The Death of Joel Farings - EB Excerpt

This part is an important plot point for the character of Eqaetz in Emperor's Blood an elven stallion who has been cruelly enslaved by humans. This is the first draft of this scene, so it is still quite loose. Elven horses are sentient creatures so Eqaetz greatly values the company of his groom the kind Joel Farings, who treats him as if he is smart - which Eqaetz is. Meanwhile Emperor Lezka of Taveria, the drakoon responsible for importing Eqaetz to Chartan and 'giving' him to dictator President Charles Yale has discovered Eqaetz's friendship with the groom. (Note; Joel does not know Eqaetz can 'talk.') The drakoon, who is visiting with his psychotic sketzine bodyguard Farze decides to do remove Joel from the picture in an attempt to force Eqaetz to bond with him...

Written May 23rd 2010



That winter was a highly stressful one for Eqaetz. For months Lezka did not show any inclination that he felt like leaving, living at the estate and letting Farze had free range. Though the servants muttered nervously that bad things always happened when the emperor came, Charles was as always oblivious to this truth, doing everything he could think of to impress Lezka. Lezka had set his assault squadron to roaming Chartan, so Eqaetz could not try to wheedle information out of their horses like he wanted to. It was a rough time because Joel was nice no matter how stubborn Eqaetz acted, the man muttering darkly that all the horses acted worse whenever Lezka came and that Eqaetz was certainly not to blame for bad behaviour. Joel started taking Eqaetz riding, trying to recondition his leg which had felt sore for nearly a month since the hunting incident. Even after Eqaetz healed Joel kept riding him, tying a string around his fetlock under his feathers where only a close inspection would of found it that made Eqaetz limp so that Charles wouldn’t use him.

Luckily, Chartani culture said that to ride a limping horse was to be thought badly of, so Eqaetz was freed from his duties, but at every turn Lezka or Farze was watching. Whenever Eqaetz smelled them he would act up, trying to make Joel leave him alone, but somehow the kind man never got the hint, staying on his back even when he bucked like a maniac. Yet whenever Lezka and Farze weren’t around Eqaetz did his best to apologize to Joel by doing whatever the man asked perfectly so that Joel did become convinced that the drakoon were not to be trusted.

“Anyone who scares a hoss that bad can’t be good.” Eqaetz heard him complaining to some of the other grooms one day. They were sitting just down the hall on crates, going through the exhaustive process of cleaning tack and harness. The outer doors were wide open to let in winter sunlight and Eqaetz had his head over his door, eyes half closed to enjoy the warm little breeze that was drifting down through the stable.

“Yes, yeh seen ol’ Huss act up at the sight of Mr. Farze? Huss’ the type o’ hoss I’d usually put a little kid on he’s so lovely placid, but put ‘im near that guy and he goes completely loco. Qaety ain’t the only hoss effected and y’know it ain’t just the hosses either - Riley, tell ‘im about yer dogs.” said the first groom.

Riley fidgeted nervously, looking around as if he was scared. “Well y’know Blitzy? The boss’ shepherd?”

“Yeah, she’s the brindle coated one. Sleeps at the end of his bed doesn’t she?” said Joel. Servants were well informed about pretty much every aspect of their master’s life as they were constantly gossiping whenever they gathered.

“Yeah, purebred Chartani Shepherd.” said Riley. “She’s a great dog. I train ‘er in schutzhund for the boss. Anyway, she had a good litter of puppies right and they all went out following her in the yard a few weeks back to play. There were ten of the little sweeties, but the next time I see ‘er she’s only got five and those babies were too young to leave their mother. The boss is good to his dogs, especially his shepherds; he’d never let ‘em go at that age. I figure something happened, probably with that nasty Farze guy. Y’know some of the stable cats have gone missing? Some of the sheep too and now every time I try to take Blitzy and Savvy out to herd they refuse!”

“That’s odd.” agreed Joel. “Aren’t shepherds known for their courage?”

“Hell yeah they are! I once saw Blitzy take a guy out who was trying to attack the boss! She’s the nicest thing in the world, but the second y’threaten Mr. Yale she’s all teeth.” said Riley and Eqaetz, who had been with Charles during the assassination attempt in question shivered. Here the humans were, discussing the fact that there was danger about, but were they going to actually do anything about it? Eqaetz highly doubted it. He pricked up his ears, noting how Riley had brought another shepherd, Blitz’s sister Savvy to sit with them. So; the man was scared. As head dog master of the shepherds, that was saying a lot for a human. Savvy was considered Riley’s personal dog even by Charles, so to have Riley take her from her kennel with him everywhere was saying a great deal about how afraid the man was. For now Savvy was asleep at her master’s feet, but Eqaetz had been around the shepherds a lot and knew that at the faintest whiff of trouble she would be up on her paws, barking her head off.

“Hmph. Y’know, I don’t think I’ve seen some of the Anatolian Sheepdogs for a while.” said the other groom, taking a drag off of the pipe he was smoking. “I sure hope them Taverians leave soon. I keep seein’ weird tracks around like some weird four-toed predator whenever they come, but never when they aren’t here. I can’t trust it. I mean, look at Huss! I’m gonna have to put that hoss through therapy or something after this!”

All of the grooms looked nervously down the aisle, shuddering.

“Hey, have any of you seen those odd cats that have been showin’ up?” asked Joel, lowering his voice. “The really big shaggy ones? I saw one in the rafters here just the other day. They freak me out and I don’t even know why.”

“Well the next time that Farze bastard goes near Huss I’m going to tell ‘im to ride a different hoss. Huss is too scared of him.” said the other groom, glowering. “Not going to let him ride Princess or Nate or Shasta either.”

Joel shifted the collar he was scrubbing in his lap and looked at Eqaetz, who raised his head to look back at him, pricking his ears. “Do you ever think Qaety knows what we’re saying?”

“Joel don’t be a fool. Horses know some words sure, they definitely know what our tones of voice mean, but I don’t think any of them actually fully comprehend us. They’re just horses.” said the other groom.

“He’s got such deep blue eyes though. He’s the only horse I’ve ever seen with eyes that colour.” said Joel, frowning at Eqaetz. The other grooms looked at Eqaetz too, shrugged, then got back to work. Later after Joel was officially allowed to go home he came back with a bridle and a saddle, strapping the gear to Eqaetz, then riding him out into the yard, whistling to his own dog, a merle coloured bobtailed mutt by the name of Chance to come with them. “Come’n boys, let’s go check those sheep. I want to find out how the Anatolians are doing.”

From what Eqaetz could tell, Joel told nobody that they were going out that evening. The fields had just met the plough, so they were soft underfoot and Eqaetz was happy to be out with Joel. Nobody was in sight and it was fun to just walk along at his own pace, Joel neck reining him along, Chance exploring all around him, sniffing at the fresh spring shoots. It was very pretty out, just a little crisp but not damp, and Eqaetz wanted to run, but for some reason Joel held him back, smelling a little bit nervous. They made their way up to the sheep pasture on the hill, Chance pandering about and barking excitedly the second he saw the sheep which scrambled to run away as if mortally terrified instead of just dumbly unconcerned. Joel pulled up Eqaetz, dismounting to put the dog on a lead line, then he mounted up again.

“Alright boys, yeh both stay alert now. Act up if you see something you don’t like.” said Joel and he clicked his tongue to tell Eqaetz to move onwards. Up here on the hill above the estate Eqaetz could hear almost everything for miles, Lamina and the ocean sparkling in the distance. A line of trees separated them from the estate here and the sheep pasture was a massive one, the Yales taking great pride in them. The place was so big that it could almost be called a range and sometimes during the summer the mares with their foals were turned out up here along with the cows. An old retired bull lived up here, a big old red longhorn who was said to be mean but because of his age, Eqaetz wondered if he even he was still spry enough to fend off a drakoon. They followed the edge of the great pasture, checking all the secluded places where Joel thought the bull or the big white Anatolians Sheepdogs might be, but never finding them. Finally they moved into the interior of the pasture, Joel determined to check a shelter there and at last they found some sign.

By the way the bones looked, the bull had been dead for at least a month. Eqaetz and Chance sniffed at it while Joel dismounted for a closer look, Eqaetz noting nothing but trampled grass. There was no sign of any drakoon attack, but Eqaetz knew without any confirmation that the bull had been killed by Lezka and Farze. Joel picked something out of the grass from the bones, holding it up for Eqaetz and Chance to sniff at. The dog did nothing, wagging his bob of the tail, but when Eqaetz saw what Joel was holding, he flattened his ears and snorted, stamping a hoof to show that he thought nothing good of it. What Joel held was a broken off drakoon tooth, characteristically serrated around the edge and an inch or so long. Joel turned it over, then pocketed it.

“You know what that it is, don’t you boy?” said Joel rhetorically to Eqaetz. “I heard those men gave you to Mr. Yale a few years ago. I wish you could talk. I bet you know all about what’s been going on. Horses have good memories.”

Joel stood up, holding Eqaetz by his head and petting his face. Eqaetz was almost lulled into a false sense of security, but he shook his head, recalling that they might be being watched. Chance barked once at something, but didn’t seem too concerned and Joel did not mount back up, scratching Eqaetz’s poll.

“Y’know, I’ve been meaning to tell you somethin’. I know you understand - anyway, I want to try to buy you off of Mr. Yale. I’ve been saving every spare penny so I might. Then you could come live with me and my wife and my little daughter and Chance, what do think o’ that? We’d be in the city though, so no more slick stall or tack, but hey! You’d get all the bakery day olds you want! We could run a delivery service and I wouldn’t ever put a bearing rein on you again.” said Joel, hugging him around the neck. Eqaetz looked around to see if the coast was clear, then hesitantly nuzzled the man’s face, making him laugh. “See! I know you just act up when them Taverians are around! You like me!”

Eqaetz leaned his face against Joel’s chest and dearly wished that the man’s dream could be so. Joel petted him for a few more minutes, then got back up on his back, clucking at him to trot.

“We’d best check that shelter quick, looks like the sun’s gonna set soon.” declared Joel and Eqaetz started to canter, determined to get Joel back to the stable, away from the pasture where Lezka went to hunt. Chance eagerly ran along beside him and the delapitated stone shelter came into view, Eqaetz slowing when he saw it, wanting to wait for the wind to shift. He stopped, seeing something white and fuzzy in the mildewed straw within the deserted shelter. Joel urged him towards it and he went, but slowly and in the low stalking gait of elven horses when they don’t wish to be heard. Chance whimpered as they finally reached the shelter and Eqaetz laid back his ears as he saw the reason; the recently killed body of an Anatolian Sheepdog lay in the straw, its white fur being what Eqaetz had seen from a distance. Joel did not dismount this time and Eqaetz’s heart pounded as he reached out his nose to sniff at it.

It had only been dead for an hour.

Alarmed, Eqaetz backed away, flattening his ears back, his heart racing as he recalled one of the hunting tactics his sire had told him about that drakoon used, a tactic where to catch larger prey, they killed something small as bait…

“Oh god. Oh god. That’s not been dead long has it?” said Joel, panicking and letting go of Chance’s lead, the whimpering dog immediately racing away towards the estate. “Shit Qaety, we gotta get outta here! Chance! Go home boy! Go home!”

He yanked Eqaetz’s head around, but as Eqaetz turned, it was to realize that it was already too late. Lezka stood, ironic and alone behind them in the field, his stance one of parade, but blood smeared his smiling mouth as if he had recently eaten from the dog laying behind them in the shelter. Eqaetz reared up, whinnying a threat and pawing, but he knew his warning was weak and that Lezka would ignore it.

“You thought you could fool me Eqaetz.” said Lezka in plain English, wanting Joel to hear what he said. “You thought I wouldn’t notice how much you liked the human and you even went so far to pretend, but I know better. When an elven horse hates somebody, when he really, really hates it he does not act all meek like you. I’ve seen you put up better fights against that moron Yale.”

That’s not true! How can you say that? cried Eqaetz, rearing again and bucking in a weak attempt to prove Lezka wrong. Joel rode him through it with ease, grabbing onto his mane.

“I knew you talked Qaety!” gasped Joel, clinging to his neck. “I knew!”

“Impressive, you actually guessed human? Most of your species is so helplessly retarded that I thought you were a lost cause. Good thing I’m going to wipe your species off the face of Rimer.” said Lezka, stepping towards them. “Pity that you won’t live to tell anyone about this.”

“What?!” yelped Joel and Eqaetz could hear the man’s heart pounding, just as he could hear his own.

No! Stay away from him! Don’t hurt him! cried Eqaetz, rearing again and again, trying to frighten off the drakoon. Go away! I’ll never bond with you!

“I’m quite sure that you will.” said Lezka, baring his teeth and from behind on top of the shelter Eqaetz heard a snarl. Whirling around, Eqaetz was terrified to see Farze crouched on the roof of it as-dragon, growling savagely. Joel cried out in fear and Eqaetz tried to skitter to one side, but Lezka leapt in his way, unsheathing his sword to point it at Eqaetz’s chest. “No Eqaetz. I’m going to let Farze get his way.”

Lezka strode closer, herding Eqaetz back towards the shelter and to Farze.

“Why are you doing this?” cried Joel, sounding like he was in tears. “What have I ever done to you? I’m just a groom!”

“Just a groom? You almost stole Taveria’s best stallion who is meant to be mine. My bodyguard there, the dragon above you - he’s Farze. We’re shape shifters you see. We’re called drakoon.” said Lezka, slicing at the air in front of Eqaetz when he tried to rear, cornering him against the corpse of the dead Anatolian. “Now, I don’t typically let Farze get what he wants, but every time he comes here he always wants to see what human tastes like. Today I daresay I’m going to let him, but first human, you’ll dismount from my horse. I don’t want Farze accidentally injuring him when he kills you.”

“No! No you can’t! Eqaetz, jump! Trample him or something!” sobbed Joel, mindless with terror. Eqaetz ran back and forth, Lezka running with him, the sword always a terrifying foot or so from his face. Eqaetz whinnied, panicking and he tried to kick at the back wall of the shelter to break it, but though it seemed old, it was still strong stone. He squeaked, dashing about desperately, trying everything he could think of to get past Lezka. Joel kicked him in the ribs, yelling at him that if there was ever a time for a horse to hurt somebody it was now. But horses are not killers and unlike a horse of Gaian blood, Eqaetz knew exactly what a sword was and he was extremely scared of it as Lezka shoot it as well as a dagger in his face.

“Come on Eqaetz! Get it over with! Throw him off! Why don’t you put him out of his misery like you did to the falcolf eh? Why not? Farze is definitely going to slaughter him! All I have to think is one word and he’ll be ripping the human’s throat out!” jeered Lezka. “Or were you protecting the falcolf from me? Oh well, it hardly matters!”

Then, to Eqaetz’s complete astonishment Lezka jumped aside, clearing the way. Without thinking Eqaetz charged blindly for the gap and heard a terrible swish of a sword as he did, then a howl of agony from Joel.

There is a part of a horse’s tack called a breast band which keeps a horse’s saddle from sliding to either side of a horse’s back. This was something that Eqaetz usually wore whenever he was ridden by Charles, but it was something that on this ride with Joel the man had neglected to put on him because it was being repared. Without this little piece of tack, a saddle can even slip under a horse’s barrel which was why it was generally regarded as an important bit of safety equipment. But Joel was a good groom and a good rider, so it should not have mattered that he had forgotten Eqaetz’s breast band under normal circumstances. He had cinched the girths of Eqaetz’s english saddle tight and good. Everything had been done perfectly but there was no way Joel or Eqaetz could have predicted that Lezka would cut through the girths, the only things binding the saddle to Eqaetz’s back, or that in doing so, Lezka would cut Joel’s foot off at the shin.

Eqaetz felt the alarming pull of his reins and his mane, even the horrific swishing that was Joel, saddle and all, coming off of him. There was a thud when Joel hit the ground and Eqaetz had to dig in his heels to keep from trampling his rider, nearly falling over himself. He whirled around, determined to protect Joel with his life but he was too late even for that, though he was just in time to see Farze’s fatal pounce from the roof, drooling jaws clamping around Joel’s neck before the man could even scream. Eqaetz reared, screaming in terror as Farze lifted his head to exhale flames in Eqaetz’s face. Eqaetz had just one last look as Joel looked at him with terrible doomed eyes, then Farze bent down and broke the man’s neck, ending the man’s kind life forever.

Lezka was laughing as if it was funny and Eqaetz tried to charge him, to trample him as his late friend had suggested, but again the sword was waved in his face and Farze charged him with a snarl in response, slashing at his nose for daring to assault his master. Eqaetz backed away, staring at Joel’s innocent, bleeding body in horror, then he dived towards it, determined to at least drag it away so that Joel’s family would at least have a body to bury. But again he was rebuffed, Farze snapping at him viciously, chasing him for several hundred feet. Whenever Eqaetz tried to turn around, to return to the man who would have been his kind master Farze was there to drive him away again, so after nearly an hour of this, defeated and heartbroken, Eqaetz ran away, unable to bear the sight of Joel’s betrayed body any longer.

It was dark by the time he made it to Lamina, galloping through the streets with ears laid back so fiercely that people knew he meant business and dodged aside. He was determined to find Joel’s wife, to tell her what had happened, but when he arrived, it was to find Chartani Police horses outside their door as well as an ambulance coach and when the door opened, it was to policemen bearing two stretchers covered in linen. The last cop brought out a ragged silver merle heap, the broken remains of what had been Chance the dog. Eqaetz’s entire body shook as he stared at the horror of it, brokenly comprehending the full extent of what Lezka had done. The evil emperor had not stopped just at killing Joel. He had killed the man’s young family as well, including their pet dog who had never done anyone any harm.

Somebody had taken hold of Eqaetz’s bridle, but Eqaetz wasn’t paying attention, too busy staring at the mess that had once been the Farings house. They had gotten in through the window; he could smell human blood inside. He could smell the elven horses that had stood where he stood now and their cats. But they were gone and he was alone, without even Joel. He was too much in shock to run away; he flinched when the man holding him, a policeman he had seen before tried to pet his face. When the man tugged on his reins, he did not want to go, so the man hit him in the haunch with a riding whip. Surprised by the pain he came then, but when a medic tried to put some salve on his side where Lezka’s sword had scratched him he reared up, crying at them to just leave him alone.

He spent that night alone in the police stables, shivering even though he was not cold. Nobody came to treat him because he had chased them all off and for several days he was left there in the tight little box stall, wishing Joel would come but knowing he never would. Eventually Charles came to look at him and he was brought back to the estate in a livestock cart, then for the first time in his life he was put to pasture in the largest of the paddocks, far from the estate where nobody could bother him, not even other horses. The fences here were eight feet high and impossible jump, yet he spent many hours pacing up and down them.

For two weeks he did not eat, but eventually hunger drove him to grazing and he did so desperately. Riley came to look at him with Savvy, but only once, shaking his head as he left without a word. The cut in Eqaetz’s side healed well, for it was in the nature of elven horses to heal fast, but his spirit did not heal. He drank and sometimes he slept, but the slightest noise was enough to make him bolt across the field, bucking to remove phantom attackers from his back. Once he almost thought he smelled his groom and he whinnied hopefully, but it was nothing, just Joel’s replacement who smelled alike because he had come from the same part of town. This man big and bullish with a heavy brow and tiny, angry eyes. Eqaetz hated him on sight and ran away every single time the man tried to call him.

When the spring shoots had grown into plants and bloomed with flowers, Lezka came to call, leaning against the wall. Farze was nowhere in sight, but Eqaetz could feel him near and he stayed well away from the fence, his proud head lowered, his limbs quivering cravenly beneath him. Lezka just watched him for a while, smirking slightly, then walked away and Eqaetz did not see him again. He heard a few days later that the Taverians had at last left and it was only then that he laid down, having rested on his feet standing ever since Joel had died, ready to bolt. He slept and dreamed that Joel lived in a little log cabin in the forest with his family and his dog where wildflowers grew. The man spoke to him, but he did not understand what he said, only knowing by the man’s tone that he meant well to him.

Eqaetz woke up soon after and never dreamed of Joel Farings or the peaceful log cabin again or even of the wild lands where he had been born as he knew that he was never going home. When Joel’s replacement came to call again, Eqaetz went willingly.



Another good aspect of this part is that it pretty much cemented Lezka's character of being an evil prick. Before, all we had seen of this character in EBV3 was Eqaetz's impression that the man is vile, but now everyone knows that he's truly evil. He killed Joel for no reason other than Eqaetz liked him and just to make sure Eqaetz could not seek sanctuary with any possible allies in the form of Joel's family, he killed them to. He even killed their dog. Lezka also mentions in this part (in a rather cliche section of dialogue which will be rewritten later) that he intends to wipe out the human species. No reason is given yet as to why, but chances are, it's because humans are not native to the planet Rimer. This is something Eqaetz (and Ki) are going to have to do something about.

As for the use of the word 'retarded' - I generally don't use words like this, but sometimes, context demands a word with more sting. As a writer, I use words for the sake of what they mean. This is why all words are meant - if I use the word 'sparkle' it is to describe that something is sparkling. Likewise, in Lezka's context he is truly trying to be offensive about humans because his opinion of us from what he has witnessed is quite low. Next to a drakoon like him, humans are rather pathetic, so it is easy to understand why Lezka would use such a word to label us. In any case, I may not keep the word in, but just remember - there is a thing called freedom of speech. The word may be offensive, but to a writer, ANY word is fair game, no matter its full context. In any case it is used in a purely fictional context.