The crunching of hooves across the thin sheet of snow disrupted the peaceful silence of night. Uneasy and unable to sleep, Roland wandered carelessly across the frozen steppe, eyes raised heavenwards as he admired the dark night sky. The moon’s pale round face shone down upon his golden hide, illuminating the snow and throwing shadows into sharp relief. From one horizon to the next stars twinkled and shone, each one appearing crisp and white; yet if one looked closer they would see the myriad of colours flashing beneath, some inky blue while others sparkled blood red.

And cast across the sky like a mystic blanket swirled the aurora borealis, acid green and faded sapphire, dancing gracefully across the heavens on celestial wings. Roland’s breath steamed before his face as he walked, the otherworldly blush reflecting in his widened eyes. Wet snowflakes spiraled through the chilled air, biting into his skin with the sharpness of an icy bite, yet for once the wintry weather was not enough to make him seek out shelter. As he scaled a slow incline, his gaze moved to the ground before him, maneuvering over an icy patch and then looking out across the barren steppe.

He sensed the sudden presence of magic before it manifested before his very eyes, ears perking and step halting. After a few moments of breathless silence, several feet ahead of him the snow began to swirl, sparkling with an ethereal golden hue as it was woven into a glasslike object. The stallion stepped back a pace, watching with mixed fear and admiration as the mirror formed, framed with gilded ice and reflecting a crisp image of himself and the snowy ground around him.

At the top of the mirror curled a golden snake, unmoving as a statue. After a moment’s hesitation, when all seemed to grow still again, Roland stepped forwards and stretched out his neck, muzzle reaching hesitantly towards the shining reptile. He spoke no words for fear of breaking from some reverie, but paused, muscles tense in anticipation as he studied the apparition which appeared to have come from nowhere but the ground itself. If this was a God’s doing, only time would tell, and Roland was remarkably patient.

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