Diablo
Story by Lonelyrider on SoFurry
James runs into a terribly cruel man mistreating a beautiful draft horse in town & finds himself intervening on the poor beast's behalf.
Diablo
A Heaven & Earth tale
By LonelyRider
Hulking gladiator tanker James LightningSword was enjoying a hearty lunch at his favorite tavern. He came back outside, offering the last of his beer to his treasured Percheron stallion, Thunder, who drank it happily.
"Excellent, boy. I bought lunch for Lonely too, and a third serving to send along to her mom, Joan. I think she prefers that British knight over me, though!" James joked, nudging his huge steed playfully, Thunder nodded in a horsey way, showing large teeth.
"He's nice, boy, but he makes me so jealous. Dumb, huh? Oh, he invited me to his favorite jousting games coming up, I'm going to accept. Sounds like fun, doesn't it, big guy?" James spoke to his horse, he held out a sugarcube in his flat hand and Thunder ate it gently, nodding again, his bridle swaying. Suddenly James heard shouting behind him in the town square and turned around, inhaling hard at the terrible scene that greeted him. A short fat man was whipping a bay roan Belgian stallion hitched to an extremely overloaded cart, screaming at the animal so harshly he was spitting.
"Useless wretch! Move! It isn't even heavy today!" The man cracked his heavy whip on the poor horse's rump and it tried to move the cart, but it was just too overloaded. The fat man raised his hand again to whip the equine and gasped, startled. A male hand that dwarfed even his own caught his hard, squeezing at first so hard his bones cracked audibly. James realized his anger at the display was leaking out into his touch and loosened his grip, biting his lip to try and conceal the wrath he felt as a horse-lover seeing this brutality.
"Ahem...good day, kind sir. How much for this fine stallion? Why here, I'll make you an offer on the spot. 2 thousand gold coins, if you'll hand him to me immediately." James held out a fat sack of gold that jangled loudly, savings from his many gladiator games.
"For this piece of trash? If you want to throw away good money on nothing, be my guest, nephilim. You are an angel, are you not?" The fat man laughed, snagging the gold and unhitching the abused mount. James bit his lip harder and clenched his muscled fists and arms, holding back anger that was quickly brewing into rage at the way this man talked about his animal.
"I was. Please sir...don't talk about him like that. I can see he's tried his very best. Sir...here is my father's scroll, he is a powerful warlock and surely could employ you in something much more suited to your determined temprement, tell him James sent you. A condition of working for my esteemed father, however, and the lucrative men he allies with, is a patient hand with all beasts, big and small. If you could channel your fiery temper into work instead of rage, he could make you very rich and mighty. Do you understand?" James gave a tiny snarl by accident at the end of his sentence, truthfully he wanted to get the man away from owning animals ever again, he was barely able to contain his contempt at what he'd just seen.
"Ahh...magnificent! Thank you, bless you, grandson of arcangels. Boy! Get out here and unload this cart!" The man bellowed, greedily pocketing James' gold and scroll. James fed, watered and patted the abused stalllion, gently tying him to Thunder's saddle. He had a thought and approached the fat man, again having to contain a sneer; James was known for his politeness. "Pardon me man, what is his name?"
"Oh, ahh yes. Diablo. Fitting." The stout man laughed, James snorted and turned from him, the most noble gesture he could manage at the moment. Mounting his steed, they departed at a walk for the nearest healer.
"Forgive me baby...." James muttered, thinking of his beloved & forgiving Christian girlfriend, "I hope my dad sets that guy on fire." James muttered angrily in the saddle, his own magic storming around him, literally, lightning dancing down his huge arms as he rode. "That isn't very kind of me, is it, boy?" James asked after awhile, feeling more his usual self, Thunder neighed in agreement; normally Thunder would compete with another stallion, but he sensed the poor state of the mistreated Belgian following behind them. James pulled up to the healer's cottage and waved, hopping down from his saddle, paying the man with another sack of gold.
"Hail, I'm James LightningSword, gladiator and apprentice spellcaster. I just bought this poor horse in town, can you help him? Just look at the dear fellow, this is a travesty." James pleaded, gently patting the Belgian, who stood quietly, not looking up, James sniffled, trying not to cry and wiping his gray eye.
"Let me guess, that ugly pig Wheeler again? He has a reputation for taking his anger out on his unlucky animals. Nice of you to save the beast, though." The healer held out his hand and James handed him the reins.
"I referred him to my father, just to get him away from owning animals." James sniffled some more, sadness overtaking fury, though he tried to hide this emotion shyly.
"I hope your father is mean." The healer laughed.
"Oh, he can be!" James jested, the healer smirked.
"Good. I'll get to work on this poor creature right away. Hang tight with your other horse here, I can see from the condition of your stallion you know how to treat a beast. Will you keep this one?"
"Yes, I hope to, I just hope he can be saved." James admitted, worried and saddened.
"Let me work, and I'll report back to you on that." The healer replied, taking out a pouch of herbs and starting to cast his own healing magic, he led Diablo away and James sat on a rock by Thunder, who nuzzled him, trying to comfort his master, who patted him fondly and whispered compliments to him.
Some time passed, James had fallen asleep leaning on his horse's sturdy front legs and was shaken awake by the healer, he took a moment to gather himself.
"Ahh yes, you've returned." James spoke, feeling nervous for the fate of the bullied horse.
"It's mostly good news, Mr LightningSword. He needs to be restored to his proper weight as he's very underfed, but that won't be an issue for a horse-man such as yourself. Physically, once that is done, the stallion should be just fine, and will even be suitable for many uses. It's the animal's trust that concerns me. He isn't aggressive, but he's wary and disheartened. Wheeler is a monster. If justice existed in this pathetic world, your father would turn Wheeler into a horse and push him till he broke. But I no longer hold that kind of faith in this land." The healer handed James the reins to Diablo.
"Oh thank you, I'm so pleased he'll make it! Perhaps I can earn his trust someday? Hello handsome boy, follow me and Thunder, we'll get you something tasty to eat and a nice bath and brushing, don't worry now, I'll take good care of you." James promised the broken horse, who nickered very softly; it was the first time the 5 year old stallion had ever known a kind word in his life. James stroked the Belgian's face gently, telling him he was pretty. "I just can't wait for Lonely and Savera to meet you, Nat too! and Storm....Thunder, how exciting! Goodbye again, thank you so much! Good man, will he handle a trot?" James asked the healer with concern from atop Thunder's saddle.
"With no trouble, gladiator. Good luck with your new steed!" The man answered, they waved at one another and James turned around and clicked sweetly to Diablo, who perked slightly and followed obediently after James riding Thunder as the hulking angel showed his new horse the way home. James didn't know it yet, but Diablo would give him much more than his trust in time. The two were destined to become a formidable battle team as well as the best of friends.