Foreword: This 'story' is the long version of how Kensie acquired a horse from Kadhael Corbie. I decided it ran on too long to serve its purpose in "The Angry Boy", so I cut most of it out and condensed it.
The scenes here were originally planned to go immediately after the sparring with Evan Aitken in the salle before midwinter, which is why it is inconsistent with "The Angry Boy" in some details.
I thought some of you (particularly those who are 'horsey') might enjoy it.
Kensie had another run in with Kadhael Corbie in the stable.
It was raining heavily when Kensie arrived at the stable. Tahk was busy cleaning riding gear and putting things away. He smiled at Kensie, knowing that the young lord would take care of his own horse without demanding more of Tahk's time.
"Don't know if you'll get a good ride. The école is full to overflowing with highborn right now. You can't trot two strides without crossing someone's path. I think your boy needs a good gallop."
The école – the covered riding ring – was almost entirely for the use of the nobles. Keren would only allow the trainees to use it if there was a gale strong enough to prevent the trainees hearing her instructions. The école usually full of nobles if the weather was even slightly less than perfect. In a heavy rain, no highborn would be riding anywhere else; even so, they tended to avoid riding at all when there was a wind to spook their high-strung horses. It was surprising that so many would be riding now.
"Why so many riding, Tahk?" Kensie asked.
"It's been raining three days and all of them have been hiding in the Palace. The Queen make a comment about 'fair weather horsemen' after she took her Companion out this morning. Now all of them feel they have to prove they can still ride."
Tahk grinned. "There's been a dozen tossed by their horses this afternoon and most of the rest are just walking their war stallions on a tight rein."
"Anybody killed?" Kensie said impishly.
Tahk laughed. Lowering his voice so none could overhear, he said. "Nothing broken yet. But me and the other stablehands are running a pool on who breaks a bone first. My groat is on Baron Futcher."
"Is Kadhael Corbie there?" Kensie asked.
"Aye. He's riding that nasty grey of his." Tahk said.
Kensie pulled a groat from his purse. "I'll put mine on Kadhael. That horse isn't nasty, it's a damn fine animal that has been brutalized. A crowded ring is just the place for it to explode." Kensie had seen Kadhael ride his stallion. Though competent enough as a rider, Kadhael rode harshly, using a spade bit and long spurs along with frequent applications of the whip.
Tahk took Kensie's groat. "There wouldn't be any personal feeling in this, would there?" Tahk said slyly.
Kadhael was a leader among the "Optimates" as he and his coterie styled themselves. He and his friends never missed a chance to insult or demean others as a way of proving their own superiority. Kensie was just one of their many targets for jibes and scorn even though Kensie, who actually held a title, technically outranked Kadhael.
"Why, Tahk, how could you suggest that I turn against another noble?" Kensie said with a wink. Tahk laughed.
Kensie changed the subject. "As you say, Blood needs a good gallop. If the école is as busy as you say, I'll have to ride out on the paths."
"In this rain?" Tahk said. "You'll be soaked."
"That's why I would like you to put Blood's rug over the woodstove to heat it and prepare a hot mash for him."
"You do care for your lad, don't you? I'll be glad to get that ready." In Tahk's eyes, the measure of a man was how he cared for his horse.
Kensie brushed and saddled Blood. Donning his rain cloak, he mounted and rode out into the rain.
A candlemark later, Kensie returned from his ride. He stripped the saddle and bridle off Blood and threw the warmed blanket over the stallion's back.
Kensie had just finished cooling Blood and was grooming him in the crossties when he heard an uproar from the direction of the école. Tahk and the other stablehands rushed to help. Peering through a window, Kensie could see healers hurrying down from the Palace.
A sunwidth later, as Blood plunged his nose into his mash and Kensie stroked the stallion's neck, a flood of highborn, their retainers, their horses and stablehands surged into the stable.
Tahk was leading Baron Futcher's bay; the baron was nowhere to be seen.
Last to enter was Kadhael Corbie leading his grey. The horse was fighting its owner, trying to get away while Kadhael struck it repeatedly with his whip. "I'll kill you, you son-of-a-bitch!" Kadhael screamed at the horse. "You are going to the knackers." He struck the horse again. Other horses nearby spooked and circled nervously as Kadhael raged.
"What happened?" Kensie asked one of the retainers quietly.
The retainer told how, when Baron Futcher had attempted to pass behind Kadhael, the latter's grey had lashed out at Baron Futcher's stallion. Instead of striking the other horse, the grey's steel-shod hooves had connected with the Baron's leg, breaking it in two places.
In the meantime, Kadhael was still screaming at his horse and striking the beast. Kensie could see the noise was upsetting the other horses. He slipped out of Blood's stall and went up to Lord Corbie, positioning himself between the horse and master. "Please My Lord," Kensie said, "you are making the other horses restive."
"Out of my way, coward!" Kadhael shouted at Kensie. Foam flecked Lord Corbie's lips. "I am going to kill this beast." He tried to lunge past Kensie to strike the horse. Kensie wrapped his arms around Kadhael, restraining him.
"If you must do that, My Lord, please take him elsewhere to do it. Not here, in front of the other nobles." Kensie said quietly, flicking his eyes to indicate the surrounding high-born who were watching.
Kadhael suddenly became aware of the others staring at them. He flushed and stood still. Panting with his anger and exertion, he turned to his groom. "Take this beast to the knackers, now!" He ordered. "I want him killed tonight. Bring me his brand as proof it has been done."
"I'll pay you twice what you would get from the knackers for him." Kensie said.
"Why would a pissant coward like you want a brute like that?" Kadhael sneered.
"He is no brute. He is a fine, high-strung animal that needs a steady hand." Kensie replied, ignoring Kadhael's insult.
"Oh, I suppose a timid coward like you can steady him? He would kill you in a sunwidth." Kadhael twisted his lips in a cruel smile. "I am tempted to take your offer just to see him do that."
"I will take my chances on that." Kensie said.
Kadhael laughed. "Done, then! Let's see you ride him tomorrow." He looked around. "What would the knackers pay for this beast?" He asked the onlookers.
Urson Felthan spoke up. "They paid three crowns for Gartheser's stallion when it broke its leg last moon."
Kadhael turned back to Kensie. "Pay me ten crowns and he is yours."
Kensie pulled off his Baronial signet ring and handed it to Kadhael. "Done! Here is my pledge for the money, which I will deliver to you tomorrow."
Kadhael took the ring and put it in his purse. "I look forward to seeing him break you tomorrow."
"When do you wish to see it?" Kensie asked.
"A candlemark after luncheon." Kadhael said.
"I shall be here." Kensie said.
Kadhael turned on his heel. "Bring a coffin with you for your corpse." He called over his shoulder as he left the stable. He laughed at his own taunt.
Kensie held the grey's reins. He nodded at Kadhael's groom, who stripped the tack from the animal. Kensie slipped a halter on and handed the lead rope to Tahk. He quickly checked the beast, which calmed under his hands. He frowned at the sores on its mouth and grimaced when he saw the bleeding wounds on its barrel where Kadhael's rowelled spurs had broken the skin.
"Is Justin Autenberry around?" Kensie asked. Justin Autenberry was a healer with a particular affinity for horses. Though his gift was not strong, his affection for the animals led to him being assigned permanently to the Palace stables.
"I'll go fetch him." One of the stablehands volunteered.
While he waited for Healer Justin, Kensie stroked the animal and whispered to it, calming and relaxing it.
"Never seen Geasar this quiet." Tahk remarked. "You do have a way with horses."
"Geasar? Is that his name?" As Tahk nodded, Kensie rolled his eyes. Trust Kadhael to name his horse after a death god. He stroked the horse's neck. "I guess you need a new name, lad. How about Gamin?"
The stallion flicked an ear at Kensie and Tahk laughed. "He's no riff-raff from the street, Milord, but he's been knocked about. I think he likes it."
Urson Felthan, who had lingered after the rest of the nobles left, spoke up. "Damn fine animal," he said. "I wish I'd spoken up before you did, Lord Kensie. No way could I afford a horse like that." Baron Felthan, Urson's father, was not wealthy and could barely afford to outfit his third son as a gentleman. Urson's horse was a serviceable gelding that would suffice for a position in the guard, but not the equal of the refined, powerful and well-bred war stallions owned by the richer nobles.
Kensie knew Urson from the advanced weapons class. Urson had never insulted or slighted Kensie, but neither had the two passed time together. Other than in the salle and at the stable, they rarely saw each other and only exchanged polite greetings in passing.
"I think you could handle Gamin." Kensie said. He'd seen Urson ride and knew that Urson was competent in the saddle.
"He seems to like you." Urson said as the horse leaned into Kensie's fingers scratching his crest. "You are going to be the talk of the Palace tonight between this and cutting Evan Aitken down to size. I wish I had been there to see that."
Kensie snorted. "Evan Aitken was no challenge. You or Lovat Astey could have done better than I did. Kantor pretty well told me that Herald Alberich intends to show me every mistake I made in tomorrow's lesson."
"Who's Kantor?" Urson asked.
Kensie blinked. He had assumed everyone knew. "Kantor is Alberich's Companion - you know, the powerful one that looks like a warhorse and is always hanging around the salle."
Urson's eyes widened. "You can mindspeak Companions?"
"No, no." Kensie replied. "It's amazing what one of them can tell you just by the way they cock an ear at you." Kensie could see Healer Justin approaching from the other end of the stable. "The healer is here now, I'll explain later. Would you join me and my father at Poldara House for dinner tonight?"
Kensie took Urson's surprised look for hesitation. "If you don't mind being seen with me, that is. I know what people say about me."
As a noble of lesser rank, and a third son to boot, Urson was more used to being snubbed by the likes of Kensie than offered an invitation. He recovered himself. "It would be a pleasure. At what time shall I arrive?"
"Meet me at my father's suite in a candlemark. We can go with him in his coach." Kensie said. He shook Urson's hand and turned to Healer Justin.
Healer Justin examined Gamin. Looking at the stallion's mouth, he said "It would be best if you did not put a bit in his mouth for a moon. The bruises on his bars need time to heal."
"I can ride him in a hackamore." Kensie replied. He pointed to the galls from the rowels. "What can you do about these?"
Justin looked at them closely, then cursed. "Milord, I have watched Lord Kadhael ride this poor beast for over a year. I am very glad to see you have him now. Geasar – Gamin, I mean – is going to have permanent scars from Kadhael's spurs. I can clean these galls and give you a powder to put in the wounds. I'd prefer you did not ride him for a sennight to give those sores a chance to heal."
Kensie nodded. "I told Lord Kadhael I would ride Gamin tomorrow. He is looking forward to seeing this lad murder me."
Justin looked at Kensie and caught the gleam of laughter in the young man's eye. "I see." Justin said. "Well, after he kills you tomorrow, let the horse have a sennight without a saddle. I'll give you an ointment to keep dirt out of the wounds."
Justin looked around surreptitiously. There was no one but Kensie, Tahk and himself nearby. Bending over, he washed the sore quickly and shook some powder into it. Gamin twitched at the touch to his wound, but held steady. Justin put his hand over the gall. The horse twisted its neck around to look curiously at the healer. It rumbled happily. When Justin lifted his hand away, the wound had closed.
Kensie and Tahk watched in awe as Justin went to the other side and repeated the process. Justin handed Kensie a small pot of salve and gave him instructions on applying it.
Tight lipped, Kensie paid Justin his fee. Once the healer had gone around the corner, Tahk exhaled explosively. "Justin doesn't have a really powerful Gift, so he uses it very sparingly. Usually only when it is needed to save a horse's life. He must either really like you or he is really glad to see that horse out of Kadhael's hands. No offense, Milord, but I think it is the second."
"No offense taken." Kensie said. "I saw the look on his face when he had to put Lord Gartheser's horse down. He really loves them.
"Now, what can we do with this boy? I better get him out of sight before Blood finishes his mash. Otherwise Blood will try to come through the bars on his stall to attack him."
"We've got an open stall two rows over." Tahk said. "Follow me."
Kensie went with Tahk to the stall. "So you won the pool?" He asked Tahk as they walked along.
Tahk grinned. "There was some argument about whether it counted because the baron's own horse didn't do it, but I said the baron brought it on himself by going so close behind Geasar. Sorry, Gamin."
"I'd say so. Going behind a restive stud is asking for trouble." Kensie said. They put Gamin in his new stall and shook hands.
Kensie pulled his rain cloak back on and walked back to the Palace, whistling cheerfully as the rain poured down.