The Girl of Dragon's Blood (DoD #1)

Chapter Three: Witch, Oh Wicked and Wondrous

Once they had all their belongings loaded into Jackdaw’s packs, Iwain led her to the other side of town. He knew there was a stable, he just hoped they were selling at least one of the horses there. He needed to question Alessia, find out what was happening, but getting out of town was their top priority. A priority that would be easier achieved with her own horse.

“Are you angry?” Alessia asked, turning toward Iwain, who just sighed.

“I’m not angry. I just want answers about why in the Goddesses names some random girl I picked up off the side of the road is being tracked down by Bounty Hunters. Bounty Hunters of all people! I understand it might be a tricky subject but you’re a risk now and I want you to tell me,” Iwain replied, but as Alessia opened her mouth to respond he cut her off, “but first we need to get you a horse and we need to get away from this town as soon as we can. We’ll make a plan from there.”

“A horse?! Can I get one like Jackdaw? Actually, no, I want a white one, that looks like the snow,” she babbled, distracted from Iwain’s previous statement, “Wait, I’ve never ridden a horse before. Are girl horses friendlier? Because I want a boy horse.”

Iwain pinched the bridge of his nose, already regretting his choice, “Yes, a horse. Maybe, we’ll see what breeds they have. You are not having a grey, under any circumstances, they are a royal pain to clean. I was hoping you’d know but we’ll walk, and I’ll lead your horse to begin with, then teach you more on the road...” he trailed off, forgetting her last question.

They neared the town stable, a small, rickety building with a fenced paddock in front that wrapped around to a bigger field that stretched further back. The ground was trodden in and muddy with little grass. It looked miserable but there were a few decent-looking horses meandering around. Iwain tied Jackdaw to the outermost fence and he and Alessia moved towards the stable door to push it open, and they were met with a terrible creak. A portly old man rushed out from one of the stalls and dropped the empty haynet near the door before holding his hand out to Iwain.

“Hello, Sir,” the man introduced himself, barely flinching at Iwain’s appearance and shook his hand vehemently, “How can I help you today?”

“We need a horse for my companion here, something backed and easily rideable for a beginner, if possible,” Iwain queried, wary that he was asking for a lot, especially from such a small stable.

The man nodded and motioned for them to follow him outside. He led them between the stable and another building and opened the gate to the pasture and ushered Alessia and Iwain through. The stable master weaved through the horses snuffling him for food to a coldblood that had also meandered over to them. It was a large thing, a bay of a similar build to Jackdaw, but a little shorter, with socks on its back legs that matched the mare's and a scruffy mane that framed its kind face.

Alessia moved towards the horse, reaching to pet him, but Iwain knocked her hand down and told her she should hold it flat to allow him to scent her first. She moved so she had her palm facing up toward the gelding, who leaned down to snuffle at her. Alessia flinched from how tickly it was and laughed, “Are we getting this one?” Iwain didn’t respond right away and instead turned to the stable master and bombarded him with questions. Alessia quickly lost interest and turned back to the horse moving to scratch behind his ears which made his lip droop sleepily.

After a while of Iwain and the stable master talking, Alessia saw him drop a bag of coin into the man’s hands. The stable master then left in a hurry, so Iwain meandered over to Alessia and her new horse.

“He’s yours now. The stable master’s fetching some basic tack I paid extra for so we should be able to take him straight away. Better decide on a name for him,” Iwain told her, holding his hand out for the gelding to snuffle as well.