with the wind’s caress on his face and the sun’s smile on the path ahead.

Xavier leaned forward slightly so he could reach down and pat Christian at the base of his neck. In reply, Christian tossed his head and snorted mightily, and for the first time in a week, Xavier felt a true smile spreading across his face. He had owned Christian for five years, and in those five years Xavier had not only raised Christian from a foal, but formed a truly special bond with him. The king bred horses like Christian for use in an elite scouting unit. As a breed, they were fast, strong, and smart. The horses had incredible endurance and even more incredible personalities—or maybe it was just Christian that had the personality.engraved with the words here there be Wolverines, and went to grab some mugs from the saddlebag.

͠

Xavier and Gustave met for dinner often at the camp, which was roughly halfway between their two estates. One of them would bring food, and the other would bring drink. After eating, they would sit by the fire and talk late into the night. Over the years, they had added personal touches of comfort to the camp. They had eaten their first meals sitting on the ground, leaning against their saddles, next to a simple fire pit dug into the earth. Now they sat on polished tree stump seats beside a hearth made of hewn stones. The horses had their own amenities, which had also grown more luxurious over the years.

Once, Xavier