Also, two things I forgot to mention. The language that the dwarves in Belvia speak is really that of the winged horses.
And the dwarves believe that the spirits of the horses bless Belvia (see below), and that is how they are able to make such wonderful things that they weren't able to make in Erasthinia.
The winged horses are said to be descended from the legendary heroic winged horse Belvi (BELL-vye). Belvi and his sons fought off dragons from the first dwarves who landed in Belvia, and have ever afterwards been revered (and often worshipped) especially by the dwarves, but also by many humans as well. The winged horses can speak and are regarded as highly intelligent. They live an average of twenty-seven years. They mostly stay to themselves in the Gorrian Caves, where the direct descendant of Belvi rules over them. When one of the horses dies, he is carried up into the air by four others and then lowered ceremonially into the sea. It is believed by some Belvians that the soul of the horse returns to the land to bless the inhabitants.
Just the idea of winged horses is thrilling. But the mental image of winged horses fighting dragons... why, that's just plain exhilarating!
ReplyDeleteThank you :) Right now, I'm working on a short story about the dwarves coming to Belvia. If I ever finish it, I'll post it on AP.
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