After a few hours, it finally happened.
He warmed up to me. Didn't let me saddle him yet, but letting me touch him was a huge leap toward the right direction.
Bethany was very pleased as well and let me take the next step .. try and saddle him.
" Now remember, take it slow and easy. The saddle has a higher cantle and pommel for more balance. Approach him and try to put this over him. " she handed me a heavy leather saddle.
I was wondering if I could lift this before my training started? Also, what the hell is cantle and pommel?
Zephyr and Lucian were the only ones who felt obligated to stay.
" Alright, you..
" You should name him and all, my love. It's strange calling him you or horse all this time. " he said sitting on top Fenex who were happy as any horse can be.
I didn't like the idea to give him a name if he ended up rejecting me, but Eli was struggling with hers, and she named the horse ages ago.
" Any other great names you been hiding? " I asked, stopping my advance and putting the heavy saddle down.
" It's more meaningful if you chose one. Besides, I've been naming things a lot lately. I'm named out.. " he said, shrugging.
He was practically laying on Fenex and losing interest rapidly.
But it was also right, it's my horse! I should be the one naming him .. I was afraid of how much trouble this naming business was and how much the difficulty would raise when our son was finally born.
I let myself wonder a little and think back to my childhood, talking to my father, the original Zephyr Wold.
He loved horses. In fact, one of our most painful memories was when he had to kill his own one winter because of our lack of food.
I wish he could be alive and see how things turned out.
His horse name was ..
" How about, Sky? " I asked the horse mainly.
He didn't care all that much, but after tasting the name a little, I was sure. Even though the original Sky was white as snow and a mare, I thought this name would be a good one, and hopefully, he would have a better ending than his namesake.
The name was decided, and now let's tame my first horse.
It was true it would've been much easier to just take one of the already broken in horses like Demelza did and most likely wouldn't feel different at all, but since it came to this, I wanted see it through and from the looks of it Eli felt the same.
She looked worn out but determined and was gently patting the head of Shadow Flame catching up to me.
I circled him a little, approaching slowly and cautiously. His suspicion disappeared almost completely, yet he ran away when I tried to swing the saddle on him.
He did the same for the next 30 minutes until I simply ran out of stamina.
" He seems unconvinced, babe. " I felt Zephyr hand on my shoulder and let my weight go leaning back. " You have time. Come back tomorrow. Keep trying. "
" Yeah, he is a stubborn one, but I feel like I'm close. " I said
" Bethany said the same earlier, considering how you two didn't know each other yesterday.. besides. "
He turned me around, seeing Eleanor on the ground staring at the clouds while Shadow Flame paid no mind to her at all.
" She had it much rougher and probably has an even longer road ahead.. let's go have some fun .. Hmm? "
He kissed my dirt covered lips until the rest of my stamina left me. At which point I was picked up, and we arrived back at the river in two steps.
" Come.. let's wash each other before dinner.. we can't eat dirty after all. " he said with a large smile.
Put me down and lead me into the cool water, clothes still on.
" I thought you didn't want to touch me .. "
" Well.. that doesn't mean you can't touch me, right? "
I was on the fence until he took off his shirt, and then all hell broke loose.
——
We were walking back, still dripping and leaving a trail back from the river. Our fight ended with his satisfaction.
I was also satisfied, mentally more than physically. But my mind was at peace with the horse situation.
" What do you think the people from Hori be like? " I asked him.
" Well, it turns out the Monroe's spent over a week there last year. They have a blessed who wasn't there at the time, and they were nice and generous folk according to them. " he answered.
Well most people from nearby villages are nice, to travelling entertainers for multiple reasons. Like the fact they can spread their mistreatment all over the land and hurt trading and such.
The other is sheer boredom and the unending hunger for entertainment.
" I wonder what's the blessing the man or woman carries? Must be not combat related since the beast Hori is still alive. " I thought out loud, wondering what ability we would see.
We were close to our home, and the noises were already slipping thorough the walls, sounding like a full house.
" They might not want Hori killed. From what we been told, Ceron didn't detect hatred or fear from them. We might have to keep riding towards Misao. Unfortunately, no one we know saw or heard anything about that beast... wait.. " he explained, stopped me a few feet away from the door.
" You need to know what exactly I expect from you during this excursion of ours. "
I noticed his long eyelashes and how the sun was in a certain angle..
( SNAP,SNAP )
" Hello!.. What the hell was that? " he snapped his finger to regain my attention.
" I was listening intently.. Idiot, go on and tell me already. " I said, getting a little defensive.
He shook his head, clicking his tongue.
" Tchtch .. fine. The men, the boys' lead, will stay with you three and watch over the townspeople. " he said seriously.
" You do understand these people already have their own soliders and most likely more than 30 men and 3 archers right, my love? I asked sarcastically.
He patted my head a little nodded with understanding.
" Veeery well, we cancel it all, and I hunt them down all alone, leaving tonight and being back .. back by tomorrow afternoon, most likely. "
Damn you..
" I'm sorry, we keep the village under watch. " I said a little monotone.
He sighed and pulled me close, placing a small kiss on my lips.
" If you can prove that you're able to follow orders.. I might let you come along for the second one.. hmm? " he asked, nudging me with his nose.
" Thank you, I won't let you down. " I said.
We were observed by some bystanders dripping wet and making out in front of our house. Another blessed example of our normal everyday life.