“We’ll start training him soon, and you can help me. So he gets used to you right from the start. Then, when he’s old enough to ride, you’ll both be ready. Have you thought of a name for him?” Quentin whistled for the mare to approach, and handed a carrot for Lukas to offer her in greeting.
As she gratefully munched the carrot, Lukaz stroked the mare’s forelock and replied to Quentin’s question. “Mamie said that Nåde means ‘grace’ in Lady Ulla’s language. I want to give my horse a Viking name, too.” He glanced up at Ulla, wonder burning in his bright blue eyes. “Will you please help me name him?”
She stroked the soft, wavy locks of the little boy’s dark brown hair and nodded with a delighted smile.
“Perhaps Ulla can write down a few names, and yourgrandmère—the Lady Laudine—can pronounce them for you. Then you can pick the one you like best.” Quentin affectionately caressed the mare’s nuzzle, and the mother horse returned to her timid foal.
Argant, the capable adolescent groom whose dark hair glistened in the morning sunlight, led a saddled Nåde into the grassy clearing before them. “Bonjour, Madame.Hello, Lukaz. Such fine weather today. Perfect for the hunt. And Nåde here is eager to run.”
Quentin ducked his chin in gratitude as he accepted the reins from Argant, who waved goodbye and returned to work in the stables. The Master of Horse then helped Ulla climb into the saddle and hoisted Lukaz up to sit before her. “My wife Rozenn is thankful for the ointment you gave her. It’s eased the unbearable itch of the skin on her stomach. Thank you, my lady. We’re both very grateful.”
Ulla was immensely pleased that her knowledge of herbs and skills as a midwife had helped Quentin’s young, breeding wife. As he headed toward the stables to return to his horses, Ulla urged Nåde forward with a squeeze of her thighs and a gentle nudge of her booted heels.
“See you later, Ulla. Have fun, Lukaz.Au revoir!” Quentin waved goodbye as they trotted off, Ulla’s arms wrapped securely around Lukas as she held Nåde’s reins, the wolf Vill scampering along at her side.
“Did you like my horse? He’s beautiful, isn’t he? A black Friesian, just like Nâde.” Lukas squirmed excitedly in her arms as he turned his torso to look back at her in the saddle. “Will you help me name him? I want him to have a Viking name. Just like your horse.”
Ulla nodded with a grin and hugged Lukas tight.His enthusiasm and youthful exuberance are contagious. And he is absolutely adorable.
Wings like those of a tiny sparrow fluttered in Ulla’s tender heart.
“Are we going to the castle mews now? To get Finn?Mamiesaid she’s a peregrine falcon. And that you’re allowed to have one because you’re the daughter of a Viking chieftain.” Lukas twisted in the saddle to look at her again with widened, beseeching eyes. “Could I please have a falcon, too? My Uncle Bastien is the future King of Finistère. And my Aunt Gabrielle is a princess. That makes me a noble, doesn’t it? So I could have a falcon, just like you. Do you think Lord Gauvin could help me train one? And then—when my colt is old enough—I could ride him and hunt with you and Vill and Finn?”
Another excellent means for Lukaz to acquire self-confidence and proficiency in vital skills. I’ll train him to become an expert archer. And teach him to hunt.
With bow and arrow. Snares and traps. And a peregrine falcon of his own.
Her expression hopeful yet uncertain, Ulla responded by raising her eyebrows and shrugging her shoulders as if to say, “We’ll soon find out.”
When they arrived at the wooden aviary where birds of prey were housed in the castle mews, Ulla dismounted and lowered Lukaz from the saddle. She tethered Nåde’s reins to a nearby shade tree where the horse could graze under a large canopy of leaves, gesturing for Vill to remain at the Friesian’s side and await her return. With a toss of her head, she invited Lukaz to accompany her as she strode up to meet Gauvin, the castle falconer and Lord of the Mews.
“Good day, my lady! Hello, Master Lukaz. Your grandfather mentioned that Lady Ulla would be bringing you on the hunt with her today. Come, I’ll introduce you to her falcon Finn.” The grey-haired Gauvin led them inside the domed aviary where falcons, hawks, and owls perched on wooden branches at different levels inside the expansive mews. “Here she is, all ready for the hunt.”
Finn flapped her broad grey wings and tilted her dark head back and forth in joyful recognition of her mistress.
Ulla strode up to greet Finn, caressing the smooth feathers of the falcon’s compact head. As the predator clamped rapacious claws onto Ulla’s gloved left wrist, she beckoned for Lukas to come forward and meet her beloved bird.
Ulla’s soft whistle informed Finn that Lukaz was a friend, so the falcon allowed him to stroke her fine feathers.
“She does look fierce,” the little boy exclaimed with awe, his limpid blue gaze a deep pool of mystery and wonder. “Mamietold me that’s what her name means in your Viking language.” Dark brown waves flew from his imploring face as Lukaz spun toward the castle falconer, who watched with a bemused, patient twinkle in his wise, experienced eyes. “Lord Gauvin, could I please have a falcon, too? Then—when my colt is big enough—I can hunt with Lady Ulla and Finn!”
“As a matter of fact, I do have a fledgling here. She’s a peregrine falcon, just like Finn.” Gauvin led a fascinated Lukas over to a small perch where a young falcon was tethered by leather jesses strapped around her ankles. “Here she is. Isn’t she a beauty?” He stroked the fledgling’s head and encouraged Lukaz to do the same. “Did you know the females are the best hunters? They’re much bigger than the males, who are calledtercels. The females are more aggressive, too. They’re so fast—they swoop down on their prey and strike like lightning, before it can run away.” Gauvin reached for a leather falconry glove, raising his eyebrows to ask for Ulla’s permission.
She grinned and nodded eagerly, stroking the smooth feathers on Finn’s alert head.
Gauvin strapped the leather gauntlet on Lukas’ left wrist, then coaxed the young falcon onto the awestruck little boy’s extended fingers. “Give her this piece of rabbit meat, so she’ll associate you with food. Every day, when you come here, I’ll have you feed her. Once she trusts you, she’ll be ready to train. In the meantime, you can watch Lady Ulla. She’ll show you how she taught Finn. And soon, your falcon can join in the hunt.”
When the fledgling finished eating, Gauvin eased her back onto the wooden perch and removed the falconer’s glove from Lukaz’ hand. “You and Lady Ulla enjoy today’s hunt. When you bring Finn back here to the mews, I’ll have you feed your little falcon again before you leave.” He bowed his head respectfully to Ulla, who led an elated Lukaz outside to rejoin the awaiting horse and wolf.
She released Finn to soar high above, lifted Lukaz into the saddle, and climbed up behind him. With a distinctive whistle for Vill, Ulla hugged Lukaz tight and galloped off into the Forest of Brocéliande.
****
Finn’s sharp cry preceded her dizzying dive as she seized a rabbit with razor-sharp yellow talons. Vill darted ahead to fetch the prey and returned to drop the quarry at Ulla’s booted feet.
“Finn is so fast! That makes six rabbits.Mamiesaid you use the pelts to make warm clothes for winter. Is that enough fur for a cloak?” Lukaz watched as Ulla bent to retrieve the rabbit, adding it to the others strapped to Nåde’s saddle.
Ulla nodded and motioned for Lukaz to climb onto the horse. She boosted him into the saddle, swung her leg over Nåde’s muscular back, and whistled for Finn to return to her gloved wrist. She summoned Vill, nudged her horse, and rode back toward the castle mews.
