So it came to pass Queen Sparta sat atop her black war horse, Saxet, the animal being eager to go out for his afternoon exercises as he was a pure bred Themiscyran equine who loved to run. However, impressed as he was with the Queen's enormous mount, the General was quite displeased and disappointed with the horse she had chosen for him. For it was a much smaller, more docile breed as he noted sitting atop its back. Queen Sparta seated in her saddle towered over him and cold it was there in their shadow. So small in stature was his horse, compared to the mighty Saxet, General Cothos thought it would be no different if she had saddled up a donkey for him to ride. The expression on his face could not hide the embarrassment of his mind.
"Why.., General Cothos." Queen Sparta said looking down at him "You look, somehow., displeased."
"Well..," he paused looking up at her there in the presence of the many stable boys, groomsmen, along with the Master of the Stables he continued. "it is just..,"
"Yes, go on, pray tell me, what is the matter?" she inquired with a look of great concern upon her face.
"My mount, is.., so much smaller than your enormous steed.., I feel, here next to you, like a child sitting upon a little pony." he protested with a pout.
"I see." Queen Sparta shook her head saying "You are unhappy." here she quickly threw her right leg over the back of the saddle dismounting instantly, then she grabbed both reins of his horse handing them over to the Master of the Stables instructing him thusly "Unsaddle the horses! It would appear I have an unwilling student who is not prepared to understand and LISTEN and LEARN!" here she turned her back to the shocked General as she started to walk away.
"NO!" General Cothos called out to her, realizing he had caused great offense to the young Queen, whom had taken time out of her busy schedule just to teach him to ride. "I apologize Queen Sparta! Forgive my consternation. This horse will be just fine." he smiled hoping the Queen would not abandon him.
Slowly she turned, the stern look of dissatisfaction still upon her lovely face. Then she opened up her mouth saying "I have only one question for you.., General," she paused for dramatic effect "Do you trust in my abilities of instruction on this matter?"
"Of course! Absolutely. I trust in you implicitly!" General Cothos replied truthfully.
"Do you believe I know what I am doing and in my capabilities to teach?" she asked further.
"Yes, your Highness, most definitely!" he re-stated.
"Very well then.., let your instruction thus begin." she said climbing back up in her saddle once again telling the relieved General "A new student must begin with a smaller, calmer breed, this is one we use to pull our chariots, they are far more easy to control then our highly strung Themiscyran horses of war. Yet be forewarned, even though your mount is smaller it still weighs nearly 1,000 pounds, indeed any horse is quite capable of taking your life if you do not ride correctly and take your lessons seriously." the Queen explained.
"I understand.., yet I have one question. Will I, myself, have a chance to ride Saxet at some point in time before I return home to Rome?" he asked eagerly.
"We shall see how you progress in your training, though be not ignorant in your understanding, for bringing a horse like Saxet under control takes a very stable hand and an iron will. Horses recognize strength and appreciate the command of a steady hand rooted in confidence. The sole proof of strength is a commanding will. You see our war horses are raised to always recognize fear, terror and danger, all the while never succumbing to it. Just as any good warrior should be. For horses, of any breed, sense fear immediately and if fear dwells within your heart for them, than you will succumb to the domination of the animal.., and you could end up either flat on your back unconscious, or dead in your grave. Be not afraid dearest General, and you will win the day." Queen Sparta smiled calmly handing him back the reins. "This is a good horse and you are a fine man, but it is only natural to a have bit of fear in your heart, this is human nature, for you are about to experience a situation in which you may have no control over. So, in order to be a proper horseman you must let go of any doubt and always remember, and never forget, this is just an animal. You MUST demonstrate, through supreme unshakable confidence, your DOMINION over it !" she said climbing back up in her saddle leading General Cothos out to the adjacent riding arena located behind the palace.
Here Queen Sparta rode out to the center of the small circular arena dropping her reins in her lap, clasping her hands behind her back for a bit of showmanship. The young Queen proceeded to bring her horse through its paces; walking around once, trotting around twice, then going into a full gallop at a breakneck speed, all without the use of her hands. She, through years of practice, being able to command the animal with little clicks and whistles from her tongue and using the pressure of her thighs and heels to move the horse in any direction, right, left, side to side, forwards then backwards, it was an incredible display of the union between horse and human. The demonstration of her skills left the General in awe of both horse and rider. Then she awed him further, his heart racing, as he sat watching as she, somehow, picked up her feet as the horse trotted around the arena, gripping the saddle with both hands firmly using all her upper body strength she moved her legs up behind her so that her feet pointed towards the sky as she rode around standing on her head high up in the saddle, those around viewing the display cheering and bursting into applause.Now, as if that was not enough, Queen Sparta bent her body at the hips, bringing her feet to rest on top of the saddle, as she stood, arms out to her side for balance as she rode around the arena standing perfectly erect with a smile as bright as the sun.
"I am AMAZED!" Cothos shouted his eyes wide with delight.
"Put your faith in me General Cothos! As you can see, I know of what I speak!" Queen Sparta laughed.
"Teach me! My Queen, TEACH ME!" he replied enthusiastically, so enthralled by this magnificent, incredible woman was he, the likes of whom he had never known. For every moment he spent in the Queen's company, he learned more and more about her and the amazing facets of her personality. Everything he knew of her left the General more and more intrigued.
So it was her cunning scheme was working as she drew him in closer and closer, General Cothos now trusted her implicitly, never knowing that his trust would be betrayed and he would be deceived. "Come." said the Queen "We shall begin in the arena with a few basic instructions, then we shall ride out to the trails in the thick forests, that is if your thighs do not become too cramped and sore.., and you are still willing." she said bringing Saxet up close to him.
"Why Queen Sparta." he smiled up at her "I am ready, willing and able!" the General replied with a wink of his eye.
"And so am I, General Cothos.., so am I." she said with a mischievous laugh.
"Why.., General Cothos." Queen Sparta said looking down at him "You look, somehow., displeased."
"Well..," he paused looking up at her there in the presence of the many stable boys, groomsmen, along with the Master of the Stables he continued. "it is just..,"
"Yes, go on, pray tell me, what is the matter?" she inquired with a look of great concern upon her face.
"My mount, is.., so much smaller than your enormous steed.., I feel, here next to you, like a child sitting upon a little pony." he protested with a pout.
"I see." Queen Sparta shook her head saying "You are unhappy." here she quickly threw her right leg over the back of the saddle dismounting instantly, then she grabbed both reins of his horse handing them over to the Master of the Stables instructing him thusly "Unsaddle the horses! It would appear I have an unwilling student who is not prepared to understand and LISTEN and LEARN!" here she turned her back to the shocked General as she started to walk away.
"NO!" General Cothos called out to her, realizing he had caused great offense to the young Queen, whom had taken time out of her busy schedule just to teach him to ride. "I apologize Queen Sparta! Forgive my consternation. This horse will be just fine." he smiled hoping the Queen would not abandon him.
Slowly she turned, the stern look of dissatisfaction still upon her lovely face. Then she opened up her mouth saying "I have only one question for you.., General," she paused for dramatic effect "Do you trust in my abilities of instruction on this matter?"
"Of course! Absolutely. I trust in you implicitly!" General Cothos replied truthfully.
"Do you believe I know what I am doing and in my capabilities to teach?" she asked further.
"Yes, your Highness, most definitely!" he re-stated.
"Very well then.., let your instruction thus begin." she said climbing back up in her saddle once again telling the relieved General "A new student must begin with a smaller, calmer breed, this is one we use to pull our chariots, they are far more easy to control then our highly strung Themiscyran horses of war. Yet be forewarned, even though your mount is smaller it still weighs nearly 1,000 pounds, indeed any horse is quite capable of taking your life if you do not ride correctly and take your lessons seriously." the Queen explained.
"I understand.., yet I have one question. Will I, myself, have a chance to ride Saxet at some point in time before I return home to Rome?" he asked eagerly.
"We shall see how you progress in your training, though be not ignorant in your understanding, for bringing a horse like Saxet under control takes a very stable hand and an iron will. Horses recognize strength and appreciate the command of a steady hand rooted in confidence. The sole proof of strength is a commanding will. You see our war horses are raised to always recognize fear, terror and danger, all the while never succumbing to it. Just as any good warrior should be. For horses, of any breed, sense fear immediately and if fear dwells within your heart for them, than you will succumb to the domination of the animal.., and you could end up either flat on your back unconscious, or dead in your grave. Be not afraid dearest General, and you will win the day." Queen Sparta smiled calmly handing him back the reins. "This is a good horse and you are a fine man, but it is only natural to a have bit of fear in your heart, this is human nature, for you are about to experience a situation in which you may have no control over. So, in order to be a proper horseman you must let go of any doubt and always remember, and never forget, this is just an animal. You MUST demonstrate, through supreme unshakable confidence, your DOMINION over it !" she said climbing back up in her saddle leading General Cothos out to the adjacent riding arena located behind the palace.
Here Queen Sparta rode out to the center of the small circular arena dropping her reins in her lap, clasping her hands behind her back for a bit of showmanship. The young Queen proceeded to bring her horse through its paces; walking around once, trotting around twice, then going into a full gallop at a breakneck speed, all without the use of her hands. She, through years of practice, being able to command the animal with little clicks and whistles from her tongue and using the pressure of her thighs and heels to move the horse in any direction, right, left, side to side, forwards then backwards, it was an incredible display of the union between horse and human. The demonstration of her skills left the General in awe of both horse and rider. Then she awed him further, his heart racing, as he sat watching as she, somehow, picked up her feet as the horse trotted around the arena, gripping the saddle with both hands firmly using all her upper body strength she moved her legs up behind her so that her feet pointed towards the sky as she rode around standing on her head high up in the saddle, those around viewing the display cheering and bursting into applause.Now, as if that was not enough, Queen Sparta bent her body at the hips, bringing her feet to rest on top of the saddle, as she stood, arms out to her side for balance as she rode around the arena standing perfectly erect with a smile as bright as the sun.
"I am AMAZED!" Cothos shouted his eyes wide with delight.
"Put your faith in me General Cothos! As you can see, I know of what I speak!" Queen Sparta laughed.
"Teach me! My Queen, TEACH ME!" he replied enthusiastically, so enthralled by this magnificent, incredible woman was he, the likes of whom he had never known. For every moment he spent in the Queen's company, he learned more and more about her and the amazing facets of her personality. Everything he knew of her left the General more and more intrigued.
So it was her cunning scheme was working as she drew him in closer and closer, General Cothos now trusted her implicitly, never knowing that his trust would be betrayed and he would be deceived. "Come." said the Queen "We shall begin in the arena with a few basic instructions, then we shall ride out to the trails in the thick forests, that is if your thighs do not become too cramped and sore.., and you are still willing." she said bringing Saxet up close to him.
"Why Queen Sparta." he smiled up at her "I am ready, willing and able!" the General replied with a wink of his eye.
"And so am I, General Cothos.., so am I." she said with a mischievous laugh.
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