The next day while Daine was putting clothes on and getting ready for breakfast she came up with a resolution: she would not mope around being a baby. She would forget that Numair ever existed. Ha. Like that would ever work!
She went straight to the stables.
What's wrong? Cloud asked as Daine got out combs to comb the mare's coat. Daine gave no reply. Cloud shook her head and left it be. For now anyway. Her human was quite stubborn when she wanted to be but then so could she. After a while Daine finished and saddled the horse.
"Ready to go riding?" Daine asked her horse.
Cloud gave no reply – she was giving Daine a bit of her own medicine. She just nudged the stall door.
"Ready now?" she asked again, arms crossed over her chest.
Yes, quite ready, Cloud replied.
Daine lead her horse out to on of the fields and mounted. She set Cloud in a canter. Riding would help a lot in forgetting Numair. It let her leave behind her problems for a while. The day was beautiful: the sky was cloudless and a beautiful pale blue, the sun was shining down on her face and it was warm. There was a cool breeze that lifted her hair. The woman was sighed in contentment, and closing her eyes let the horse take her where ever she wanted. This was working she thought about nothing at all. It was so peaceful. The only sound was of the birds chirping and Cloud's hooves beating against the ground
"Hey you!" a male voice interrupted her peaceful daze.
Daine opened her eyes in surprise and seeing a tall lanky young man she pulled the horse to a stop right in front of him. He had black hair and he looked to be a year older than she. He looked at her expectantly. Daine, not recognizing him as any of the trainee riders dismounted thinking he was new in the city and lost.
"Are you lost…?" Daine began. She stopped when he ran to the other side of the mare and mounted. "What are you doing?"
"I thank you for the horse, my lady," he interrupted bowing a little on the saddle. He dug his heels into Cloud's sides. The mare didn't move. "Move it you stupid mare!" he growled. Cloud snorted and reared up onto her hind legs dropping the arrogant man onto the ground. The horse went to Daine's side.
Serves him right, Cloud said, shaking her head.
Daine laughed and stuck out her hand. He looked up at her and took it. She pulled him up. "Nice try," she smiled at him. "You aren't hurt are you?"
The young man drew himself up in indignation. "As if that would hurt me!"
Daine hid a smile behind her hand. When she thought she had her amusement hidden from the stranger she said, "Now, may I ask why you were trying to steal my horse? And who are you?"
He didn't reply as he picked up his pack, which had dropped to the ground.
"Well?" Daine crossed her arms over her chest expectantly. "Don't I deserve an answer?"
He looked up and stared right into her eyes. She saw his eyes for the first time. They were large and dark. And vaguely familiar. But how could they be familiar when she had never met him? Maybe he was a brother of someone she knew or something.
"Why did your horse do that?" he answered her with a question.
Daine gave a sigh and rolled her eyes. She knew she would never get anything out of him. She turned and mounted Cloud.
"I'd advise that you don't steal horses from here. Don't you know that these fields belong to the King and Queen of Tortall?" Without waiting for his reply she nudged Cloud back to the stables.
