Additional Demands - Adoption Entry for 7955

“Ms. Sinclair, are you certain?” Ember regarded the demonkin with wide, red eyes. The half-elf was still uncertain what they were doing at the horse sale. Halloway Stables didn’t have the resources for new horses, not unless someone was paying rent to board them. “It’s not that you haven’t been generous in keeping horses at our stables, but things are still tight and…” 

“We’ve been over this, Ember.” Cassandra cut her off, regarding the dark haired half-elf with veiled amusement. “Does my reputation, or what dealings we’ve had, suggest I’d have requested your presence if I wasn’t certain?” 

“No, Ma’am.” Ember subsided, turning their attention to the horse auction going on around them. The selection of horses was staggering, many of them high end horses from well established breeders. The Loshenka were particularly interesting with their long, curly tails. They’d heard of them before and knew Ms. Sinclair owned a fair few of them, but they’d never gotten the chance to ride one before. 

After a time of drifting through the stables, watching Cassandra flawlessly navigate the vendors and the barn, Ember finally found the courage to speak up again. It wasn’t that Ms. Sinclair had ever been anything but polite and even occasionally generous, but she still found the golden eyed demonkin intimidation. “Um… do you mind me asking why you brought me along? I understand you’re certain but…” 

“Additional Demands.” Cassandra cut Ember off again, her clipped tone suggesting the answer was obvious. 

“I beg your pardon?” Ember’s brow furrowed in confusion. “You have additional demands of me.” 

“No,” Cassandra stopped walking abruptly and waved towards the stall on their left. “Additional Demands. I want to see how the two of you work together.” 

Ember followed the motion of Cassandra’s hand on reflex and found herself face to face with a classic champagne mare. The horse regarded her back with hazel green eyes that held hints of both curiosity and defiance. They reached out to let him sniff their hand, her red eyes still glued to his. “Ma’am, I’m not sure I understand.” 

“My apologies.” Cassandra kept back, watching the two closely. “I thought I was clear. I wanted to see how the two of you performed together. Additional Demands has a reputation for being particular. Now, go and get her tack and let's get going. I’ve got other horses I want to view. Her current owner is expecting you.” 

Ember took off towards the tack room, returning quickly with the tack for the horse. Even after decades of saddling horses, they found herself nervous doing so under the watchful gaze of the demonkin just outside. 

As she entered the stall with Additional Demands, the mare stomped her white marked front leg, the light colored hoof kicking straw and bedding.

“Have you been cooped up here too long?” Ember asked, approaching the mare slowly, hand outstretched. “I’ll be happy to take you out for a ride, get you some exercise.” 

Additional Demands snorted, watching Ember closely. They didn’t seem nervous, but rather as if they were still deciding if they were willing to accept Ember. 

“I can tell you want to go for a run.” Ember murmured, studying the horse more closely. The rest of the stables, and Ms. Sinclair’s watchful gaze fell away as they reached out to brush the mare’s pinkish nose. They weren’t sure how they knew Additional Demands wanted to go for a run, but they were absolutely certain the mare did. 

This time, the classic champagne mare didn’t move away. If anything, they leaned into the contact; their long, curly brown tail swishing in delight as Ember’s gentle petting moved up to the white diamond that marked the mare’s face just between her eyes. 

“See, not so bad, is it?” Ember stepped back and began to get the tack on the mare, the task easy now that Additional Demands had accepted them. The horse’s stillness also made it easier for Ember to take them in. 

The mare was pretty, with three white stockinged legs, only a single front leg still the darker coloring of her classic coat. She was certainly well built. Tall, but not too tall. Well proportioned with a thick brown coat and contemplative hazel eyes. One of her hind hooves had two darker stripes down it where the white stocking didn’t quite touch, which lent a remarkably charming quirk to the mare. 

Ember had just started to tighten down the saddle when Additional Demands nipped at them. Not hard, or even with any seeming attempt to connect, but certainly as an effective way to get their attention. 

“Hey now, none of that.” Ember pushed the mare’s nose away with enough force to make a point but not enough to do any harm. “It has to be tighter if you don’t want me falling off.” 

Additional Demands gave them a look that reeked of skepticism, but didn’t protest further. 

“There, see,” Ember said as they finished getting Additional Demands ready to ride. “Not so bad.” 

Additional Demands tossed their head in agreement, however grudging it seemed. 

Ember chuckled and led Additional Demands out of the stall, suddenly aware they weren’t quite sure where they were going. 

“This way,” Cassandra said in her usual clipped tone and almost as if she anticipated the questions, before she walked off in the direction of the arena, not waiting to see if Ember chose to follow or not. 

Ember breathed a sigh of relief and patted Additional Demands' neck lightly before following Cassandra at a brisk pace. They had no doubt that if Ms. Sinclair had been displeased, they’d have known about it. 

Additional Demands lead easily enough, though her hazel eyes kept sweeping the busy stables with a general skepticism. As before, it wasn’t fear. It was more they clearly didn’t trust the other horses or people around them to behave. In some ways it reminded Ember of the way Ms. Sinclair looked at the world, though they’d never voice that thought out loud. 

The arena was busy, but not overly crowded. Ms. Sinclair spoke to the stable hand and then waved for Ember to join them. The demonkin didn’t say anything, but rather opened the gate and gestured for Ember to bring Additional Demands in. 

Ember once again found themselves momentarily nervous at the cool, yellow eyes watching her, but she took a deep breath and mounted Additional Demands. This was a test and while Ember wasn’t sure why, they were determined to pass. They’d started taking a liking to the classic champagne mare and her understated attitude. Normally she liked sweet, easy rides, something she suspected Additional Demands wasn’t. Though she doubted the mare was an absolute hellion either. 

Additional Demands remained still, only swishing their tail until signaled. Ember had been expecting a walk, but Additional Demands leapt into motion with a surge of energy. Clearly the mare had been in the stall too long. The half-elf only did enough to make sure they didn’t run into or spook any of the other horses and riders in the arena on the first lap before bringing the mare to a more reasonable pace. 

Additional Demands gave an annoyed huff but settled into a steady trot, lapping the arena a few times before slowing to a walk on command. The mare was a smooth, steady ride with an even gait. And at least for the moment they were compliant. Ember had no doubt the mare could put up a fight if she decided to, but so could any horse. Just Additional Demands might prove more likely to do so than others. For the first time, perhaps in forever, Ember figured it might just be worth it. It wasn’t like they weren’t used to working with difficult horses. It was just that they were more used to horses who were difficult because they came from poor environments, not because they were inherently stubborn. 

After another lap or two and some light weaving around other riders, Ember brought Additional Demands up to the fence where Ms. Sinclair was watching. 

Before Ember could even ask, Cassandra had snagged one of her people who always seemed to be nearby and sent them in the direction of the sales table. Ember nearly fell off when they caught the tail end of the conversation. “Purchase the horse. Register them under Ember. See to it arrangements are made for the mare to be brought to Halloway Stables.” 

“Ma’am, I…” Ember started, dismounting, their red eyes wide in surprise. “I… that’s very generous, but you know I can’t really afford a horse of my own right now. Not until….” 

Cassandra cut them off with an imperiously raised hand. “I’ll pay for the horses upkeep until Halloway Stables is more financially stable. You’ll ride in competitions and shows under my sponsorship in finances only, but you will list Halloway Stables as who you’re representing. In return, you’ll train any rider I request you to train and manage any horse I ask you to manage. And provide shelter to any horse that can’t be ridden and needs additional care. Is that acceptable? I will, of course, continue to pay fair boarding costs.” 

“I… yes Ma’am. Of course.” And before Ember could voice any further word of thanks, Ms. Sinclair was already vanishing into the crowd. 

Ember turned to look at Additional Demands, the mare’s hazel green eyes glinting with amusement in a way that definitely reminded Ember of Ms. Sinclair. “You knew, didn’t you?” 

The mare simply swished their tail and nibbled at the hem of Ember’s simply brown tunic before nudging the half-elf in the direction of the gate. 

“Right, let’s get you back to your stall and out of that tack. And maybe a good meal too.” 

As Ember led Additional Demands back to her stall, they paused to regard the new plaque that was already on the door. It was a simple silhouette of a cantering horse with the name Halloway Stables carved in a neat script underneath. 

Additional Demands seemed to regard the sign for a moment too before pushing Ember into the stall, ready to have the tack off and the promised meal.