mine."
"I choose Rovaun," I said, then wondering if that was too obvious.
"And I will choose Harlok." The Elder palomino, hearing his summons, approached.
Harlok, Rovaun and I followed Varyl to a secluded area behind the large granite boulders of the amphitheater. When he was sure no one had followed, he said to all, "I need your solemn oath to Hipponaur that you will not reveal to any soul the identifying characteristics of the Wraith. If it turns out that Daniel is not the Wraith, then your secrecy will keep the true Wraith from harm."
We agreed.
"Please remove all of your clothing," he said to me.
I was sort of expecting this, so I did so without complaint, and without a strip tease. Varyl walked around me looking up and down my body, which trembled with nerves. He kept his nose to himself. Finally he looked me in the eye and said coldly, "You bear the birthmark of the Wraith."
A shot fired up my spine. "What birthmark is that, Your Eminence?"
"It is on your chest. You can't miss it."
"With all due respect, Your Eminence, it is a tattoo, not a birthmark."
"Nevertheless," Varyl said, beginning to stride around like a courtroom lawyer, "you bear the mark of Mourne's Wraith. This tattoo... it's color, shape and location is uncommon, wouldn't you say?"
"Yes, I suppose."
"So there are few, if ANY, other humans that might bear this single mark upon their chests and no other mark anywhere else on their person."
"I agree, there would not be many others with only this exact tattoo."
"And if a man were to be found with this particular mark, who also happened to be the only human ever to survive a Hipponaur stallion mating, then there can be no doubt whatsoever!"
He stopped his pacing and faced me. "Daniel, you may not want to hear this, but you ARE Mourne's Wraith!"
He turned to the other witnesses. "Harlok, send emissaries immediately to the nearest cliques and summon all stallions. The Centaurs already have a head start on us, so bonding will begin tomorrow. Rovaun, stay with him. He will need your love and support to get him through this ordeal. And Daniel, fear not, you will forever be remembered as a hero of Hipponaur. I thank you on behalf of Hipponaur for the salvation of our race."
"Yes, Companion," said Rovaun, "You have nothing to fear. You will survive the bonding."
Varyl turned to Rovaun, intrigued. "You have seen his destiny?"
"Yes, Your Eminence, my Companion and I are destined to be one."
"That's wonderful!" said Varyl turning back to me. "You see, Daniel? You will be just fine. We must return to the others and announce the good news."
Varyl and Harlok left. I stayed behind to put my clothes back on, numbed by what destiny was shoving my nose in. It didn't seem real. Then I understood why: because it was all lies.
"Rovaun, I'm not the Wraith," I said, putting on my shoes before putting on my pants, then taking them off again.
"Companion, you cannot deny it anymore," he said. "Varyl has validated you. You ARE."
"You saw what just happened. Varyl has no idea what the Wraith looks like! No Hipponaur does. And that means, it is quite possible, that the Wraith doesn't even exist."
"You are wrong, Companion. The Wraith is real. He is part of Hipponaur. We cannot recognize him, that is true, but he is our destiny. You are our destiny. I could not be more happy for you."
"Give me a break. You're only happy for yourself. You're the Great Wraith's Companion! Wow, can I have your autograph?"
That hurt him, and I regretted saying it, but I felt he should still think about it for a while, so I would apologize later.
"I need to find out what happened two hundred years ago when the first Wraith was identified."
"Only Varyl knows that, and I don't think he is going to tell you," said Rovaun, a bit miffed.
"But there were at least two witnesses, and I can guess who one of them was - the human's Companion, Parceph, right?"
"He would have been sworn to secrecy, just like I was," Rovaun pointed out.
"He'll talk to me. I know it. Do you know where he is?"
"He is not part of this clique, but he is nearby. He will probably arrive tomorrow for the first bonding. But Companion, I believe you are wasting your energy pursuing this."
"Yes, I know big guy. I'm on my own, here."
Rovaun hung his head, wishing we could come to an agreement.
"I don't blame you," I said. "I know this Wraith business has been brewing in the back of your head for thousands of years. For me it's been a few hours."
"Perhaps if I showed you Mourne's Prophecy, you would have a better understanding of what we are up against."
"No thanks. I think it would just cloud my thinking, even more."
"Or clear it," he jabbed. I ignored him.
I thought about Varyl, and what a coincidence it was that he showed up at the same time that we did. Was it just a coincidence, or did he somehow know I was going to be here today? Or maybe he really did come just to see Malaya and give her his blessing. That performance was genuine, I was convinced. He truly did enjoy blessing the children, probably out of guilt for being the main reason so few are ever born. Malaya's dream played a role in this, but he didn't seem to care about that - but he DID know about it. I pulled out the picture of Tantau and studied it some more. Rovaun saw it and snorted.
"You should not have created that image."
"Why?"
"Because it is a tragic reminder that the child is mentally unsound."
"Because she had a nice dream!? Lot's of kids dream about things they wish they could do! I used to dream all the time about flying. It was wonderful!"
"Hipponaur children are not human children. Hipponaurs dream of their own destiny. A destiny that is ALWAYS consistent with that of other Hipponaurs. The dream she had is so foreign to everything we know about our future, that it can only mean she has had a psychotic break, and, tragically... she may have to be..."
I waited for the last word of his sentence, but he wouldn't say.
"What? Euthanized!? ROVAUN!!!"
"I'm sure it won't come to that. Varyl is a competent healer."
"Rovaun, you saw the dream. Was that the vision of a raving lunatic??"
"No," he admitted, "but I do not know who the child's mother is. It is obviously not Janx, Hurroll's bond mate. That means, it is very possible that the mother is not Hipponaur, and if that is the case, then the child cannot be saved." He closed his eyes and sighed. "...Not even by Varyl."
"Oh dear God, no, Rovaun..." A lump in my throat grew into a bowling ball. She was a harmless sweet little girl. I only met her for a few minutes, but I could already tell that the world was brighter with her in it.
"If her mother is not Hipponaur, but an ordinary mare, what will happen to her?"
"As she matures," he said sadly, "she will become more confused, paranoid, and severely schizophrenic. Her mind will torture her more each day of the endless nightmare of her existence. A peaceful death is the only true blessing that Varyl could offer her."
"We should go join the others," he said sullenly.
That was the last thing I wanted to do, but my life had become all duty and no choice in any matter. I finished getting dressed and reluctantly followed. Turning the corner I was greeted by a cheering crowd of well-wishers, and did my best to return their cheer. But the sight of joyful little Malaya just made me want to cry. Varyl noticed my grief.
"She'll be all right," he said to me in confidence. "I have seen her destiny. It is bright and beautiful, mainly because of you. I know that you are wary of me, but I swear to Destiny's God, that that is the truth."
"Thank you," I said, quite sincerely.
[End of _COMPANIONS_ Chapter 05: Mourne's Prophecy]
[Next in series: Chapter 06: The Bonding]