fandomhighdorms | Stables: Friday morning

Karal had checked in, taken one look at all the people, and quickly led Trenor away from the mob. Thanks to the map he'd been given the stables were easy to find, and empty, as it turned out, for which he was deeply thankful.

Altra was exhausted from the jump and was curled on a hay bale, tail twitching idly, while Karal untacked Trenor. Robes were not the right clothes to be wearing, but they were what he had on and he wasn't ready to find his room and change into something else.

Breathing in the familiar scents of horse and hay while he pitched straw into the stall, he relaxed slightly. Stables, at least, were the same everywhere. It wouldn't take him long to get his horse settled in, but he'd be happy if it took all day.

::You have to leave here sometime::

"I know I do." He'd thought Altra was asleep. "But not yet."

The only response was a yawn from the 'cat and an impatient whicker from Trenor, who'd apparently had enough of Karal's procrastination.

[ooc: open if you like! The cat looks like a largish siamese cat, and no one can hear him but Karal.]

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Keladry entered the stable, and was surprised to see someone already there. "Oh. Sorry. Hope that I didn't disturb you. I just wanted to get away from people for a little while."

Karal looked up from grooming Trenor and smiled. It wasn't a big smile, because a small part of him resented her coming into his refuge, but he knew that wasn't fair and he could sympathise with wanting to get away. "Hello. No, you didn't disturb me, the stables are for everyone," he said. "Are you new as well?"

Altra lifted his head, gave her a long, slow look, then yawned and resumed sleeping.

Over the past few times new students had come in, Peter had realised that those who came from worlds perhaps a bit like Narnia often found themselves in the stables. So he headed down there to see who he could meet.

Peter smiled at the girl. "Good day. You must be one of the new students?"

It was Altra who reacted first, waking up and staring. ::Karal.::

"What is it? Oh!" he said as he noticed the new arrival. "Hello."

"Good morning," Peter said. "You have an absolutely beautiful horse." He grinned and extended a hand. "And I have no manners. I'm Peter Pevensie."

Karal smiled and accepted his hand. "Thank you. It's good to meet you, Peter. I'm Karal, and this is Trenor," he said, and patted Trenor on the nose. "We're both new here."

Altra leapt down, twined around Karal's ankles, and looked up at Peter. "And this is Altra."

"Good to meet you too, Karal, Trenor, Altra," he gave a nod to each in turn. "Need any help with Trenor? I don't get to work with horses enough since coming here."

"Perhaps you could hold his head? I want to check his feet after the trip. He's a good horse, but it would be easier with help," he said, clipping the lead rope to Trenor's halter and holding it out. "If you're sure you don't mind?"

"Absolutely," Peter said, taking the lead line and stepping close to Trenor, taking care to stay out of the horse's blind spot. "Hey Trenor," he said quietly, holding out his flat palm to be snuffled. "Was the trip long?"

Karal watched as Trenor snuffled Peter's hand, then nudged him with his nose, obviously comfortable with demanding scratches from a new person.

"It was and it wasn't," he explained, trying to keep his robes out of the way while he lifted Trenor's foot, carefully examining it and using the hoof pick to clean it before moving on to the next. "We came a very long way, but by magic, not horseback. But you can't be too careful."

"I couldn't agree more," Peter said, giving Trenor the desired scratches. "May I ask where you came from?"

"It's not a secret," he replied, starting to relax enough to grin at Peter as he straightened, patting Trenor's flank. "I came from a country called Valdemar, but my home is in Karse, in the city of Sunhame. I'm a priest, a novice priest, of Vkandis Sunlord."

"Sometimes it is," Peter said, grinning back. "I'm sorry to say I've not heard of either. It must be in a different world from this one or mine."

The idea of different worlds made him pause, but only for a minute. It made sense, in a nonsensical way, was almost comforting, because at least he shouldn't expect anything to be familiar. "If it's not a secret, where are you from?"

"My country's called Narnia," Peter replied, focusing on pulling gently on Trenor's ears to get him to whicker with happiness. There was, perhaps, the faintest bit more stress on the possessive than there should be. "It's decidedly different from this one."

"I'm beginning to think everywhere is decidedly different from here," he said, looking pleased when Trenor did just that. "You're good with horses."

Karal had noticed the emphasis, it was what he was trained for, after all, and he looked curiously at Peter as he said, "I've never heard of it, just as I thought. I'm sure it's beautiful, though."

"I've been here a year, and I think you're probably right," he agreed. "Even those who come from the same country this island is in, they seem to think the island is completely different." He smiled. "Thank you. It's lovely to be with one. What brings you to Fandom, Karal?"

I have no idea. It was on the tip of his tongue to say, but instead he answered, "It was decreed by the Son of the Sun that I should come here." He made his way back to Trenor's head, scratching absently under his chin. "To gain experience, though I'm starting to wonder exactly what that experience is going to consist of."

"The Son of the Sun?" Peter asked, giving the words the same emphasis that Karal did. He grinned though at the last bit. "All kinds if you're here. I don't think there's anything too strange to happen."

"The Son of the Sun is the mouth of Vkandis, head of His Church. When she speaks, I obey. And quickly," he added with a touch of humour, slipping out through the stall door. "So there was no question that I would come here. I wouldn't have minded a bit more time to prepare myself." He smiled wistfully. "Even if you think nothing too strange will happen."

Peter chuckled. "No, I don't think there's anything so strange that it won't happen here."

"Oh." That was rather different than what he'd thought, and he laughed, mostly at himself. "Well, I've dealt with a fair amount of strangeness in my life so far, I can probably manage some more."

"I have complete faith that you can," Peter said grinning at him. "And if you have any questions, I'd be happy to help. Err, not to take away from your big sibling from the school, but still."

Karal had no idea why that made him feel so much better about everything, but it did. "I've yet to meet him, and I'm certain that he'll be very helpful, but, well, thank you," he finished, almost shyly. "And please, feel free to visit with Trenor whenever you like. I'm sure he'd be glad of the company."

"I'm going to take you up on that," Peter replied with a warm smile. "Absolutely."

Stables: Friday morning

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