"It is…" She struggled for the right word.
"Adequate?"
"Oh, nay. It is worth at least four horses."
He smiled. "Generous of you. "
"There is no shame in admitting that you have done the greater part of the work." She dipped more water for herself, drank, and shook her head in wonder. "I can scarce believe this came from a well. Honestly, I don't know how you managed it. I didn't think farmers had spells of this potency."
"A farmer has to drink too," he said.
"Then I envy your family if this is what you've done at home." She looked up to see Hearn striding toward them, rubbing his hands in anticipation. "I wonder what he will think? "
"We'll soon know," Miach murmured.
Hearn came to a halt before them. "Well?"
"It's drinkable," Miach said blandly.
Morgan retrained from comment, but she did stand up and move out of Hearn's way. There was no sense in preventing the man from tasting the purchase price of his steeds.
Hearn dipped, tasted, then froze. He tasted again, then shook his head, as if he couldn't quite believe it. Morgan looked at Miach and nodded knowingly. Miach only smiled faintly and continued to watch Hearn drink his fill.
The man set the dipper down on the rock of the well, folded his arms over his chest and stood there for a moment or two, then looked at Miach.
"My horses will enjoy that," he said finally.
Miach smiled. "I sense a shifting of your courtyards."
Hearn snorted. " 'Tis for damned sure my men won't be drinking this elixir." He reached out and clapped a hand on Miach's shoulder. "Well done, my little friend. Well done indeed." He looked at Morgan. "And my garrison overwhelmed as well. Is there any other miracle you two wish to fashion before I send you off?"
Morgan looked back at him unflinchingly. "I suppose that depends on whether or not we'll be leaving on our feet."
Hearn laughed. "Oh, nay, missy, you'll be riding." He had himself another long drink, dragged his sleeve across his mouth with a smack of satisfaction, then walked away. "Meet me in the lists."
Morgan felt an overwhelming sense of relief course through her. Had she been a lesser woman, she might have been forced to sit down. She settled for another drink and a gusty sigh.
"Let's make for the lists," Miach said, "before he changes his mind. He loves his horses more than his children, so riding off with seven of them is serious business."
Morgan strode after him. "Miach?"
"Aye?"
"What kind of spell was that?"
He looked at her with faint amusement. "Just a little something I picked up somewhere. Water can be quite nasty when it comes from the wrong source."
"That tasted like sunshine."
He laughed and reached out to tug on her braid. "Thoughts of an Angesand steed have gone to your head, gel, and rendered you a poet. It was just water."
"Damned tasty, though. "
"Perhaps," he said modestly. "It served our purpose and I cannot ask for more than that. Let's try not to look too eager to get our hands on that horseflesh. It might frighten Hearn. "
Morgan nodded and walked with him out to the lists. She struggled not to look overly interested in the beasts that were being brought out before them.
"You're gaping," Miach murmured.
