quaila

Miguel quickly fled out, once again in his disguise which had been better arranged by Kayla.

He casually but hastingly walked towards the gates of Phytillia.

Using vines like most of the Phytillians did, he was able to get to the gate with speed.

When he got out of Phytillia, he headed towards the apical chambers to ask Mercury for Master Xenguy's whereabout.

Outside Phytillia, vines couldn't be used as they where in Phytillia.

So he decided to get himself a horse.

He entered the stable where the sold horses were kept and called out for the salesperson.

"A Phytillian...", the salesman said as he leaped forward.

"Really sorry to disappoint, but I am not!", Miguel said as he took of his mask.

"Lord Miguel!", The salesman said as he bowed inadvertently.

"I would like to purchase a horse!", he said to the salesman.

As Miguel spoke, the man became lost in his own thoughts.

'Isn't this the banished Lord Miguel? He must be looking for a horse to escape and stay out of the kingdom. He's probably been given a fortune by his father, I better bring out the finest and smartest horses. But then, he's going to die anyways, and die far away so why waste my good horses on him? It's not like he can come back to accuse me of giving him a bad horse. And even if he does, all I need to do is to go to the temple and pray to the demons!'

"Hello!", Miguel called snapping his fingers in front of the salesman.

"Oh! Sorry My Lord!", he spoke and began to walk deeper into the stables.

"Follow me!", he added.

Miguel followed, suspecting this salesman's behavior.

'Why pause so long after realizing he was the one?'

Miguel thought to himself.

He took Miguel till they got to a part of the stable where some horses had war masks on.

"These are the best of the best!", he said pointing at them and smiling.

The horses indeed looked like the best. They all appeared strong healthy, having a realy nice physique; reasonably tall and old.

"Why are they on masks?", Miguel asked looking at the man with suspicious eyes.

"They are prepared for war My Lord!", he replied.

"How old are they?", Miguel asked.

"The youngest is in it's late 3s and the oldest almost 6 my Lord!", he replied.

"May I go in?!", Miguel asked.

"Yes! Yes! Absolutely My Lord!", the man spoke as he opened the door.

Miguel walked up to a black horse and touched it.

He pulled it's head collar rope and the horse followed.

Afterwards, he jumped on the horse, seeing the horses reaction, he spoke: "I'll take this one!"

The salesman was stunned.

Even amongst the best of the best there were stil some exceptionals and Miguel had just picked one of them.

The salesman didn't expect him to be this good with horses.

'Or could he be lucky?', he thought to himself.

"Why are they chained?!", Miguel asked.

"We don't want them running now do we?!", the man spoke laughing.

"But those once at the main part of the stable are chained, are those ones that useless?", Miguel asked.

The man laughed some more and added: "They don't have the strenght or balls to escape My Lord!"

"Get the keys to this one quickly!", Miguel commanded.

"Alright My Lord!", the man spoke but remained there, standing and not making any moves.

"What are you doing?", Miguel asked irritated.

"With all due respect My Lord, I would prefer it if you waited in the main part of the stable while I get the keys!", the salesman said.

"What do you mean? Do I look like one who would steal your horses?!", Miguel spoke aloud.

"It's not that My Lord, just protocols!", he replied.

At this point Miguel understood his intentions.

He wants to switch the horse for another which may look like this, but not be as good as this one, probably having an hidden defect or something.

Miguel wasn't far fetched. As soon he got down from the horse and went to the main part of the stables, the man hurriedly went inside his inner stable where he kept horses with defects, bad temper or terrible behavior and searched up a horse that looked like the one Miguel had chosen. Afterwards, he wore it a war mask and pulled it out to the main stable with an innocent smile.

"I've brought it My Lord!", he said.

But to his greatest surprise, the place he kept the local and normal horses which Miguel previously referred to as "useless" in the main part of the stable had their doors opened.

And majority of the horses were not in it, disappeared like his Lord, Miguel.

To be continued......