Horse: A Novel Novels & Stories

Hazel gasped with shock and fright when the door to the house opened and she saw before her a weird-looking, mythical animal. It was a horse but it reminded her of Pegasus and the horse's black beauty. The horse's coat was pitch black, blacker than black itself and the coat cast a gleam in the darkness. It also had wings that spanned almost eight feet wide and they were the same color as its coat. The horse looked both beautiful and terrifying at the same time and Hazel had to admit that it was the most beautiful thing she had said her eyes on. "Persia!" Raglan called out and the horse turned to him and neighed loudly.

Perhaps they are little mages from far cities who decided to take a little trip here in the capital? I was inspecting the tents, trying to figure out what was happening. I run my gaze around and saw a cremello colored horse with a black mane. Someone was sleeping on its back. I went near the horse, like I expected it was the guy. I mean, the horse is extremely rare. This horse must be the only one of its kind. I was just looking at the man who was sleeping on the horse’s back facing the sky. Curious to why he was here.

Elizabeth wrote of what occurred in her personal journal, which she kept secret in a private trunk in the wall panel of her bedroom, and remembered what she wrote: 'And so, I oversaw the good and fine officer by hand, to the dainty horse stable behind the school. It was my first time interfering with an older man, and finally, here I was, guiding the way and him like an obedient helper. Oh, but what heaven! He discarded his cap, dagger wrap, and his black jacket uniform, which, being wool, was huge and thick.

As a result, when she unbridled it, it had sustained several wounds on its neck that were now oozing blood. Charlotte watched with a heavy heart. She turned to a young female worker nearby. The girl approached and asked if she had any instructions. "Was this horse like this when it arrived?" Charlotte inquired. The girl shook her head. "No, it acted up after being drugged." Charlotte was baffled. The girl continued, "Don't think only humans have emotions. Animals do too. This horse is a bit peculiar. It has a bad temper and is stubborn. It came here with a white mare. They must have developed some sort of bond on the way. It must be infatuated with the white mare."

The Emperor strolled into the stable with his Queen, and he watched Ella (Rosabella) as she hastened over to the horse. The horse saw Ella (Rosabella) minced towards her as the horse was a female, and she trotted over to Ella (Rosabella). Ella (Rosabella) stopped, and she slowly called out. "Snow." The horse jogs over to her, and Ella (Rosabella) stares into her right eye. Ella (Rosabella) knew that the horse was her old horse (her stepmother sold), and she hugged the horse.

The horses are no longer symbols of fear but of possibility, proof that even things born in darkness can choose the light. Tonight, the forest has given us a gift: new allies, new strength. The enchanted horses, still shimmering faintly with moonlit magic, are ushered into the meadow just beyond the village’s edge. They step lightly, their wings fluttering, tails flicking as they explore their new freedom, their eyes bright and friendly. With the horses safely settled, the others disperse. Hanna and Roxy head inside our house to discuss wedding plans. Corwin and Harla drive the mule-led wagon straight to the butchers and cooks waiting for the elk.

They are much larger than I expected, and I am a little afraid. As I silently watch them, the largest horse turns to look at me. It is massive and black. Completely black. He looks like a horse befitting of Lucifer himself. Much to my surprise, the black horse trots over to me. He snorts loudly, and I step back from the fence, but it's not far enough. He puts his great head over the fence and sniffs my hair. My eyes are closed tightly but the horse doesn't seem to mean me any harm. Opening one eye, I look up at the mighty horse. His pitch-black eyes are looking at me as if he knows me.

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be constructed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental. Hold Me Close (A Heron’s Landing Novella) Published by Blue Violet Press LLC Seattle, Washington Copyright © 2016, 2017, 2020 by Iris Morland Cover design by Qamber Designs

It sits there like a question. I don’t understand it. I don’t want to. “Your horse,” I say, because changing topics is how I survive feelings. “What’s his name?” Adrian glances back at the black horse. The animal stamps once and flicks its tail like it’s bored with all of us. “Onyx.” Of course. “He’s beautiful,” I say, and I immediately want to bite my tongue because that sounded like admiration out loud. Adrian’s eyes flick back to me. “He’s difficult.”

I said softly, breathing in her scent. “I was scared.” She smiled up at me. “I’m alright. And today, I want to ride with you.” I helped her onto my horse, watching the mix of excitement and terror on her face. As the horse shifted, she jumped. “You don't have to be afraid,” I murmured. “I can’t help it,” she admitted with a small laugh. “I’ve only ever seen horses in movies.” We both laughed, a sound that felt foreign in this dark woods. I could feel the shocked stares of the twenty-five guards. I never smiled; I was the Alpha with the stone face. But with Novel, a warmth filled my heart that I couldn't describe.