The Horses Know (The Horses Know Trilogy Book 1)

by Lynn Mann

  Come on, you vain horse you, it’s time for us to visit the Saddler, I told her.

  As I held the gate open for Infinity, I felt something flit past the edge of my mind towards Rowena, very much like when I used to get a sense of Infinity before she tugged me. Strange. Did I imagine that?

  You did not.

  What was it?

  Oak communicated with his human. Your mind opens further.

  ‘Come on, we’ll miss lunch at this rate,’ said Rowena. I hurried after her with Infinity at my side.

  Instead of entering the square, we turned left to go behind the building that housed the dining hall. It was soon apparent that, large as it was, the dining room didn’t go back the full depth of the building. Along the back of it was a row of large rooms with windows that ran from the ceiling to the floor, admitting as much light as possible onto the people who worked within; the workshops.

  Rowena led us to a room about halfway along the building, knocked lightly on the door and entered without waiting for an answer. There was an enormous workbench directly in front of the windows, which was littered with tools and pieces of leather of varying sizes. Along the length of the far wall ran an open-fronted cabinet with large cubby holes, containing leather, tools and saddles.

  ‘Come on in, both of you,’ Rowena said over her shoulder and then yelled, ‘MASON! WE’RE HERE!’

  A door to the back of the room opened and a bear of a man with a head and beard of thick, black hair entered, carrying a steaming mug in his hand. ‘For the love of autumn Rowena, there’s no need to shout, I’m right here. Oh, my lovely, you must be Infinity,’ he said as my mare stood with her head over my shoulder.

  ‘Um, I’m Amarilla,’ I said as Mason held his hand up to my shoulder for Infinity to sniff.

  ‘And so you are my sweet, so you are.’ He smelt of leather and sweat and had a gentle manner about him that was at odds with his brawny appearance. Infinity and I both instantly liked him.

  Mason walked slowly around Infinity, looking at her back from all angles. ‘Now, what have we here then my lovely, quite wide here, but not so much there, saddle’ll need to sit back away from you a bit just there, won’t it? Can’t have anythin’ restrictin’ those magnificent shoulders of yours, hmmm, don’t you worry Infinity my lovely, I’ll have you in a saddle so comfy you’ll be wantin’ to sleep in it, you just ask my Dili, she’ll tell you…’

  ‘Dili’s his horse,’ whispered Rowena. ‘You can’t miss her, she’s enormous, makes Oak look small. Dili is short for Diligence by the way,’ she added.

  Infinity loved Mason’s quiet chatter and the close attention he paid to her, and I saw her batting her eyelids at him more than once. She allowed him to put several of his saddles on her back and bent around to sniff each one with deep consideration whilst he adjusted the way that it sat on her using different pads and straps. She liked the feel of the second of the four that he tried the best and I was just about to tell him so, when he announced that he would be making a saddle very similar to the second one that he had tried on her, with a few minor adjustments. I smiled and thanked him, and was rewarded with a big beaming smile in return. I shook his hand and promised to be back in two days to collect Infinity’s saddle.

  ‘Look forward to it, look forward to it. Ro, make sure Dili has enough water on your way past her this evenin’ will you? I may be workin’ late on this, can’t have Infinity waitin’ for her saddle, can we my beautiful?’ He was rewarded with yet another bat of Infinity’s eyelashes, before we left him scurrying around his workshop.

  ‘How long before lunch?’ I asked Rowena.

  A bell rang loudly. ‘Right now. I’ll go on ahead and pile our plates while you go and let Infinity back in with Oak, shall I?’

  ‘Could you just save me some? I need to be with Infinity for a bit,’ I said.

  ‘Sure. I’ll eat mine and then bring yours out to you. That okay?’

  ‘Thanks a lot, see you later.’

  Infinity knew what I had in mind and her approval washed over me. We meandered back to her paddock, meeting more people on the way. One man was accompanied by his horse, a tall, chestnut stallion who pranced, rather than walked next to him. The man also had a spring in his step and as the two of them approached us, I realised that I seemed to be having trouble seeing where the boundary between them was; it was as if the man’s side blurred into his horse’s shoulder. I blinked frantically, thinking that I must have something in my eye. Infinity’s interest in the handsome stallion was overshadowed by her interest in what was happening to me.

  You see true, she informed me as the twosome reached us.

  The man asked, ‘are you alright?’

  I continued to blink as man and horse stood directly in front of me, but it had no effect on what I was seeing. ‘Um, sorry, I’m not sure. My horse says I am though,’ I said, feeling a bit stupid. ‘I’m Amarilla and this is Infinity.’

  The man shook my hand. ‘I thought you might be. I’m Justin and this is Gas. Do you want to sit down?’

  I gave up trying to clear my eyes and decided to accept what they were telling me. ‘No thanks, I think I just have something in my eye. Gas?’ I held out the back of my hand to the chestnut horse, as I had seen everyone else do when they met Infinity. He sniffed it politely.

  Justin laughed. ‘I have a warped mind, but yes, Gas is his name and judging by his antics this morning, he’s a bit too full of it. Look at this.’ He pointed to a gash on Gas’s knee. ‘He’s been tearing around with Spider and didn’t see the stone flying from Spider’s hoof until it cut him. I was just about to go for lunch, but never mind, soon get this cleared up, I just need to catch Adam. See you both around, if you’re sure you’re okay?’

  I nodded.

  ‘Come on Gas,’ he said to his horse and lifted a hand in farewell to me as the two of them sprang off towards the square. I looked over my shoulder at them and they still appeared to be joined somehow, as if they were one.

  You see true. Worry not.

  I needed energy and focus for what I was about to do, so I decided to accept Infinity’s advice. Oak whickered his welcome as Infinity and I entered her paddock and headed for the beech tree. He kept a respectful distance as I sat at the base of the tree and leant back against it, whilst Infinity began to graze near my feet.

  Knowing that Infinity was right there next to me gave me the confidence to simply sing my bone back to full strength. It was as simple as that, as easy as tuning into herbs and testing to see what they could help with. Infinity was right — it was all the same. I smiled to myself while Infinity grazed on. I was so happy to be with her.

  And I with you, she told me before walking over to a muddy patch near the water trough and rolling.

  I was still smiling when Rowena appeared with a dark look on her face and Salom at her side. Rowena was carrying my lunch, so Salom opened the gate for her to come through, which she did grudgingly.

  ‘Salom wants to talk to you,’ she said, rolling her eyes, ‘can’t wait apparently.’

  ‘Settling in well, Amarilla?’ Salom asked me, jovially.

  ‘Yes, thank you, how is Salsh?’

  ‘Fit as a fiddle thanks to you, we’re off in the morning so I just wanted to check if you had any letters or messages for me to take to your family.’

  ‘So you can have more gossip to spread around? Amarilla’s not that stupid!’ muttered Rowena.

  ‘Gossip? How dare you, I am no gossip, I am a Herald and a very good one,’ retorted Salom.

  ‘And how do you expect Amarilla to trust you after you announced everything she told you to everyone in the square? Do you have any idea how upsetting it is to hear people talking about you?’ Rowena stormed. I had a feeling this wasn’t just about me anymore.

  ‘Amarilla told me what happened to her whilst I was wearing my bandanna, just as I am now. Any information given to me whilst I am advertising to all that I am on duty, is for me to part with as I see fit, whereas any letters or private
messages I carry remain private between the sender and the receiver. Rowena you know all this, why must I justify myself to you?’

  Rowena didn’t answer, but looked away towards Oak. I felt his thoughts flutter past my mind to her.

  ‘Um, Salom? I would like you to take letters to my family please, can I bring them to you this evening? I’ll write them after dinner,’ I said.

  Salom told me where her room was and then with a last glance at Rowena, who pointedly ignored her, she left us and made off in the direction of the fields.

  ‘Are you alright?’ I asked Rowena as she sat down beside me and handed me my lunch.

  ‘Fine, just can’t stand Heralds. Gossips, the lot of them, whatever Miss High and Mighty says. Eat your lunch.’

  I was ravenous and more than happy to eat in the silence that ensued whilst Oak’s thoughts flew past me. Rowena gradually calmed down and eventually took a deep breath and leant back against the tree. ‘Sorry Am, I shouldn’t take my anger out on you,’ she said.

  ‘It’s okay, do you want to talk about it? It’d be a refreshing change to talk about someone else’s stuff!’

  ‘There’s not much to tell. My Dad left my Mum when she was pregnant with me, after she broke her agreement with him never to conceive. My Mum was heartbroken and could never love me as a result. She remarried and had eight more children, all of whom she loved to bits. I used to escape to the woods whenever I could and there was one tree that I used to climb and sit in for hours. It had big strong branches and I used to feel safe and protected up there, almost as if I was loved. You can guess what type of tree it was.

  ‘Anyway, when I was tugged, I knew my Mum wouldn’t give me a Quest Ceremony, so I waited until everyone was asleep, gathered what I needed, kissed my brothers and sisters as they slept and left something on each of their pillows that they would know was from me, and left. By the time I’d found Oak and arrived here, a Herald had arrived ahead of me, warning that a thief of my description was at large. I’m not proud that I stole from my family, but it was only the minimum that I’d need to survive. Bloody Herald.’

  ‘That’s awful. Surely everyone here accepted you once they knew what happened though? And they’re all Horse-Bonded and Oak had chosen you to bond with, that must have counted for a lot?’

  ‘It was horrible to begin with, as I had no idea why everyone seemed to be so suspicious of me, but luckily, Adam was here. He listened to me and I don’t know what he said to everyone, but things gradually got easier from then on, no thanks to that Herald. Anyway, I saw Feryl at lunch — he’s Master of Riding here, I think I told you last night — and he’s expecting you both mid-afternoon. I was thinking that would give you a bit more time to yourself first, but by the look of Infinity, there’ll be no relaxing for you. Good job you left your grooming kit down here.’

  It appeared that my horse had been intent on caking every inch of herself with mud when she rolled and she had pretty much achieved her aim. I made to rise, but Rowena grabbed my arm. ‘Come on, sit down and chill for a bit, you don’t think I’m going to leave you to tackle that on your own do you? Let your lunch get down and then we’ll take one side each.’ I grinned at her gratefully.

  At the appointed time, a more or less clean Infinity and I, with Rowena and Oak in tow for moral support, made our way to the larger paddocks that were set aside for riding. I felt extremely daunted when I saw the number of people sitting on the fence of the paddock to which Rowena directed me.

  No need, Infinity informed me. Her calm confidence soothed me.

  A man leant on the gate, watching us as we approached. He wore fitted, knee-length, brown leather boots and thick, brown leggings which had leather patches stitched to the inside of each leg. His short, black hair was speckled with grey and the blue of his pullover matched exactly that of his eyes; I had a distinct feeling it wasn’t by chance.

  ‘Amarilla and Infinity, right on time,’ he said loudly. ‘Come in, come in, I’ve got some saddles here, I’m sure there’ll be one we can use until your own is ready.’

  He offered his hand for Infinity to sniff only very briefly, before hauling the first saddle to be tried off the fence and straight on to her back. She stiffened, laid her ears flat back on her head and snorted. Feryl appeared not to notice. I moved in front of Infinity and put my hands either side of her neck.

  Fin, it’s alright. I know he’s rude but he doesn’t mean you any harm.

  I am aware of what he means.

  Feryl was busy explaining to those who sat on the fence, why the saddle he had put onto Infinity wouldn’t be suitable. When he had finished, he removed it and then approached her with the next one to try. She sidestepped away from him, ears back and tail swishing.

  ‘Just stand still, there’s a girl,’ said Feryl and approached her again. She sidestepped once more. He looked at me, still standing at her head, and frowned slightly. He propped the saddle on one hip and held the back of his spare hand out for her to sniff. To begin with, Infinity looked away, completely ignoring him. Some of the people on the fence began to whisper to each other and Feryl’s cheeks flushed pink. After some minutes, Infinity finally deigned to sniff his hand and I saw his shoulders sink slightly with relief. ‘Right, now Infinity, I’m just going to put this saddle on your back to see if it fits. Stand still for me, there’s a girl,’ he said so that only my mare and I could hear him.

  Come on Fin, you’ve made him suffer, please let him put it on?

  She let out a deep sigh. I will allow it.

  ‘She’ll allow it,’ I told Feryl, hoping he would realise that at any moment she could choose to disallow it once more. Feryl appeared to have learnt his lesson, however and treated Infinity with the utmost courtesy from that point on. It was a relief when he found a saddle that he deemed would suffice, and announced that it was time for me to get on.

  Feryl told me to climb the fence, ask Infinity to stand alongside it and then put a leg over the saddle and sit down on it. We managed that without incident and once I was on board, Feryl altered the length of my stirrup leathers so that my feet rested comfortably in the stirrups.

  He raised his voice once more as he instructed me how to sit in the saddle, apparently keen that everyone within earshot should hear his words, and he kept it at the same level throughout the lesson that followed. He taught me how to use my body, rather than my mind, to ask Infinity to move forward, turn and halt, so that our minds could be free to communicate about other things whilst we moved around together. Infinity followed my body’s suggestions easily and Feryl seemed satisfied.

  As we continued to practise what we had been shown though, I couldn’t help but notice that Infinity seemed to be getting lower in front of me than she had been when I had first mounted, just as had happened when I had ridden her in order to escape the Woeful.

  Fin are you alright? I asked.

  Her reply was slightly fainter than usual. I am enjoying learning how our bodies can move together but I am pressed down onto my front legs by your weight. I cannot seem to remedy the situation.

  I immediately relayed what she had told me to Feryl.

  ‘Oh, don’t worry about that, all horses find it strange to begin with,’ he replied. ‘As time goes on Infinity will get stronger and better able to balance with you on board.’

  I need help to transfer your weight away from my front legs now. This cannot wait.

  I passed Infinity’s request on to Feryl.

  ‘All in good time, this is your first lesson and you have much to learn. Be patient,’ he said and then to his onlookers he added, ‘to be so young and innocent!’ Some of them laughed, others looked slightly uncomfortable and Rowena had a face like thunder.

  Infinity wasn’t convinced by Feryl’s assurances and I was disturbed by his dismissal of her concerns. I was relieved when he announced that our lesson had come to an end and showed me how to dismount and remove the saddle.

  ‘Same time tomorrow girls,’ he said and I felt Infinity bristl
e slightly at the sound of his voice.

  Rowena appeared at our side with Oak. ‘Bloody man, he had no right to talk down to you like that, are you okay?’

  I nodded. ‘He probably just isn’t used to teaching someone as young as me.’

  ‘That’s as maybe but however young you both are, Infinity is a horse and her thoughts and opinions should be heeded, as Feryl well knows. I don’t know what’s got into the man.’

  ‘I’m not really looking forward to our lesson tomorrow,’ I said as she vaulted onto Oak’s bare back from a standstill. ‘Did Oak struggle to carry you when you were learning to ride? Don’t you ever bother with a saddle?’ I added.

  ‘Not always, no. I use one most of the time so Oak doesn’t have to suffer my seat bones digging into his back on a regular basis, but we both like to go for a ride without, once in a while. Feryl doesn’t approve of me riding bareback, so now seems like an ideal time to do it. We’re going down to the river. Want to come?’

  I looked around at Feryl and saw him watching Rowena with a scowl. ‘We’d love to come with you if we won’t hold you up?’

  ‘Nope, we’ll walk with you until we get there and then if you don’t mind, we’ll leave you for a bit and go for a blast.’

  I walked alongside Oak with Infinity on my other side.

  Rowena said, ‘to answer your question, Oak did find it strange carrying me to begin with, but it got easier for him as my balance improved and he built up more muscle and got stronger in his back. Sometimes in our lessons though, I used to get the impression that Oak was waiting for Feryl to say more but whenever I asked him about it, he said that he felt there was more to be gained from the ridden interaction than we were being taught, but he either couldn’t or wouldn’t pinpoint for me exactly what was missing.’