Chapter III

Disclaimer: I own none of the Tamora Pierce characters, but I do own Maddy and all other characters and original concepts of this story.



The king looked curiously at Daine then asked the commanders,

"Is she dangerous?" Several more entered the room at the moment, Raoul the knight commander of the king's own in the lead. He looked as though he was going to burst out laughing, but instead in a controlled voice said,

"As long as we're here she harmless." Maddy flashed him a look.

"Alright, Daine what is the test?" the king asked.

"Follow me everyone." Daine said as she turned around and walked out. Everyone in the room followed her. She led them down a hall through a passage and out into the stables. She led them over to a corral that was fenced off from the rest of them. Daine didn't walk up to the fence, but Maddy did and she gasped at what was inside. A magnificent black stallion was at the far end and basking the then sun. It shined on him, making him look even more superlative He had spirit in his eyes and was proud and strong.

"He's gorgeous." Maddy said, forgetting herself and not taking her eyes off him.

"What kind of test is this?" the king asked, just as curious as everyone else. Daine finally spoke up.

"No one has been able to get near this horse, not even me. If she is as good as I think she is, she can bring in the horse." Maddy looked back at her and smiled. Daine pointed to a post on the fence and said, "There's his harness, go get him." Maddy grabbed the halter and jumped over the fence and calmly walked into the center of the field. Some grooms and knights from the own were nearby came over to see what was going on. Maddy stood silent and talked in his mind.

"Come to me please, I will not harm you, I want to talk." The horse's ear perked forward. He raised his head into the air, snorted, put his ear flat against his head, and lowered his head to the ground, snorting again. Maddy tried again.

"Please come here." He raised his head, and with one hoof pawed at the earth. Then, unexpectedly, he galloped around the field. Turning, he ran straight at Maddy.

"Watch out!" shouted a groom. Everyone else was too shocked to do or say anything. The horse stopped just short of her and reared his hooves, barely missing her head. He went back down and snorted, raising his head up and down. Slowly Maddy raised her hand and gently touched his forehead. He stopped and his breathing went back to normal. Slowly, she walked to the side of his neck, but never taking her eyes off his. Rubbing his neck, she asked,

"What's wrong?"

"I hurt!" he answered.

"Where?" she asked. He was about to answer, but fell silent. Maddy could sense Daine trying to get into his mind. He reared and neighed, throwing off her hand that had been resting on his neck. He came down and went back up again. When he came down, Maddy Vaulted onto his back and nudged him into a gallop twice, then slowed him down into a smooth canter with his neck and his head arched. Maddy was holding onto his mane near his haunches and steering him with her legs. She was sitting up straight with perfect posture and riding form. She cantered him around the field along the fence twice then brought him to the far end and trotted him back to the center where she had been standing. The stopped him but kept him standing in the same place. Like a statue she was sitting straight and still with her back to the council and knights, who were marveling at this show of events. Patting his withers, she lifted her leg over his back and slid off to the ground. Rubbing his neck she asked,

"What hurts?"

"My leg." He answered.

"Which one?"

"The one you're standing near." Maddy stepped back and looked at it.

"Is that why you've been acting this way?" she asked out loud. He made a low rumbling noise and lowered his head as a yes. Slowly, with both hands, she felt down his leg and under his foot. That's the problem, Maddy thought, as there was a metal arrowhead stuck in it. Holding the hoof in her left hand, she slowly wiggled it until it popped out, throwing it up into the air. Maddy caught it with a clenched fist. Putting his hoof down, she patted his withers again with her free hand. Picking up the halter, and standing near him, she slowly slipped it over his face and ears. Tying the cheek strap, she held on to the side face strap and led him over to the fence.

"So?" said Maddy as she got to Daine. Daine walked up to the fence and the horse started to paw and snort. He pulled at the halter, trying to get free.

"Shhhhhh, calm down!' Maddy said calmly. He tried to rear, pulling her back, trying to jerk his head away. "Calm down!" Maddy said, sternly this time. He wasn't listening. Maddy let out a sigh and let go of the halter. She vaulted onto his back and rose him at a canter back to the end of the field. She rubbed his neck and talked to him, whispering comments and compliments and stroking his neck.

"Calm down, no one is going to hurt you." Sitting up tall on his back, holding his mane using her heels she urged him back into a trot. When she came near the fence she felt him tense. Using one hand, she stroked his neck. She stopped him at the fence and slipped off his back. "He doesn't like the gate." Maddy said, holding her hand out to Daine. Daine slowly put her hand out to Maddy curiously. Maddy opened her fist and dropped the arrowhead into her open hand.

"What's this?" Daine asked.

"It's what I pulled out of his hoof." Maddy said smoothly. "What should I do with him?"

"Let him go, but keep the halter on." the King said. Maddy shrugged and let go. He didn't move. Maddy climbed back over the fence. The horse raised his head and snorted. He started to paw the ground. Maddy turned around and faced him, talking in his mind.

"What down and be quiet and I'll be back, but you must behave." Turning around, she faced her back towards him. He was silent.

"What should we do with her?" a commander that Maddy didn't recognize asked. The kind was about to answer when Daine interrupted and said.

"I could like to take her on as an apprentice." That shocked the king. Everyone watched as he said,

"Are you sure?" he was still a little shocked.

"Yes" Daine said, holding her head high.

"What about her family?" Numair asked curiously.

"Like she said, she doesn't have a family, so she's an orphan."

"All right." the king said. He was uneasy about her decision. Maddy could sense it.

"You will have to care for her, and give her housing and if she messes up or does one thing wrong, she will go." The king then turned towards Maddy who he found was smiling. "Why do you smile so?" he asked.

"I don't want to be here, but I have no choice, all I have to do is one thing wrong and then I can go home!"

"And what's home?" asked the queen.

"The woods, and the forests." Maddy said, and then added, "The animals will come for me."

"Yah right." a commander laughed. Then they led her away, to an uncertain future.