StallionCh2

After a brief haggling over more than a few gold coins, Blake--flanked
by two Irish Wolfhounds--returned to the stallion.

"A'right, ye black devil. I know ye got spirit under them icy eyes.
This lady who be yer new owner be a good one. Ye ain't likely ta find
another as good as she. Ye keep that in mind when ye finally let that
spirit o' yers show." He unlocked the stallion's chains from the stony
hay covered ground. "Come on. Time ta ready ya. She's waitin'.

The wolfhounds stepped forward, one carrying heavy chains, the other
soft ropes. "It be ye choice which ones we end up using on ye, boy,"
said one, his voice laced with a musical lilt.

Marcus stood still and it was soft ropes that bound his arms behind him
firmly and hobbled his ankles so that he could not run but only walk
short steps. The hounds escorted him outside to a massive bear who
stood banging on metal over a glowing fire.

"Ah, something worth my talents!" the bear bellowed good-naturedly.
"Lift your hoof up, son," he ordered loudly as a wolfhound released the
hobble. The bear grabbed Marcus' ankle gently but firmly. "Hmm, need
some filing and a good fitting. Nice healthy hooves. No splits," as he
filed them quickly, making the stallion flinch.

Marcus watched the bear lift a hot piece of metal and hammer it quickly
into a curve, shaping it while it continued to glow red hot, he brought
it down to Marcus' hoof without laying it against him and did one quick
measurement. He continued banging on the metal a moment then dropped it
into water, cooling it quickly while picking up another bar of metal,
repeating the process. The bear nailed the cooling shoe quickly into
place. It fit perfectly, shining against his ebony hoof.

"There ya go. Can't have ya hooves wearin' down upon arrival at the
Lady's 'ome, can we?"

"T-thank you, sir bear."

The blacksmith looked surprised. "Ye be welcome, black one. Good luck."

The hounds escorted Marcus to another stall where two female foxes
stood, both wearing only leather breechcloths and vests. "Stand ye
still, there and move not a muscle," ordered one.

He stood still, wary, twitching, beginning to blow. Now what? he
wondered and jerked as he felt their hands suddenly on him. One rubbing
his body with some kind of oil while the other began brushing his long
mane.

"Blimy, ye be a looker!" appreciated one of the vixens.

The other snorted and smiled. "Probably bought up by one of the
maddies," she guessed, plucking straw from Marcus' mane. She grabbed up
his tail and began sliding a brush through it. "Hell, I'd pay for a
tumble wit' im!" she teased.

Her meaning hit home to Marcus and his eyes widened as he jerked away
from the vixens, stomping the ground.

"For your information," rumbled one of the wolfhounds, watching, rope
in hand, "Lady Mareesha has purchased him."

"Lady Mareesha?" yelped one as she received a pinch from the other,
making 'hush' motions with her mouth. "I heard she be a sorceress," the
vixen whispered. She took a soft brush to the stallion's body, both
vixens silent as they finish. Both looked uncomfortable as one shoved
Marcus toward the hounds. "Get 'im out o' 'ere. I want nothing ta do
wit' 'er. 'E's done and proper fit for 'er."

The hound re-hobbled Marcus glaring at the two vixens. "You keep your
mouths shut about Lady Mareesha. She be a good Lady."

One vixen backed away from the huge hound. "See," she whispered. "She
be castin' 'er spells e'en on the likes o' you!" She quickly lifted a
broom, turning her back on them.

The wolfhound sighed, shaking his head, walking Marcus from the stall.
"Let's deliver you to the Lady."