“Foolish that.” Barrow snorted, sounding very much like Toshach when he did so. “Horses can help a man when little else will save him.”
Caber nosed Ember’s shoulder, then decided to chew on the braid that ringed her head.
“Stop that!” Ember jerked her head back and swatted Caber’s nose. The horse snorted and backed away, but a moment later he was inching back toward her, head bowed in apology again.
“Good,” Barrow said, watching as she let the horse make his apology and then began to pet him again. “You’ll have to be firm with him. Caber’s young and a stallion. He doesn’t have a rider because his temper makes him difficult to handle. And he’s thrown not a few young men who thought themselves better riders than they were. If you don’t pay attention, he’ll have you halfway to England before you tug on the reins.”
Ember’s hands dropped from the horse’s neck and Caber whinnied in protest.
“You’re giving me a stallion?” she asked. Caber was beautiful and she was drawn to the horse, but it seemed foolish to pick a horse beyond her skill.
“I’m not giving you anything. The horse chooses its rider,” Barrow said. “Any other way and you’ll find an ill fit. Caber wishes to serve you. He’s a good horse—but very spirited.”
“He’s incredible,” Ember said. “I’m just not certain I can—”
“You’ll learn.” Barrow cut her off and moved to open the stall door. “Starting now.”
TEN
EMBER HAD TO CHIDE CABER several times as she led the stallion from the stable. Eager to be free of his stall, Caber was skittish, tossing his head and nearly treading on her heels. Barrow kept a close eye on the way she interacted with the horse, never interfering, but Ember sensed that he was wary of her losing control of the large animal and ready to jump in should she need his aid. Ember was determined not to let that happen.
They encountered Ian in the paddock. The young apprentice gave a low whistle when he saw Ember leading Caber but offered no further comment.
Barrow went back for Toshach, reappearing a few minutes later with the glossy black steed. The stallion danced from side to side like a roiling thundercloud ready to burst into storm.
Ember watched the two horses snort and paw at the earth, impatient to be on their way. They were an exquisite pair: Caber bright as the sunrise, Toshach darker than the night sky. Yet the longer she looked, Ember realized the horses weren’t what she’d expected.
Ian noticed her frown. “Is something wrong, my lady?”
Though she didn’t mean for her words to be critical, Ember still felt nervous when she said, “They aren’t warhorses.”
“I assure you they do not fail in combat.” The furrow in Ian’s brow made Ember regret speaking up.
“She only means they aren’t the elephants her father uses in tournaments,” Barrow told Ian.
Ember laughed, thinking of how her father would react to having his prize steeds described as elephants, and quickly nodded. “They’re more beautiful than any horses I’ve laid eyes on.”
Her gaze traveled over the sleek, gleaming bodies of the stallions. Their curving necks stretched perfectly into strong backs and hard flanks. Their firm, slender legs tapered to almost delicate-looking ankles. The horses struck her as simply too lovely, too graceful for war.
Taking full advantage of her admiration, Caber tossed his proud head and whinnied.
“Careful, Ember. That horse already thinks well enough of himself as it is.”
She smiled, patting Caber’s neck.
“We don’t fight in heavy armor,” Barrow continued. “And our tasks require speed and agility over strength. These coursers better serve our purpose than a destrier could.”
Ian took hold of Toshach while Barrow retrieved the horses’ tack. Despite his feisty mood, Ember was managing Caber rather well. Her pleasure at that small triumph drained away when she encountered the next challenge. Abashed, she admitted to Barrow that she had no idea how to prepare the horse for her first ride.
Ian offered to saddle and bridle Caber, but Barrow waved him away.
“This horse is your responsibility,” the knight told her. “There will be no one to help you when we’re in the field.”
Barrow was patient as he taught her how to properly tack up the stallion. He tested the girth, reminding her that it would loosen when bearing her weight. When she’d finished saddling the horse, Barrow made her take the equipment off and start over again: this time without his instruction. Caber craned his neck to watch them, his ears flicking in curiosity as his saddle was placed on his back only to be removed and placed again. When she’d gone through the process five times and was cursing her teacher under her breath, Barrow pronounced her ready for an actual ride. He turned around only to find that Ian had saddled Toshach during the lesson.
“He would have run off without you if I hadn’t kept him busy.” Ian handed Barrow the reins.
Ember hoisted herself into the saddle, settling on Caber’s back. The stallion began to move immediately, sidestepping and tossing his head.
“Don’t let him forget you’re there,” Barrow said. “And keep him in check. He’ll bolt right out from under you if you let him.”
Ember nodded, gritting her teeth as she shortened her reins. She could feel the stallion’s power, churning like white water beneath her.
“Are you ready?” Barrow was astride Toshach. The black stallion pranced incessantly, lifting his front legs as though he wanted to rear.
“Yes.” Though her heart was flying, Ember’s smile stretched wide. Caber’s excitement, his energy, seemed to flow into her very limbs.
Barrow returned her smile. In the quick flash of teeth Ember understood that it wasn’t just the horses that longed to race from Tearmunn. On the back of his steed Barrow moved with supreme grace. Even with Toshach’s fitful prancing, horse and rider flowed together. With a motion she could barely detect, Barrow started Toshach forward at a trot. Caber kept pace beside the other stallion while Ember maintained a firm grasp on the reins. Barrow was holding Toshach back as well. Both horses wanted to run.
“Hold up!” The call came from near the barracks. Barrow reined Toshach with a sign, wheeling the horse around. With a snort of protest, Caber relented as Ember turned him.