ShadowMare

ShadowMare

The stables were quiet, save for the occasional shuffle of hooves on straw and the soft breath of the Black Horses. Carlia Havannah stood before them, her heart racing as she gazed into the intelligent, midnight-black eyes of Malgor and BlackMare. She shifted nervously, unsure how to introduce herself to such creatures. These were not ordinary horses; they were legends, and she felt small under their intense gaze.

“I... I’m Carlia,” she whispered, dipping her head slightly in respect. “I’m... I’m here because Alden—because Archi said you’re part of something important. I don’t know what that means yet, but...”

Her words faltered under the weight of their silent scrutiny. Malgor gave a snort, his nostrils flaring, while ShadowMare shifted on her hooves. Carlia could feel the tension in the air, as if the very shadows in the stable were stirring.

“Easy...” Archi muttered from beside her, placing a calming hand on Malgor’s mane. “They know things, lass. They sense it before we do.”

Carlia tilted her head, sensing the unease emanating from the horses. ShadowMare’s ears flicked, and Malgor stomped a hoof impatiently. Something was wrong.

“Archi?” Carlia whispered. “What is it? What do they sense?”

Before Archi could respond, the stillness shattered.

CRASH!

The windows of the stables exploded inward as figures cloaked in dark, hooded cloaks tumbled through the glass. They moved with silent precision, like phantoms born of the storm. Their eyes glinted beneath the hoods, gleaming with malice as they closed in on Carlia.

“Get behind me!” Archi barked, throwing himself into motion with surprising speed. He grabbed a nearby hammer, swinging it with deadly force. The first cloaked man crumpled under the blow, but more surged forward.

Malgor reared, his powerful front hooves striking out. The force of the impact sent two of the attackers flying backward into the stable walls. His neigh was deafening, a sound filled with fury and defiance.

ShadowMare sidestepped, snorting violently, her hooves drumming a restless rhythm against the ground. Carlia could feel the mare's unease growing into something fierce—a rising need to run.

Archi grappled with another attacker, slamming him into the stable door. “Carlia!” he shouted over the din of hooves and battle. “Get on her! ShadowMare—she’s calling for you!”

Carlia turned to the mare just as the horse dipped her head low, nudging Carlia firmly with her nose. The message was clear: Now. Without hesitation, Carlia grabbed a fistful of the mare’s mane and swung herself onto ShadowMare’s back.

As soon as she was seated, the mare bolted forward. Archi gave one last swing of his hammer, buying them a few precious seconds, but the cloaked men were relentless. They swarmed the stable, shouting commands and mounting their own dark steeds in pursuit.

With a powerful leap, ShadowMare burst through the stable door, shattering it into splinters.

The storm was still raging as ShadowMare tore through the streets of Jugathon. Rain lashed against Carlia’s face, and she clung to the mare’s mane for dear life. The wind howled in her ears, drowning out the thunder of hooves behind them.

The twisting streets of Jugathon were a maze of narrow alleys and slick cobblestones, but ShadowMare moved through them with unearthly grace. The mare darted left, then right, leaping over barrels and skimming past carts with impossible precision. No ordinary horse could have navigated the labyrinth of streets with such speed.

Carlia risked a glance over her shoulder—and her heart sank. The cloaked men were close behind, their dark horses pounding through the streets with relentless determination. There were too many of them, their numbers multiplying with each turn.

ShadowMare gave a furious snort and picked up speed, her hooves barely touching the ground as she raced ahead. But the attackers were cunning, spreading out to surround her, herding them toward the docks.

Carlia gritted her teeth. She had to do something—anything—to slow them down.

“Sleep... sleep...” she began to sing, her voice rising over the storm. The ancient magic in her song swirled through the air like an invisible mist. One of the pursuing riders slumped forward in his saddle, his horse skidding to a halt as the spell took hold.

But more riders kept coming, undeterred by the lullabies.

ShadowMare let out a defiant whinny and surged forward, her muscles straining as she leapt over a cart abandoned in the street. The mare’s leap was breathtaking, her form arcing through the air like a creature of pure shadow. Carlia clung to her, heart pounding, as they landed gracefully on the other side.

Carlia cast a glance over her shoulder again and saw one of the riders pulling something from his saddle—a weighted net.

“Look out!” she cried, ducking just as the rider flung the net toward them. ShadowMare swerved sharply to the right, her hooves skidding on the slick cobblestones. The net sailed past, catching on the corner of a building instead, and the pursuing rider cursed in frustration.

ShadowMare didn’t slow. She darted through a narrow alley, her hooves barely touching the ground as she leapt over barrels and scattered debris. Carlia clung tighter, her heart hammering in her chest as the mare made a sharp turn that nearly unseated her.

Another rider closed in from a side ally, a spear gleaming in his hand. He thrust it forward, aiming for ShadowMare’s flank.

“Move!” Carlia shouted, and ShadowMare responded instantly, leaping high into the air. The spear sliced harmlessly through the space where her legs had been only a second before. ShadowMare landed gracefully, her powerful muscles coiling as she kicked off again, leaving the attacker behind in a spray of rainwater.

Carlia gritted her teeth, her mind racing. There were too many of them—every street seemed to bring more cloaked riders, cutting off their escape routes and herding them toward the docks.

The cloaked men followed, relentless in their pursuit. They drove ShadowMare toward a dock, closing in from all sides. Carlia could hear the river ahead, the sound of rushing water growing louder with each stride.

“They’re driving us into a trap!” Carlia whispered in panic. “We have to—”

ShadowMare’s ears flicked back as if she’d heard the thought. With a sudden burst of speed, the mare barreled toward the docks, ignoring the cries of the riders behind them.

“They think we’ll stop,” Carlia realized aloud, her heart leaping with both fear and awe. “But we won’t... will we...?”

ShadowMare gave a powerful snort, her breath steaming in the cold night air, and didn’t slow. The dock loomed ahead, a wooden platform slick with rain. The river beyond it churned with fierce currents.

Carlia tightened her grip, scared but determined to live. “Here we go...”

With one final bound, ShadowMare leapt off the edge of the dock—and didn’t stop.

Carlia gasped as the mare’s hooves touched the river’s surface—and stayed there. ShadowMare ran across the water as though it were solid ground, her movements fluid and effortless. The wind whipped through Carlia’s hair as the mare surged forward, racing north along the river at breakneck speed.

Behind them, the cloaked riders reined in their horses, skidding to a halt at the edge of the dock. Shouts of confusion and disbelief echoed over the water as the pursuers watched in stunned silence, powerless to follow.

Carlia let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Her heart hammered in her chest, but she couldn’t help the exhilaration bubbling up inside her.

ShadowMare’s hooves skimmed the river’s surface, each step as light as air. The storm raged around them, but it was as if the mare was untouched by it—gliding across the water like a creature born of shadow and wind.

Carlia laughed breathlessly, her fear melting away in the thrill of the ride. She leaned closer to ShadowMare’s neck, feeling the rhythm of the mare’s powerful strides beneath her.

“Bubastis...” she whispered, the name coming to her like a distant memory.

ShadowMare gave a soft whinny, as if to say, Yes. We’ll get there.

And together, they raced through the night, the river stretching endlessly before them, carrying them toward whatever destiny awaited in the city of Bubastis.

The Ballad of Carlia Havannah