The Awakening (The Stones of Revenge) Read Online Free Page B

exception. Strapping on the reins, it was evident to Abaccus that he was being required for work. He had danced and neighed and shinnied his way out of Mordecai’s grasp a number of times until finally Mordecai had cornered him and Abaccus knew he had lost. It was at this moment when Landon had come outside. He saw his uncle parading the horse back towards the road leading him by the reins. Abaccus had, what seemed, a sour look on his face. The y next had to secure the saddle with bags. Abaccus had started to act as if he might give Mordecai another fit, but he stopped when he saw Landon exit the hut. Landon noticed this and a slight grin stretched on his face. He turned and headed towards the other horse standing in the grass beside the road. This one was his. A tall, dark brown, nearly black, mare named Aquila. She had been wounded in the leg and left to die when Landon had found her.
    At the time, he had been running errands for Mordecai and was a day’s ride from the farm. Landon knew that she would die if he didn’t help her, so he dismounted Abaccus and walked slowly over to her. She noticed him coming and began to squirm and scream for fear of her life. He stopped his advance and raised his hands in a gesture of peace. For a long minute Landon stood there looking into her dark eyes, unsure of what the mare was going to do. Then, as she returned the gaze, she seemed to understand that he was friend, not foe. The mare relaxed and allowed Landon to inspect her. When he did so, he noticed that the leg was broken but able to be mended .
    Tearing off his tunic he prepared a sling for the mare. Tying it off tightly, the horse gave a short whimper. Abaccus strode over to inspect the scene and began to huff understanding he would have to assist as well. Leaning on Abaccus the mare slowly raised herself and limped her way toward the road. They walked this way for about a day, eventual ly arriving at the farm.
    Once at the farm, a stable was made for the injured horse. Mordecai completed the healing in a month using the knowledge he had been taught from his parents to bring the horse back to full strength. The mare was so thankful she stayed close to Landon at all times. Finally, after a full three months of being rescued and no one coming to call, Landon decided it was time for a name. He had remembered a story Mordecai used to tell of a sweet maiden who, after being rescued from an evil sorcerer, fell in love with her rescuer. The maiden’s name was Aquila. It seemed a fitting name. Now, nearly five years later, Landon was the only person Aquila would allow to ride her.
    Next to his horse, Landon noticed reins and equipment lying on the ground. He retrieved them and began to lace them around his mare. Aquila was the complete opposite of Abaccus; she loved going for rides. As Landon wrapped the reins and saddle around her she began to neigh and shinny from excitement. She was eager to break into a gallop and could hardly contain herself. It made his task harder for every few moments he had to chase her down. Finally finishing the job, Landon turned to face his uncle and was surprised at the progress he had made. Mordecai was already tying on the saddlebags.
    “At a boy, Abaccus,” he whispered to the horse, “this is going to be a good day.”
    “Uncle, are you about ready? I think Aquila is going to have a heart attack if we don’t get a move on,” Landon said reassuring the horse by stroking her mane.
    “Aye, that about does it. Did you grab the knapsack?”
    “I did,” Landon said as he wrapped the bag around the saddle. Both men mounted their horses, turned them towards the road, and sped off into the direction of Camsbury.
    The road to town was a rather direct route through the most beautiful grassland of the Realm. Encircling the farm was a small ring of trees which ended at the low stone wall of the property line. The road ran through an opening in the stone wall, past the trees, and out into the hills of the