Page 22 of Hera

“Night-mares,” Augustine corrected her. “They are used to supernatural riders, so we should not have any problems with them.”

“That’s so smart,” Hera said, taking his hand and beaming up at him.

“Come, I will introduce you to the owner.” Augustine led her over to the man in charge. “Hera, this is Diomedes.” To the large man, he added, “This is her first time riding.”

Diomedes grinned and uncrossed his meaty forearms. “I’ll pick out a nice, gentle mare for you. You should walk her around the paddock a couple of times to get used to her before you take her out.”

“I’ll take that under advisement,” Hera said seriously.

The three of them entered the large stable that was filled with horses. Augustine took a deep breath in, smelling the mares’ sweat with an undertone of manure. It was a comforting scent, one that hadn’t changed, even after all the years he’d been asleep.

“Dream shouldn’t give you any trouble, Miss Hera,” Diomedes said, stopping in front of a stall with a mare that looked like all the rest. Dream bobbed her head, one large brown eye moving from Diomedes to Hera.

“Ohhhh, she’s beautiful,” Hera murmured.

“You can pet her nose,” Diomedes suggested.

Cautiously, Hera raised one hand and brushed it over the mare, who held still during her petting. “She’s perfect.”

Diomedes chuckled. “She’s plenty docile. Not much spooks her.”

“Might I ride Fantasy again?” Augustine asked, looking across the barn to his usual horse.

“Go right ahead,” Diomedes said, waving a hand in dismissal.

Augustine, confident in Hera’s ability to bond with Dream, left her to it and reacquainted himself with Fantasy. “Hello, pretty girl,” he crooned as he approached her. “Remember me?”

She bobbed her head in the semblance of a nod and nudged his shoulder with her nose.

“Want to go for a ride with someone really special to me? She is going to be riding your friend Dream. Does that sound like fun?”

Fantasy fixed him with one of her large eyes and softly nickered.

“That a girl,” Augustine said, opening the door so she could walk out. He grabbed her bridle and slipped it over her nose. He took up the reins and walked her back over to Hera. “Ready to go for a walk?”

Hera was astride her horse, Diomedes having helped her ready her horse and climb up onto the mare’s back. “I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting my first time on a horse to be bareback.”

“The night-mares refuse a saddle,” Diomedes said. He shrugged. “At least they’re willing to put on a bridle, otherwise we’d have quite the time riding them!”

Augustine hopped up and swung a long leg over the horse, settling himself confidently on her back.

“Damn,” Hera whispered.

“Sorry?” Augustine asked. He’d heard her, of course, but he liked the positive attention.

Hera cleared her throat and blushed lightly. “I said, ‘damn,’ because watching you was incredibly hot.”

Augustine smiled shyly at her, glad she felt confident enough to say that out loud. “I am sorry I missed your mount.”

“Oh Goddess, I’m not!” Hera laughed. “It wasn’t flattering at all!”

“I will be the judge of that,” Augustine said playfully, almost shocked at his audacity.

Diomedes, who they had forgotten about, coughed loudly, drawing their attention. “Sorry to interrupt your flirting, but a few things to remember, Miss Hera. Grip with your knees—”

Augustine tuned the rest of his lesson out and watched how Hera moved with Dream. She was already sitting taller and more comfortably. He smiled to himself, pleased with how well she was taking to riding a horse.

“I’m ready to try walking around the field, now,” Hera said to Augustine.

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