Worlds Apart

Pursuit

 "Just stay still, Alfhild, I'll be done in a minute."

Lies, and Alfhild seems to understand this as she looks up irritably to my hands currently entwined in her mane. But this is literally my last chance to braid it up before we leave, so I am doing it now. I feel sorry for her though, and while she normally would not be so visually animated against my attention on her, the men currently setting her up with endless packs and gear, brittles and saddles and pelts as I work, are doing little to help her from feeling so overwhelmed. It does not do any good either that countless soldiers are now rushing through the usually quiet stables in order to retrieve their horses for the journey, and it seems at least one of them manages to cause some sort of a large ass crash every damn minute, startling both of us.

By the sixth crash, I am over it. "Can you go see what the hell is going on in there?" I order impatiently to the man currently scraping out Alfhild's hooves. He bows in agreeance, motioning for another available attendant to take his place before he turns and rushes over there to detect the source of the ruckus.

Nahko approaches by the time I am securing the ebony mane with some matching thread. "Impressive." He states, and I shrug, leaning back a little from my position currently sat atop the fence.

"I had to learn when I was young." I explain, and he nods, examining the braid for a bit.

"Nice of you to get all of the hair out of her face, very practical." He says, tucking a hand under her chin to raise her head up slightly.

"Yeah, well the way I see it, it's a long journey and I'm not dealing with the knots later so I might as well deal with them now."

Nahko chuckles in agreeance. "Good strategy."

"Damn straight."

His eyes travel to my body for a moment. "You look pretty prepared yourself."

I follow his gaze down, my expression already solemn as I take in my current state. I am fully armored in my guards uniform with a heavy, black backpack over my shoulders overtop the staff, the tips secured in the rolled up pack attached to my belt. The weight of the armor and packs causes a little soreness on my shoulders if I am being honest, but I really did not see the braid taking me this long. I am a little out of practice, I guess. A thought prompts me to look over to Nahko, where he is fully armored, but not bearing any packs. "You coming? It's not everyday you get to venture over to the clan that's a source of so much animosity and houses a lunatic on her throne, if you don't count this one."

Nahko shakes his head, his expression a little saddened despite the grin on his lips. "You're not a lunatic."

"Eh, I take it day by day."

"Right." He nods.

I raise my eyebrows expectantly. "So, you coming or what?"

"I'm afraid I'll be sitting this one out. Lakote said he could use backup tending to the horses while so many of the caregivers accompany you all on the journey."

I nod, keeping my expression even, then look over to see a pot of something black in his hands.

"The hell is that?" I question suspiciously.

He pulls another from the pack attached to his belt, this time white in shade, and pops open the aged lid to reveal a powdery substance that blends smoothly over his fingers. "War paint." He answer curtly. "For the mare."

"I see." I state, dropping from the fence. "You have any specific means of doing this or...?"

"First off, you do it for your own mount," he says, thrusting the jars into my hands, "and secondly, yes, there are certain symbols you must paint on her, but I can help you just this once because it's your first time and you need to learn these."