Mina snuggled her face into Brownie's neck. The horse she had learned to ride on was now too old for the long treks she favoured to escape the confines of the castle and had been put out to pasture. She had not yet chosen a replacement mount, and often visited her faithful companion when she was feeling down.
This evening, she had a lot to think about, not the least was how she was going to overcome her anxiety about using the magic inside her. Once she figured a way around her fear, she still then had to find a way to learn how to use it before applying to join the guard as a scout.
Brownie's coat shone with care and attention, and the horse nuzzled her jacket near the pocket Mina normally kept his treats in. As she reached for the apple, she and the animal both froze. The air around them tingled as if it was charged like a magnet.
Magic. Someone is using it nearby.