Post by Brandwyn on Dec 3, 2011 13:48:08 GMT -5
Tory finished up her brief basic care lesson and looked to Ole Bob questioningly. He nodded to her, “Nicely done, Lass. Now you help any of these youngsters that need it picking out their tack.” Then he strode over to Dian as Tory watched him for a moment. She turned back to Enya and helped her bush down Storm and saddle him up properly.
“Okay, whisper the password in his ear and then get on him. Do you know how to steer and stop him?” Tory asked Enya. She figured it would be best if the new riders took their first lesson here under Bob’s eyes. Then Tory swung up on the Skandian stallion’s back and watched Enya for several minutes. “How are you doing?” She asked riding alongside Enya and Storm on the stallion with no saddle or bridle. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Ole Bob watching her and knew he knew she was showing off a little. She just quirked her mouth to keep from grinning sheepishly and made the stallion match Storm’s stride.
After she was sure Enya was doing okay for a bit she said, “Let me check on the others while you get the feel of him. Just ride him around the clearing here a bit nice and easy. Maybe we can all go on a trail ride when everyone is ready.” Tory said and turned her horse away from Enya and rode over to Dian.
Meanwhile Old Bob had approached Dian after Tory finished her little lesson and said, “I see one of my fine old stock horses has taken a fancy to you.” He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “his password is Ironhand. Crowley says you rode in here on an ornery battlehorse. You should get along just fine with him. Any idea what you are going to name him?” Bob asked her.
Tory rode up and said, “Charcoal or Onyx would be kind of cool. Or maybe Black Velvet,” she suggested. “We had a Black Velvet at Meric many years ago that was the old doctor’s hackney horse. She was a very sweet thing with the softest velvety nose.” Tory grinned and then looked up as a familiar whinny erupted the relative quiet. Chip burst into the clearing and skidded to stop in front of her and tossed his head, snorting. Right behind him was Dustin and Charlie leading their horses. In Dustin’s arms was Tory’s saddle and bridle.
“Busted!” Dustin grinned at her. Tory looked at Chip who was glaring at her and slid off the Skandian stallion, patting him on his neck. “Go along boy, we can talk later maybe.” She then turned pet Chip on the forehead and he shied his head away from her. “Say now, don’t be like that or you won’t get this carrot here in my pocket.” Tory brandished a carrot under Chip’s nose and he watched it warily as if debating whether or not to make her suffer longer. Finally his stomach won and he reached for it, snatching it out of her hand then he let her pet him. “Sorry about betraying you by riding another horse, Chip, but I didn’t think I was going to need you over here when we first came.”
All you had to do was whistle. Chip looked her in the eye and Tory dropped hers to the ground and nodded. “I know. I’m sorry. I confess I did want to ride the Skandian horse again. It might be the last chance I ever get.” Chip didn’t look mollified but the carrot made up for a lot.
Dustin laughed at her and handed her the saddle. “I tried to tack him up, but of course he wouldn’t let me,” he said with a wary look at Chip who eyed him back just as cautiously.
“Smart horse.” Tory quipped and grinned as she quickly ran a brush over Chip and then saddled and bridled him. Then she turned back to Dian, “so, have you made up your mind yet on what you are going to name him? You don’t have to right away you know. Sometimes it is better to wait a while and see what his personality is and something will pop into your head and stick there.”
Charlie then stepped up to Dian and said, “Sorry I wasn’t there to bring you over here, Dian. We got tied up with some errands when that rider came in here with the news for Crowley. We’re wondering what is going on, the courier is not talking to anyone about it.”
Tory looked at Enya and Dian and wondered if she should say anything. She didn’t know a whole lot herself. “well, I suspect it is something about the plague in the north and all the trouble that is causing. Seems a lot of people are sick, especially in Norgate. The senior rangers are meeting with Crowley now.”
Dustin nodded, “We know, we were sent to find some of them and get them there, but they wouldn’t tell us why. Plague… that is not good.”
“Yeah, it is pretty bad from what Ari said in the letter to Mylia. I wonder if they are going to cut the Gathering short and send us all back home.” Tory mused. “Anyway, looks like everyone has their horses now, and we have just enough time before supper to go for a short ride.” Tory said, not wanting to dwell on the unpleasant news. “Hey Bob, can we take the new group on a trail ride up along the stream?”
Bob waved at them, “Go ahead, just keep it short, especially if you’re supposed to be cooking dinner.”
Tory nodded, “Cool. Let’s go! Charlie, you and Dian have the bigger horses, why don’t you lead and Dustin and I will bring up the rear.”