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He grunted. “Fine. One horse, leathers,anda lesson.”
Her lips curved up.
Passing a few bay horses with bright white socks, she continued through the pasture.
Soren was on her tail, wasting no time on beginning her lesson. “Horses sense fear, remain confident and the horse will too. Don’t stand behind them either, their hind legs can’t tell the difference between a friend and enemy, and speaking of enemies, pinned ears mean back off.”
She looked over her shoulder to say, “I know those things, I’ve worked with horses, just notriddenthem.” Thessa turned back and smiled, pointing to a horse she spotted on the way in. “There. How about the black and white patchy one?” Its coloring reminded her of a cow.
“No.”
She whirled around, her long hair following suit. “What?”
“No,” he repeated, this time crossing his arms.
She scrunched her brows in confusion. “But your father said I could haveanyhorse.”
“As much as my father would be pleased to get Hades off our property, I won’t allow it. That horse is trouble.”
“I’d argue the same of you.” Thessa lifted her nose, and turned back around, walking toward the horse anyway.
“Your arguments are pitiful.”
She rolled her eyes. Stopping about ten paces before Hades, she looked back to ask, “Why would you name him that?”
“It’s not a male.”
“You namedherHades? That’s awful.”
“Awful? See for yourself.”
Thessa approached the mare with her hand outstretched, laying atop it was the carrot she’d carried with her.
Hades’ nostrils flared in silent inspection, before bobbing her head in horse-like approval. Her thick, top lip found the carrot and chomped the thing to pieces.
Thessa looked back at Soren. “She’s just hungry.”
Soren tipped his head back and laughed.
27
LECTURE NOTES FROM GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTIONS:
There are sea caves in the south-western tip of Andera. Some are quite large, and others too small to explore. Typical creatures that reside in those waters are serpents, slugs, crustaceans and several fish species, well tolerant of dark conditions.
Thessa forgot all about Elemental soldiers when death flashed before eyes.
The moment she’d mounted Hades, the horse reared. Gripping the part of the saddle that reminded her of a hilt, she held on with desperation. “W-woah, woah.”
“I tried telling you.” The amusement was alive in Soren’s tone. Thessa didn’t have to look to see him grinning, she could feel it.
When Hades stomped her hooves back down, she exclaimed, “You never mentioned she was unrideable.”
His smirk lingered. “Oh, she’s fully trained, just dramatic. I suggest you hold on tight.”
Before Thessa could scold him, Soren took the back of his hand to Hades’ rear and smacked. The horse bucked, sending her forward, before launching out the barn door.
Screaming would require her to breathe and that she could not do. Hades was all might. Thessa couldn’t do anything other than hold on tight.