Page 10 of My Trojan Horse Majesty

“You’re not so graceful when you’re flat on the ground.” She snorts. “I’m just glad you don’t seem to have done any real damage. You hit the ground hard.” She pats my neck. “Now, let’s keep this simple. Okay?”

She’s nice enough, but I’m definitely not going to let her stupid sedative ruin my bid for freedom. I walk along next to her nicely until we get close to the stallion paddock again. The ground here’s tiny pea-gravel, and she won’t have much of a chance at keeping her footing when I pull. I yank my head sideways and bolt away from her.

Only, with the chain, she has a much better hold on me.

Ithurtswhen she yanks, and I swing out wide, trotting in a circle, the sensitive front of my nose downright crunched. I act like she’s convinced me to listen for a few strides, and then I twist again. This time, I do it fast enough and sharply enough that she loses her grip, blessedly.

If I could smile as I race away, I sure would.

My hoof strikes the stupid lead line once, and I slip, nearly slamming into the ground again, but I right myself. I’ve almost reached the far end of the pasture, her two idiotic horse-friends racing along with me on the other side, when the spots return. Perhaps it’s the level of exertion that forces her sedative to kick in.

I slow to a walk, but my vision continues to worsen, and it’s nearly black. I stop entirely, but I can hear the irritating girl drawing closer, and that’s when I realize I can alsofeelher drawing closer. That connection I felt before, when I woke, it’s still there. In fact, it almost feels stronger than it did before.

The spots go away, so before she can reach me again, I take off. But as soon as I reach the road and start moving fast, my vision darkensagain.It’s like she’s tied to me somehow, and every time I try to escape, I. . .pass out. Could that be correct?

Am I effectivelyleashed? If I am, she doesn’t seem to know it.

One more course change, and I race the opposite direction, barely crossing her path before she would’ve intercepted me. Once again, as soon as I pull very far away from her, maybe a hundred yards or so, my vision darkens.

It’s very, very vexing, but for now, I don’t think I can escape. I’ll have to figure out how we’re connected and break it before I can get free. Which is why, when she reaches me this time, my sides heaving and my face and neck lathered, I stand politely.

She looks almost as tired as I feel.

“I’m beginning to think you’re insane.” She wheezes, and reaches for my lead, her hand moving slowly, her eyes wide. “Are you going to bolt again? Bite me? Fall over and crash to the ground?”

I snort at that.

She narrows her eyes. “I think I’m going nuts. I swear you act like you understand what I’m saying.”

I bob my head.

“You do?” She arches her eyebrows. “Sure, you do.” She chuckles, exhaling. “Now I’m interpreting horse head bobs as affirmations.”

I whinny, and I step closer, tossing my head so my choked-down lead will be nearer to her hand. If I’m stuck with her until I can work out why I’m stuck, I may as well be cooperative. The last thing I want is for her to try and kill me off, too.

I doubt she could, but evading attacks gets tiring.

“Alright, the third time’s the charm, right?” She arches one eyebrow. “If you don’t come with me this time, I’m going to call animal control and let them come pick you up.”

I walk meekly, almost like a real horse, right up to the gate.

When she glares at me before swinging the gate open, I wish I could laugh. “Donotact like an idiot this time. I’ll get fresh hay and water for you as soon as you’re through, but I could arrange to have it be moldy hay.” She scowls as she opens it. “Remember that.”

The villain in my current predicament’s threatening me with. . .moldy hay. It’s pretty humorous. What’s next? A stern talking-to? I sigh as I follow her through.

“Tell me about it,” she says. “You think you’re sick of this? I’m way more annoyed than you.” She reaches for the buckle on my halter, but she stops before undoing it. “I know you can’t really understand me. I’m not a total moron. But youdoact like you’re listening, so I’m hoping you can somehow intuit my tone. After all that nonsense earlier, I almost want to leave your halter on and detach the lead, but I worry that with the little scratch on your nose already from your idiocy with the chain, it’ll rub.” She scowls. “I’m going to take it off. Please don’t make me regret this.”

She moves her hand to undo the buckle, and I bow my head enough that it slides free.

“You didn’t race away,” she says. “That’s a surprise.” She walks forward three steps. Then she turns back toward me and clicks. “Come on. Follow me.”

So I do.

She beams. “Okay, a little more.” She walks forward again, and I follow. Her wide smile broadens even more.

For some reason, it makes me happy.

Which would be embarrassing if anyone else knew.

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