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It's one in the morning, we are in the farm sheds and we are still not gone!

Earlier...

I tore through my chambers taking drawers and wardrobes apart, throwing the roughest and most practical clothes I possessed into an old bag along with one or two other useful things, then we repeated the process in Victor's little stone cottage across the moonlight parkland, as we passed through the doorway Victor perked suddenly and dashed back in, I could see him rummaging around in a drawer for a moment before returning holding a shiny gold looking disc but not gold, textured with patterns stamped out in the middle. I recognized it after a second, it was a horse brass. Working horses, carriage horses in particular wore them as decoration each different brass unique and significant in its own way denoting an owner, a place, house or breed.

None of our horses here wore brasses so that meant that it had come with Victor, from, well from his past, He saw me looking and closed it in his palm, I looked away then feeling uncomfortable, as though I had intruded into something private, I had never asked the proud shire to share his past with me, and to this day, he never had.

He looked at me for a long moment, a deep searching look that sent a chill through me, I knew the look, he was asking himself a question and the answer was important, I knew what I wanted it to be but only Victor could decide. Could he trust me?

I did wonder at that moment. After all the time we'd spent together, those secret late night liaisons, The sex yes, but moreover the comfort and companionship we shared, the kissing and

cuddling and a broad warm chest to rest my small bay head on, was that enough? I knew how I felt about Victor, but did the shire feel the same way?

His ears changed at that moment, flicking to the side, decided, he took a step towards me reaching out with one hand taking my smaller hand and closing it over his pulling me in tight, hands between us "in time" was all he said rubbing the bridge of his muzzle against my cheek, the equine behavior comforting, helping me forget the slight pang I felt, I sighed despite the warm fur on mine wondering if he would ever trust me. "All right" was all I said in response, it was all that was needed.

He locked the door and we walked away in the moonlight, the action feeling significant to me in its finality.

The night was still, deadly still, with a hunter's moon high overhead, lighting everything in sight. That would be good for us I thought to myself.

Off to the sheds then, We pushed the door together, it complained bitterly all the way, a dreadful squeak emanating from the hinges but the old collection of buildings were far enough away from the main house that the noise would wake no one, besides the horses, dozing peacefully in their stables next door.

Inside the shed stood a collection agricultural implements, ploughs, harrows, carts of all shapes and sizes all horse drawn of course, in addition to the farming implements were a great many other things, hand tools, canvases, spare chains ropes, tack and harnesses, this was definitely THE place to begin looking for the things we needed. First up, transport.

So what to go with, we need something inconspicuous, a carriage was out of the question, we did not want to attract attention to ourselves. Not using a horse at all didn't seem like a bad idea, to me at least, but I knew deep down we should probably have one. How far would we get without a horse? How far would we need to go..? Somerset is a long way away after all. So what then? Use a pack horse or a cart they both have their up's and down's.

Victor it seemed had already made his mind up walking slowly along a line of agricultural implements, carts and carriages, before stopping at the least impressive of them all. "This one" he said, looking over it, nodding to himself quietly, approving of its condition.

Worn bleached wood, rusty ironwork and flaking paint all sitting atop two wheels instead of four. "It's certainly austere" I couldn't help comment. "That's the beauty of it" the Shire horse smiled at me, "no one will bat an eyelid at it, besides that it's nice and narrow, and a good sturdy build" he said slapping it with his hand to emphasize "all of those things we will need"

Suddenly there was a sound outside, we whirled round in unison facing the door and the source of the noise, nothing. Then a scratch, gravel. I looked at Victor, he caught my eye and nodded his head at the door, and we crept foreword, trying to keep our hooves silent on the concrete. Victor carefully reaches his large brown hand to the door, hooved fingertips curling round the edge of the wood panel, suddenly wrenching it open.

On the other side stood a frightened looking horse, wearing nothing but a pair of ripped shorts that once resembled trousers. I recognized his long black and white splotched fur immediately "Andy!"

The Gypsy quickly dropped the hammer he had come armed with "Chloe, Vic, I thought you were... never mind, what are you doing?"

"Andy, we're erm... we're leaving"

"Come again?" the horse asked incredulously

"We're leaving, here, now, tonight, Chloe and I" Victor repeated

"What on earth for?"

"Cyril went mad, murdered three of the big four and now he's dead, killed by Bartram" I blurted out. Victor looking at me now soft brown eyes, saying nothing.

"No, no I don't believe you" Andy looked around the room, shaking his mane in disbelief.

"It's true" Victor said quietly

"What so Cyril's dead, gone just like that" The Cob waves his arm back to the manor in exasperation.

"Yeah, that's right Andy, he's dead and everything's changed and now we have to leave" Victor explained with slow exasperation.

"And you're going to pick up and leave, just like that" the Stallion pursed his lips shaking his head "I mean stuff the old man and all, but you, you weren't even going to tell me, were you?" "You were just going to leave"

"Silence"

"I would have come down here in" he paused glancing at the clock "oh let's say five hours' time and guess what? No Victor, not at six in the morning or ever again..."

"I was going to write you a note in the ledger, where only you'd find it Andy" Victor said softly, hurt.

"Would you, would you really? Well that would have been a load of help! How long have we known each other Vic?" Andy croaked the last couple of words hoarsely.

Victor didn't answer that one either.

"So where are you going to go?" Andy asked sadly

Victor looked at the smaller stallion for a long moment, opening his mouth then closing it again, Andy dropped his head, looking away, his black ears pointing backwards.

"They're going to be looking for us" I tried to say as a way of explanation "No no" Andy held his hand up "I understand" paused then "I know where I'm not welcome?"

"Oh Andy" I heard myself say, I hadn't thought about it, the cob was so young.

At 16 Andy the Gypsy cob had arrived from an overcrowded hovel in a nearby village with the intention of striking out on his own. Unfortunately we were near the end of the line for him, everywhere else having turned the colt away but Cyril had taken pity on Andy giving him work and lodgings. He had been a weedy leggy colt without a trade or skill to his name. So the only place for him was on the land as a laborer, but Victor had spotted something in the black and white Gypsy Cob and soon took the colt under his wing teaching him everything he knew about farming. Andy was a good student too, careful and diligent, but not without his quirks and always be relied on for a smile. He quickly became the Shire's right hand horse helping to run the estates agricultural concerns, a successful partnership, from plough to paperwork there was nothing the two of them could not do.

They had been working together now for 7 years and developed the strongest of bonds between them, each had the uncanny knack of knowing where and what the other was up to at any given moment and when they were in full swing they even finished each other's sentences.

Full swing however was not what they were in now though, they were both very silent, in fact we all were, watching each other with an eye, a standoff, no one quite knowing what to say to each other.

In truth I envied the two of them, and the colt in particular, I knew the depth of the relationship they shared, it was a friendship a kinship and bond, it was more than the sum of its parts, they were a team, and a very successful team at that

And in that very moment I wondered if it was something Victor and I would ever have, but the fact that I envied the young black and white stallion made me determined not to hurt him. I gritted my teeth, emotions fighting a battle within me, what do I want? Do I even know what I want? Is he a threat? And does it really matter so long as no one gets hurt?

I didn't know the answers but my mind was made up, I would not run him off or dissuade him from coming just to keep Victor for myself. That was not me, I didn't want to be that horse. I had no inkling of the depth and breadth of the journey ahead of us, but I knew it would be tough and I wasn't sure if he'd find anything worth the journey upon reaching its end, and part of me didn't want that for the young stallion, but I still wouldn't dissuade him.

"I, I..." started, but couldn't finish, I didn't even know what I wanted to say to him, or how it might sound.

Victor put a hand on Andy's shoulder "Help us get ready, we'll talk while we work" Andy gave the Shire a long stare, but eventually nodded at that and the two of them began walking the shire affectionately pulling the cob into his side as they headed out of the shed together.

I sighed and shook my head, trying to clear it, trying to focus on the task in hand. Turning and looking about the place I asked myself what we should have. Canvas sheets, yes we would surely need those, and one to cover the old tip-cart, there must be one around here too, what else... My thoughts were interrupted when the two stallions soon returned, Victor leading Clive at his elbow, I smiled. Of course he would choose the old Clydesdale, his favourite horse to be our companion.

The two didn't even bother to tie the working animal up, the large horse simply standing still while his harness was laid over his back then secured. The two did this slowly, using Clive's own collar but picking through the rest of the tack carefully, looking for wear and tear, replacing items as necessary. Satisfied they backed Clive up between the shafts of the beaten old cart, securing them to his collar and girth in turn. I watched this, trying to remember how it all went together but it was too much to take in and I only ended up marvelling at how the two stallions worked with each other, they were like two arms of the same body, each knowing what to do, assisting the other when needed, whilst never getting in the others way.

"You know there's nothing here for me" Andy broke the silence first "No reason for me to stay"

No one said anything for a moment, then, "This is your life now" The old stallion said quietly, not looking at Andy, choosing instead to stare into Clive's dark hide. "What that, alone" The Cob spat pointing his feather covered arm out the door into the darkened estate beyond.

"What can you do? What other trade do you have?" Victor asked bluntly, lifting his head up to look the stallion in the eye. "Don't do that to me, don't you dare" the Cob spoke sharply fixing the Shire with an angry gaze

"I don't. Ok." "It's not the same" "I can't do it, I don't even know who I work for anymore" He said frustrated and dejectedly, looking down again, kicking the dusty floor with a hoof.

"Things won't be what they were"

"Things are what you make of them Andy"

"Things are only good because..." he trailed off, pink nostrils flaring with a sigh.

"No one really wants me here, they only leave me alone because of you, the minute you leave I'll have to work with one hand tied behind my back because no one will ever trust me again, no one actually believes I can run all this, and do you know what? They're right, I can't, I'm not good enough. I'm just not the horse you are" he finished quietly

"But you had plans, you're courting a mare, Eve" Victor offered gently.

"With Cyril dead and you gone, Alexis will return, take charge and I'll be run into the ground by his demands or run off altogether. And as for Eve, it would seem that my blood's not fine enough for Bendall's precious second daughter" he snorted with bitter sarcasm, brushing an arm across his bare torso, in demonstration.

I didn't agree with him, Alexis, my son would most likely stay with the protectors and try to hunt us down. As for Andy's bloodlines... It was true that gypsy cobs were looked down at by other horses, but Andy was a fine young stallion. White with pools of black running into each other from head to hoof, lithe working muscle all over not excessive but well proportioned, from his thick boned legs, across his body and up through his arms, strong, wide across the hips but graceful, gentle and careful, anyone could see he was unique in his ways, But I didn't argue with the colt.

I looked at Victor "Three is better than two"

The bay shire looked to Andy, a long hard look the same one he'd given me earlier, I wondered what the answer would be this time I could almost see the cogs ticking over inside his head, "let's get provisions" he smiled weakly avoiding the obvious.

The two of them returned carrying a large sack each, heaving it into the flat-back cart. Oats, "Another Two of those each I think, Clyde's are not easy keepers, and if we go hungry then that'll be our food too"

While the two of them disappeared to fetch more grain, I dug around for some rope, rope's good, we would need that but ultimately this was Victor's world and he would know best what we needed bring and what to leave, but I was determined to learn though. We need to survive and being a useless mare wouldn't help anyone.

We packed everything we thought we would need and more into the narrow two wheeled cart, I had money, enough of it but doubted we would not have much opportunity to spend it, we would need to stay well away from towns and cities as much as possible.

With everything loaded, Clive and the protesting wooden cart were led outside Andy and Victor leading the Clydesdale between them. "Andy, look, you're welcome to come" but not tonight, I don't know what's going to happen here but you're not going to be hunted down like we are, you need to decide in your time wheather you want to leave and you can't do that tonight. But Chloe and I have no time at all"

Andy held Victor's gaze but remained silent, listening "I'm not going to tell you where we're going because that will put you in danger, while you are here they can get to you but if you want to come then meet us in Newcastle, it should be about a week's travel for you. Take a horse from the stable, pick it carefully and ride lightly" Victor took The cob's shoulders in his large hands bringing the stallion's muzzle millimetres from his own, we'll wait two days for you" "find us at the lion and lamb inn, we will wait for you" he emphasized "but only for two days"

He stopped talking the two of them staying that way, sharing breath for a moment before Victor reached around Andy, pulling the Cob into a powerful hug, his ear pivoting as the shire spoke softly into it, I couldn't hear what was being said, I didn't need to...

I queued up behind the shire, I'm never a mare to miss out on a hug. When Victor eventually released the shirtless cob I dove in, I caught sight of his eyes, I could see the glint of wetness even in the dark, And leaned up to his ear "Remember, the lamb and lion Inn, we WILL be there, be there too Andy, I know it's what you want"

Oh, gods, I was starting to choke up now, breaking your ties is so hard, and he was the only one left here that meant anything to either of us, I eased my arms from around his back, when we parted he bumped my muzzle with his, kissing me for the briefest of moments, then he stepped back, while Victor and I climbed aboard the sturdy old cart, The old Shire sucked his teeth picking up the reins and flicking them over the Clyde's back slightly, and Clive ground into motion, walking us to the edge of the estate with a gentle rolling gate. Leaving Andy behind us, alone.

****

We were rapidly approaching the stone wall, the outside world held at bay by a simple four post gate, the farm workers in the gate house fast asleep, I hop off the moving wagon and run quietly to open it before Clive gets to it, I open it and watch our future walk through the gate, The gelding giving me a friendly snort as he passes by while Victor gives me a forced smile, he hurt, the pain of leaving visible in that smile and in that at least we were together.

Back on board I slide up to Victor feeling chilly in the autumn night air, I watch shadows through the trees, trying to make out shapes by the moonlight, It suddenly hit me how vulnerable we were, riding in an agricultural wagon at night, through the countryside with nothing to protect ourselves with. But, Just then Victor deftly took the reins in one hand and slipped the other round my shoulders, and suddenly I do feel warm, and protected. All of a sudden I want to rest my head on his neck, in that classic way a filly courting a cute colt would, I desperately want to, but I don't, I won't allow myself the selfish comfort of the gesture, Victor needs me strong, not weak, I'm with him and although I'm not his equal I will try to be.

I think back to the colt we left standing in the gravel waving us goodbye, I hope we see him again. I really do, because it should be him sitting here instead of me.

It was in that moment, sitting on the rumbling rolling cart that I sniffed back a tear, then another, things would never be the same again, never.

****

Gradually, light appeared over the distant clouds, the moon was still in charge but a faint ribbon of light riding atop the cloud meant that morning would not be far away, I rubbed Victor's shoulder and pointed, He nodded at me a smile lighting up his muzzle, he would be glad too when he could see what the shadows either side of us actually were.

It shouldn't have been too disconcerting really I had walked, ridden and been driven on these paths many times before. These were estate paths, little trails wide enough for a cart like ours to pass but often devoid of travellers at the best of times but especially at this time of night the paths took us through the woodlands, but in a few miles would rise up a hill to open out into vast, glorious countryside.

"I hope you know the way stallion, because by the evening I will have run out of local knowledge"

"I know where were going, well mostly anyway" Victor replied "I know my way to Newcastle, but we won't be using the carriageways, we need to cut across Northumberland moors, and a different path to which the Durant sisters would use" "we shouldn't fear bumping into them" I interjected, "they're friendly, and besides they're not exactly going to drag us back to the mansion"

"Chloe" Victor turned to look at me, "I don't know what anyone's going to do, but it would be foolish to trust in the good ways of others, And besides it's not just the Durant's I'm worried about, many people use that road, we need to stay inconspicuous, it's just you and me" Victor said, a little sorrow creeping into his voice. He paused a moment thinking.

"The Durant's would use the road, so we need to climb one of the pack trails, over the hills, even with a cart we should be able to do it, it will be quicker too"

The shire grinned at me suddenly, liking his plan. I wasn't so keen on it but it was the best choice, I grinned back at him, not wanting to dishearten the horse, I had faith in my companion.

Our little wagon rolled on through the country lanes, the sun beginning to rise in the east, casting the forest path in an ethereal like glow, accentuated by the early morning mist, it was beautiful, and something I have only seen a handful of times in my life, most normal people would be fast asleep still tucked up in bed, what a sight they miss! We trundle on, an arm wrapped around one another enjoying the early morning sights and sounds.

The Dim, misty light turned to dawn, dawn turned to morning, and morning turned to late morning.

"Clive needs a break" Victor finally said, I had noticed it too. The Clydesdales head had been bobbing lower and lower for a while now, and he had become slightly irritable too, occasionally stomping the ground with his hoof and tossing his head.

We pulled in under a broad oak tree, the day was not hot but the Clydesdale would appreciate the shade the yellowing canopy provided, conveniently enough we had passed a spring not far behind us, I rummaged under the canvas covered wagon buck, and found what I was looking for, how stupid of us to forget water, but at least we had a few buckets to carry it in. "I wonder what else we've forgotten" I casually remark to Victor, who was busy fussing over his Clydesdale friend, giving him a good pat for carrying us for long unbroken hours, too long really.

"Loads of things I imagine" The shire replied cheerfully walking round the wagon beginning to fill a nose bag with oats, and a couple of handfuls of grain before slipping it over Clive's rounded muzzle, securing it with a buckle behind his ears. I walked off to get the water, it flowed, clear and cool, I squat, dragging the wooden bucket through the water catching a glimpse of my reflection. Sighing to myself, who am I fooling, I can't do this, I'm not cut out for this life, I don't even... I mean how far are we going to get?

My thoughts were interrupted by a distant rumble, I freeze, head up ears turning searching for the noise, body tense, adrenaline flowing. I knew that sound, hoof beats, not a gallop, but a canter could be anyone, anyone at all but two guesses to who it likely was.

I snatched up the bucket, water sloshing over my legs, looking over my shoulder I could see shapes through the trees, weaving around the same path we had taken. I hoofed it back to the oak tree, water splashing everywhere, if our time really had come and so soon then I wanted to be with my... herd I suppose.

Victor was looking now, over my shoulder, I daren't look back, he made a gesture, holding both hands out urgently in silence, "slow down, act normal" I did, with effort, slowing to a walk, the thud of hooves behind becoming a thundering, thumping roar. I stepped off the path beside a tree, looking round to see a string of horse and riders bearing down on me, they slowed to a trot and I could see the lead rider now, a Dark brown stallion, wiry and quick looking, athletic, and confident, his right arm snowy white while the left remained solid brown, it was only then that I noticed his ear, half of it was missing, the brown furred left ear beginning like its neighboring one but ending halfway at a crescent shaped cut. I stared for a moment, I couldn't take my eyes off him, steeling myself for what was going to happen next...

Nothing happened, the rider met my gaze and nodded his head, passing by without even breaking stride.

These were the protectors, the local militia, mirrored by many chapters throughout the land I had rarely seen them before, but their horses carried the mark of the running stallion, a beautiful gold embroidered symbol woven into every part of each animals tack.

They couldn't be called an army, but were far too organized and disciplined to be fit the profile of mere bandits either. Each rider wore simple dark clothing and carried a sword in his saddle and a knife from his hip and a longbow across his back. Possessing no armour and no shield they were made for movement and speed, swift and deadly.

The Protectors were secretive and superstitious, rumours about them were rife throughout all levels of society, some said they always kept something of those they killed, another popular tale was that their all stallion mounts had been twisted by a dark and powerful magic, Creating an unbreakable connection between rider and mount, sharing thoughts, emotions, and pain, the resulting stallion responding to only one master. If either Stallion fell in battle the other had to be killed also, incapable of surviving without his companion, the absence of one driving the other mad. A good story but only a tale. I had heard another anecdote that they routinely mounted their mounts to reinforce the bond, I wasn't so sure about that either.

One anecdote I was sure to be true was that they mounted each other, I knew well what happens to stallions when there are no willing mares around, and the protectors never tolerated the presence of females.

I looked each rider over hoping to catch sight of my son and hoping against hope not to at the same time. The string passed, ten altogether, Alexis was not among them, I breathed a sigh of relief.

They passed Victor and Clive taking a little more interest in the two, but treating them with the same casual civility. If only they knew I thought to myself.

"What do we do?" I asked, watching the string of galloping stallions disappear from view. "Nothing" "we'll, give Clive a drink, and then another one if he wants it, eat something ourselves, I bet you're hungry, let him rest for an hour or so, and carry on" "If we can find somewhere with grass for him to munch on then even better"

I looked at him quizzically "We need to keep going, put as much distance between the house and us as possible"

Victor nodded sagely "That's the obvious thing to do but If we rest him now, and again later, we can push through until dark o'clock" he started absentmindedly stroking Clive's side "Steal a few hours' sleep, and be up and gone before sunrise"

I nodded, Clive's wellbeing was paramount after all, and without the uncomplaining Clydesdale we wouldn't be going anywhere.

The rest of the day panned out much as Victor had described, without a return visit from the local militia, we continued plodding onwards until the sun disappeared and the moon became our leading light once again.

Eventually we found a nice patch of grass with a good clearing behind it and a nice copse of trees behind that, Victor took charge unhitching the little cart, propping the shafts up with some wood he'd brought for the purpose. I helped him un-harness an appreciative Clive stowing the tack in our wagon under the canvas cover.

Clive's halter was then tied to a long piece of rope and the other end round a tree, giving him room to graze the lush grass in comfort, but not enough to wander off, or poke his nose through the cart. With the Clydesdale set for the night, Victor grabbed a blanket from the wagon, and pulled me down with him to rest against a tree trunk, wrapping the blanket around the two of us. Sleep came quickly with the shire's warm arms around me.

****

We were back on the road, the sun bright in beautiful blue sky, Blackbirds sing away cheerily from nearby trees, to our left is a green grassy lip, dropping off sharply into the next valley. To our right vast open expanse of wheat stubble covered fields, and in the distance a horse working two heavies ploughing, deep furrows of dark brown earth stretching off toward the horizon. A warm bottom next to mine, two warm bottoms, I found myself sandwiched between Victor and...

"ANDY!"

"CHLOE!" the cob repeated mocking my surprise "but you're..."

"I'm pleased to see you too my dear, I'm here all day. And have been here all morning, you only just noticed?"

"Stop it you" I said, punching his shoulder confused by his presence next to me, we hadn't left as three, we'd left as a nearly tearful two.

"I was just off in my own world for a while" I confessed

"So I see, well welcome back to ours, its better here" The cob spoke with a wide grin, showing his white incisors.

I readied my arm for another punch. "Hey hey hey" He held his hands up laughing even harder. I couldn't hold a straight muzzle either, no one could around Andy, the colt was just too funny sometimes. I allowed myself a little giggle before settling down, contented between my two favourite stallions.

I watched Clive slap his tail a couple of times in the warmth of the day.

Suddenly something was wrong, a shadow and a thump, Clive felt it too, stopping in his tracks tossing his head with an alarmed nicker. Andy groaned next to me bent over an arrow lodged in his stomach.

No, no this can't be, what's going on? Things were happening too fast, then I noticed Cyril was in front of me, standing on the path holding Clive's head still, but he looked wrong, translucent and monochrome.

I realized with a start that he was speaking to me, but I couldn't hear a word, his lips moving without a sound leaving them, he pointed to Victor then, I followed with my eyes.

Suddenly a pig grabbed the side of the cart pulling a dagger across Victor's throat, grasping his shoulder, pulling the shire clean off the bench beside me swinging himself onto the footplate. It was Barty, the pig wore an evil grin on his snout, throwing the knife back and forth between left and right hand, glinting catching the sunlight, he tensed his arm. "This is it" my mind screamed the knife begun its journey towards my face, and in that instance I realize I don't want to die, not now, I don't, No, NO...

I wake, with a start, the words still fresh on my lips in the dark, where was I? I perk my ears hearing a noise, a crack, there it was again, a twig snapping, then a thud and a low whicker "Clive" I said in relief.

A dream, A nightmare, I breathe a sigh of relief, still disturbed by the images fresh in my mind

Upon hearing his name the big horse ambled over shoving his nose into mine, licking his lips and whuffing happily, his breath sweet with the scent of grass, we shared breath for a few moments before he lost interest, dropping his muzzle to the grass by my feet. I smiled to myself in the darkness horses can be so fickle, always thinking with their stomachs, just then I heard a splashing "Clive!" I backed up against the tree waking Victor, his arms tightening around me, "Clive" he said a smile in his voice at the sound of the horse relieving himself only a few feet away.

That was our wakeup call, back on with all the gear, clumsily on my part, In the dead of night (no slither of light appearing over the clouds yet) Back Clive up between the shafts, and off we go once again.

As before the Predawn turned to dawn, and dawn turned to day, Clive continued to plod on regardless, carrying us through field and forest alike. The sun was getting high once more, as we passed a stone cross, in a field beside the path, Victor perked, turning to me on the bench. "Further up the trail is a pond, we can stop there for a while" I nodded, gladly received news indeed, my buttocks had fallen asleep hours ago.

We reached the stand of pines and Victor steered Clive off the path and into the forest, not very far into the woods, the dense trees opened up out into a clearing, and in the middle was a large pond, a dew pond.

Victor began stripping off, quickly and unceremoniously, grabbing a bar of soap from the cart. I watched his Muscles and tendons flex under the soft Chestnut fur, the older stallion although bulky like his breed had not an ounce of fat on him. Stepping out of his trousers he turned to me "I have to have a wash, the other night was messy, tie Clive up to that tree and join me"

"I, I don't know what knot to tie... what if he gets away? I splutter, aghast.

"Do a slip knot, you know... a highwayman's hitch, remember?, and don't worry if you do it wrong, he won't pull anyway" Victor smiled at me. Before walking off to the pool of water, tail swishing, he flicked it up and down a few times before he looked back at me lifting and curling the tail over, showing me everything, a dried matted mess.

If I had had anything to hand at that moment I would have thrown it at him, but instead I lead Clive complete with wagon over to a nearby tree, before rummaging through the back of the wagon, I had my hand on his nosebag too but thought better of it, best not to give him anything so soon after work. I picked out short piece of rope instead, taking it round to his head looping it around the tree trunk, passing one end through a ring on Clive's bridle, now I had two end pieces in my hands a half hitch on two end pieces of rope, surely not? I had watched Victor do it before but never to join rope, besides I couldn't remember how to make the knot.

I looked over to the pond, the bastard was swimming now, pulling himself through the water with long powerful strokes tail following, floating on the surface of the pool behind him, "you have to do this yourself, you'll have to learn, can't be a useless mare all your life" I said to myself sternly.

I pass the two ends over and under each other joining them together in something resembling a knot, Clive looks at me accusingly giving a sharp pull with his head, the knot holding and if anything becoming tighter, I stroke his face affectionately before turning and follow Victor's hoof prints to the water, slipping off my clothes as I go.

The water was icy cold, I wasn't prepared for that and gave an involuntary Whinny as my legs broke the surface, I waded on in regardless though, determined to be the Shire's equal, this was our life now, and we could face anything together. Oh god did I really believe that?

I stretch my body, throw out my arms and kick off from the bottom pulling myself over to the other side of the pond, where the shire sat on a stone ledge washing himself. Swimming came easily to me it was something I had done many times in the clean clear expanse of lakes back at the estate with giggling upper-class mares on a fine summer's day, the laughter and, warmth of one such afternoon visiting me briefly bringing a small smile to the corners of my muzzle, only to vanish again leaving me in a cold pond, in a gloomy woodland somewhere far away from home. Oh what a sheltered life I had led. All of that was gone now.

He was washing himself, poor horse, he wouldn't have had a chance to wash the slime and slobber left over from the activities of two nights ago, I shuddered treading water, memories returning, replaying themselves in my mind. But then Victor leaned down to me nuzzling my cheek, reaching his arms down and pulling me up to sit beside him, we kiss for a moment, an easy relaxed kiss, not of passion but one of companions, happy in each other's company.

He continued to wash his legs, while I looked off across the pond, kicking my legs in the water absentmindedly.

"Penny for your thoughts"

"Oh, I don't know" I replied glumly "I can't get the other night out of my head I suppose"

"That's understandable" the shire replied, cleaning through his leg hairs, his feather.

"Your husband was slain in front of you, that's a pretty big blow"

"I don't feel anything about that" I admit, watching my hooves through the water looking bigger in the pool than out "Cyril was always a stranger to me, just a familiar stranger" A fact that had just dawned on me "I'm more worried about being caught, and my son" I looked at Victor abruptly "I don't want to meet him, I don't want... " The shire put his muzzle to mine again, this time holding it there, sharing breath, calming me immediately.

"I won't say that it's not going to happen, but if Barty kept his word and did everything he said he would then I would give us about three to four days before anyone begins looking for us. And you know as well as I do that word can't be passed to the protectors swiftly, that probably gives us another half a day, by which time I hope to be right on top of Newcastle. Or at least on the outskirts"

I sighed, I knew he was right, but I still couldn't shake the sense of foreboding that had seeped into me, it had started this morning watching the protectors canter past, last night hadn't helped either, the thoughts had been eating away at me all day, my heart occasionally skipping a beat whenever my mind returned to the subject and I began thinking about the possibilities.

Finishing his other leg, the shire handed me the hard opalescent bar, it was carbolic soap, more like a bar of beeswax in consistency, but it would do. With the soap in my right hand I reached down to the pond with my left scooping up a palm full of water and began shamelessly washing. It felt good despite the cold.

Victor sat back on his hands and looked across the water back towards the trail we had come from. "Ok," I broke the silence "Tell me what you're thinking" I said, starting on my legs.

"Honestly?" He asked, I look over and nod "I'm Just wondering how we're going to do this Chloe"

"Do you think we can?"

He looked at me then, that long searching look again, staring straight through me again making me feel uncomfortable. I had total faith in my companion but sitting naked and exposed on the rock I wondered if the Shire horse had the same confidence in me, I wanted him to, I wanted it at that moment more than anything in the world. Then I saw something I hadn't seen before, a twitch in the corner of his lips, possibly the beginnings of a smile.

"I don't know, there's so much ground to cover" He finally answers, a sigh passing his lips, but then that weak smile returned.

"We don't really know how to get there. But I think we could do it" he offered. He smiled warmly then, and in that moment I got it, we didn't know the road but we knew how to tread it, and maybe we'd die trying but at least we'd die trying together.

Victor leaned in for another kiss, I obliged, happily sharing my mouth with the stallion, then he reached an arm round my back, I murred leaning into him, suddenly he tugged at me and we both slid from the rock splashing back into the cold water.

"urrrgh" I screamed, genuinely annoyed, Victor bobbed, treading water grinning like an idiot "Catch me" he slipped under, re-emerging mere seconds later surging toward the far bank, I gave chase. Bloody stallions, he might have muscle on his side, but I had technique, and I was thinner, trimmer, possessing less body to haul through the water, I stretched out, legs kicking and arms pulling in perfect harmony, I'm catching him, I'm bloody catching him I grinned inwardly. 30 feet, I could see those legs just under water, a few more feet and I was level with his tail 15 feet I grabbed him round the waste clinging onto his back, he stopped and rolled over, genuinely surprised, panting slightly.

He wrapped his arms around me standing up, I felt the muddy bottom with my hooves and stood with him leaning up nuzzling his neck, I felt something moving between us, something warm against my belly, heat against the cool of the water, a wicked smile cracked my muzzle.

"Competition makes horsey excited, that's one to remember, need help with that?" I coo cheekily, and before he had a chance to answer I slip my hand underwater immediately finding his lengthening shaft warm, thickening and sandwiched deliciously between us.

I bring him to hardness, my hands squeezing, stroking and cupping the glorious stallion shaft underwater, I pull him to the bank but he resists, "no" he bent his muzzle to my ear "we've just got clean" He said with a wicked grin, brushing his hand sensually across my back, down the curve of my bottom, giving my buttock a firm squeeze before finding my tail, I flutter it in the water, before lifting it, allowing his roaming fingers access. He reaches his left hand round me, down the hollow of my back cupping my right buttock while his right slips under my tail, tracing a line round my dock, then down, down further finding my thick rosebud, and there he stops, circling the outer edge of the muscle with his thumb and forefinger sending a shiver up my spine, my pucker clenching at the attention, his hand leaves the quivering muscle alone wandering the short distance to my sex, he flattens his palm reaching up with his fingers long inches to my hidden clit, keeping it there, still, unmoving. Suddenly he draws his fingers in whilst stroking downwards, mashing them into my thick outer lips, It was too much, I went a little week at the knees loudly whickering my arousal, pussy winking now.

Victor caught me holding me straight, his large hand continuing to playing with my dark lips, hooved fingertips tracing little circles in them, slowly sliding a finger in, I smile excitedly, he flexed his digit, worming it around inside my sex, before another finger slipped in, joining the first, then another, I clamped down with my muscles, squeezing the invading digits tightly in a mares embrace, it was blissful the fingers owners knowing exactly how and where to use them.

I smile lustily to the stallion, reaching up with my muzzle and licking across his nose, "give those lips to me" We kissed deeply, sharing muzzles with passion like lovers should, all the time the stallion using his fingers to tease and excite my nethers, and mine his shaft, stroking slowly, gently not wanting to bring him to the edge too soon, not before me anyway.

He slid the last one in, a full house, pushing them gently deeper and deeper up to the knuckle, "Ooh god" I moan, he had left my clit alone until now, but I felt his middle finger leaving the warm confines of my sex, reaching out to search for the hooded bud. Find it he did and began working over the thick, black, sensitive nub filling me untold pleasures making me bite roughly at his long proud neck. The stallion didn't seem to mind, bringing his rounded muzzle over me, nuzzling gently between my ears, while his fingers fucked me.

I feel his left hand move, departing from my left buttock stroking it's way under my tail past my dock and onwards to my donut, teasing the thick muscle with his fingers, I was close already, my sex winking feverishly but he wouldn't give up, just kept on kneading my lips and taint with his palm, his fingers deep inside me, suddenly I felt a finger push against my back door, flexing and rotating slightly trying to worm its way into me, gently but insistently. I relaxed, wanting the digit inside me, he got the message and pushed, plunging his finger into my ass, sliding in slowly but determinedly up to the knuckle, held it there and brought it out again, I could feel every delicious millimeter of his thick middle finger exit before sliding slowly home again pushing with more force this time, knuckle hard up against my pucker, holding it there, worming the digit around inside me. I couldn't last any longer.

"urrrrrgh" I whickered into his neck fur, pleasure exploding in my brain, a warm tingling sensation spreading from my sex in all directions, radiating heat through my body, my vision went blurry for a moment and I collapsed into the shire's arms, weak and unsteady, my hands still wrapped around his cock, HIS COCK! Oh my.

I slid my left hand down to his median ring, and then I cupped my right underneath his thick head, squeezing, gently kneading the trumpet shaped flare with my fingers before sliding my hand over the top and squeezed again. He bucked his hips, I smiled to myself, stallions never seem to lose that response to pleasure, It must be ingrained into them over a Millennia of breeding, if it feels good... rut it.

I slid my left up to just under the head, then back down again, relishing the feeling of smooth skin slipping through my fingers, another buck and another grunt, he reached his mouth down latching his muzzle over my left shoulder holding me, massaging it with his lips while gently biting with his blunt teeth, Instead of stinging like it should, it felt amazing.

With the shire's mouth now attached to me I kept at it, working that mighty shaft, sensing his orgasm build through the warm organ in my hands, feeling it's heat and rigidity, then he grunted, a low lusty grunt, full of need, I reached up and squeezed the end of his flare with my hand tightly before a "Whiny" and another grunt as he began spilling his hot seed into my palm, the creamy white liquid dispersing into the cool water of the pond.

I kept the pressure up while the stallion above jerked his hips while I massaged and squeezed his apple shaped flare, gently milking the last of the seed from the hefty orbs swinging weightless in the water below. I brought my hand to the surface, and to my delight there was still white on It, I quickly brought it to my muzzle and licked it off, then seeing Victor watching I held it further away, licking it again slowly and sensually, deliberately making a show at licking the shire's seed from my hand.

He pulled me into another kiss, and I shared what I had of him with him, without breaking the kiss I felt him lift me and carry me out of the water setting me down on the bank, next to a doleful looking Clive.

The loop I had passed through his bridle round the tree had slipped down the trunk falling to the needle covered floor, Clive had been unable to lift it back up the pine's rough bark meaning his muzzle had been resting next to the ground for how long I didn't know, stupid, stupid mare!

Victor immediately lifted the loop up the tree, and began pinching and pulling at the terrible tight knot I'd made.

I hung my head, what an idiotic way to tie a horse, had I ever seen one tied like that before? No I was too busy being a sheep, impatient to follow the shire into the water.

But the shire said none of those things, instead pulling the rope free before making a knot in either end and re-securing the Clydesdale to the tree "highwayman's hitch" he said cheerfully, "we'll go through it later when we next stop, you will get the hang of it"

"Sorry Clive" I said, scratching his neck, I really meant it.

We spent nearly an hour going about our business stark naked, fussing over Clive, filling his nosebag with lovely things from the cart, fetching him water, then simply letting our fur dry in the warm autumn breeze, enjoying some oats ourselves eating them messily from the palms of each other's hands It was blissful, despite the situation I couldn't remember a time when I'd been as contented as I was now, a brief moment of happiness, don't they say that life is made up of moments? If it's true then I'd like this one to last a little longer.

But eventually we had to get ready to go again. It was slow going putting our clothes back on, especially when you're kissing, and groping each other all the way, but eventually we had to get serious and set off on the trail once more.