The Black Stallion and the Lost City by Steve Farley Read Free Book Online Page B

too much tack strapped to his body day after day, just as there were times he would not tolerate too much attention from people, even Alec. One of the important lessons he had learned from his horse, and it was true of all free-thinking animals, including people, was that no matter how much you loved them, or they loved you, the trick to getting along was to know when to leave them alone.
    Alec spoke gently to his horse while knotting his fingers in two fistfuls of black mane. “Okay, big guy,” he said. “Easy now.”
    With two quick, springy steps, Alec swung his legs up, rolling through the air to land astride a full seventeen hands of horse. His legs closed about the Black, and everything instantly fell into place, like the start of a familiar conversation.
    Alec rested his hands easily on his horse’s neck. “Let’s go,” he said softly, touching a heel to the stallion’s side. The Black responded willingly and they set off. Alec saw Xeena, Karst and one of the grooms talking together at the far end of the compound. Xeena noticed Alec and the Black and waved. He waved back.
    Passing through the courtyard, Alec turned the Black onto a path through the woods. He settled backto enjoy the ride, listening to the steady rhythm of the Black’s hooves on the ground.
    The path they were following, really little more than a woodcutter’s trail, led to the top of a low cliff above a rushing white-water river. It edged along between the trees and the rim of the cliff and quickly became rough going, even dangerous, with little more than a network of slippery roots for footing.
    Alec looked out over the roiling water running fifteen feet below. He dismounted and thought about turning around but decided against it. The path had become so narrow that doing so would likely be even more dangerous. The Black pulled ahead on his lead line, curious about what was beyond the next bend in the trail.
    The path turned away from the river and continued upward around masses of jagged rocks until finally arriving at a clearing on the top of a hill. Alec stopped to catch his breath and take in the view. Overhead the sun had fallen beneath the clouds.
    Suddenly Alec heard someone calling his name from the direction he had just come. It was Xeena. She was riding Cleo, the laid-back stable pony that she’d brought from Xanthi.
    The pony jogged into the clearing, and Xeena pulled her up a short distance away. She swung out ofthe saddle and landed lightly on the ground. The Black eyed the pony and gave a snort. Cleo bobbed her head lazily.
    “Hey there,” Alec called to Xeena. “What’s up?”
    “We came for a walk, like you,” Xeena said. “We’ve been on your trail since you left the monastery.”
    The Black stamped the ground and tossed his head impatiently. His pricked ears tilted toward the path on the other side of the clearing.
    “Easy, fella,” Alec said softly. The Black stretched out his neck, pulling on the lead line. Alec moved closer to him and gave the stallion’s neck a gentle pat.
    “Jeff was saying parts of the forest are off-limits,” Alec said after a minute.
    “Just on the other side of river,” Xeena said. “The resort owns that part.”
    Alec shrugged. “I guess we’re okay here, then. Let’s see what we can see.”
    They both mounted up. Alec nudged the Black ahead. Xeena and Cleo followed close behind. After a minute, they reached another overgrown path that obviously hadn’t been traveled in years. “I wonder what’s up this way?” Xeena said.
    “I guess we’ll have to find out,” Alec replied.
    Grass grew tall on this new trail, and towering trees quivered all around. The trilling of birds filled theair. The Black heard the songs, too, his head held high, ears pitching this way and that, nostrils scenting the wind.
    Though still rough going, the path ahead became wide enough that they didn’t need to walk in single file any longer. Xeena pulled Cleo up beside the Black as they came to a grove