Terra (The Quest for the Aura Book 2) by R.S. O'Neal

Author:R.S. O'Neal [O'Neal, R.S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Towards10000 Productions
Published: 2021-10-24T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Eyre walked with Ischyros through a series of paddocks, entering the gates and latching them after her. Over the past weeks he had allowed her to lead him, so she’d made the most of it by releasing him into the far paddock every morning. She didn’t for a second believe he put up with the extra walking time because he liked her presence—she knew he tolerated her leading him around because the grass was greener and thicker in the far paddock, and he wanted to get to the best grass on the grounds. They arrived and she opened the gate. It had taken a while to get there this morning, because he kept stopping and hauling his head down to grab a mouthful of the delicious cocksfoot grass. It was bad equestrian manners to eat while being led, but he was so strong and had such canny timing, he would snatch the mouthfuls despite her trying to keep his head up. It was annoying, but given his general irritating behaviour, just one more thing to deal with. Eyre had given up thinking he would ever be trainable. Or that he would even like her. Leaning on the gate, she waved her hand at him.

“Off you go—enjoy the grass!”

But Ischyros just stood there, looking at her, making none of the usual acerbic comments he normally would. Eyre was surprised, but slightly hopeful. Was he beginning to soften? She leaned her staff against the fence and took a slow step towards Ischyros. When he didn’t move away, she leant against his side, smoothing her arms up and over his neck. To her amazement he said nothing and she rubbed further up his back. Then, when he still stood there, she grabbed his mane tightly, but gently. There was no reaction, so Eyre took a breath and swung her leg up and over the back of the old horse, hauling herself up, expecting to be launched into the stratosphere. But to her joy, he stood calmly, with no sign of irritation at all. Encouraged, she touched the side of his neck softly as she’d seen the Kikkuli Master instruct the other students to do, asking their mount to walk forward. And Ischyros did! Right to the centre of the paddock, and Eyre could barely contain her excitement. After months of rude comments from the recalcitrant creature, she was finally getting somewhere! It was so lovely being seated up on his back, and she enjoyed the feeling of moving over the ground, uneven gait or not. Ischyros stopped in the middle of the paddock and Eyre took in the glow of the early morning. The best time of the day, she sighed. The moment was slightly marred when Ischyros deposited a steaming pile onto the ground, but given the amount of grass he’d gobbled on the way to the paddock, she wasn’t surprised. A sound from behind her made her turn to look. Someone was here?

But then, with a hunching of his hindquarters and a huge kick of his back legs, Ischyros bucked Eyre off, high into the air.

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