By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson

celebration, but he was going to learn to ride. He glanced at Noam and grinned before guiding Etti out of the stables.
    Achan led Etti across the courtyard, feeling like a real squire. He jutted his chin at the guards on the wall and passed through the main gate, his new boots tapping on the drawbridge with Etti’s hooves.
    He stopped beside the moat and stared across the grassy field at the allown tree, feeling as though the tree were witnessing his life change. Etti began eating fresh spring grass at the side of the moat. Achan stroked her neck as she munched and waited while Sir Gavin led the chestnut courser over the drawbridge.
    “This is Scippa,” Sir Gavin said when he’d stopped his horse beside Achan. “He’s the fastest horse I’ve ever seen, except the festriers in Xulon.”
    “He’s beautiful,” Achan said.
    “That he is.” Sir Gavin nodded to Noam, who stood watching from the drawbridge. “You ever see a festrier, Achan?”
    “No, sir.” Achan had heard of the horses that measured as high as twenty-four hands. He believed in them about as much as he believed in the giants who were said to ride them.
    “Someday you will.” Sir Gavin took Scippa’s reins in his left hand and held them up. “When you ride, always mount on the left side.” He reached up with his left hand still gripping the reins and fisted Scippa’s mane. Then he put his left foot into the stirrup, his right hand on the top edge of the saddle, and jumped. He pulled himself up and swung his right leg over the horse’s back.
    It looked easy enough. Thankfully, Etti was small. Achan tried to imitate what Sir Gavin had done and just about fell into the moat. On the second try, Achan barely managed to mount. He flushed to think how that must have looked to Noam. It was a good thing he hadn’t been trying to mount a horse the size of Scippa.
    “Nicely done, lad! Let’s go to the field for a bit.” Sir Gavin led Scippa toward the wheat field where Achan had spent so many hours with the waster.
    Etti followed for a few steps then stopped, her head dipping back to the grass. Then she walked after Scippa again, only to stop a few paces later for more grass. Achan still gripped Etti’s mane in his left hand, and he held tight. Her body rocked him from side to side when she moved. It was like being a giant, to sit atop a horse. He grinned, liking the height very much but wondering just how he was to control this animal.
    He looked up to see Sir Gavin heading back to him. A cloud of dust rose to the north. Likely another procession headed to the prince’s celebration.
    Sir Gavin steered Scippa close. “Hold the reins loose but tight enough to pull if you need to. She’s an easy one, so lifting the reins a bit to the right or left is all it takes to steer her. Turn your head the way you want to go as well. She can feel your body move and sense your intentions.”
    Achan tried a few turns on the road in front of the castle’s entrance. Etti responded well to his guidance. It was an empowering feeling.
    “That’s right,” Sir Gavin said. “Now, gently tap your heel into her side to make her walk.”
    Achan did, and Etti took a few steps forward. Then she stopped for more grass. He squeezed again, a bit harder, and this time she took off at a lazy amble.
    “That’s it! Always thank her for doing a good job and you’ll win her over.”
    Achan patted her neck. “Thank you, Etti girl.”
    Etti snorted and followed Scippa out to the wheat field.
    Achan steered Etti in circles around the field, practicing commands and reining until the sun burned high in the sky.
    Two more entourages entered Sitna manor as they rode. Both groups carried banners of blue and black. Their passing filled the air with dust so thick it seemed like fog. One procession looked like tribal hunters draped in animal skins. The other group was neat and clean, like a bunch of scribes.
    “Let’s get away from all this dust, shall we?” Sir Gavin steered Scippa