The Paladins

"It is NOT for you to decide!" Thrazians voice boomed and the lithe young Blood Elf almost winced away from setting her hand on the chargers muzzle. The great black Thallasian Charger set radiant red eyes on her, he was 12 years old, a breeding stallion, one of the finest, his spirit was such that Thrazian, master of horses for the Silverwing Order, an elite company of Paladins led by her father, Thrazian had set this stallion aside, knowing he would not be ridden, that his blazing spirit would create the fearless, powerful chargers needed by the Paladins. Initiates like young Vereno were exposed to 3 and 4 year olds of more even temperaments, without many experiences, so they would bring less into the relationship with their Paladin masters that they would carry for their entire lives. The bond would connect the spirits of Paladin and Charger, the Charger would live as long as the Paladin did, gifted a sort of immortality, Thallasian Chargers that died in battle could be brought back whole and well so long as their Paladins lived, when the Paladin died, the Charger died as well, usually in the exact same instant.

Vereno knew all of this, she had worked hard under her fathers unforgiving eyes, earning the wing of silver that now adorned her sword, shield and armor, the same wing that would embellish her Chargers headstall and saddle. She had walked past the paddock where 5 young Thallasians had stood at the fence, straight to the head gate of the pasture where this Stallion stood, dirt crusted on his hide, his mane long and tangled from weeks out in the woods with the mares, there were scars on his face and one on his left shoulder, the stallions were not kept seperated, precious as they were, only the strongest and most powerful spirits were to carry on their genes, so the battles of the stallions over mares were allowed, nearly every season one or two stallions were killed in battle, unwilling to concede supremacy to another. Vereno stroked the stallions muzzle, meeting his glowing red gaze. "VERENO, leave him be! The younglings are for your attention and we haven't got time for you to daydream today." Her fathers voice carried, and this time she struggled not to wince, Thrazian was intimidating, her father though could be terrifying, still, her eyes could not leave the stallions.

The glowing red was fire, and she felt the strength of it, her hand flew back in the same instant the stallion decided to bite it, she felt his decision, felt his challenge and defiance and instead of pushing her away, it drew her like a moth to an inferno. Jealyn Silverwing narrowed his eyes, ired by his daughters lack of response, he was stepping forward to grab her shoulder but Thrazian stopped him "Wait..." Thrazian said softly, Jealyn looked at him then back at his daughter, standing before the massive prized stallion, the stud pinned his ears and lunged to bite, but Verenos hand withdrew, only as far as the lunge, which stopped short. The stallions ears pricked, and his head flew up, great head turning, glowing red eye fully on Vereno. He pawed, tail lashing, his closed his eyes and tossed his head, partially rearing up with a defient squeel, he whirled away, lunging as if to race back to the woods but took only a single leap, skidding in the damp grass. His head flew up again, turning, glowing gaze riveted on Vereno who stepped to the gate.

"No." Trazian breathed, Jealyn shook his head as the stallion turned and slid his massive head under Verenos hands "Only MY daughter would so defy tradition." He said, unable to keep the slight pride out of his voice.  Vereno heard him, but he sounded distant, she was entangled in the flames of Charger, he was a blaze of power, the other Thallasians were like sparks compared to his inferno, it was his name she realized "Inferno" she said quietly.
"It fits him, I've always wondered what his name was." Thrazian said behind her. Thallasians were never named, they chose their own, and if they never bonded to someone, their names were never known. Thrazian stepped up to open the gate, Inferno glared at him, lunging out and Thrazian barely dodged him with a yelp. "Time is short, I'm sorry to press but he needs to be groomed and fitted for armor immediately." Thrazian said, half to Vereno, half to Inferno, not meeting the stallions steady aggressive gaze. Vereno smiled, reaching to the latch "I'll take him to the barn." She said, opening the gate. Inferno exploded out, neck arched, tail flagged he charged the fenceline where the young horses were, they all wheeled and raced away to the far side of their paddock with wide eyes. Inferno stood at the fence, glaring it them, stamping a hoof and snorting before turning to rejoin Vereno and follow her to the barn.

"So, you took an old horse and that was bad?" Dooku took a long drink of his mead, "It would seem an elder horse with wisdom would be best for a young troublemaker." He observed with a smile. Vereno smiled "Well, it's tradition in all the orders for an initiate Paladin to bond with a young unproven Charger. And Inferno is a prime breeding stallion." Dooku nodded, next to Vereno Stormy shook her head "It is different with Sunwalkers, our Kodo are seasoned and wise when we are brought to be chosen by the one that will be ours." She observed "Xoonu was 18 when she selected me." Vereno shrugged "Makes sense, they need to be healthy and mature to carry something as big as you."

Lulabells