Our hope

Chapter 25: Rebel

The Rebel woke up faster then they should have. Today was the day they would be riding back home. The army of just two legions would have to be taken through the main way. Any short cut was far to small to take that many people. If they left when they should have they would be just on the other side of the valley by night fall.

That was if everything wasn't in chaos. First was breakfast when the princess actually did get sick and was unable to travel. They said she was going to pull through after a few days. It was just enough stress on the King to make him keep making mistakes. Something the Rebel kept to themself through the whole breakfast.

The morning was also rough for everyone else with things being misplaced the day before. It was perfect chaos that the Rebel got to sit back and watch. That sitting was done on top of a horse. Probably the only good thing to come out of the experience.

"Have you ever been on a horse?" The Instructor asked.

"Not one single time." The Rebel shook their head. The instructor nodded hoping they had some experience to work with. It took days to learn the basics and she needed to teach them to someone in a matter of hours. The King was going to have her head for this.

"Right then, I will teach you from the start and see if you can't get to some of the more detailed things by the end." She said with the most friendly smile she could manage.

"Follow my lead and you will do just fine." The Rebel and instructor were facing each other.

"Just put your foot up in the stirrup." She said putting the correct foot in the hold. The Rebel mirrored her exactly following every motion she made. That was good since she didn't explain anything else about getting on the horse. She automatically got on the horse. Right after she realized her mistake the Rebel popped up in front of her on the other horse.

"Why don't we just walk around the arena just to get use to it?" The Rebel nodded as they followed. They started with just a walk. The Rebel was being jostled side to side till they learned to stabiles themself. The instructor saw this and picked up the pace. The Rebel was a little hesitant to do so but took the advice of the Prince.

They accidently pulled the reins a little too hard. The rebel found themself being thrown into the horn of the saddle violently as the horse stopped just as quick. The instructor had to hide her smile quickly before trotting over beside them.

"Try to keep your grip on the reins a little looser. If you need something to hold tightly onto then I would suggest the horn of the saddle." She pointed to the piece that had created a soon to be deep bruise in his torso. The rest of the lesson went rather well with little hiccups happening again.

There was one point the instructor had to slow down their horse as they forgot how to do it when in a full sprint. That was the most terrifying thing that the Rebel personally went through. There was still plenty of time for something else to take the spot. After they caught their breath and got the hang of riding again their mother walked up to the ring.

It was getting into the late hours of the morning. She was probably here to get them to move out. They got down from their horse letting the instructor to care of them for the time being.

"Did you see me mom?" They said running to the fence she was on the other side of. It was something amazing that they learned to do. Something that even she said was difficult they learned in a matter of a few hours. The excitement was exhilarating.

"Yes I did. It looks like you were having fun up there."

"It was the best thing I have ever done if a little scary at times. I can't wait to show Rigel what I learned." As soon as the words were out of their mouth they knew they fucked up.