The filly lingered just beyond the edge of the patio, the unicorns a little further away. They looked up when I stepped onto the patio, though didn’t make any move to come closer. I noticed the bale of hay had been nibbled on, one end knocked over and partially strewn across the far edge of the patio. I smiled.
This is good. The unicorn mare said. Thank you. We are glad we chose you.
Chose. It sounded far more formal and important than my simply arriving here and deciding to care for them. As if I had a bigger role in something and in helping the filly. I knew better than to think like that. I planned to retire here to the quiet life. When my work was done, I’d continue to protect the equines here, but I refuse to delude myself into thinking I was some kind of savior. I knew I wasn’t.
I reached into the bowl and held out a treat on my hand, my fingers flat just as I’d learned as a child. “I brought you a treat.” I walked to the edge of the patio and held out my arm.
The filly raised her head. Her nostrils flared, and I swore I saw the wheels turning as she contemplated what I offered. She licked her lips and took a tentative step forward.
Elation filled me. I pressed my lips together to keep from cheering. I thought about holding one to my mouth, maybe pantomiming eating it, but then thought perhaps the movement would be too much and startle her. Instead, I remained calm and quiet, breathing deeply and centering myself as Olivia had said. I focused on my breath, on being as still and open as I could.
I sensed child-like curiosity.
“It’s okay. They smell good.” I didn’t add that the brand name made them sound like some kind of gallant treats from horses that were probably worshiped at some point in history. Or that they smelled of molasses and looked like some high-end granola bars I’d eaten. She lacked the experience to understand all of that. So instead, I ignored the pain in my arm and the trembling threatening to overtake me. I simply offered her the treat.
More curiosity. Another step. Then another, until she stretched out her neck and sniffed. The unicorns watched from a short distance away. I registered only awareness, as if they were seeing how the filly would react. She sniffed again, then nuzzled my hand.
Her head jerked back. Surprise, I gathered, rather than fear. She licked her lips. A moment later, she stepped forward and took the treat from my hand, gulping it down as if she thought it might vanish in an instant.
Good. The soft voice filled my mind, a little stronger now. I like.
“I have more.” I reached into the bowl that I’d set down and pulled out the second treat. This time, when I offered it, she eagerly accepted it.
The unicorns stepped forward. I removed the last treat and broke it in half. “I can go into the house to get more.”
The mare came forward first. She sniffed the treat then ate it. The stallion followed her. Maybe later, the mare replied. Good. They ambled to the trough, took a large drink, then stood under the shade, one hind foot cocked to rest. The filly joined them.
I yawned and went back to the door. Stepping through, I cast one, long look at the equines before going to lay down for a while again. Whatever first steps we’d taken, they were good and I hoped the filly would continue to grow her trust.
~* * *~
The next morning arrived with a flurry of activity from the lumber delivery to an email from Albuquerque that a crew would be there later to assess the damage and then get building as soon as everything arrived. I sat in my dining room, looking out the window into my backyard and tried to think about where I’d like the smaller shelter to be. My body ached, the joints in my fingers especially bad which kept me from making any sketches or direct plans. My eyes worked and when the crew arrived, I’d have someone go out with the measuring tape to make sure everything would fit. There was a space between the patio doors and this window that should accommodate a twelve foot deep shed, and with it running along the edge of the patio and open to both the patio and the yard, would give them a place to seek shelter, get water, without having to walk on the concrete, which I guessed would be hard on their hooves.
I sipped my coffee and returned to the computer to check email. My dictation program made it easier on days like this, and when I saw an email with the subject line of Introduction from Olivia, I smiled. That must be Rose, and I read it, once more feeling the pull of community. I knew I’d need my strength, so saved the reply until later and rested on the couch listening to an audio book until the sound of large vehicles and a knock on my door announced the arrival of the crew from Albuquerque.
I answered the door, realizing that I hadn’t warned the equines, but when I glanced out the window they were gone. No doubt with the lumber delivery they’d decided to make themselves scarce. I’d have to go out later and explain that they were here to help. I opened the door to see five people standing on my front step. An older gentleman, his beard and hair salt and pepper, with a lined face that said he’d seen things, stood with four young adults, probably in their twenties, though with the feeling that they were much older. Two girls, one with a short, red pixie cut and rounded features, the other slightly shorter and appeared to be of southeast Asian descent, stood in front of two taller boys, a brown-haired young man who looked as if he’d be buried in a library somewhere, and a darker skinned young man who may have African American heritage. An aura of magic surrounded all of them.
“Hello. I’m Paul Frater, the one you’ve been emailing. This is Etta, Grace, Artie, and Fitz.”
“Hi. I’m Sonia. Come inside. Do you want something to drink? It’s a long drive.” I stepped back to allow them to enter, thankful no one looked askance at my cane, and then I shut the door behind them.
“Sure. If it’s not a problem. Etta, can you help?” Paul asked.
“Of course. Actually, Ms. Morales, if you don’t mind I’d be happy to get us water so you can rest. I’ve streamed several of your pieces. You’re brilliant.”
I smiled, trying not to let old pain hit me. “Thank you. The glasses are in the cupboard above the horse treats. There’s a water dispenser on the fridge for filtered water.” I sat gratefully and leaned my cane against the arm of the chair.
“Do you want one?” Etta asked from the kitchen.
I watched her efficient movements, somewhat envious. Part of me bristled. I wasn’t an invalid. I could have gotten them water. And yet, I appreciated the willingness to help and the easy understanding of my condition, even if they didn’t have a name for it and had only seen the cane. “Yes, please.” I’d finished my coffee before laying down.
A few moments later she returned with the glasses and dispensed them, then grabbed a dining room chair and sat down next to the couch.
“Thank you, Etta,” Paul said, clearly gathering his thoughts for something. “Before we see the shed that’s damaged as well as the one that you’d like to build here closer to the house, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
His words immediately put me on edge. My first thought, knowing the Musimagium as I did, was that they were going to come in and take over. I’d just become more or less a tenant on my own land, because they wanted to control the unicorns and the pegasii.
He must have seen my expression change. “It’s okay. I think you’ll like it. You read about Oliva in the Times and her unicorns. There’s a couple more groups that we’re aware of, but until now, we’ve never really known that there are also pegasus among us. There have been rumors. Etta worked with one for a few weeks, even riding it, before it flew off. You’re the expert, Sonia. You’ve had the closest contact with them for the longest period of time. You know the most about them. There’s two thousand acres next to you that has mostly been fallow. We know who owns it, and we’ve reached out to make an offer. If they accept, we’d like to set up a Musimagium training camp here, and Etta, this is where you come in.” He sipped his water, then leaned back on the couch, the news he clearly wanted to deliver done.
Eta leaned forward in her chair. “Thanks, Mr. Frater. When I was working
on an internship near Amarillo, I was renting an old farmhouse about an hour away from the Auxiliary there. There was an old barn and one night I was out there because I’d seen a stray cat and wanted to set out food and water. Make it a good place for the cat to live. I heard a rustling and realized there was a pegasus there. It…” Her voice faltered a bit. “It spoke to me. Told me that when a pegasus reaches about two or three years of age it often flies away from its family group to find a person to bond with.”
I gasped.
“You sound like you know something about this,” Paul interjected.
“Go on. But yes, this is more helpful than you know,” I replied.
“One of the ways that the bond happens is that the pegasus lets a human, a mage, on its back. I spoke with this one. There was some old brushes in the barn, and I spent long hours grooming it and talking to it. Apparently it’d come a long way and needed to rest and recharge. I never did see what it ate. It refused the hay I offered, but I had provided water. Anyway, after about a week it let me on its back. We flew. It was amazing.” Her entire face lit up. “But in the end I wasn’t its person and it flew away. I don’t know what became of it. I hope, that if we set up the school here there will be a central place since the few reports of pegasus have been in the southern part of the country. Perhaps this will be the place that young students and pegasus can come to in order to bond.”
I grinned. “Then do I have someone for you to meet. I hope. But if you don’t mind a hike I’ll show you the shed that needs repaired and soon.” I stood, feeling far lighter than I had in weeks because I had another piece of the puzzle that was the filly.
Chapter Five
After fortifying myself with a hat and some sunscreen, I grabbed my walking stick and we began the hike toward the fallen shed. The afternoon sun beat down, though not as bad as some days. Even in the heat, I found it a shorter walk than I’d had during the night of the storm. The pegasus remained far enough away so as not to be seen. Not that I blamed them. Even if I called these people here, they were strangers.
We reached the site and immediately the guys got to work lifting the fallen parts of the roof, seeing what could be set back up, what needed to be fully repaired. A discussion of lumber and structural integrity ensued, leaving me and Etta and Grace standing around. “Have you seen a pegasus?” I asked Grace.
She shook her head. “No. I’m here because I’m studying magical creatures and I’d like to learn as much as possible about them. If we get approval to build the academy here, I’ll probably be stationed here.” Grace shrugged.
“It sounds fascinating. Have you seen many magical creatures?” I asked.
“Not really. It’s all been book learning, which is why when Mr. Frater asked me, I wanted to come here.”
Paul waved them over. “Can you help us hold this wall in place? I’m going to try something.”
Somehow, the three of them, probably aided by magic, had stood up the two walls, with the girls holding up the back one and the boys on the end , and they’d walked it under the roof so the entire building, if precariously, was at least standing.
Paul moved directly in front of the building. He closed his eyes and held out his hands. A blue energy surrounded them. “Agglutino.” The blue lights surrounded the top edge where the roof met the walls, and then down the corner closest to me. I sensed the boards knitting together, going from separate pieces of lumber to something sturdier.
“Step back. I’d say slowly, but if this thing goes, you’ll want to move. Be aware.” Paul walked backwards half a dozen paces.
Grace and I looked at each other. “One. Two. Three.” On the count of three we released the wall and with my walking stick I picked my way back several steps. The wall held. I glanced at the back, saw Fitz and Artie had also released their hold.
“I wouldn’t trust it through a windstorm, but as long as nothing too much happens, it’ll hold and we’ll begin working on it tomorrow. I also suspect that we won’t need a lot of what you bought, but we can use some of that lumber to shore it up.” Paul snapped a few pictures with his phone. “I’ll look at this tonight back at the motel and see if I can’t find ways to add some structural strength.”
“Thanks.” Until that moment I hadn’t given much thought to where they would be staying. Knowing that they had rooms at the motel in town eased my mind. I paused a moment and sent a thought to the equines, letting them know we put the shelter up but that it was fragile. I thought I’d heard a soft thank you, but I couldn’t be sure. “Are we ready to head back?”
We walked back, where I sat gratefully down in my chair. Outside the window, the patio remained empty, though the signs that the equines had been there were unmistakable, from the water trough that needed to be topped off to the pile of manure by the patio. The need to apologize came over me and I bit it back. I’d just set everything up yesterday and honestly hadn’t realized just what would happen. I glanced at Etta, wondering if she would be willing to stay here and perhaps help since she had experience.
I pointed out the space by the patio where I thought the other shed could go and how I’d like it constructed so it was open both to the yard and the patio.
“You’ll need a place to store hay and bedding. That’ll make it easier for you to take care of them and keep it out of your garage. You don’t want to call mice that close to the house.” Etta added. “Since we won’t need the big pieces of plywood for the other shelter, it shouldn’t be too difficult to get what we need if we’ll need anything else to put up at least a three sided structure. And, I’m sure these animals are smart enough not to get into it. I don’t know if you have anyone helping you, but you’ll want to make it as easy as possible.” She went to the dining room window and looked out, then went to the patio door and stepped out. “How about a small shelter on the other end of the house. We could put a door in the back so you can open it and carry things inside if you back your truck right up there and the cement will make it easy to put the bedding or hay on a cart and bring it over. We should probably construct a hay bin too so you don’t get it all over your patio. That way you can still sit out there.” Etta sat back down and realized everyone was looking at her. “Sorry. I might not have much experience with magical equines, but real ones I’ve got quite a bit.”
“No that’s wonderful.” Already ways to make her work easier filled her mind and she realized just how much she needed the input of the others. “Thank you.”
“Very good. Then may I suggest that we not impose on your hospitality any further and we’ll return to the motel.” Paul stood. “I’ll keep you posted on what we hear. I’m expecting that within the next day or two we may know if we can purchase the land.”
“I’d appreciate that. And if there’s any way I can be involved…” I paused, torn between wondering how much to disclose to them. “Let’s just say I feel like I have a purpose again, and that’s good.”
Paul grinned. “Don’t worry. You’ll have more of a role than you know. We’ll try not to tax you tomorrow.”
I appreciated the sentiment as my body reminded me that I’d done more in the past few days than I had in probably several of the previous months. Not that it was a bad thing. My muscles ached with the bone-deep “got things done” ache that reminded me I’d been useful. I’d helped the pegasus. I took my medication and filled a bottle of water to take outside, then gathered several of the treats, plenty this time for the filly and the unicorns, and stepped outside. Even under the shade of the patio the heat radiated into my skin, instantly evaporating my sweat. I sat in a plastic lawn chair, the treats and water within easy reach on a glass topped table and waited.
“They’re gone,” I announced. “It’s just me again.” As I’d done before, I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. By focusing on my breath, I dropped into a trance-like state where I sensed, rather than directly heard, the equines. The pegasus pair seemed to be over the hill from the renewed shelter, radiating contentment. Just over the hill behind the
house stood the filly and the unicorns, growing closer now that I’d emerged into the back yard. When I opened my eyes, the three figures walked over the rise and came toward the house. I stood and turned on the hose to make sure they had fresh, cool water.
Just you? The filly’s hesitant voice filled my mind.
I turned and smiled. “Just me.”
More … The word didn’t quite come through, but I received the sense of tasty, a desert, something that melted in her mouth.
Keeping an eye on the trough, I picked up a treat from the table and held it out on the flat of my hand. “Yes. But save some for the unicorns.” An answering nicker came from the mare and I chuckled.
The filly startled at the sound.
“It’s okay. I won’t hurt you. I wish I knew why you were so afraid.” I stepped forward and offered the treat.
The filly lipped it from my hand.
“The water’s full. One moment.” When I turned my back, I half expected them to go to the table and take the treats right off it. Regular horses no doubt would have taken advantage of my inattention. I turned off the water, then picked up a treat in each hand, offering one to the filly and one to the mare.
They each took them.
“I need to sit.” I sat and wondered how to translate what had happened today into something that the equines could understand. Then again, they knew quite a bit of the human world. It was simplest just to tell them how the shed had been held together with magic, but the group who were here would be back tomorrow to shore it up. And then they were going to work back here to build a shelter and a storage place for some of the stuff I needed for them. I sensed approval from the unicorns and a wide-eyed curiosity from the filly. At least that was better than fear.
I handed out treats while I spoke with them, telling them about the plans to build an academy next door a place where young pegasus could go to find their people. While I spoke, the filly grew closer, until she lowered herself to the cement and relaxed with a sigh, her legs tucked beneath her. She lowered her muzzle to rest against the side of my boot and the tender gesture brought the sting of awed tears to my eyes.
The Pegasus Project: A Musimagium Story (The Pegasus Enchantment Book 1) Page 3