Royal Pain in the--- {knight}

[Matsi]

It was the first day of aututmn, the time of harvesting in the kingdom. The people of Gemilon Kingdom were excited and busy. Not just for the harvest. No, not at all. It was the time for the harvest festival. When the kingdom sold their goods, partied, danced, and the commoners got to see the royal family. It was one of the biggest days of the year, next to first day of spring. The festives would last for three days and nights, and already, the party was starting. The first day was underway. The King and his family would be making their appearance...now.

A large white cart clad in gold, drawn by four large white draft horses. The horses had beautiful gold decorations hanging from their mane and tails. Inside the cart, The king, a large burly man with brown hair and brown eyes, the Queen, a thin woman with greying hair and blue eyes, and the princess, a thin blond girl with bright blue eyes, were sitting in their best gowns. Beside the cart, on a red eyed, black stallion that was decorated in the finest silver and gems, was the princess' twin brother, the king to be, the prince, Nikan. He was clad in smooth black and silver clothing with gems hanging on every spot possible. On his head, a thin silver, ivy like crown looped, with a ruby hanging down between his golden eyes. Nikan was a tall, leanly muscled young man of eighteen. On his massive stallion, he looked almost like a god. His father kept eyeing him with pride, and people reached out to the Prince, the one they called The Shadow Slayer, all because he was able to tame the demon black stallion. They wanted to touch him, to get some of his strength and his blessings. Of course the king Romas was proud of his son.

Slowly, the cart and horses slowed infront of a resturaunt, the kings favorite, and the one he could only visit twice a year, Leaping Hog. It was similar to a bar, with outdoor seating. In this nice weather, the king sat his family outside in the sun. As he helped his sister to her chair, Nikan was already beginning to sweat. The sun soaked into his black clothing like water, making him warmer than a pie in the oven. Once his family was seated, he stayed standing, like a gaurd.
''Sit, my son! Eat! Be merry!'' The king said in a jolly voice as he was served red wine.
''Forgive me, Father, but I am not yet hungry. I would like to investigate the festivities, if you will allow?'' He stood tall, and looked his father in the eyes. He looked as if he was about to strike his father down now, but it was all looks. His golden gaze unnerved his father, and he knew it.
''Of course, My son!'' The king reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a small silk bag.
''One hundred golden Crowns, more than most people can get in three years. Spend it well,'' The king handed Nikan the sack of money. Nikan only nodded and snickered. He turned on his heels, and without grabbing his stallion, began walking away. The black stallion followed him like a loyal puppy.
''Nice to get away, Isn't it Storm?'' Nikan eyed the horse. The black stallion only snorted and threw his head around a bit. Nikan snickered more and kept walking. He had a shop in mind. The black smith. He had ordered a sword months ago, and it should have been ready by now. He had ordered a silver blade, with a black hilt, embedded with a ruby. He had hoped that it would be good enough, to over throw his father. His father wasn't evil, but he was cruel, and weak. He didn't protect the kingdom right. That was where he was to come in. That wasn't the point right now. It was festival time, and he had things to buy.

It took him awhile to get to the black smith. People were still trying to touch him and StormMane. Other people shied away from him as if he were cursed. Which he couldn't blame them. What they thought was just myth, to him was reality. That was why his father shied away from his gaze. The blacksmith was one of the only ones who didn't think of him as different. Well, too different. He was just another person with money.
When he entered the BlackSmith shop, he saw no one. So he stood there, looking at the other, pre made swords, waiting for the owner or someone.

[Knight]

Mielikki was going to miss the Harvest Festival. Not that it really bothered the blacksmith apprentice; she knew that her family needed the money that was gained from working on such a holiday. Well . . . she wasn't technically getting money, but her master had made a deal with her; he would pay her half-wages for working on holidays while he got drunk at the tavern. Mielikki was an apprentice and technically wasn't supposed to be payed for her services, but Horst liked his ale on holidays and working in the forge while drunk was a bad idea.

So yeah. While Horst got drunk, Mielikki handled the few customers who entered the place delicately, telling them that their weapons weren't finished and gently ushering them away. And to think that she got paid for it! Mielikki smirked as she shifted on the stool in the backroom, allowing her gaze to settle on the sword that Horst had made recently.

At fifty something years, his eyesight was beginning to go. Mielikki had actually helped with the weapon, which was intended for the young prince of their realm. Horst had made the weapon, of course, but Mielikki had worked with the ruby, making sure that it would sit properly and things like that. She had enjoyed working on such a weapon, as it was a work of art that wasn't at all like the other swords and things that Horst made. This was actually of a high quality, despite the blacksmith's cheapskate inclinations, and Mielikki was proud to have helped.

A smile touched her features as she thought of the day when she would be able to make a weapon like that all on her own. It was a good thing that Mielikki had been born a peasant girl because she honestly loved the flames inside the forge and the feeling of having created something that was truly worth wielding. If she had been of noble birth, such pastimes would not have been acceptable. Despite the tightness of the money and all of that jazz, Mielikki was pleased with her lot in life.

The soft jangling of the bells that announced a customer had Mielikki on her feet, moving forward. "Horst isn't here, so you'll have to come--oh." She hesitated when her gaze settled on the distinctive form of their prince. Horst had warned her that he would be coming during the festival, hadn't he? Mielikki winced inwardly, ducking her head in an awkward show of respect. "Your sword is ready, sire." Mielikki muttered as she raised her head a bit to examine him. He didn't look much like the sort to purchase a sword from Horst. "If you are unsatisfied with it for any reason, you have to only let me know." Mielikki closed her eyes for a moment, cursing Horst inwardly. Stupid man and his stupid ale. Why couldn't he work just this once on a holiday so that she didn't have to deal with a princeling. That would have been nice.

[Matsi]

Nikan almost jumped when the femanine voice echoed into his head. Keyword. Almost. Instead, he only turned around slowly. He had never seen the girl before, though he was certain that the owner had told him about her. No matter. He walked silently to the sword that she had motioned to and lightly picked it up with delicate hands.
''No need for the formalities'' He said in a stiff tone as he examined the blade. It looked nice. The real question was if it was sharp. Swiftly , he swung the blade around and embedded it into a wooden pole. A large, pleased smile formed on his face. HIs golden eye glittered with pleasure and pride.
''Fine job.'' He said softly as he jerked the blade out of the wood. He ran his finger down the blade. It was still sharp. Good. So it was infused with the dragon scales he asked for.
''I believe I was to give Horst five Crowns for it,'' He said as he reshiethed the sword and connected it to his belt. He began to mess with the coins, counting them.
''So there will be five for his troubles, and...'' He handed the girl the coins, then began to count out more coins.
''And I will give you, his apprentice, I am guessing, ten for your troubles,'' He nodded to her as he handed her ten more coins. He looked up at her with an emotionless face, but glittering eyes. He was pleased, more than pleased. There was no way Horst could have done this good of a job without help, and besides, it was a festival day. He then wandered around the forge, looking for parchment and a quil. It took him a moment, but he soon found them, hidden in a desk made of iron. He began writing out something. When he was done, he handed it to the girl.
Closed for the festival, as ordered by Prince Shadow Slayer Nikan The note read, ended by his fancy, un-copyable signature.
''Hang it on the door, and go enjoy the festival. If Horst has any issues or questions, tell him to speak to me, if he dares,'' He said strongly. There was a loud snort that echoed from outside. Nikan looked at the door. StormMane was getting impatient.
''May I recommend Ivy Grown Silvers? You can find some good necklaces that will make you the beauty of the town for less than two crowns,'' Nikan smiled as he held open the door for the blacksmith girl. Truthfully, he was just really wanting to talk to someone that wasn't from the castle.

[Knight]

(sorry, didn't realize you had replied. XD)

At his words, Mielikki ducked her head apologetically, wincing. She had messed up. If she'd known he was coming, she could have planned for this and prepared for it and not messed up. She really wished that Horst could have been there. He wouldn't have messed up. Or at least, it would have been on him and his family and not hers if he had messed up. "Sorry, Si--" She cut herself off by biting firmly on her tongue to keep herself from calling him sire. "No need for formalities. Got it." Mielikki nodded once, smiling as the man moved to examine the sword.

A sharp squeak escaped her, however, when he threw the blade. It embedded itself in the wood that was about a foot away. Far away. But it made Mielikki shudder all the same as she stared at the sword. "Swords are not throwing weapons." She admonished absently, gaze fixed on the blade. For a moment, she had forgotten who she was talking to. Of course, she didn't forget for long, and a mere few seconds later, Mielikki was turning towards the prince with an apologetic expression. "I am sorry; I forgot who I was speaking to for a moment there. I hope that you can forgive me." And not punish her family. Wincing, Mielikki did her best to avoid his golden gaze. Some people said that he was cursed. Personally, Mielikki didn't put much stock in such things, but his eyes were rather creepy.

"Th-thank you." Mielikki ducked her head, a pleased expression on her face. "Horst did most of it, though. I only helped a bit." Well, okay, she had done more than a bit. She was the one who had made sure that Horst didn't sell the dragon scales and instead infused the blade with them. And coated the blade with them. Mielikki made certain that he used all of the dragon scales. But that wasn't really helping, was it?

Five gold crowns? Mielikki's eyes grew wide as the Prince mentioned how much money that Horst would be getting for that sword. "Five gold crowns? I imagine that I'd better keep them with me. Plenty of the locals would rob this place in a heartbeat for so much money." She wouldn't steal the money, as much as she wanted it; she was getting enough money for working on this festival day, honestly.

The girl accepted the coins with a nod of thanks, a pleased expression on her features. Horst would be happy; perhaps he'd give her a raise. He would be drunk and rich. Usually, he was more generous when he was drunk.

"T-ten?" For the second time in the past few minutes, Mielikki's eyes grew wide. "That's far too much, Sire. There's no need to give me any money. I didn't do much. Really!" On the verge of panicking, her fingers closed around the money anyways. She could already picture the warm meals and new clothes that this would get her family. They would be happy, for once. And if they were happy, Mielikki would be too.

The Prince was already wandering around however, looking for . . . something. Mielikki wasn't certain why yet, and she was busy making sure that the coins weren't counterfeit. They could be killed for passing counterfeit moneys along. Mielikki flared her nostrils at the thought, but quickly decided that they were real and stuffed them in her pockets, where they jangled pleasantly. As soon as this princeling was gone, she would get her mother the money.

She accepted the scrap of paper from the prince absently, glancing over it only cursorily. Mielikki couldn't read one whit, and his signature made about as much sense as the rest of it. "What exactly does it say, Sire?" She had already forgotten the fact that she wasn't supposed to be less formal.

Mielikki nodded all the same when the Princeling spoke and ambled up to the door, hanging it there with an absent smile. She knew that the prince had done something for her, a peasant girl, though she wasn't entirely certain what. "I shall, sire." Mielikki nodded again, smiling to herself. Horst would not be happy, but he wouldn't go to the prince. Of course, no one would know if he beat her. Well, no one important anyways. But Horst had a fear of the royalty like no other in this area. Something about losing his son for ticking them off or whatever. But Mielikki had never dug too deeply into that.

"I doubt I would ever be the beauty of the town, Sire." Mielikki responded as she slid out the door after him, blinking gratefully up at him. "Besides which, I shall have to take this money to my mother. Thank you anyways, though, Sire. It means a lot." After she said this, the girl glanced towards StormMane and hesitated. "Is that the Demon Horse?" She tilted her head as she spoke, staring at it unabashedly. It didn't occur to her right then that the Princeling might grow bored of her.

"He's gorgeous..." It was a soft mutter, more to herself than anything else, and as the thinning crowd moved towards where the king ate, giving the girl and the prince a wide berth, Mielikki stared at the horse.

[Matsi]

NIkan really was amused. For once, he felt somewhat normal. Somewhat. Still, it was still too good to turn down. She was plesant too. Not perfect, not different, just...plesant and normal. It was worth it. He had gotten the one thing he wanted, so why not spoil a phesant? Yes, it would be amusing. Maybe she would be a good one to have on his side once he desposed of his father. Yes, it was all playing out nicely!
''Yes, thats Storm,'' He said smoothly as he looked up at the massive stallion. Storm nickered at the attention and shook his black head. Nikan reached into his pocket and pulled one of the sweets he had jammed in his pocket and held it to the girl.
''Here, feed this to him,'' He said with a smile. Amusement radiated off of him like light. THen again, so did sweat. He was beginning to bake. He looked around to make sure he was out of his Father's sights and pulled off his dressy shirt, leaving him clad in a white shirt and his pants. His copper hair drooped into his face as he did so.

After a moment of being silent, he looked back at the girl. He had been thinking about her words. He really never thought about the lives of his father's people before. Were they really in that bad of shape?
''What is your name?'' He finally asked the girl as he eyed her. His mind was working away, thinking, planning, plotting.
''Let me meet your mother,'' He added only a few moments later. Yes, he was planning away. He looked at StormMane.
You sure about this, Lord? The deep, demonic voice of the stallion echoed in his mind. Nikan smiled slightly.
Yes, StormMane, I am sure, He replied silently. The stallion snorted and stamped his hoof heavily, then turned his crimson eyes to the girl. His nose flaired as he reached out to sniff her.

[Knight]

Mielikki smiled at the Prince's words, filing his nickname away. "Storm... Do you think that he would mind if I called him that?" They did say that he had above average intelligence. And also that he wasn't simply demonic; he was a demon. But Mielikki didn't put stock in such things. The only thing that she truly worried about, of all the rumors that she had heard, was that he was intelligent and wouldn't take kindly to his name being shortened by a simple peasant. Or the Prince might take offence. Either way, there might be offense taken and Mielikki really didn't want that to happen.

She frowned a bit at the thought as she carefully accepted the sweet from the Prince. The small treat was richer than any food that she had had in her lifetime and it was nothing but a horse treat. That didn't quite seem fair, but Mielikki shrugged the traitorous thought off as the prince spoke again. "I---Alright." She had been about to say that she probably shouldn't, but going against the Prince would be a bad idea, particularly when it was Nikan Shadowslayer that they were talking about.

So she carefully extended her hand, palm and fingers flat (Horst had told her that that was the proper way to feed his ancient mare), with the treat in the middle of her palm. "Here you go, horsie." Mentally, she prayed that the horse wouldn't take offense to what she called him and bite a finger or two off. That would kind of put a damper on her career.

When the prince spoke again, Mielikki glanced his way and was startled to notice that he had lost the dress shirt. He was dressed in what was still quite expensive but a comparatively simple shirt and the same breeches as before, she noted. Still, before she could get distracted, she forced herself to answer the man. "Mielikki, Sire." She hesitated, wondering if she could add anything else to that. She knew his name already; Nikan Shadowslayer. So she couldn't ask his name. But it was polite to add something else to that, wasn't it?

She frowned again, but before she could decide on whether or not to go on (and indeed, what to go on with), the prince was speaking again. "Well, Sire... If you really want to..." Doubt tinged her voice, but she hurried on. "However, I'm sure that you have better things to do, Sire. My mother is a bitter woman." And she would probably offend the prince because Mielikki's mother had no love for the throne. Honestly, Mielikki would rather not go there. If her mother offended the prince, she might very well be thrown into prison, and the money that her mother earned would be gone, leaving a gaping hole in their income.

The girl gave a startled noise and all such thoughts vanished from her mind, however, when the large horse stomped his foot against the ground. She froze as he moved closer and sniffed at her, nostrils flaring. Please don't bite me... she muttered mentally as she firmly fixed her gaze on the ground. If he was going to bite her, she didn't want to see it coming, that was for sure.

[Matsi]

Nikan looked at the girl. There was no way he would be able to remember her name.
''Miel, maybe? or Ikki?'' He grinned slightly. It was always a little embarassing when he forgot names. He was supposed to know all the names, wasn't he? Well, if he was, there was NO way he was going to be alble to remember Mielikki. He sucked with names. End of story.
''Anyways, it doesn't matter. There will be no reason for bitterness, Only a friendly meeting,'' He said softly as he fixed a strap on StormManes saddle then threw his dress shirt up onto the back of the massive beast. Storm pulled his head back from the girl and glared at Nikan,.

She acts as if I am a stupid beast. I am clearly smarter than-
Then tell her, Storm. I am not keeping you from scaring her shitless. NIkan snickered slightly at the smartness of his own comment.
Your lucky you are king, The stallion snorted unhappily then turned one-eighty. He kept his butt facing Nikan and sighed heavily. Nikan only laughed softly, then hushed as he tried to keep his formal look. He was failing, he knew that. Maybe this young lady would forgive him. No matter. He wanted to win this one over early. Maybe make her his royal blacksmith. Yes. She would do good as that. Very good.

[Knight]

"Ahhh. Mie is just fine, prince." Mielikki informed the man, inclining her head. "Like my, if it helps you remember. I am sure that remembering a random peasant's name is not very high up on your list of things to do, however." She offered him what she hoped was a pleasant smile before she cast a wary glance in the direction of the massive stallion, hazel eyes gleaming with curiosity. She would ask around about the creature later, certainly. Perhaps others would know more about the massive horse than she did.

Mielikki shrugged, glancing up at the prince. "Well, my mother is cranky. And she has no love for a monarchy that didn't help an ambitious woman climb through the ranks." Of course, her mother had shelved those ambitions eventually, after she had Mielikki, but that didn't make her any less bitter. "But it does not matter. Just please don't throw her in prison or anything." Mielikki glanced at the ground, hazel eyes darkening with worry.

Mielikki eyed the massive horse as he turned away, presenting the prince with his behind. "They say that he is smarter than the average horse." Mielikki commented absently, tilting her head, smiling. "He certainly does seem like it. How exactly did you meet him?" She stared at the horse quietly, a slow smile spreading across her face. She kind of wanted to know more. She just really hoped that no one took offense to her questions.

(sorry it's so short. >>)

[Matsi]

Nikn smiled and started walking. He was hoping she would justtake the lead immediatly.
''Well, I understand that. But don't worry. She will not be dissappointed,'' He smiled and looked over his soulder at the massive horse. He was looking at them walking away now. Yet, he didn't move.

''As for Storm. He was brought in as a yearling. No one could get near him. He killed three people who were tryin to break him. I snuck into his stall one night, and that was it. We have been companions since. He still won't let anyone else ride him, but that is okay with me,'' He chuckled slightly and ran his hand through his hair to push it out of his face.
''What about you? How did you get stuck with that cheap blacksmith?'' He asked with curiosity. He looked over his shoulder again. Storm was following them at a distance.

[Knight]

Mielikki watched the Prince begin to walk and sighed. "You're going the wrong direction, Sire." she pointed out with a smile, eyes gleaming with a lazy amusement. She hadn't had something to laugh about in a long while, so enjoyed having the chance to do so. So far, the prince had proved himself to be surprisingly unlikely to throw her in jail or banish her for laughing at him. Perhaps what they said about him was wrong.

After a moment, Mielikki turned and padded in the opposite direction, the streets mapping themselves out in her mind. She would take the best route home, the one with no shortcuts through dark alleys were thieves would advantage of such a well dressed young man with no respect for whether or not he was their future king.

She walked slowly, giving her prince the time to catch up. She rather liked the man. He had potential. He would be a good leader, Mielikki figured. Even if she hardly knew him, she knew that he would be a merciful leader, and that would inspire his people to follow him. He had not punished her for a myriad of things that had been worthy of punishment and she liked him for that. Admittedly, she had been fairly neutral to start out with, mostly because the lives of her rulers hardly touched hers. She was usually working the shop on the days when they came to town while Horst tried to drown his sorrows in drinks.

When the prince began to speak, Mielikki jumped. She hadn't realized that he had caught up... Ah well! "How many have tried to ride him since you managed to tame him?" Mielikki was curious, to be honest. He didn't seem like the kind of horse that would kill people, though she admittedly hadn't tried to ride him. "Stormmane doesn't exactly seem like the kind of horse that would kill people." She voiced her thoughts with a cautious smile. She would be the first to admit that she was skittish around most animals, though she did love them. Mielikki just wasn't very good with them, though that could be blamed on the whole being raised in the city thing. The only animals around there were rats and starving cats and dogs. All three of those would attack you if you got too close.

"Well... Our family needed money." Mielikki shrugged. "Our mother and father couldn't afford to feed our family of five. As the oldest, I took a job. Horst's deal was that he would take me in as an apprentice until I could do the blacksmith's work well enough to survive on my own and would pay me to work on holidays and on the lower quality weapons that he was making until then. My parents couldn't turn their noses up at something like that. The money that I bring home pays for my younger siblings' education so that they can get out of these slums and become priests or something. They need to learn how to read first, though, and my money helps them do that. They meet a tutor twice a week, and he gives them scrolls to read. They write on tablets, I believe, and they'll occasionally work on teaching me my letters." Mielikki paused, ducking her head. "I apologize. I seem to have rambled."

[Matsi]

Nikan felt foolish. He should have asked which direction he was supposed to go. Oh well, it didn't matter now. She corrected him.
And you are king? Storm's voice echoed into Nikan's mind. He glared at the stallion for a moment, then snorted and looked back to the girl.
''Well...too many to count. The General got sent to the healer yesteday for getting kicked in the hip... Last week he attacked a priest....'' He couldn't help but chuckle at the end of his sentence. He didn't like the priests. Neither did the stallion.

When he finished, he listened to Mie. She was quite loyal to her family.
''Its nice to take care of your family. It has to be nice to have a family like that,'' He slightly muttered more under his breath, and shook his head.

Lord, there is an unclaimed one wandering towards the town,'' Storm trotted up to the two humans an cut them off. He snorted and stomped his hooves heavily. Nikan stopped and looked at Mie.
''I need to check something real quick. Please, join us,'' And with that, he turned to the right. He made sure Mie was there a few times, then once certain, kept walking. He walked to the edge of town with Storm leading the way. Once they passed the last house, he stopped. There was a creature wandering towards them. It was as tall as a horse, with his black sloping down slightly. Its head was like that of a llama, but more curved. Two large fangs were exposed in its mouth. On its back were two large brown and cream wings. THe body of the creature was mainly brown, with cream markings on its face and legs, and stripes on its rump and legs. Its eyes were a bright gold.

Normally, Nikan woudn't have let anyone follow him to investigate an unclaimed Demon Creature. But, he had his thoughts about this girl. Storm seemed to like her, which meant she was demon worthy. And if it didn't work out? She could easily be killed.

''That, Mie, Is what is called an Okapi, but not any okapi. That is what we call a Demon Partner. Demon partners are demonic animals, that take someone as their master. That one is clearly Unclaimed. That is why she is wandering. She is looking for Her Master.'' He found himself not really thinking as he spoke about the Demon Partner.

Lord. She know where her misstress is, Storm snorted as he moved aside so that the okapi demon could get closer. Her golden eyes glittered with success as she approched Mie.

Mielikki? I am Neela. You are my leader. I am your servant. I am your hell creature,

[Knight]

Mielikki listened quietly to Nikan as he recounted the most recent few who had tried to ride the stallion. "They sound kind of stupid." Mielikki muttered to herself, a smile floating across her face. "I mean, I wouldn't try to ride a demon horse." She shrugged idly before continuing, loathing to leave any part of her statement unfinished. "It just seems . . . foolish." She wrinkled her nose as walked, extending her legs a bit.

At the sight of the large horse blocking their path, Mielikki froze, examining the creature with a touch of respect to her gaze. He was truly an impressive creature, and not just because he was a demon horse. He was a powerfully built creature and he was obviously pretty interesting if people kept trying to ride him, even if it was tantamount to suicide.

At Nikan's words, Mielikki shook herself, smiling absently. "All right, Sire." She ambled along behind the Prince, following him carefully as he walked. When they stopped at the edge of town, Mielikki was right behind him, smiling happily.

Her smile faded, however, when she noticed the strange creature that approached her town. Her eyes narrowed for a moment and Mielikki stared at it, staring carefully at the creature's form. It was . . . interesting. Certainly not anything she had seen before. The only similarity that it had to Storm, who was the only quadruped of that size that she had seen, was its black markings.

The Prince began to speak and Mielikki turned towards him, absorbing his words carefully. "A demon okapi... Like Stormmane, but . . . not a horse?" All the speak of demons made the part of Mielikki that supported her siblings' trainings as priests squirm a bit, but Mielikki was all right. She was far too entranced by this strange creature to be too bothered by the idea of demonic creatures.

And the okapi kept coming closer as Mielikki eyed Nikan, waiting for a response. Its glittering golden eyes and brown, black and cream markings were entirely unnoticed by the apprentice blacksmith. Until it spoke, of course... Mielikki? I am Neela. You are my leader. I am your servant. I am your hell creature.[/i]

Mielikki froze, turning quickly away from the prince. "N-neela?" she stuttered a bit over the okapi's name, instantly tuning out the prince as she did so. "Neela." she repeated a moment later and it was a statement that time, not a question.

Yes, I am your Neela. I am your hell creature.[/i] The demon okapi nodded, nudging her head against Mielikki's hand, one wing fluttering just a bit. I am Neela.[/i] She added, voice fluttering against the minds of the Prince and his horse as she pranced in place, lifting her hooves from the ground.