The Legend Of the Golden Horse

by Jeff Baker

(A Prince Almazotz story.)

AUTHOR’S NOTE: The draws for the January 2024 Flash Fiction Draw Challenge were for a Legend, set in a Herd of Horses involving a Grapefruit. So we travel to the mysterious World Of Three Moons for an adventure of the not-that-mysterious Prince Almazotz. Enjoy! —jeff

Tales are told of the wandering Prince Almazotz, and of his many adventures attempting to escape his Royal Father’s wrath as well as an arranged marriage to a stuffy and boring prince of another realm.. But when the three moons ride high in the sky the ancient Chronicles recall the wild night of the Prince’s encounter with the Horse-Drover YoPo and his attempt to find the legendary Horse of Gold.

It had transpired earlier that evening that the Prince (disguised as usual in more humble garments) had come across the Horse-Drover watering his horses at the Fountain Of the Really Smelly Animals. The Prince remembered the Prophecy about the Golden Horse. (The Prince had a mental catalog of any prophecy that involved gold, silver or jewels.)

He was able to bribe YoPo to let him travel with him for the night, but the Drover was well aware of the legend of how “a man of Royal birth will encounter a Drover at the Smelliest Fountain and how, under the Three Moons, they shall encounter the Golden Horse.” The Prince had told him he was related to the Royal House but had not given his real name.

As the sun set, YoPo and Prince Almazotz set off across the desert with the five or six horses (the legend is not clear on this) which YoPo was taking to The Grand Market. The Prince walked beside them, making sure the horses did not run off and carrying the basket of sour Grape-Fruit these horses preferred. The Prince occasionally was munching on one of the Grape-Fruits and keeping his eyes peeled for any sign of the Golden Horse.

The night was lit by the three Moons high in the sky when they saw the shape in the distance, coming towards them. The Prince quickly hopped on one of the horses and urged it forward, to meet with this mysterious figure.

The horse wouldn’t move. It looked up at the Prince with an annoyed expression. The Prince climbed down from the horse he was riding on and stood with YoPo.

“Look! It is coming towards us! We need not pursue!” YoPo said pointing. “And behold! The horse is made of gold!”

Indeed they could see clearly in the moons-light the glistening yellowish-golden color of the horse as it approached.

“The Golden Horse!” Prince Almazotz breathed. “And it is ours!”

Within moments, the Golden Horse trotted up to them and to the herd who whinnied and snorted, maybe in greeting. The Golden Horse walked over to Prince Almazotz and nosed the bag full of Grape-Fruits at his side. The Prince handed the horse one of the fruits and he munched it happily

YoPo and the Prince stared. Up close the golden color was the yellowish mud and clay of one of the oases that dotted the area.

Prince Almazotz sighed.

“Doubtless this horse was trying to cool off during the heat of the day and was covered in the clay of the oasis.” YoPo said.

“So the prophecy was worth about as much as a half-eaten Grape-Fruit expelled from a muddy horse,” the Prince said. “Wonderful.”

“On the other hand, we now have another horse to take to market if we do not find its owner.” YoPo said.

“We do? Oh, we do!” Prince Almazotz said. “And the owner could give us a substantial reward!”

“He may even pay us in Grape-Fruit,” YoPo said with a smile as they resumed their walk through the desert.

Thus ends the tale of Prince Almazotz and the Golden Horse. As for whether there ever was a real Golden Horse and what its true nature was, alas! On that, the Chronicles remain silent.

—end—