Dark Edge Village

Mei frowns deeply as she sits atop Ti-Lu.

"You could have been faster you know. We have a lot of work to do to catch up because you made me late. Who falls into a gopher hole anyway?"

Ti-Lu shakes his mane and bends his neck to eat grass.

"Hey! Im talking to you! Don't just ignore me!"

Ti-Lu continues to eat.

"I swear Ti-Lu, if you don't perform, I'm turning you into glue."

The sound of hooves sloshing through mud can be heard as a white stallion and his rider arrives.

"Good afternoon, Miya-sama." Kemuri called our with a cheerful smile.

Hearing Kemuri call out, Mei sits upright and turns her head to face him.

"And to you as well."

She gives a seated bow.

"I take it your morning went well?"

"About as well as I expected." he answered after a bow. "I hope yours was pleasant?"

"Indeed. I must says the tents...er...yurts? your clan has provided is much nicer than the tent I carry. One could easily get used to staying in them."

Mei tugs at the reins and Ti-Lu begrudgingly picks his head up from the grass and begins walking slowly toward the Unicorn.

"Are all Unicorn horses as big as yours, Shinjo-san?"

"More or less." he nodded. "Sarangerel is swift and agile, ideal for scouts like myself. The Moto tend to prefer the slightly larger, more powerful mounts. The Otaku steeds are actually a little smaller, but outmatch the rest, especially for endurance."

"Ti-Lu and his kind were selected for their speed. It was Miyas job to spread news all over the Empire as fast as possible, thus our family and horses have always gone hand in hand."

Mei looks down to her horse

"However, he seems to be off lately. Ever since he tripped in that rodent hole. That is why I was late, I had to wait for his sprain to heal. But even healed, he seems slow"

"He will recover in time." He assured her. "Even with healing, injuries require a period of recovery, for a horse or a man. Do the Miya have a large herd, then?""

"You are right, I should be more patient. And I wouldn't say large, particularly compared to the Unicorn. It is enough though."

Mei points to the saddle Kemuri sits in

"Can you explain what this is?"

"The saddle?" he looked down. "The saddle provides padding for myself and for Sarangerel. It reduces the potential for injury and makes riding more comfortable, especially for extended rides. It also provides support for other uses such as carrying difficult loads."

Mei looks at the saddle with curiosity in her eyes.

"We had always ridden just on the backs and used the strength in our legs to hold on. I wonder how long it will take for these saddles to catch on."

Mei looks back to Kemuri.

"Shall we ride as we talk? Or would you rather a more physical interraction thos afternoon?"

"Let's start with a ride. I'd like to know more about Miya-sama." he answered.

She nods and takes up her reins, kicking Ti-Lu into motion.

"Where shall we begin? I suppose the basics are in order. I was born into the Miya, my family decendants from Miya himself. Should you wish to know the Miya family history, I can retell it. "

She pauses

"In any case, my family owed a debt to the Kakita of the Crane, and I was given up to them to train at their academy to repay this debt, instead of learning the ways of the Herald Miya typically do."

"I know a little about the Miya." he nodded as Sarangerel kept pace. "You were trained by the Crane, though? I had wondered about the hair."

"I am glad, I am not much of a historian or storyteller. I enough to get by though."

Mei nods and runs a finger through her hair.

"I found the style to suit me quite well. The Crane taught me many things, and while I did not learn the ways of a Herald, there was enough overlap that I can still perform proclamation duties or courtly affaors if needed."

Mei places a hand on her daisho

"The training was primarily focused ob Iaijutsu however, and I greatky excelled at it I would dare say few could match me. A handy thing to be good at when it is how the Empire determines right or wrong"