Nistra

She sits down with a tired sigh, wincing slightly as a sore shoulder protests the pulling off of long black boots and slightly worn armour. Finally free she sits cross legged to stare at the flames of the campfire in front of her, barely noticing the dark star filled sky. The mare whinnying softly in the background, bringing back memories of another fire, another time, and a faithful old man.

"Nistra, girl pay attention to me stop fussing over that mare and come and sit down. Tell me what became of you? How did you end out in a stable pretending to be a boy?"

She turns to look at the man, skin wrinkled with age and sun, hands calloused from years of hard work. His body not quite keeping up with time. But his eyes. Those were the same, honest and concerned. She sits by the fire watching the flames dance before taking a deep breath and telling him.

"Sir, when the family was split after poppa died, you know I was sent to uncles house. Well it would seem that uncle didn't have quit the patience with unruly brats as home did. His girls were perfect little reflections of their mother. Ladies. So I got into trouble on my own. One day I got caught out in the stables and you'd have thought I'd committed high treason. If I want to act like a servant, I was told, then you will be one. I'll never forget that him saying that." Looking up instinctively she sees the tell tale signs that he's mad. She smiles slightly and then stares back at the flames trying not to remember the hurt and anger herself.

"Anyway, I was sent to the kitchens where soon even the servants forgot who I was. Then after one beating I just decided I couldn't take it anymore. That night I snuck into the kitchen, stole everything I could carry and left. Wasn't smart enough that time to take a mount." The both chuckled slightly looking at the three borrowed horses behind them.

"And the stable? How on earth did you become a boy? Your mother must have been turning over in her grave she tried really hard to teach you four to be ladies."

"Aye she did. I learned way to quickly that young girls of thirteen summers get noticed by people you don't want to notice you." He sensed that there was more to that part of the story but he left it be seeing her pain.

"So I cut off my hair and when I started needing to I bound up my chest. I met a boy about the same age as me and he taught me how to live without people noticing you were there. It's amazing how easily a gentleman will continue what he's doing while your lifting his purse. The stable we were sneaking in at night to sleep. The owner caught us and took pity on us. Gave us both jobs looking after the horses. It was my turn to teach my friend. The stable became known as a place for the best, because we were. I could never quite forget about the others though, about where my sisters had gotten to. And praying every night that they were safe."

Looking closely at the old mans face. "They aren't are they? That's why you came."

Snapping back to the present with a start, body tensing, hands automatically reaching for the bow beside her. Watching the forest line, listening intently for the source of the sound. The big black nightmare behind her having already decided its nothing, nuzzles her back.

"We've had quite the couple of years since I stole you from the stable haven't we Dark" She moves her to run her hand over a soft velvety nose " Her voice the low soothing sound the mare loves. "Kajira and Aimil are back. Safely in the nice big house I couldn't have gotten without you. And the old man still looks after us."

Moving back to the fire, curling up on her side. She closes her eyes and hopes the dreams won't come. Her tired body falling into a deep sleep with only the mare close enough to hear her mumbled last words. "Now if only we could find Dorcas."