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Corlo called to the soldiers and suddenly they were running hard down the hillside towards the far behind only Seren and Iron Bars The Crimson Guardsman strode towards her ‘You hear it, lass?’

‘What?’

‘Horses In the stable The fire’s jumped to its roof The farmer’s left his horses behind’

‘He wouldn’t do that’

He squinted down at her, then crouched until he was at eye level ‘No, likely the owner’s dead Strange, how most locals around here don’t kno to ride’

She looked down at the farain ‘Probably a breeder for the army The whole notion of cavalry came from Bluerose – as did most of the stock Horses weren’t part of our culture before then Have you ever seen Letherii cavalry on parade? Chaos Even after, what, sixty years? And dozens of Bluerose officers trying to train our soldiers’

‘You should have imported these Bluerose horse-warriors over as auxiliaries If it’s their skill, exploit it You can’t borrow someone else’s way of life’

‘Maybe not Presumably, you can ride, then’

‘Aye And you?’

She nodded, sheathing the knife and rising ‘Trained by one of those Bluerose officers I mentioned’

‘You were in the army before?’

‘No, he was htened as well ‘Look – they’ve reached theot to thank you, Iron Bars’

‘You wouldn’t have been as pretty drowned’

‘No I’m not ready yet to thank you for that What you did to those hter back in Gris, D’Avore Valley She’d be about your age now Let’s go, lass’

She walked behind hihter What an absurd notion He wasn’t that old These Avowed had strange senses of humour

Corlo and the squad had pulled a dozen horses fro with tack and bridles One of the soldiers was cursing as Seren and Iron Bars approached

‘Look at these stirrups! No wonder the bastards can’t ride the das!’

‘You set your foot down in the crotch of the hook,’ Seren explained ‘And what happens if it slips out?’ the man demanded ‘You fall off’