"Would you care for a small ride with me?" Lan asked one morning when she was, once again, studying the Karaethon Cycle. "I think the black is ready for a small test."

"Already this sure of your new mount?"

"I don't recall you taking much time before offering me the bond." He gave her time to crack up before continuing. "We've worked on decision making and leadership. He is a bright one for sure. Needs more training before he's really up to snuff, but, if I'm right, a lot of the remaining work can be done outside."

She closed the book, making sure to put the most recent sheet of notes between the pages. It would do nothing to lose the specific place she was working on and have to look for it again.

"I will prepare the horse when you get ready."

Lan left Moiraine while she changed into her comfortable riding clothes. She was grateful the weather was good and wouldn't require wearing anything warmer. The autumn was still in this nice phase of warm days and colorful trees that provided pleasure while travelling. Not for the first time she had to banish a thought of spending entire winter here, in one place, rather than braving the less pleasant weather on the road. Even with the need to seek a decent inn for every night instead of sleeping wherever night found them, they could make some progress towards finding the child. She had to get this sedate way of life out of her system now so they would set on the road without it hampering their progress.

Lan was waiting on the outside with both horses. It took some maneuvering to keep them away from each other. The black was energetic and randy, that was a fact, but Aldieb certainly did not ignore him. They really took to each other very well, considering her mare was really picky in that regard so far.

Moiraine took Aldieb's reins and checked her saddle over. Lan grew accustomed to this custom of hers over the years. She needed to be sure on her own. She allowed him to help her up as almost always and soon they were riding through the stone gate out.

"Lead the way," Lan said, when they approached a for in the road. "You know the area best."

She suspected after their visits in the past he knew enough of the surrounding forest that he could lead, but she let him give her that choice.

"How adventurous?" she asked, looking between both options.

"As much as, let's say, Aldieb can handle."

"Do you really want to test him this much?"

"We're ready."

She looked at Lan with a questioning gaze, but he clearly challenged her to test him, so she did. She was happy to check, how much Aldieb could handle, to be honest. There was rarely any occasion to do that. It took her some time, but there was this one trail that she and Anveare used to race when they were young and they would spend a week or two far from the busy City or father's primary residence. It would be challenging to the small mare, but perfectly doable and she trusted her feisty animal not to get too scared of anything they might find.

Moiraine could feel Lan's apprehension mixed with a healthy dose of competitive spirit. She led them the long way around to get the horses warmed up and ready for an exertion. The black one carried himself well, trying from time to time to take the lead. Lan kept him behind, which came with its own problems.

When they finally entered the hard part of the ride, Aldieb was also more than happy to let loose and show the black who is the real leader.

"There is a large oak three at the end," she said, hoping no one has changed the layout. "It's always been decorated with red ribbons. Race you there."

There was a nod from Lan and they pushed their horses straight to canter. The black was good, big, fast and, admittedly, reasonably brave, but he and Lan lacked the relationship Moiraine and Aldieb managed to forge by now. The trail got progressively harder with every little bend in the road and Moiraine had to focus on the hurdles in front of them soon. Tree trunks that fell years before, some smaller, some much larger, even ones Moiraine was apprehensive about. Puddles and two small streams that required crossing added to the hardship together with slippery ground left by the rain that fell during the night made the trail dangerous. Despite all of that Aldieb didn't falter even once, ensuring a smooth ride that made Moiraine feel like she was flying.

One of the smaller branches, hanging across the road on height that for her was a high jump made them almost fall. Aldieb slipped on wet leaves, the ones Moiraine admired earlier for the autumnal colours and they almost fell to the ground together. It took them some time to recover, more from shock than any physical ordeal, but it allowed Lan and the black to catch up to them and keep in front for some time.

Aldieb was still a pony, though, and Moiraine had to hold fast to her saddle then, with the mare pushing a seemingly impossible tempo and going by the old tree with three lengths between her and the black. It took Moiraine some time to curb her enthusiasm and slow her down enough to turn safely and join Lan in walking the horses all around the meadow.

"I'm impressed," Moiraine said to Aldieb after patting the mare on the sweaty neck. "As for you two," she said to Lan, "I thought that you two would be here much earlier. You got a big present with our delay."

"And yet," Lan said, leading the black closer to her, "you two were by the tree first."

"She is better with tight turns." Moiraine couldn't contain her pride. Besides, she didn't want Lan to feel too bad with his defeat. She went for something she knew was a true factor in their race, even though not the deciding one. The Oaths, however, allowed for it. "That made a lot of difference."

And it really did. Moiraine had been riding the grey mare for a long time now, but there was never a good time to safely test her skills and their cooperation. Aldieb's speed and skill were exquisite. She jumped and turned like a horse specifically bred for that. Moiraine almost dropped from her saddle at least two times, but Aldieb helped her stay on, which further impressed Moiraine. This might have made her untrusting towards the mare and her surefootedness, but it had to be acknowledged, that the ground was hard to navigate and there was no way to avoid slipping. It was a show of well placed trust that there were no more serious incidents on the whole trail.

The black, though, still managed to keep up with them, which spoke volumes for how good a purchase he was. And he and Lan ran into only several obstacles that they needed to go around through the whole run. Lan would most likely clear those kinds of misunderstandings soon when they went on the road again. The question on his innate skill and ability has been answered several times over by the time they had their lodgings in sight again. This thing that remained to be answered was how reliable he was – would he perform when it really mattered? Sometimes it was safer to go with a less agile mount that would not argue than the best one that would need time to be convinced in the time of need.

"I have to admit," she said, seeing Lan's again questioning gaze when they were walking at a sedate pace back. "He impressed me. This is a hard trail to go through this smoothly."

"Aldieb was really hard to follow." Lan said. "I have to say I was a little sceptical, seeing those hurdles along the ride. Compared to her build…"

"You still underestimate her," Moiraine chuckled and patted the white, slowly drying neck. "Even after all this time. She's proven her worth time and time again, I would say. And her big heart."

"Never said she didn't."

"What was he like to go through there?" Moiraine decided to change the topic. There was no point debating her mare's skill. Let him think what he would. What mattered was her faith in the animal. "Is there much training needed still?"

"I think we would be completely fine setting out even tomorrow," Lan said, patting the stallion. "But if we can, I would gladly wait several days to rest him a little and ease him into our schedule."

"Of course. Whatever feels best."