Meet Ferian Fetlock

Confession: A friend took me out to dinner tonight to celebrate a personal triumph. Her suggestion was a restaurant I don't really like, but I went anyway so as not to hurt her feelings. I wonder how often I force my own tastes on others in the name of friendship?

Reading:

• Someplace to be Flying, by Charles de Lint

Writing:

• "Ferian Fetlock Cures a Horse"

Revising:

• "Cora and the Sea"

Tonight, I'm going to write a short passage from Ferian Fetlock's POV, just to get it straight before working on the story tomorrow.

Gaze into my eyes, these twin limpid pools of soul. See the reflection upon reflection of depths unimaginable, of possibilities unexplored. Witness wisdom wise enough to know it knows naught, and see kindness and gratitude in equal measure. Fall into those eyes, and know what it means to trust.

Got it? Great. And now I've got you.

I'm about as deep as a puddle, but if you can convince a man with a wet foot that he's drowning, you're halfway there. Throw him a rope and charge him for it, and that's the other half.

Mine is the only truly noble trade. The farmer grows fat by letting nature do what it does naturally, and selling the result. The vintner does the same, and gets to drink in the bargain. The blacksmith passes time by hitting heavy things with heavier things. All center around one premise, to wit: preying upon the inability of the rest of mankind to do the same damn thing for themselves.

I, on the other hand, offer an Education. I do not cultivate the naivete of my clients; I seek to exploit it, and in so doing, shatter it forever. I provide a service, and if I set my own price, what does that matter? And if I choose those in greatest need of that service, who can fault me?

And if I line my pockets with gold, why should I worry? It will go back to the farmer and the blacksmith eventually, and the vintner right away. I am the lynchpin that holds together the great circle of commerce.

Convinced? Yes? Then perhaps you'd like to see my line of equine curatives....