Page 8 of Silverbow
“Let me introduce Enya, future of our humble house, that is if she ever chooses a husband.”
Enya felt as if she’d been thrown in the Ilbarran Ocean, raging winter whitecaps and all. Her face went crimson, but the expressions on the fighting men never waivered, other than Aiden’s. A broad lit his features and it was a grin that made Enya’s heart stutter again.
Oh, light.
“Pleasure, Miss Ryerson,” Andril said, inclining his head.
“Kez or Barrow for his height, don’t you think?” Her father asked the stablemaster.
“Do you prefer a younger, swifter mount, lad? Or something a with some seasoning?” Del asked.
“Younger,” Aiden answered, sadly scratching his mare behind the ears. Del left them to collect the horse he had in mind.
Her father nodded toward the warhorse. Renley Ryerson had not missed the fine stallion, but unlike Enya, who was still wishing she could vanish from the spot, he had managed not to gawk. Perhaps he would just think it was the horse that had captured her attention.
“That’s fine stock of your own. Might I ask where he’s from?”
Those depthless eyes that threatened to drown the unwary swiveled to her father. “Across the Saulet Sea.”
Enya’s eyes went wide. House Ryerson might breed the finest stock in all of Estryia, but the fabled creatures of the desert horse lords were something else entirely.
“I thought he might have the look of Zeskayra,” her father nodded. “What brings you to our humble corner of the world?”
“Work,” Andril said simply.
“And how do you find Westforks?”
“Pleasant.”
“Will you be staying long?”
“I’m afraid we’re on our way back to less pleasant country,” Andril answered.
Enya wondered where that was, or what business fighting men had here, but she tried to piece together the shreds of her dignity as she unsaddled the colt, waiting for Del to reemerge. When he did, he led Kez, the pale gray gelding glistening in the sun. Long of leg and filled with youthful vigor, the horse pranced toward them.
The boy mounted with an easy grace and steered around the yard, putting Kez through his paces and testing his cues. Despite his youth, he rode like a man who spent long days in the saddle, which Enya supposed he did, if his party had been to the Saulet Sea and back.
As she watched, she had the distinct feeling she too was being watched, her skin prickling at the sensation. She tucked away a strand of hair that a suddenbreeze tugged from her braid, and when she glanced over her shoulder, those blue eyes were boring into her back. Her heart went skittering.
Oh, light.
She tried to wipe away the pink that crept into her face as Andril turned to her. The upward tick of a brow toward his companion indicated that he’d seen, and her blush deepened.
“That’s a fine young horse. Did you train him as well?”
Enya nodded, shooing away the ridiculous butterflies that battled around her middle. “He’s a quick study and will keep up with hard riding.”
A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as the man asked, “Do I take the matter of silver up with the lady, then?”
She waved her hand to Del and her father. “The gentlemen look after the books.”
With a chuckle, Andril drew out a coin purse that clinked. He didn’t haggle over the price, and in the end, her father and Del agreed to look after the mare. She’d make a fine enough cross with Tyndar.
“What’s her name?” She asked Aiden.
“Sana.”
When she heard her father chuckle behind her, she braced for more embarrassment.
