The Way of the Ranger

Riding

"Where are we going?" Gilan questioned Halt.
"You'll see." Hunching over, his cloak was doing little to block out the rain. "Ah! Here we are!"

"Where?"
"Old Bob's Ranch. " Waisting no time, he broke into a light jog to the small abode getting hammered by the rain.
As Gilan sped up to follow Halt, he slipped in a mud patch as small neigh greeted him.
He looked up to see a shaggy bay horse with a blaze down their forehead. But before he could look any further, Halt called him.
" I'm not getting any younger!" Gilan took the hint and scurried to the light in the doorframe with Halt standing on the threshold.

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" This un' here's Abelard. He's your mentor's horse." Old Bob informed Gilan.
They had spent the night at the ranch and Halt had told Gilan a bit about his horse. He leaned forward, expecting to see a great big stallion with a jet-black mane but receiving nothing but disappointment. A small, shaggy horse came trotting forward with great interest as Halt produced an apple from his pocket. The horse crunched blissfully on the apple, giving him the impression that Halt didn't give away apples very much.
" And this un' here is yours! Her name is Blaze." The horse that Gilan had seen the previous night perked up her ears as Old Bob whistled. " Got her name from the blaze on her forehead. I know she doesn't seem like much, but she'll knock over one of those big fancy battleschool horses with a swish of her tail," he said, seeming to read Gilan's mind.

" Why don't you saddle her up and take her for a ride?" Halt questioned.
" Okay!" He said easily. He just knew how easy it was going to be to ride her.
Getting the saddle that was to be his, Old Bob caught Blaze and tied her to the fence post.
As Gilan approached with the saddle blanket and tried to throw it over her, she shimmied a few paces away from him.
Gilan reprimanded the action quickly. This time, she stood still for the rest of the tacking up.
" I reckon it's time to ride!" Old Bob said delightedly.
Gilan took the reins and swung up sitting delightedly in the saddle. All was well...