It took a good long while after Bob’s departure for the spirit stallion to settle down. At one point Rosaluna even contemplated sending it back into the jewel. The creature did slowly calm, though, as the aura of the godling receded. And as it did so, the old enchantress was once more able to address her guests.

Allow me to introduce an old companion from my adventuring days, she raised an arm to indicate the jet black stallion. His name is Stygianoss ma Ebon. Or merely Ebon. He is a spirit horse from beyond the River Nost, far to the north and west, and well within the Demonlands. K—three her voice caught. Kenji and I encountered his folk in our travels and a few of them became our companions, Ebon among them. I won’t bore you all with the details just now, but he is a valuable ally.

Looking to the stallion, she smiled, her face softening. He has recently expressed a desire to run, yet I fear I’m going to be far too busy in the near future to grant his request.

She turned to Jack. Which brings us to you, young hero, she fixed Jack with her regard. Would you consent to grant Ebon’s request?

Jack looked from Rosaluna to the stallion and then to Chi. Then back to Rosaluna. “Seriously?” he wondered. “Just take him for a gallop? I was expecting something more... I dunno, involved.”

You’ve never ridden a spirit horse, she grinned. Have you?

“I’ll leave you to it, then,” Mohrdrand clapped the boy on the shoulder as he turned away. “I’ll see you back in town.” He was calling for Tiglund as he moved away, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

Jack turned once again to Chi. “I’m missing something, right?”

“They’re not mortal, Jack,” she pointed out. “They don’t tire easily, and they’re very, very fast.”

Ah. He turned back to the old lady. “How fast?”

Very, she warned. Faster, I’ll wager than Mohrdrand’s speedwagon, even should he find someone mad enough to loan him more horses.

“Ah,” he said it aloud this time. “And how’s his gait?”

She raised an eyebrow. Not even a little afraid, are we? She teased.

He shrugged. “I’ve got an old Kawi 1100 in my garage back home that’ll do one-forty on a flat,” he grinned back at her.

“How come I never got a ride on that?” Chi put on a playful pout.

He turned his head. “I was afraid you’d think I was a lunatic and leave me,” he told her. “Little did I know.”

Kawi? The old woman asked. And what, pray tell, is a Kawi?

She found the concept of motorcycles and his explanation of them interesting, but shook her head. Not quite so smooth, I’d wager, she allowed. But if you’re not put off by his speed, I suspect you’ll manage to hold on. Air has a way of... altering its flow around his kind.

Jack approached the jet black beast and examined him. He was a big ol’ boy. He’d probably go all over twenty hands. At the same time, he was more slender, his legs more delicate than any of the bigger breeds of horses Jack was familiar with from back home.

“How’s he do on roads?” he wondered. “I see he’s not shod, and I’d be worried about split hooves or splints.”

Rosaluna shook her head. He is not a mundane beast, Jackson, she reiterated. He will be fine. He’s also far more intelligent than any of his mortal kin you’d be familiar with.

“Ookay,” he nodded to himself. “But he doesn’t talk, right?”

He most certainly does, the old woman assured him. Although not in any language you’d understand.

He looked up from his examination of the strange harness that almost seemed a part of the animal. “He speak horse?” he wondered.

Stygianoss ma Ebon tossed his head and blew through his nose, shooting an ear.

“So, yes, then,” Jack grinned. Then to Rosaluna. “I get by in horse, Lady,” he told her. “So long as he understands Tandrian, I suspect we’ll figure out how to communicate.”

He crossed to the stallion’s other side. “This saddle come off?” he wondered. “Or is it part of him?”

It comes off, of course, she told him. Although, within the gemstone chamber, such is not necessary.

He gave her a face. “Yeah, no,” he told her. “You ever had a curry comb on him?”

She flushed. Of course, she responded with some force. Not... not lately, however.

He nodded curtly. “What’s it like inside that diamond?” he asked. “Sounds a whole lot like a cage.”

Time is halted within, she assured him. He... sleeps.

He looked to the stud, running a hand along the long jawline. Halted and sleeps didn’t seem compatible to him. Slowed sounded more likely. “That right, fella?” he wondered. “You just have yourself a snooze?”

Ebon blew through his nose again and shot the ear, ducking his head.

Jack moved to the saddle, checking it out. He wasn’t familiar with the type. No horn, stupid long fenders, low cantle, wide, highly decorated breast collar. But he figured he could sit it. He wouldn’t want to do much else out of it, though. He started in adjusting the stirrups. He was quite a bit taller than the stallion’s last rider.

“Does he eat, drink, and sleep when he’s outside?” he asked in a businesslike voice.

He does, the old woman replied. He loves apples.

“Who doesn’t?” he chuckled. “And does he have to go back in the jewel when we’re done? Is there some sort of technical reason you keep him in there, or can you just leave him out if you feel like it?”

I... I don’t suppose there’s any reason he’d need to stay within the jewel, she answered.

“Fine,” he responded.

Steadying himself with a hand against the saddle’s pommel, he put foot to stirrup and swung aboard. The beast sidled a few steps back and forth, adjusting to his weight. Jack pressed his right knee against the creature’s shoulder, but nothing happened. “Huh,” he said. Then he reined the creature around and thumped his heels against its flanks.

He rode the spirit horse a couple of laps around the yard at a slow walk, getting its feel. Experimentally, he addressed it. “How ‘bout we try without the reins?” he requested, gripping both reins in one hand and laying the hand against the saddle yoke. “When I press with my knee, you turn away from the pressure, see?”

He pressed his knee against the shoulder well forward of the stirrup. Ebon turned. “Good Boy,” Jack smiled, patting his shoulder. He pushed harder and the turn steepened.

He worked the spirit horse for a good while as the two women watched, putting it through its paces, nudging and instructing, losing himself in the flow.

Button, Rosaluna sent while Jack’s attention was on Ebon. Button!

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“Yes, Grandmother,” the answer came, somewhat petulant. “I am here.”

You must return to the cottage now, Button, the old woman sent. Mohrdrand will be leaving soon for Mokkelton, and you will be accompanying him.

“What?” the call came back. “Why?”

I will be too busy for the foreseeable future to devote sufficient time on your education to matter, the old woman sent. And so you would be best off getting back to your work. You will rank up much more quickly thereby.

“Grandmother,” the call came after a long pause. “I do not wish to—”

Jackson will be making his own way back, Rosaluna assured her. As will Lady Iktchi-Chi. You will neither have to deal with him, nor with her until you’re ready. Now carry yourself back here without delay!

“Yes, Grandmother,”

Jack sensed Bob’s returning presence and felt the stud tense beneath him a second or so later.

“It’s okay, boy,” he soothed, laying forward and placing a hand on the creature’s wither, high up near the neck. “He’s not gonna hurt you. He’s here to help me, that’s all. He’s just a guide. He’s just doing his job. It’s alright. I won’t let him bother you.”

Ebon didn’t untense, but nor did he start rearing or dancing, so Jack called it a win. He cantered the spirit southward for a minute or two, getting some distance.

“Rosaluna?” he inquired experimentally.

I’m sending him off in the speedwagon with the others, the old woman sent back as though he’d already asked.

“Thanks,” he called back.

It was at this point that it finally sank in what it meant that Mohrdrand was taking the speedwagon back, with or without Bob. “Wait,” he asked. “Am I supposed to be riding Ebon back to town?”

Has it not been obvious, young hero? She wondered.

He shook his head ruefully. Maybe to her, he thought. He wasn’t exactly firing on all cylinders today. Maybe not for the last couple of days. Too many major revelations in too quick succession, he supposed. Looking down, he wondered, “you feel like visiting a town, fella? Maybe pick you up some apples from a street vendor?”

Well? Rosaluna inquired when he reentered the yard a while later.

The Runstable’s was well gone, along with any hint of Bob. Chi, however, he could sense inside the cottage, almost overlaying her sister.

He swung down, and patted the spirit horse on the rump. “I’ll be honest,” he told her. “I’m not crazy about the saddle, but I probably won’t fall off.

Alter it, then, the old woman suggested. It is a high order enchanted saddle, after all, fashioned by one of the greatest artificers of its time.

Place your palm against the gem on the breast collar, she instructed. Close your eyes, and envision the form you desire. So long as it isn’t too much different from the saddle’s current form, it will reshape itself.

He moved to the spirit horse’s head and leaned over. There was indeed a jewel embedded in the triangular leather piece at the collar’s center. Pale orchid, this one shone, set in silver worked into some sort of intricate pattern that he recognized, now that he’d some experience with them, as a magic circle. He laid his hand against the jewel, closed his eyes, and focused his mind on the form he wanted. No huge change. Just a bit more cantle, and a decent horn.

“When d’you want him back?” he asked as he opened his eyes to observe the end result.

When I call for you, she said. Once I’m prepared to awaken the demon. Perhaps three days, perhaps three weeks. It’s too early to say, even with the knowledge of her kind I’ve newly been given.

Ebon turned to her. Lady Luna, the spirit pleaded, though only she heard. You cannot send me away. It is my sworn duty to protect you, and I cannot do that if I’m not at your side.

Do not worry, old friend, she assured him. I am in my own domain here. With ample defenses. I will be fine. And meanwhile, you will have your wish granted.

My wish was to run with you, Lady Luna, the spirit insisted. Not a stranger.

She smiled and raised a hand to stroke his jawline tenderly. He is a hero, Ebon, she informed the spirit. Surely, you have longed to once more run with a hero?

He cast a momentary glance at the human who’d recently been on his back. Truly? This one? He does not look it.

Jack observed the silent byplay, wondering what they were talking about. Thinking to himself that a talking horse sure would be a handy thing to have. Far more handy than a fuzzy little wisecracking, yappy comedian. Failing that, though, he’d settle for a smart one.

Chi, as though she’d sensed his return, exited the cottage, moving easily to cradle her hip against Jack’s.

“So,” he wondered, resting his chin atop her crimson hair. “Which is faster, you or him?”

She gave her head a small flip, thumping his chin, although with no great force. “If it’s a race you’re looking for,” she sighed. “You’re out of luck. He’s undoubtedly faster, at least over the short haul.”

He whistled. That wasn’t the answer he’d expected.

“Lady Galbradia,” Chi asked after a moment, when it seemed as though the conversation between enchantress and spirit had run its course. “Could you perhaps send a wandering bird to Mokkelton and let them know to expect us around sundown, the day after tomorrow?”

“The what, now?” Jack asked, drawing his head back and giving her the eye. “I thought you said he was fast?”

She curled around him and pressed herself against him, gazing up into his eyes, a sultry look coming to her face. “But, my hero,” she entreated in a soft voice. “Why would we be heading straight there?”

He looked up to Rosaluna and the spirit horse, both of whom were looking in other directions. Then back down to Chi, seeing the devilish —or more devilish— look in her orange-red lava eyes.

“I seem to remember,” she husked. “Owing you an awakening together.” her grin grew impish and her eyes flashed. “An awakening that is long overdue.”

He flushed, his eyes widening for an instant before a smile split his face. “Y’know,” his own voice took on a deeper timbre, “now that I think about it, you do, don’t you?”

She pulled his head down to hers and sought his lips, feeling his arms tighten around her.

“In any case,” she panted after he’d raised his head. “I want to introduce you to my house and my friends. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

He nodded, a bit confused about her phrasing. Surely she’d meant ‘show’ him her house, right?

“From here,” she released him with one arm and pointed northward. “Ride due north, across the highway and straight on until you come to a river lined with trees. Turn east-southeast, then, and keep on until you see me. That ought to give him a decent run.”

He almost asked before he figured it out. “You’re gonna cut the corner and head straight there?”

She nodded.

“And you’re sure I’ll strike your house with those directions?”

She giggled. “I’ll have a sign up,” she cupped his cheek. “Look for the bright red flying lady up in the sky.”

He quirked his lip, squinting his eyes. “Right,” he allowed. “I should be able to spot that. You just gonna wait up there until I show?”

She shook her head. “I know how fast those creatures are,” she informed him. “So I know about how long it should take him to run the route I gave you. So don’t dally. You don’t want me all tired out, do you?”

“Perish the thought!” he chortled. “I want to reserve that task for myself.”

She pulled him down for another kiss before releasing him and turning away. “Lady?”

Rosaluna shifted her gaze from the far off horizon, smiling conspiratorially. Lady?

Chi approached and took both of the old woman’s hands in hers. “Thank you so much for all you’ve done,” Chi bowed her head. “I promise to repay you if it takes the rest of my days.”

Jack moved to the spirit stallion and hoisted himself into the saddle. “Lady,” he nodded from horseback as he turned the creature northward. He clucked Ebon forward, walking him for a minute or two before bringing him up to a trot, and then a canter. He could feel the dense muscles quivering beneath him, and couldn’t help but be caught up. Finally, less than a quarter mile from the yard, he put heels to the stallion and gave him his head, laying along his neck.

The spirit bunched up and launched himself like an F18 along a steam catapult, forcing Jack to grab hold of the horn for a moment before settling himself. Even expecting the lunge, he’d been unprepared for the suddenness of it.

Once they were running, Jack found his seat, or, more precisely, his stand. He wasn’t posting at this speed, he was standing in the stirrups and just doing his best not to be blown off. He half wished for a speedometer on the saddle so he could get some sort of idea of his speed. Then as the creature continued to accelerate, he decided he was better off not knowing.

Chi and Rosaluna stood in the yard watching him ride off, sharing a chuckle when he finally put heels to the stallion and they rocketed off into the distance.

“Ooh,” Chi breathed. “He is fast, isn’t he?”

One of the fastest of his kind, Rosaluna smiled back. You had better hie yourself along if you hope to beat them home, even taking the shorter route.

Chi cocked an eye and regarded the older woman. “I’m not all that slow,” she pursed her lips. But she turned northward, took a few steps, and leapt into the air, cutting northeast, directly for home.

Jack was wishing for a good pair of goggles as he raced along the open fields atop the spirit horse. The old woman had been correct about the air acting differently, but it was still flowing past hard enough to make his eyes water.

They’d been running for nearly half an hour, and had to be nearing the river they were supposed to be aiming for. And the spirit showed no sign of either slowing or tiring. Dips, hills, rocks, none of them seemed to matter to Ebon, he just flowed over or around them without slackening his pace at all.

Jack figured they’d already covered sixty or seventy miles, give or take. Damn, he thought to himself. Give me this guy under me, I bet I’d be in the capital in a couple of days!

He was laughing to himself as he rode, running through possibilities when what he was seeing in his head registered. “You have got to be kidding me!” he groaned, raising himself in the saddle and pulling back on the reins. “Whoah!” he commanded in a loud voice. “Whoah, boy!”

Ebon wasn’t happy about it, and fought the bit for a dozen or so paces before slowing, first to a canter, then a fast trot.

Jack reined him around to the west and back the way they’d come, bringing him to a walk for a few minutes to allow him to cool down. He wasn’t sure whether spirits could overheat or not, but he wasn’t taking any chances.

“Random encounter?” he groused to the tossing head between his knees. “Now of all times? Wouldn’t you fucking know it! Just what I fucking needed on the way to my first hot date in a damn' year!”