'Horses' said Siuan 'are not my kind of animal.'
'Scared?' Asked Lan slyly.
'Yes! As you should be. Those things can trample you to death' she spluttered. 'They headbang to nothing and rear up at everything and I don't need to see their teeth when they reach out to chew your hand off with the carrot.'
'They are skittish' conceded Lan. 'But they are magnificent creatures.'
'Yes. Far away. In the distance.'
'Well I need to drop off this feed so let's go. They'll be in the field so they won't bother you.'
Siuan sighed and got out of the car. She trudged up to the farm and looked around. Horses, horses everywhere. The opposite fields were full of the four legged menaces. Their tails swished and they snorted every so often. Hearing the clip clop of hooves, she turned around and saw a couple of riders approaching. One was issuing instructions to another as they carried on to the stables. Lan was chatting flirtatiously to the woman behind the counter. Siuan picked her way around the shop to pass the time but her friend showed no signs of leaving. She followed the path around the corner to the stables, too bored to stand around. One of the riders was brushing down her horse, a sturdy white mare.
'You're early. I'll be with you soon.'
'What for?'
The rider turned to look at her. Under her helmet she had a mane of chestnut hair restrained with careful pinning.
'The lesson' she explained. Siuan thought about what kind of lesson could be conducted around a farm and shuddered.
'Oh God no, can't be doing with that. I avoid horses as much as possible. Not hard to do where I live.'
The woman looked impassively at her.
'My friend is just dropping off some feed.'
Lan strode around the corner with a greeting.
'That's where you got to.'
'Got bored of watching you chat up the cashier.'
'You're jealous you didn't get her number.'
'Eh, she's not my type.'
'This is Moiraine, my best friend' he supplied, giving the riding instructor a careful hug. Siuan noted it, as well as the smile that suddenly wreathed her face. It was a guileless smile, pretty on her stern face. She wondered if they were more than friends.
'So you're Moiraine. I've heard all about you.'
The other woman stared at her.
'This is Siuan, my neighbour and tennis partner.'
Siuan stretched out her hand, noting the hesitation from the other woman. She didn't seem used to small talk. Or touching. Her handshake was firm but quick, withdrawing almost instantly. She seemed a bit uncomfortable while Lan took the brush from her and continued, murmuring niceties to the patient horse.
'Haven't seen this one in a while, how is she?'
Moiraine gave him an update. Siuan looked around, noticing other horses in other stables, heads stretched out quizzically. They seemed to be watching the humans with interest.
'This is Aldieb.'
'Sorry?' Siuan wrenched her attention away.
Lan motioned to the horse who was now headbanging. Siuan pointed to her.
'Do you not find that weird? The way they do that? And all of them watching us like the Mafia?'
Lan laughed. Moiraine looked like she was about to explain, paused and thought about it. She looked around the stables and then smiled, looked down. A shy quiet smile this time.
'Going to call this stables the Mafia now. Let's make a sign with it and put it by the entrance' said Lan.
'Do you want to book for riding lessons? Get to know the horses a bit more?' Moiraine suggested. Siuan thought she detected the faintest trace of mischief hidden inside those words.
Lan laughed louder.
'There is no way you're getting her on a horse. She's too scared of them.'
'You can feed them.'
Siuan shuddered, making a face.
'Those mangy teeth. No thanks.'
'Stop being such a wimp. Let's go to the field and make friends with some of them.'
'We're not going to be in the field with the horses?' Siuan checked.
'I'll shove you in there with them if you carry on quibbling' said Lan. 'Come on.'
The others set off, chatting companionably. Siuan reluctantly followed. This was not her idea of fun. They left it up to Moiraine to choose a horse from the herd. Two of them approached as she coaxed them over. Lan stole a glance at Siuan who looked somewhat impressed. Siuan had many fine qualities but bonding with animals was not one of them. She just didn't have the knack. Which was just as well considering that she worked for an advertising agency. She kept out of teeth's reach and watched as the others fussed over the greedy pair. Siuan looked over at a nearby horse drinking from a trough. It looked most peculiar.
'Why is that one wearing a gimp mask?'
Moiraine looked disconcertingly at her, as if she was trying to decide if she was joking or not because either way she wouldn't get it. Lan spluttered with laughter.
'Just protecting him from flies.'
Moiraine looked enquiringly at Lan who shook his head.
'You don't want to know.'
She nodded and turned back to stroke the horse's nose. It snorted loudly and reared its head, alarming Siuan who stepped even further back.
'Nope. You will not be able to get me to make friends with the horse.'
Moiraine dipped into her pocket and brought out a sugar lump. She held it out to Siuan.
'Nope. That thing will chomp my fingers off.'
'You put it in the palm of your hand.'
Siuan stayed stubbornly where she was. Moiraine demonstrated and her horse swooped in gleefully, earning her a small smile and some soft murmurings. Lan fed his sugar lump to the other one and patted it goodbye.
'Your next pupil is here.'
'Oh. Yes. Well thanks for the feed.'
'I'll be back later on in the week' he assured her. They trudged back and went their separate ways.
'God, I'm glad to see the car. Drive Thelma, drive.'
'Alright alright, we're going' conceded Lan with a laugh.
'Oi. Horse whisperer.'
Moiraine turned around, expression quizzical.
'See you around sometime.'
Siuan got inside the car, not looking back to see a reluctant smile on the other woman's face. Moiraine wasn't sure if Lan's friend would come back but she hoped she would.
