They travelled through mountains and open plains for more than 10 days.
Alan ran his "Trouble Maker" through its full pace in the open plains. It was accelerating. Both the rider and the horse felt as though a shackle was removed from their feet.
Both the horse and the ride enjoyed these short sprints in the open plains to the fullest.
Alan started noticing that his horse had grown by a couple of inches and looked sturdier compared to a month ago. Its deep Black coat were also looking healthier ans shinier.
Doubtfully he asked Kevin about his doubts. And Kevin confirmed his suspicion...
Master Alan this one here is a half breed war horse. It's sire is from a great lineage of war horses.
The Mare is not a war horse but has a great lineage with graceful looks & built, bread only to be used either by the Royals, the wealthy or the influential family as a symbol of pride and prestige.
Alan was taken aback by this new. He looked at Kevin with a puzzled expression.
Kevin understood his meaning and smiled placing his hand on Alan's shoulder.
You might be wondering how I got this and why I gave such a rare and expensive horse to you right ??? Kevin guessed it spot on.
Let to answer the 2nd question first.... Do you remember the night of the Wolf's attack on our camp? Kevin asked.
How can i forget about it. I remember it as vividly as it had happened a few minutes ago. Alan said with sadness...
Keven patted his shoulde in understanding and continued...
Well, you were the one who had alerted us towards their presence. If not for that, who knows how many life would have been lost. Including many of the horses. Including him as well. Kevin gestured at Alan's horse.
After that I started observing our "Trouble Maker " once he said the name, Kevin smirked, then continued... started liking you more than anyone that i have seen. Including me.
I believe the blood of his sire running in its veins is strong. So he might have acknowledged your strength and liked the way you cared about him.
So once I was convinced that you can handle it and the horse also looked happy being with you, I decide that, it is only proper for you to have it.
Alan didn't know what to say. He was simply overwhelmed....
Kevin continued. Now for the first question... I bought him in a auction from a famous horse trader in the Winden city.
As it was a Half breed war horse, the seller, unkown about its favoured lineage, wanted to sell the horse couple of years earlier than he usually did. He must have wanted to make some fortune out of it, rather than regret at a later stage.
As the horse was a half breed war horse, neither nobels and the wealthy people who always give importance to the animal's lineage and bloodlines wanted him. Nor the common people wanting to buy a decent horse could have afforded him.
In the end the details about the horse lineage and its auction date were put up in the Adventurer guild's notice board.
As in the outside, the seller faced the same issue inside the Adventurer's guild also. A-Class and above grade Adventurer's generally prefers a true war horse. Which, considering the difficulty of tasks they take and its criticality were not wrong to go for them.
Adventurer's who are new and who are C-Class and below could not have afforded him.
Which leaves us, the B-class Adventurer's. Here also many will of them strive to be an A-class adventure and buy a war horse rather than compromise on buying a half breed one.
Few were intrigued by his lineage. I, who was once a B-Class Adventurer having the potential to be an A-class Adventurer in a few years, took my retirement earlier than many had expected to get settled in my life. He had a fond look on his face and his eyes unfocused with a faraway look in it.
Then he shook his head smiling and continued....
Well.... After my retirement, I took the job as Sir. Johns guard captain, where I started earning better than many who worked similarly with other wealthy persons.
When I heard about this news from the branch guild at Green Town, decide to visit the auction. I was intrigued and had a close inspection of the horse which was supposed to be auctiond that day. Many who were attending the auction were interested in him but the problem was, he was too young, less than 2 years old.
A war horse usually reaches its adulthood at the age of 6 or 7 years. Full potential of the horse can only be unleashed after that.
If you buy it now you would have to keep it and train it for more than 4 to 5 years. And you will not be knowing which bloodline it would favor. Its Sire's or the mare's.
The starting bid for the auction was insanely high at " 6 Gold coins !!!". Almost everyone lost their interest by this time.
In the end I was able to out bid a couple of retired Adventurers and bought him from the seller for '9 Gold & 9 Silver Coins'.
Alan was dumbstruck by this astronomical figure. "So much !!! He exclaimed !!!!"
Kevin noded his head smiling. I know it's a huge price. I would had bought more than 20 very good horses for that much money. But once I lay my eyes on him I knew he is a special one and totally worth it.
Alan and kevin both looked at the horse and both noded their head in agreement.
Captain Kevin, What would be the cost for a good war horse? Alan curiously asked.
A good war horse's will be costing from 8 Gold coins and the one with a bloodline dating centuries can even be sold for more than 30 Gold coins. Kevin told.
Alan was so shocked with this news that his eyes were opened as wide as plates....