Meeting Mets

“Well, hello…” Cass sat up in her seat, watching as a young Sulevaeri Plainsrunner bucked its would-be rider and almost trampled the individual. She’d been at one of the many black market horse auctions near Athelen for hours and had been bored with all the offerings thus far. Winter was coming and the selection was less than she would have hoped for. There were several pretty creatures, but oddly docile for this particular market. She had a particular type and the beautiful pangaré bay roan was the first to really catch her eye. She did have a soft spot for Sulaveri breeds, and the flames and fiery personality of a Plainsrunner would suit her stables perfectly. Thorn Rose Stables had a reputation to uphold, after all. 

She wrote down a bid on paper and passed it to the waiting runner. A stallion like that would fetch a pretty penny depending on the buyers at the market, but it’d be worth every coin in stud fees in coming years. Not to mention the potential for breeding within her own stables. Any of his get would fetch a good price, either young or fully trained. 

About 17 hands, she wagered. Good sized. Young yet. Just old enough to really start training but still young enough to be feisty and malleable if well managed. Seven, maybe eight years old was her guess from here. Likely someone had put a saddle on him before, but it didn’t look like they’d done much work beyond that. Not from the way he was bucking and kicking, though that could have just been a foolish rider. Certainly someone had forgotten to shave his mane, or didn’t know to as the black hair was longer than she’d ever seen it before. 

“Ma’am.” The runner walked up to her and passed her an invitation slip to meet the horse. 

“Excellent.” Cass stood and grabbed her jacket from her seat. If she was going to be testing out that delightful creature she wagered there was a chance he’d set her in the dirt. Slim, but always there. 

Individual selling the horse was a shady half-fae who seemed ready to make a snide comment before realizing just who they were talking to. Instead, she was given a curt nod and waved towards the paddocks where the young stallion was still fixing to murder the first person to get too close. The horse's saddle was gone, and he’d even broken his halter, or at least managed to get it partially off. 

“You go in there, I’m not responsible for any injuries.” The half-fae muttered. 

Cassandra waved him off, focused on the creature in front of her. Most likely the horse didn’t have papers. A place like this, they rarely did. Best guess was someone had stolen it at some point, or found it running wild. It wouldn’t be the first time someone had happened on a Plainsrunner through either method, though clearly the seller had no idea how to properly handle or care for the horse. 

Cass climbed up on the fence and straddled the top rung, finally bothering to speak to the seller. “Just get your people out of there and stay the hell out of my way.” She didn’t bother to see if they followed her instructions before dropping into the paddocks and moving to get a better look at the horse. 

Up close she was fairly certain her estimate on age was right. Eight, nine at the oldest. His bay coat shined brilliantly and the lighter coloring created by his pangaré and roan coloring created a stunning contrast for the black of his mane and tail, and the golden flecks of his eyes shone as another gout of flame appeared. 

‘A tiger eyed horse. Even better,’ Cassandra thought as she moved carefully in the space. He was mad, and she couldn’t blame him. Penning a horse like this somewhere so small. No, he was made to run. 

As the only available target now in the ring, he turned to face her fully, his golden eyes shining as he took stock of her. 

She smiled, her fangs flashing. This was going to be fun. The chance to train a horse like this was what she lived for. “Come here, handsome. Let’s see what you’ve got,” she said coaxingly, snagging a lasso from the fence. She didn’t particularly want the horse to charge her, but it was what seemed likely to happen. It would have been better if she could let him run it out and approach him when he calmer, but she’d have to lead him out so it was what it was. 

The stallion reared and came at her, fast and furious. The smaller space didn’t leave him as much room to pick up speed as he could have, but his long legs and lean body were built for running. She managed to avoid him, moving them both more towards the center of the pen. 

“Hey now, no need for that.” Cassandra cooed as the horse lashed out with his hind legs, his white fetlocks coming dangerously close to her face. “You and I are going to be good friends, you hear me. Sinä ja minä tulemme olemaan hyviä ystäviä.” 

The horse wheeled, his nostrils flaring as his ears perked up. 

“Well now, that got your attention, did it?” Cassandra smirked, settling the lasso to hopefully catch the horse on the next pass. Figures he recognized Sulaveri. Must not have been on this side of the ocean for long. “Tule nyt, ystävä. Pystymme tähän. Come now, friend. We can do this.” 

The bay stamped his front hoof, his anger not quite fading but a glint of curiosity entered his tiger eyes. This time when he came at her, it was just slow enough she could get the lasso around him and pull. She’d have given it more time if she had it, but he deserved out of this place and there was always a time limit to the meetings. There was no indication he’d been mistreated, but he certainly hadn’t been treated right either. Not that she cared at this point. She’d steal him if she had to, but she’d have him before the day was out.

The stallion reared, the angry sound echoing through the stables nearby. 

“Hey, now.” Cass tightened her grip and braced herself as she began to move in on him. A stream of flame greeted her as she approached, but she didn’t withdraw. The heat tickled more than burned.

“Hey, easy now.” She moved closer, her voice calm and gentle. “You’re not getting away and I’m not going away. So let’s work this out, shall we. Annan sinun juosta ennen pitkää. I’ll let you run before too long.” 

The stallion began to calm, the rope no longer giving him much leeway and her voice finally starting to get through. 

“That’s it. Good.” Cassandra rested her hand against his neck, brushing at the soft hair of his mane. It was thin, but it usually was with a Plainsrunner. He was warm to the touch, hot even, his breath coming hard from his struggles and the lingering edges of his frustration. He snorted, a brief flicker of flame dancing from him. 

“Yes, I know.” She moved in just a little closer, risking it so she could get better control and re-secure his halter. 

She turned to the people watching, her grip on the Plainsrunner still firm as she brushed his silky coat. “Well, what are you looking at? Someone get me a lead rope? See my accountant in the rooms for payment.” 

The seller sneered. “I never said I was selling him to you.” 

“I’m sorry. Was my statement unclear? I’ll have him, and I’m not negotiating. I offered a more than fair price. I advise you to take it. I’ve no patience for sellers who are ignorant as to the proper handling of horses.” 

“Fair? I could get twice what you offered at a different market.” 

“You think?” Cass raised an eyebrow, her voice the kind of cold she often used to deal with those in the Winter courts, securing the lead rope that had been handed to her by a clearly nervous stablehand and continuing to brush at the horse. He was calmer now, the white hair in his rich bay coat almost silver under her fingers. “Or you’re lying. Rather rude, don’t you think. Perhaps, if you’re smart, I’ll be generous and chalk it up to ignorance instead.” 

The half-fae’s eyes widened. “Perhaps I was mistaken. I’m new to this, you see. I’ll collect your offer from your accountant.” 

“Excellent. I’m so glad we could come to an understanding.” Cassandra smiled. The kind of smile anyone would be wary of. “I’d recommend no longer dealing in such unfamiliar markets as these in the future. Horses can be dangerous if handled incorrectly.” 

“Yes, well, he was the only one I was looking to sell. A friend of mine didn’t want him anymore and I offered to help.” 

“How kind.” Cass turned her attention back to the horse, dismissing the seller in favor of the stallion. “Now, what should I call you, my lovely fellow.” 

The bay horse pulled against the lead rope, trying to nip at her before yielding to the consistent pressure she kept, his sparkling eyes watching her without malice but certain with mischief. 

“Hmm… Metsäpalo… perhaps? What do you think?” She pulled a sugar cube from her pocket and offered it to the horse, who accepted it readily. Cass laughed as she led the horse out and towards her holding area. “Then Metsäpalo it is.” 

As they got out of the narrow passages of the holding areas, Metsäpalo pulled hard and tried to bolt. 

Cassandra managed to keep a firm hold, used the antics of equally forceful animals. She brushed at his black mane and tried to sooth him, but he seemed determined. Looking at the open stretch of land between here and the city walls of Athelen Cassandra decided to see just how trained or untrained he was. 

His saddle was still gone, but she rode bareback most of the time anyway. “Mitä mieltä sinä olet? Pitäisikö meidän ratsastaa? Shall we ride?” 

Metsäpalo pulled at his lead again, only this time Cass found footing and managed to swing up onto his back. It was no small feat given his height, but no sooner was her weight on him than he was running as fast he could in the direction he was facing. 

Cassandra laughed and gathered the leadrope better into her hands before starting to guide him towards the city. His responses were rough but he’d clearly been ridden at least some before. Mostly he had the energy of a young horse too long confined and the spirit of one that shouldn’t be again. They could take the long way home, she figured. And after a few days for him to settle in, the real training could begin.