The sun was lowering in the sky as two horses galloped at full speed across the grassy countryside of Persephone toward a copse of trees. Even to a person with only a rudimentary knowledge of horses, it was apparent the two animals were unevenly matched. That the tall and lean young man riding the draught animal could keep up with the other rider at all was an achievement in itself. The other rider, though heavy set, rode a young and lean animal that was clearly of Arabian ancestry from Earth-That-Was.

As the two horses neared the stand of trees the young man astride the plow horse lowered his reigns and leaned forward on the neck of the animal, almost as if to hug it. As if by a miracle, the animal seemed to find a hidden store of strength and surged forward to draw even with the young Arabian mare. As the two steeds charged into the trees the older horse might even have been ahead, albeit by no more than the length of its nose.

A moment later the two horses cantered to a stop at a small stream that ran through the oasis of trees and the riders both dismounted. Slapping one another on the back in good-natured camaraderie they both rolled to the ground laughing.

"Gorramit Jason, how the hell you manage that!" said the heavyset man to his companion.

"Runs in the family, Rick," said Jason Libby to his friend.

"Gorram reader, I swear that's gotta be cheatin’ doin' what you do," replied Rick Orlan.

"How man times I gotta tell you, I ain’t no reader, that was my sister," replied Jason. "I just sometimes feel things."

Rick pulled himself to his feet, and walked to the water to splash some in his face. "Be that as it may, it still seems like an unfair advantage. That horse ain’t fit to pull morn' a plough, yet you set a'straide her and she beats young Betsie here."

"Wont always. Betsies young yet. Don' as yet know her own potential. Can't feel her own potential."

"That what you sense; n' use."

"Not just me. Ol' Winter here senses it too." said Jason rubbing the cheek of the other horse. "Has a powerful need to put the little upstart in her place. I just sorta... nudge her at the right moment."

"Still sound like a damn reader to me," said Rick.

"Sounds to me like you best make good on our bet and be gettin' supper ready."

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The sun had sunk below the horizon by the time the two men sat eating the trout that Rick had caught from the stream while Jason had laid idly on the grassy shore.

"Damn good fish Rick. Yer the best, I tell you that already," teased Jason.

Rick was about to chuckle at the ribbing, but then thought better of it. He had been meaning to ask his friend something for a while now. "I must say, you confound me Jay."

"Thought it was pretty straight by now. Feelin' animals, even folk at times; if'n I concentrate hard enough. It runs in my family."

"Not that," said Rick. "I mean why you ain’t more bitter. With all you been through."

There was a silence before Jason responded. "Well, I don't see much point in being that way. Our lot is what it is. Best deal with each day and hope for the better."

"Jason, you 'n your folk used to be, well maybe not wealthy, but a family fairly well off here on Persephone. You even spent a few years in college 'n almost got yerself a fancy degree, complete with extra letters to add to the end of your name. Now your a damn slave."

"Not a slave Rick, just indentured."

"Wu Daia Xien, Jay. You know their ain’t no difference. You get sick or break a bone, the man pays the bills and tacks on ten more years to your indenture; and don't give me that go sai about you being healthy. They have ways 'o makin sure it happens."

"You ain’t too bitter yerself Rick," replied Jason with a grin.

"Dammit, Jay, don’t turn this round on me. I was born into it. My family was always bonded. Jus' our lot in life. But it wern't yours. You call back to somthin’ better. Yet here you are, all acceptin n' cheerful. Hell, only time I seen you riled was after your mama died a year back n' they sold your sister to a whorehouse..."

There was a longer silence. This time when Jason responded it was without the hick accent, but the more cultured tone of someone breed to something better. "Rick, you are my friend; and I do sincerely hope you always will be. I must inform you however, that every time a person brings that up, I always consider weather or not being hanged as a murderer is worth it."

"Sorry Jay, know it still smarts. 'N I know you ain’t lying. Hell, it was sure something when you actually slugged ol' man Wing that day. Thought for sure you were a dead man."

"So did I," said Jason looking down into his hands. "But it seems he only likes to kill worthy folk, and I don’t appear to be that since my... well, my family fell from grace." After a pause he forced a smile and added "Sure beat the hell outta me though. I reckon it was worth it though, giving Ath-er-ton a shiner!"

They both laughed at that. "I’m sorry," said Rick.

"What for."

"Mentioning your sis, Emma. You two where always thick as thieves. What with your ma's drinkin' I imagine you were the only family you had after your ol man died. Then yer ma dies of sclerosis and she was the only family you had left. Ta sell her off like that was just cruel. What’s worse I think he did it intentional."

"Didn't start till he died," said Jason.

"Huh."

"You may not know, since we only met after I got indentured, but my ma hardly touched the stuff till my father died. The she seemed to go on a binge and just never came back. That was what got us into debt, least ways the poor judgement that comes with it. N' well, the rest is history."

"Oh," said Rick.

"I estimate its probably time we be getting back to the estate. We both have work tomorrow."

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When the two riders returned to Wing Estate it was nearing midnight. They were surprised however, to be greeted by a fully lighted mansion and a well dressed local government official at the front step.

Both men were wary as they dismounted. Being out past curfew could be considered an escape attempt, which came with a considerable punishment, though this had never been an issue before as the two men regularly exercised the horses in the evenings.

"Evening sir," said Rick as he dismounted. "Anything I can help with?"

"Would you be Mr. Jason Libby and Mr Rick Orlan?"

"Yessir, that would be us,” replied Rick forcing a smile. “ We was just out exercising these fine steeds of Mr. Wing's as we do every evening."

"Of course,” the man gave a very artificial smile as he eyed Jason's mount. “However, I do not believe he will be requiring that service of either of you any longer."

The two young men exchanged wary glances. This sounded very bad for them. Very, very bad considering the temperament of their indentured master. Jason cocked his head though in puzzlement, the emotions he sensed off of the man in front of him were far more bored than menacing. The official could have cared less what them men had gotten up to.

Despite Jason’s unnatural insight, the man surprised even him with his next words. "Master Atherton Wing is dead. He was killed this evening in a duel. His estate is to be dispersed tomorrow and you will be required to attend the hearing. As of this evening you are both free men."

"Ta me,..." uttered Jason. "Thought that son-of-a-bitch had learned his lesson a few years back when he dueled that pirate Renolds?!"

"Apparently not sir. Ironic you should mention Mr. Renolds as... well never-mind. Suffice to say, he did not 'learn his lesson' as you so eloquently put it, and he has now suffered the consequences. You are both free by Persephone law."

"They why are we required to attend the hearing," asked Jason.

Rick was shocked by his friend's boldness. 'Don’t this idiot know when not to look a gift horse in the mouth?' he thought to himself.

"It would appear that Mr. Wing was not always... legally forthcoming in his dealings with his servants. There may be incurred debts that will need to be settled by the estate with you or others who were bonded to him."

"Debt," said Rick, "you meant to say, he owes us?"

"Goodnight gentlemen," said the well-dressed official. "You and the other former servants will be expected at the Persephone City courthouse at 10 AM promptly."

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The next day Jason and Rick walked out of the courthouse with their worlds turned on their heads.

"I can't believe you pressed them for more, Jay. That was almost perverse!"

"Got it though," replied Jason. "Didn't I!"

"Go Sai, friend. You have no shame. Tellin' em that stuff bout your ma. How boozifed she were when she signed those loan documents. Don't you respect your family none?"

"Mor'n you know Rick, but I gotta get what I can. If the best inheritance my mother left me was a sob story, then that’s what I'll take. Too bad thought, that my families land was made into that damn casino. Woulda liked it back."

"Well, you got that largish plot outside the city and more cash 'n I've ever seen in my life." Rick was still disgusted, "How'd you manage those tears so easy. Swear it’s just wrong fer a man to be that way..."

"Trick an ex companion taught me once... onions," said Jason pulling a wad of crushed plant matter from his pocket for his friend to examine. Rick jerked back at the smell.

"Damn, I swear you have no low that’s too low; usin’ tricks from a whore."

"Just gettin' back a chunk o what's mine Rick; just a small chunk o what’s mine."

"And what are you planning on doing with that chunk, o educated one?"

"Find my sister of course," replied Jason. "Only family I got left."

"N' how you expect to do that?" asked Rick with more than a little skepticism.

"Well, since she was sold off planet, first I estimate I need to buy a ship with some of this big pile of cashy money. Then it’s a matter o’ tracing down her buyer."

"And your gonna do that how?"

"Dunno, but as big as the verse is, I don't expect there to be two many pairs of fey looking brothel owners that like to wear blue gloves..."

TO BE (possibly) CONTINUED

P.S. Ain't my Verse, Just borrowing it.