Guarded

"We all have our shields. We carry them as much that the world does not shatter itself against us as we do not to break open upon its edge. It has been a long time since you loosed your golden locks in hopes that some warrior upon a pale mount would come and rescue you from your ivory tower." There was only to smile lightly nod in answer to the elder. The thought of questioning how he knew of towers or the tale of the golden haired beauty of myth never came to mind. I listened more to the wisdoms he imparted, taking them in as if the breaths he used to form the words held a magic. In ways, I believe they did. "Has trading one castle for another changed the view?"

Months ago, Myzon had watched from the shadows the quiet exchange of one of my best roan cutters for use of a wagon nearer the kaiila pens. It had been without fanfare, without announcement, without emotion. It was a place more modestly furbished than my own wagon. One that held the barest essentials but for me it was vital. It had become a place to stretch and learn and grow. A place of dreams ... a place of hope.

Now, turning my eyes so that they leveled with the old warrior's, I knew that simply shaking my head would not be good enough reply.

"No, my elder it has not."

"What has changed then for you?"

"How I see my world around me."

He, however did feel that a rise and fall of his chin was sufficient and he fed another chip to the fires, sitting back to watch it sizzle then flare to life. He waited as I found substance in my thoughts to continue. "My shield", I corrected there in a pause of breath before the words resumed once more, " .. shields grow heavy and hindrance to many things that I could accomplish."

"You stand in your own way and battle with yourself?"

"Not as much, but there are still times ..." How natural it was to chuckle softly at that particular moment. A different shield that rose without effort or thought but one not as heavy to lift. He saw. He understood. Then he gifted me with the sound of his own gentle laughter. Our steady additions of dung bits to the fire didn't seem to have any effect on the temperature around us. It would swell and die away again remaining that comfortable golden hue that bathed the senses and soothed the mind. "I walk more my own path now than follow the paths of others."

"Do you not get lonely and wish to turn back to find familiar tracks?" His query mulled around a bit much the same way as the chips I stirred until they began to glow. It had not been a hesitance of unsurety but one that searched every niche and recess to be sure I could give him honesty. "There are times I feel a subtle draw from within, but its lull falls further behind with each step that I take on my own."

I knew our time had come to its end when the light of the fire illuminated his mate's silhouette. As he rose away from the warmth of the fires to return to his wagons, so did I. "You have come a long way, little bee." Capturing the gnarled fingers of his hands, I pressed a kiss to each of their backs only barely brushing my cheek there. It was there my breath whispered over the mottling of his skin. "I have farther to journey."

Magda nodded her approving smile as I turned to glance up at her. I saw in both of them many things that I would wish for in my lifetime. Each stride effort- filled but with the surety that they had walked their own paths. I felt the quick silver tug at both edges of my lower lip. When I walked away from those fires, I found need to repeat those words aloud, giving them voice to the night and speaking them to the plains themselves.

"I have further to journey"