Twenty or so minutes into his lesson, that hot, humid Spring day, late in the afternoon, Cothos practiced his posture, verbal commands going through the gaits of the animal, walking, trotting, cantering, galloping to Queen Sparta's satisfaction, for he proved to be an apt student, so it was she felt comfortable heading outside of the ring with him for an open ride.
"Very good General!" she shouted across the arena proudly "Now let us go out for a ride through the country side."
Thereafter Queen Sparta, General Cothos, along with her mounted body guards, all rode out together going down through a narrow trail deep in the woods at a slow pace, in shade of the oak leaves; which provided a bright green, welcome escape from the suns harsh rays, there in the dappled light, the scent of junipers heavy in the air as the birds could be herd calling to each other in the towering trees. Cool and dark came the forest breeze upon his face and the foreign born General felt more at ease with each moment spent in the company of the Queen. As the small group of riders made their way down into a lush green valley, where vast fields of wheat blew gently in waves as groves of ancient olive and orange trees stood tall, here the riding party began to quicken the pace of their steeds, who were anxious to get in a good run out in the open plain. Racing at full speed the Queen and her men tried to out pace each other in the saddle as they flew along the country side kicking up dust and dirt as General Cothos was soon found to be left far behind. For, though he had ridden a few times before in the distant past, life in the saddle was not of his custom, here and now, speeding along so dangerously, so quickly, left his heart and pulse racing faster than the horses own pace, as the wind came whipping across his face. Cothos was trying to keep up, but still he was a little afraid, so he held back a bit on the reins not allowing his mount to gain a lead. Here he noticed ahead as Captain Synos glanced back at him, laughing under his breath.
Then there came a sudden sharp excruciating pain radiating from his legs to his spine, as Cothos felt a tightening in his muscular thighs; which burned with a searing, stabbing pain, cramps locking up his muscles like clenched fists of fire. Such was the agony he cried out, halting his horse in its tracks, leaping from off the horses back "My legs!" he shouted out after the Queen and her guards, whom all turned heading back for him "Cramps!" he shouted walking in a peculiar, jumping motion hopping from foot to foot seemingly unable to keep still.
"I thought as much!" Queen Sparta called out to him knowing his body was not condition to acclimate easily to the saddle. Here she brought Saxet to a standstill, dismounting, to come to the foreigners aid, extending him a hand telling him. 'Come, you must walk off the pain."
"How embarrassing" General Cothos said wincing his eyes watering a little. For he was in agony, he tried to breathe more earnestly, his sweat was if it were great drops of blood falling to the earth.
"Just walk it off, do not stop moving or the cramps will only get worse." she said trying not to laugh and giving her guards a serious look so that they would also hold their tongues. "Be not troubled, this is only natural." she said putting an arm around his shoulder "We ourselves have been riding since we were but children of five, you are new to this activity and.., it is my humble prayer to the gods that you have many more years to spend with us here, in my country." the Queen spoke flirtatiously.
"May your pray be answered.., and thank you, all, for not laughing." he said giving her guards a friendly smile of shame and it was Captain Synos who gave the General a look of disgust mixed with contempt.
"Have your men take our horses back to the stables Captain Synos!" as she too noticed his disapproving look, here Captain Synos gave a concerned gaze now to his beloved Queen. "Yes, Captain, you heard me verily. Go, leave us alone. It is only a mile or two back to the Palace so.., this gives my most welcomed guest, and myself, a chance to get better acquainted with one another. We will have a nice long walk, and we can talk with each other and share our thoughts. I will be perfectly safe. Of this I can assure you, my good Captain."
So it was, Captain Synos did as instructed, ordering his men to return to the stables with the two horses. However, he waited for Queen Sparta and General Cothos to begin their late afternoon stroll while he rode behind the pair, trailing the two on his mount, just close enough that he could keep them both in plain sight, but not so close enough to hear their conversation. Queen Sparta noticed him following along behind them but she did not dissuade Captain Synos from his path, for this was not the moment she would strike. Queen Sparta would have to bide her time a little longer before she would take the hated Generals life.
"I must say how much I admire you so, but pray I must know just one thing." Cothos turned standing upright feeling a little lighter in pain as he walked slowly beside the Queen.
"Yes, dearest Cothos, you can ask of me.., anything.." Queen Sparta smiled sweetly taking him by the hand.
"Very good General!" she shouted across the arena proudly "Now let us go out for a ride through the country side."
Thereafter Queen Sparta, General Cothos, along with her mounted body guards, all rode out together going down through a narrow trail deep in the woods at a slow pace, in shade of the oak leaves; which provided a bright green, welcome escape from the suns harsh rays, there in the dappled light, the scent of junipers heavy in the air as the birds could be herd calling to each other in the towering trees. Cool and dark came the forest breeze upon his face and the foreign born General felt more at ease with each moment spent in the company of the Queen. As the small group of riders made their way down into a lush green valley, where vast fields of wheat blew gently in waves as groves of ancient olive and orange trees stood tall, here the riding party began to quicken the pace of their steeds, who were anxious to get in a good run out in the open plain. Racing at full speed the Queen and her men tried to out pace each other in the saddle as they flew along the country side kicking up dust and dirt as General Cothos was soon found to be left far behind. For, though he had ridden a few times before in the distant past, life in the saddle was not of his custom, here and now, speeding along so dangerously, so quickly, left his heart and pulse racing faster than the horses own pace, as the wind came whipping across his face. Cothos was trying to keep up, but still he was a little afraid, so he held back a bit on the reins not allowing his mount to gain a lead. Here he noticed ahead as Captain Synos glanced back at him, laughing under his breath.
Then there came a sudden sharp excruciating pain radiating from his legs to his spine, as Cothos felt a tightening in his muscular thighs; which burned with a searing, stabbing pain, cramps locking up his muscles like clenched fists of fire. Such was the agony he cried out, halting his horse in its tracks, leaping from off the horses back "My legs!" he shouted out after the Queen and her guards, whom all turned heading back for him "Cramps!" he shouted walking in a peculiar, jumping motion hopping from foot to foot seemingly unable to keep still.
"I thought as much!" Queen Sparta called out to him knowing his body was not condition to acclimate easily to the saddle. Here she brought Saxet to a standstill, dismounting, to come to the foreigners aid, extending him a hand telling him. 'Come, you must walk off the pain."
"How embarrassing" General Cothos said wincing his eyes watering a little. For he was in agony, he tried to breathe more earnestly, his sweat was if it were great drops of blood falling to the earth.
"Just walk it off, do not stop moving or the cramps will only get worse." she said trying not to laugh and giving her guards a serious look so that they would also hold their tongues. "Be not troubled, this is only natural." she said putting an arm around his shoulder "We ourselves have been riding since we were but children of five, you are new to this activity and.., it is my humble prayer to the gods that you have many more years to spend with us here, in my country." the Queen spoke flirtatiously.
"May your pray be answered.., and thank you, all, for not laughing." he said giving her guards a friendly smile of shame and it was Captain Synos who gave the General a look of disgust mixed with contempt.
"Have your men take our horses back to the stables Captain Synos!" as she too noticed his disapproving look, here Captain Synos gave a concerned gaze now to his beloved Queen. "Yes, Captain, you heard me verily. Go, leave us alone. It is only a mile or two back to the Palace so.., this gives my most welcomed guest, and myself, a chance to get better acquainted with one another. We will have a nice long walk, and we can talk with each other and share our thoughts. I will be perfectly safe. Of this I can assure you, my good Captain."
So it was, Captain Synos did as instructed, ordering his men to return to the stables with the two horses. However, he waited for Queen Sparta and General Cothos to begin their late afternoon stroll while he rode behind the pair, trailing the two on his mount, just close enough that he could keep them both in plain sight, but not so close enough to hear their conversation. Queen Sparta noticed him following along behind them but she did not dissuade Captain Synos from his path, for this was not the moment she would strike. Queen Sparta would have to bide her time a little longer before she would take the hated Generals life.
"I must say how much I admire you so, but pray I must know just one thing." Cothos turned standing upright feeling a little lighter in pain as he walked slowly beside the Queen.
"Yes, dearest Cothos, you can ask of me.., anything.." Queen Sparta smiled sweetly taking him by the hand.
No comments:
Post a Comment