Page 42 of Forcing Fate

“Chin up. Let it go. If people aren’t talking about you, they’re talking about someone else.” He continued his long strides. “Pay them no mind.”

I focused on the road and tucked my emotions away. Willhelm was right. I couldn’t do anything about it now.

“Master Aron is pleased to have you today,” he said, changing the subject.

I cleared my throat. “Is he?”

“He is. He believes having a female presence,” he gave me a pointed look, “will have a calming effect on some of the wilder horses.”

I bit my lip and nodded, looking around as we reached the stable. It was a large building, one story, but it was longer than the school dorms. Horse stalls lined both sides. On the far side, all the stalls opened into sectioned paddocks.

Doors broke the stone wall that faced the front. Above, reed blinds were coiled, tied to the ceiling. I assumed they unrolled them and staked them to the ground during the rain and snow.

“Hail!” came a cheerful call.

A lanky man, barely out of boyhood, jogged toward us. His shock of red hair was as disheveled as his clothes, looking as if he just rolled out of bed.

“Master Aron,” Willhelm greeted with a nod.

“Sergeant Willhelm, how’s that mare treating young Fior?” he asked.

“Well enough. He’s managed to keep his seat during training,” Willhelm replied.

“Glad to hear it!” He turned to me with an amiable smile. “And you must be Miss Avyanna.”

“At your service, Master Aron.” I dipped into a curtsy.

“Oh my, please don’t bother with curtsies. Might scare my stableboys into thinking they have to bow to me now,” he laughed.

The sound relaxed me, rich and genuine. I would like this Master far better than General Rafe.

“Now, are you ready to see some real horses?” he asked with a dramatic hand on his hip.

“Absolutely.” I gripped General Rafe’s tunic to my chest.

For now, I would focus on the horses, not the nasty rumors going about. Horses didn’t care about rumors anyhow.

Chapter Twelve

I soon realized there was a massive difference between a lady’s mount and war horses. The beasts that called the barracks home were demon bred. They were huge. My head only came to their chests, and they had the temperament of wild boars.

Master Aron told me not to be afraid of them, and to be calm. Though even he appeared a bit worried while comparing my stature to the animals. At first, he watched as I led around an old broodmare before he had me brave any of the chargers. This way, under his careful scrutiny, he tested my capabilities of handling the creatures.

She snorted my hair and nudged my shoulder, though that playful shove sent me staggering. Master Aron ordered me to take a shorter lead on her. She stubbornly carried her head high like a carriage horse.

It didn’t take long before I was able to lead her about. Master Aron was satisfied with my handling, even if it looked as though the beasts could chew me up and spit me back out.

It surprised me when Master Aron didn’t send me to muck out stalls or clean up the paddocks, but instead took me through his rounds. He went about checking on maimed horses. He explained the malady, their treatments, and how to handle them with their injuries.

We were working with a gelding that had a bad limp. Master Aron said it was due to the horse’s hock. He applied an ointment and wrapped it. The gelding tried to nip at him several times—I kept a safe distance away.

“Well, I’d say it’s time for us to start with training, but it looks like it’s almost time for the midday meal. Do you take your meals at the dining hall?” he asked.

I put the ointment back in its place inside the basket Master Aron hauled around. “I haven’t yet had the opportunity.” What I wanted to say was that I hadn’t been allowed yet, but that sounded petty and childish.

“Eh, I’m not going to tell you what to do on your time off.” He straightened and gave the gelding a rough pat on the neck before untying him.

However, I noticed the silent objection in his statement.

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