Guardian by Sam Cheever

holding nocked bows in their hands, stood around us. In the unnatural stillness of the moment, I became aware of the waterfalls again, and something else.
    We turned as the sound of hooves intruded on our consciousness. The sight that met my eyes made me gasp.
    Thousands of horses loped regally in our direction.
    The beautiful, all white mounts were liberally decked out in gold and silver armor and their riders wore flowing silver gowns, their long, multi-colored hair flowing away from them like silken flags.
    At the lead, a single black horse carried the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. The horse was enormous, easily twice as big as the other horses, and had huge black wings that it held back and out to its sides, as if barely restraining itself from taking off. Its huge hooves floated above the ground and I knew, though I couldn’t discern it from the general thunder of their advance, that its approach would be soundless. I looked at the creature’s long, elegant head and gasped. “A black unicorn?” The rarest of rare creatures. I’d heard rumors that Faerydae had one, but I hadn’t believed it.
    Ian turned to me and smiled. “Yes.”
    We waited while Queen Faerydae and her beautiful, magical horse approached us. Ian stood straight and still. I glanced at him and was surprised to see a power aura encircling him. I wondered if it was a protective aura or meant to be a warning against the other elves.
    Faerydae pulled her magical mount up before us and looked down a long, straight nose at Ian. Her pale, flawless skin glowed with power and her midnight black hair flowed over her shoulders and slid down her horse’s shiny flanks in silken waves that reminded me of the waterfalls behind her. She wore a golden gown that plunged from her slim shoulders to a decadent vee that ended just below her navel, showcasing pale, iridescent skin. The sleeves of the gauzy gown streamed down from delicate, white wrists and fluttered away from her slender form in a conjured breeze. She stared hard at Ian, ignoring me completely.
    Ian bowed low before her.
    I followed suit.
    The black unicorn snorted and stomped one huge hoof, narrowly missing Ian’s booted foot.
    He didn’t even flinch.
    “How dare you return to these lands.”
    Ian straightened and grinned. “You’re not happy to see me? I’m devastated.”
    Faerydae stared at him coldly for a long moment. “You are still phenomenally stupid I see.”
    Ian laughed. “It appears that I am.”
    “What do you want?”
    “I need to speak with you. In private.”
    Faerydae stared at him a moment longer, apparently considering his request. Then she frowned, gave a single nod, and lifted a delicate hand over her head. Immediately the sound of hooves filled the air as one of her warriors galloped forward with two white horses in tow.
    The warrior pulled his snorting mount up abruptly in front of us and flung down the reins for the extra horses. He glared at Ian before turning away and galloping back to his spot at the back of the mounted cavalcade.
    Ian grabbed the reins of the largest horse and sprang onto its back, settling into the Elvin tooled leather saddle as if he were weightless.
    I narrowed my gaze at the horse I assumed was mine. All eyes turned to me.
    I just stood there, trying not to show my horror.
    Horses and I don’t get along. And Elvin horses were especially difficult creatures, with higher intelligence and more than a little attitude to go with it.
    I briefly considered handing the horse over to Ian, entering a wrinkle, and walking with them toward our destination but something about the little smirk on Ian’s handsome face kept me from doing it.
    Finally I sighed and walked over to the snorting, stamping nightmare on hooves. As I reached for the reins the evil thing folded back its lips and lunged at my hand. Huge, white teeth clacked together barely a hair away from my skin.
    As I snatched my hand back the elves around me laughed heartily.
    Faerydae