The Workhorse

The Workhorse© 2025 by Michael Walker Introduction: The saga is set-long before cities rose, when treasure maps were drawn on faded weathered parchment-there lived a poor prospector named Juriel (pronounced 'Zhuriel'), a man who believed fortune was always hiding just one day farther down the road. He dreamt of treasures, but mostly just gold. His only companion was a horse, though 'companion' was far too loving a word for the way the prospector treated him. The horse had no real name-Juriel simply called him 'Horse,' as if he were only another tool to be packed or traded.Horse, however, as you will see, was no ordinary creature. He was enormous-broad-shouldered, thick-necked, and powerful in the way that ancient statues of heroes are powerful. His coat was jet black, smooth and glassy, shining like polished onyx even when the sun was hidden behind clouds, with one small puff of white in the center of his forehead. His mane flowed like liquid night, and his eyes-deep, dark, impossible to describe-had a way of looking right through you, as if he saw something true no one else could see. Juriel was angry this morning! Angry enough to start to whip Horse for breaking a rope and eating the bag of oats he intended to sell. He raised his hand, the leather strap cutting through the humid air with a sharp whist. The horse merely stood there, unflinching, watching his master with those same deep, unreadable eyes, a silent testament to enduring patience and unrequited devotion.Just as Juriel raised his arm again, a voice drifted across the dusty street: 'Why waste your strength on such a useless animal? Come here-come inside.' The voice belonged to a strange old man standing in the doorway of a peculiar shop-a small, crooked building made of dusty, weathered wood. A sign hung above the door, but you couldn’t read the sign because it was cracked and faded. Something about that old man got Juriel’s attention and he froze, casted the whip aside, and followed the old man into a place of sheer magical wonder! The air inside was cool and smelled of dried herbs and ancient paper. The space was an intoxicating blend of musical sounds and soft, shifting light that caught Juriel’s gaze and held him captive. He was spellbound, momentarily forgetting his anger, his hunger, and even the gold he so desperately chased. The funny old fellow had a story to tell, and he told it to Juriel. A story about everything Juriel thought he ever wanted, and where to find a lot of it! Juriel yawned at the old man’s philosophical ramblings, but he was truly enchanted by the atmosphere and by the prospect of immediate, tangible wealth. Finally, the old man gave Juriel a parchment, which held all that Juriel needed to obtain wealth far beyond his wildest dreams. In short, this is a saga that teaches the morals of caring for others, especially those who depend on you, are loyal to you and those who you need just as much or more. Never doubt the importance of those who would sacrifice everything for you, for those that will, are the only things you truly ever need...It is now time to start your journey, so find your most comfortable chair with ample light and settle in for an epic, cinematic thriller that will keep you on the edge of fantasy and imagine that you are inside this saga with Horse and Juriel!