Katajatar Prince

King Tirthamkaras reigned in his gray stallion and scanned over the field before him.

The dogs were barking merrily involved with their chase of the young red fox they were pursuing.

The light breeze of the beautiful sunny day blew a few strands of his long silver hair across his face. He moved the stray stands to his back again and watched the page ride toward him.

The boy bowed in his saddle. “Sire, the trail has been lost for the moment, but Lord Avaldamon has the dogs regaining the scent.”

Tirthamkaras inclined his head in acknowledgment. “Tell Lord Avaldamon I’m willing to be indulgent. Today is such a lovely day.”

“Yes, Sire.” The boy bowed again and sent his horse cantering down the hill toward the line of trees.

Tirthamkaras spurred his horse to walk down the hill. He reined his horse at the treeline and squinted his eyes so he might see the members of his court scrambling to regain the fox’s scent.

He heard another horse approach at full gallop.

He pulled the reigns to turn the horse around to meet the new person.

The little fox scrambled out from the underbrush.

The horse reared.

Tirthamkaras clenched the reigns tighter to keep himself saddled and leaned into the horse’s buck.

The horse landed on his hooves hard.

The reigns were jarred from his hands just as the horse reared again.

He slid from the saddle and flew through the air.

A loud crack thundered through his ears. His vision dimmed.

Devlin had been approaching the Mnemrarasti monarch to deliver a message from Moran, King of Chandaka to attend a festival in honor of the 3rd year of his marriage to Queen Enaile when he saw King Tirthamkaras’ horse rear. The elderly king flew through the air and landed on a rock with a sickening crack.

“Hail! Hail, the king’s fallen! Please, someone must send for a healer at once!” Devlin yelled as he raced to the fallen king.

“What are you yapping about, human?” the gray-haired short Mnem nobleman named Avaldamon yelled as he rushed from the woods. “Dear Arasthanas!” He rushed to the king’s side. “Step away, human! What did you do to him?”

“I was only bringing a message to his majesty! He was about to turn to greet me when his horse bucked! He went flying!”

“So get your smelly carcass away and go get help! You humans are so dimwitted!”

Devlin bowed and vaulted on his horse. He spurred his horse to full speed and ran back toward Mnemradel for help.