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It was Thursday and Cleo felt the next working week was already looming over her. She had enjoyed the past four days of freedom, no worry about unknown horses and no secrets to protect. Ataman had enjoyed her undivided attention and she had relished the time she spent with him, and without her mind wandering anxiously over other things. Her flat was starting to feel like home and the sounds of the old building no longer worried her. Sometimes she felt lonely but she didn't yet have the courage to heal the unspoken rift between her and all the grooms on the yard. However she already felt the gap had narrowed, she didn't think Jet had told them the exact situation but that he had spoken to them she was certain. Cleo knew she could not hide her handicap forever but for now she was happy to be a mysterious individual.

Jethro had not been so relaxed. He couldn't deny he felt slightly annoyed with the girl for giving him another problem to deal with, but deep down he knew it wasn't her fault. In some ways it was better this had come out while Ephy and Anastas'ya were away, it was easier to preserve the secret a little longer when they were the other side of the Channel. However the drama going on at the stud had not escaped the girls' notice. It only took them a couple of hours to see Jethro's wanted advert on the Stud's home page. He had done his best to skirt the issue but he knew they were very curious as to why he was looking for another dressage horse while Korona was for sale. That curiosity would have to go unquenched till they returned home, and he had found so far the dodgy phone signal at Chater Valley and RPS had been excellent in helping him to avoid any more conversations.

He looked out of the window of his office and sighed as he saw snow flakes falling fat and fast. He couldn't believe it was the end of March. Jet was regretting not getting an indoor school built before the winter but there was little he could do about it now. At least for the moment most of the horses were still on a short break and seemed to be coping with the snow. Sweeney seemed overjoyed by its extended stay but you wouldn't expect much less from an Obertaurer. Jet sighed again, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes. He ought to go back to the lodge and get some of his other business work done but all he really wanted to do was rest. He blinked heavily, about to indulge in a guilty doze, when the office phone's shrill ring broke the silence. Jethro sat up with a disgruntled mumble, rubbing his face to try and revive himself.

"Chater Valley Stud, how can I help?"

It only took a few sentences before Jethro went from sounding completely disinterested to attentive. He hurriedly scrawled on some scrap paper and thanked his caller politely before he rushed upstairs. He was soon at Cleo's door knocking impatiently and incessantly. She appeared quickly, flustered and worried in her dressing gown.

"What's wrong? Are all the horses ok?"

"Yes, yes, they're all fine. I've just had a phonecall. We're leaving tomorrow morning. In this weather I reckon we'll need at least two hours. I'll drive the Land Rover, be ready in the yard at 7."

Jethro was already turning to leave before Cleo had a chance to reply.

"Wait Jet! Where are we going?" She called out, wrapping her dressing gown further round her as a gale blew down the corridor.

"We're going to look at a horse. It will probably be hopeless but we're going anyway."

********

Cleo felt shattered. She had barely slept. She knew they were going to look at a horse for her and though she was excited, she was equally worried. The prospect of riding an unknown horse had her turning in her bed. all night. So, at 7am she was ready in the yard but she was clutching a thermos of coffee like a lifeline. Jethro appeared to be his normal self as he pulled into the yard in his Land Rover. Cleo climbed in quickly, glad to at least get out of the cold. She sipped more of her coffee and 'oohed' as she noticed the button to turn the heated seat on.

"Swanky car isn't it!" She said, feeling as if she ought to start a conversation.

"It was a gift. But yes, it is a nice car. Maybe on the flashy side. You can sleep if you like."

Cleo felt like sighing in relief. For the first time since Jethro had banged on her door last night she felt like she could actually sleep. It didn't take long before she was passed out in the passenger seat, her head resting on her bundled up coat. She slept quietly and deeply, but occasionally she murmured as Jethro skilfully drove the car through the snowy conditions, heading north.

********

"Cleo! Cleo! We're here."

She had barely woken up before Jethro was out of the car, slamming his door. She jolted upright, though feeling a little better than she had that morning. It took her a little while to wake up properly and slide out of the car, redressing in her many layers, gloves, hat and scarf. She hoped at least this weather meant she wouldn't be expected to ride anything, especially here.

They were parked on an uneven concrete yard. The stables were obviously not in use, and frankly Cleo felt unsafe being anywhere near them. She hurried after Jethro to a gateway where an older woman stood, waiting. She seemed to only be wearing a fleece and jeans, her head and hands exposed to the bitter cold. Her face was weathered, cheeks ruddy and wind-worn but the overall impression was kindly.

Cleo hung silently behind as the woman chatted to Jethro, in what Cleo first thought was another language, though she soon realised it was simply an impenetrable Yorkshire accent. They trudged through several snowy fields, most containing hairy cobs, or young horses of unknown breeding. They all seemed happy and met the intruders of their fields without fail, crowding around the woman like excited children. Normally the horses emerged from various field shelters which looked to be much more secure than the stables, though Cleo still couldn't quite conceive how they had survived the blizzards.

Finally the woman stopped at a gate and said something to Jethro before climbing over. Jet followed and indicated that Cleo should follow. She looked apprehensively into the field, but it seemed empty. There were snow drifts everywhere and the wind was more brutal than it had been anywhere on the way. Cleo looked over at Jet and then stared at the empty field again. Finally the woman cut through the fierce wind with a piercing whistle. Still it seemed as barren as ever.

Suddenly Cleo caught sight of a brown blur appearing in a flurry of white from the furthest depths of the snowy expanse. She heard the woman shout out, and for the first time she understood her.
" 'Ere 'e comes!"

Cleo could soon make out the form of the bay horse pounding up the hill towards them, unphased by the snowy surface. Without realising, Cleo had walked forward, keen to get a good view of the horse. It slowed as it came closer to her, the ground covering gallop becoming a floating trot. Eventually the horse was close enough that she could really see it. Well, 'him'.

He was a beautiful bright bay with a large white blaze that stood out from his panda like eyes and inky black muzzle. All four of his legs with at least a little white, though it was hard to tell with the snow flurries his exuberant trot created. He circled Cleo, and slightly worried she turned with him, reluctant to let the stallion enter the massive blind spot on her left. After a couple of revolutions The stallion abruptly halted, his quizzical gaze eyeing Cleo. His breath was visible in the chilly air, but he seemed unperturbed by the cold weather. Looking at him it didn't take Cleo too long to work out his breed.

"Hello Snow Mustang. You seem a nice chap. Maybe a bit fat, but handsome nonetheless."

He snorted, and lowered his head slightly. He made to walk onto Cleo's left side, but she turned, still wary of him. The stallion stopped abruptly, and Cleo could have sworn he cocked his head to one side, as if he were thinking. Then he changed direction, and approached Cleo, staying slightly to the right of her. She was happy to let him come in. The woman had not shouted any warning so she hoped he was friendly. He seemed a little wary, but soon he was within reach of Cleo. He watched her for a few moments and then tentatively reached out with that velvet black muzzle to draw her scent in. She slowly offered him her hand, but after a second he boisterously nudged it away with his head before he took a step forward and rested his whole head on Cleo's chest. She stood, taken aback, and then gently placed her hands either side of the bay's head.

They sighed in relief, in unison.

********

Cleo watched the snowy landscape go past in a sort of daze. Neither she nor Jethro had spoken since they had parted ways from the woman. He broke the silence.

"You liked him then?"

"Yes. No, I mean, I don't think 'like' covers it."

Cleo absent mindedly drew on the car window with her finger.

"You think he'll make a dressage horse?"

"I don't know. He doesn't look like one, at least at the moment anyway. But it's hard to tell with all the extra weight he's carrying." She paused for a moment before she turned in her seat to watch Jethro. "Do we know his breeding?"

"Well, if the woman is telling the truth then it's good. I've never heard of his dam, some mustang, but he's by RPS Alexandro."

"Sheesh. I think she must be telling the truth, if she was making it up she would know how valuable that makes him. Even if he is fat and hasn't had any schooling. He's got good prospects then, Alexandro got the silver medal at the olympics in endurance, and came 3rd at the FEI championships eventing at OVEC. I don't think we can pass this colt up."

"No, I won't let him go. We'll pull in at the petrol station a bit further along and I'll give her a call. But looking at it realistically Cleo, this horse should be going to Nastasya to train up for eventing."

Cleo couldn't conceal the sharp intake of breath as anything but a mix of surprise and disappointment. They were both silent for a while as they sped along the motorway. Cleo finally worked up her courage.

"Look, I know I've put enough strain on you already and I shouldn't be making requests... it's just I know I can make something of that stallion. And I used to jump as well as do dressage, it was only after I lost half my sight and hearing I took the precaution of avoiding jumping. I could pick it up again."

"No, out of the question. I'm not having you take unnecessary risks. well aside from letting you even get on a horse. You can have him to begin with. But if he's not going to make a dressage horse Nastasya will have him. And that won't be a pleasant experience for either of you after you've bonded. I'm just warning you. I won't be sentimental when it comes to maximising a horse's potential." He glanced across at Cleo. He was being honest but at the same time he was glad she'd spoken up for herself.

"Of course. That's all fine. Thanks Jethro, thank you so much."

Cleo spent the rest of the journey in a happy daze, occasionally looking up things on her phone. She felt anxious while Jet spoke to the northern woman, imagining that in the hour or so since they'd left she would have had another offer. She was relieved as Jet agreed on a price. It was still much less than the horse was worth but more than the woman had been asking. Still, Cleo knew she wouldn't feel happy till the stallion was safely at Chater Valley.

Jethro put the phone down and nodded at Cleo.

"All sorted. We'll go up tomorrow in the lorry for him, weather permitting."

"Great! I can't wait to get him home. Do you know his name?"

"He was known as Tiernay I think. Means something royal in Gaelic. You can change his name if you like, it's not finalised."

"I think we definitely should, I mean Tiernay is a good name for a Gaelic horse, but I think he ought to have something Greek, assuming Alexandro comes from Alexandros."

"Well it's up to you Cleo."

********

It was late in the evening, but Cleo was still hunched over her laptop, desperately sifting through mountains of Greek names. It was by chance she ended up on the Greek royal family's page on wikipedia, and soon she was clicking on just about any random link, looking for something that suited the big bay stallion. Finally something caught her eye.

Diadochos - Ancient Greek for successor. Used as title for Crown Prince of Greece since 1832

"Diadochos. Yes that's it."

Cleo scrawled the name down on some spare paper and bookmarked the web page before she turned her laptop off and collapsed into bed, already half dreaming.

Diadochos danced across her dreams, danced through Grand Prix dressage arenas with her relaxed and happy on his back.

I love this horse, he's a gorgeous colour despite being 'just a bay'. Although his sire is RPS Alexandro, because his mother was a full mustang he is not classed as an Admiralskaya, just a very unusual solid coloured Obertaurer

However crossed with an Admiralskaya mare he would make some beautiful Russian babies

This can act as his temporary ref for now, but I have, on purpose, drawn him very fat. Basically the idea is that someone bought him off his previous HARPG owner and he was imported to the uk and bought by the northern woman in this story. She didn't have the time for him but knew he ought to go to a competitive stables and rang up Jethro after she saw the wanted ad on the Chater Valley homepage, though Diadochos, or Niko as he's known, didn't really fit the requirements at all.

I'm not sure yet if he will end up being a pure Dressage horse, so you'll just have to watch and see

also cookies to you if you read that incredibly long story! Sorry about typos or bits that don't make sense. this was mostly written at a ridiculous time of the morning and I cannot be bothered to read through it XD

story, Cleo and Jethro (c)
Diadochos original design (c)
formerly owned by (c)

Description
Previous: [link]
Next: coming soon

It was Thursday and Cleo felt the next working week was already looming over her. She had enjoyed the past four days of freedom, no worry about unknown horses and no secrets to protect. Ataman had enjoyed her undivided attention and she had relished the time she spent with him, and without her mind wandering anxiously over other things. Her flat was starting to feel like home and the sounds of the old building no longer worried her. Sometimes she felt lonely but she didn't yet have the courage to heal the unspoken rift between her and all the grooms on the yard. However she already felt the gap had narrowed, she didn't think Jet had told them the exact situation but that he had spoken to them she was certain. Cleo knew she could not hide her handicap forever but for now she was happy to be a mysterious individual.

Jethro had not been so relaxed. He couldn't deny he felt slightly annoyed with the girl for giving him another problem to deal with, but deep down he knew it wasn't her fault. In some ways it was better this had come out while Ephy and Anastas'ya were away, it was easier to preserve the secret a little longer when they were the other side of the Channel. However the drama going on at the stud had not escaped the girls' notice. It only took them a couple of hours to see Jethro's wanted advert on the Stud's home page. He had done his best to skirt the issue but he knew they were very curious as to why he was looking for another dressage horse while Korona was for sale. That curiosity would have to go unquenched till they returned home, and he had found so far the dodgy phone signal at Chater Valley and RPS had been excellent in helping him to avoid any more conversations.

He looked out of the window of his office and sighed as he saw snow flakes falling fat and fast. He couldn't believe it was the end of March. Jet was regretting not getting an indoor school built before the winter but there was little he could do about it now. At least for the moment most of the horses were still on a short break and seemed to be coping with the snow. Sweeney seemed overjoyed by its extended stay but you wouldn't expect much less from an Obertaurer. Jet sighed again, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes. He ought to go back to the lodge and get some of his other business work done but all he really wanted to do was rest. He blinked heavily, about to indulge in a guilty doze, when the office phone's shrill ring broke the silence. Jethro sat up with a disgruntled mumble, rubbing his face to try and revive himself.

"Chater Valley Stud, how can I help?"

It only took a few sentences before Jethro went from sounding completely disinterested to attentive. He hurriedly scrawled on some scrap paper and thanked his caller politely before he rushed upstairs. He was soon at Cleo's door knocking impatiently and incessantly. She appeared quickly, flustered and worried in her dressing gown.

"What's wrong? Are all the horses ok?"

"Yes, yes, they're all fine. I've just had a phonecall. We're leaving tomorrow morning. In this weather I reckon we'll need at least two hours. I'll drive the Land Rover, be ready in the yard at 7."

Jethro was already turning to leave before Cleo had a chance to reply.

"Wait Jet! Where are we going?" She called out, wrapping her dressing gown further round her as a gale blew down the corridor.

"We're going to look at a horse. It will probably be hopeless but we're going anyway."

********

Cleo felt shattered. She had barely slept. She knew they were going to look at a horse for her and though she was excited, she was equally worried. The prospect of riding an unknown horse had her turning in her bed. all night. So, at 7am she was ready in the yard but she was clutching a thermos of coffee like a lifeline. Jethro appeared to be his normal self as he pulled into the yard in his Land Rover. Cleo climbed in quickly, glad to at least get out of the cold. She sipped more of her coffee and 'oohed' as she noticed the button to turn the heated seat on.

"Swanky car isn't it!" She said, feeling as if she ought to start a conversation.

"It was a gift. But yes, it is a nice car. Maybe on the flashy side. You can sleep if you like."

Cleo felt like sighing in relief. For the first time since Jethro had banged on her door last night she felt like she could actually sleep. It didn't take long before she was passed out in the passenger seat, her head resting on her bundled up coat. She slept quietly and deeply, but occasionally she murmured as Jethro skilfully drove the car through the snowy conditions, heading north.

********

"Cleo! Cleo! We're here."

She had barely woken up before Jethro was out of the car, slamming his door. She jolted upright, though feeling a little better than she had that morning. It took her a little while to wake up properly and slide out of the car, redressing in her many layers, gloves, hat and scarf. She hoped at least this weather meant she wouldn't be expected to ride anything, especially here.

They were parked on an uneven concrete yard. The stables were obviously not in use, and frankly Cleo felt unsafe being anywhere near them. She hurried after Jethro to a gateway where an older woman stood, waiting. She seemed to only be wearing a fleece and jeans, her head and hands exposed to the bitter cold. Her face was weathered, cheeks ruddy and wind-worn but the overall impression was kindly.

Cleo hung silently behind as the woman chatted to Jethro, in what Cleo first thought was another language, though she soon realised it was simply an impenetrable Yorkshire accent. They trudged through several snowy fields, most containing hairy cobs, or young horses of unknown breeding. They all seemed happy and met the intruders of their fields without fail, crowding around the woman like excited children. Normally the horses emerged from various field shelters which looked to be much more secure than the stables, though Cleo still couldn't quite conceive how they had survived the blizzards.

Finally the woman stopped at a gate and said something to Jethro before climbing over. Jet followed and indicated that Cleo should follow. She looked apprehensively into the field, but it seemed empty. There were snow drifts everywhere and the wind was more brutal than it had been anywhere on the way. Cleo looked over at Jet and then stared at the empty field again. Finally the woman cut through the fierce wind with a piercing whistle. Still it seemed as barren as ever.

Suddenly Cleo caught sight of a brown blur appearing in a flurry of white from the furthest depths of the snowy expanse. She heard the woman shout out, and for the first time she understood her.
" 'Ere 'e comes!"

Cleo could soon make out the form of the bay horse pounding up the hill towards them, unphased by the snowy surface. Without realising, Cleo had walked forward, keen to get a good view of the horse. It slowed as it came closer to her, the ground covering gallop becoming a floating trot. Eventually the horse was close enough that she could really see it. Well, 'him'.

He was a beautiful bright bay with a large white blaze that stood out from his panda like eyes and inky black muzzle. All four of his legs with at least a little white, though it was hard to tell with the snow flurries his exuberant trot created. He circled Cleo, and slightly worried she turned with him, reluctant to let the stallion enter the massive blind spot on her left. After a couple of revolutions The stallion abruptly halted, his quizzical gaze eyeing Cleo. His breath was visible in the chilly air, but he seemed unperturbed by the cold weather. Looking at him it didn't take Cleo too long to work out his breed.

"Hello Snow Mustang. You seem a nice chap. Maybe a bit fat, but handsome nonetheless."

He snorted, and lowered his head slightly. He made to walk onto Cleo's left side, but she turned, still wary of him. The stallion stopped abruptly, and Cleo could have sworn he cocked his head to one side, as if he were thinking. Then he changed direction, and approached Cleo, staying slightly to the right of her. She was happy to let him come in. The woman had not shouted any warning so she hoped he was friendly. He seemed a little wary, but soon he was within reach of Cleo. He watched her for a few moments and then tentatively reached out with that velvet black muzzle to draw her scent in. She slowly offered him her hand, but after a second he boisterously nudged it away with his head before he took a step forward and rested his whole head on Cleo's chest. She stood, taken aback, and then gently placed her hands either side of the bay's head.

They sighed in relief, in unison.

********

Cleo watched the snowy landscape go past in a sort of daze. Neither she nor Jethro had spoken since they had parted ways from the woman. He broke the silence.

"You liked him then?"

"Yes. No, I mean, I don't think 'like' covers it."

Cleo absent mindedly drew on the car window with her finger.

"You think he'll make a dressage horse?"

"I don't know. He doesn't look like one, at least at the moment anyway. But it's hard to tell with all the extra weight he's carrying." She paused for a moment before she turned in her seat to watch Jethro. "Do we know his breeding?"

"Well, if the woman is telling the truth then it's good. I've never heard of his dam, some mustang, but he's by RPS Alexandro."

"Sheesh. I think she must be telling the truth, if she was making it up she would know how valuable that makes him. Even if he is fat and hasn't had any schooling. He's got good prospects then, Alexandro got the silver medal at the olympics in endurance, and came 3rd at the FEI championships eventing at OVEC. I don't think we can pass this colt up."

"No, I won't let him go. We'll pull in at the petrol station a bit further along and I'll give her a call. But looking at it realistically Cleo, this horse should be going to Nastasya to train up for eventing."

Cleo couldn't conceal the sharp intake of breath as anything but a mix of surprise and disappointment. They were both silent for a while as they sped along the motorway. Cleo finally worked up her courage.

"Look, I know I've put enough strain on you already and I shouldn't be making requests... it's just I know I can make something of that stallion. And I used to jump as well as do dressage, it was only after I lost half my sight and hearing I took the precaution of avoiding jumping. I could pick it up again."

"No, out of the question. I'm not having you take unnecessary risks. well aside from letting you even get on a horse. You can have him to begin with. But if he's not going to make a dressage horse Nastasya will have him. And that won't be a pleasant experience for either of you after you've bonded. I'm just warning you. I won't be sentimental when it comes to maximising a horse's potential." He glanced across at Cleo. He was being honest but at the same time he was glad she'd spoken up for herself.

"Of course. That's all fine. Thanks Jethro, thank you so much."

Cleo spent the rest of the journey in a happy daze, occasionally looking up things on her phone. She felt anxious while Jet spoke to the northern woman, imagining that in the hour or so since they'd left she would have had another offer. She was relieved as Jet agreed on a price. It was still much less than the horse was worth but more than the woman had been asking. Still, Cleo knew she wouldn't feel happy till the stallion was safely at Chater Valley.

Jethro put the phone down and nodded at Cleo.

"All sorted. We'll go up tomorrow in the lorry for him, weather permitting."

"Great! I can't wait to get him home. Do you know his name?"

"He was known as Tiernay I think. Means something royal in Gaelic. You can change his name if you like, it's not finalised."

"I think we definitely should, I mean Tiernay is a good name for a Gaelic horse, but I think he ought to have something Greek, assuming Alexandro comes from Alexandros."

"Well it's up to you Cleo."

********

It was late in the evening, but Cleo was still hunched over her laptop, desperately sifting through mountains of Greek names. It was by chance she ended up on the Greek royal family's page on wikipedia, and soon she was clicking on just about any random link, looking for something that suited the big bay stallion. Finally something caught her eye.

Diadochos - Ancient Greek for successor. Used as title for Crown Prince of Greece since 1832

"Diadochos. Yes that's it."

Cleo scrawled the name down on some spare paper and bookmarked the web page before she turned her laptop off and collapsed into bed, already half dreaming.

Diadochos danced across her dreams, danced through Grand Prix dressage arenas with her relaxed and happy on his back.

I love this horse, he's a gorgeous colour despite being 'just a bay'. Although his sire is RPS Alexandro, because his mother was a full mustang he is not classed as an Admiralskaya, just a very unusual solid coloured Obertaurer

However crossed with an Admiralskaya mare he would make some beautiful Russian babies

This can act as his temporary ref for now, but I have, on purpose, drawn him very fat. Basically the idea is that someone bought him off his previous HARPG owner and he was imported to the uk and bought by the northern woman in this story. She didn't have the time for him but knew he ought to go to a competitive stables and rang up Jethro after she saw the wanted ad on the Chater Valley homepage, though Diadochos, or Niko as he's known, didn't really fit the requirements at all.

I'm not sure yet if he will end up being a pure Dressage horse, so you'll just have to watch and see

also cookies to you if you read that incredibly long story! Sorry about typos or bits that don't make sense. this was mostly written at a ridiculous time of the morning and I cannot be bothered to read through it XD

story, Cleo and Jethro (c)
Diadochos original design (c)
formerly owned by (c)