Along for the ride (Ruin)

Sebol was where he had spent the vast majority of his time since arriving at Dalibor—the stables; and for once he wasn’t doing chores. Although even if he hadn’t spent most of his chore-time with the beasts his visits here would have tripled for one simple reason—Requias. Such a dream lady willing and capable: With an owner easy to barter with bubblies. Ever since that first frantic run down to the beaches with Xiro’el, the Herder had spent as much time astride the mare as possible. His near-fanatical devotion to runners meant his preparation for any ride took well over a mark to complete—but this time he had a staccato hammering from outside to keep him on pace.

When finished he lead the mare down the stone hallway to the exit, and freedom, but there was one final—important—check before they left. The box-stall at the end of the row, and across from the open doorway to the bowl, always held a gelding. If one was taken out another was placed inside—without fail. Sebol led the agile mare to that stall and waited. Certainly it would be easier to tease with a stud, but that was dangerous with stone walls; all the same the mare showed little interest so Sebol surmised it was safe enough to ride her. It wasn’t entirely his safety he had to worry about—many had brought stud runners of their own to Dalibor, and the rider of such a beast would be at more risk than he; but it was better to prepare than otherwise.

Req followed him nimbly into the sunlight of the bowl fully exposing the minimal tacking she wore. Where once Sebol rode her as he would a runner he did not know; now she was ridden as he had his own in Ruatha—with pad, barrelcinch, and headstrap only. The pad itself would not garner a second glance; many children rode their beasts in such a fashion—the pad was there only for added support around his precious areas: At least Dragonmen were typically seated between ridges and on the neck. The headstrap, however, was his own invention; and one he had been thrilled to find he could use with the mare. A supple length of weyrhide tied around her lower jaw where a bit would otherwise sit. She was elegant.

There were very few runners he had encountered that were experienced enough for this type of tack, but luckily for him; she was. He vaulted onto her effortlessly and eased onto her back with a gentle deliberation, throwing the end of the chinstrap across her grey neck. He would barely need it. It had only taken him a fourday to realize she could stop, change gaits, turn, and slow based upon his body movements alone. They could both be free. So involved had he been in his borrowed mare that he had not realized the hammering had stopped—and when he looked he saw a girl all limbs and knees. She resembled the runners that milled about her expecting all sorts of attention, and her brown hair cascaded in curls past her shoulders.

Well…she seemed young to be a ‘Rider, and she wasn’t with the former Candidates; so Sebol deduced she must be new, and what did he do with any new person but stare at them until they took notice and then smile. He sat Req lightly, palms on his thighs as she ambled over to the fence in response to his imperceptible command, and watched this girl with curiosity—though he did give a soft cough. Nothing like alienating someone by appearing to be wherry-brained.