“Well,” Bryn said with nervous excitement, “I guess this is as good a time as any.”
Oliver made a stirrup with his hands, and Bryn clambered up onto the horse. Fable stood patiently as Bryn wiggled her way inexpertly into a straddle and gripped the rope bridle.
Oliver mounted Legend, giving the stallion a calming pat.
Bryn glanced again up at the castle. “I thought Rangar was very particular about who rides Legend.”
“Oh, he is,” Oliver grinned wickedly over at Bryn. “No one is allowed to ride Legend but Rangar. But Rangar can’t do much while he’s locked up, can he? Besides, these two need to get used to one another.”
Bryn shook her head at Oliver’s daringness, though she supposed it was good for Rangar to have a friend who was just as much a troublemaker as he was.
“Ready, princess?” Oliver asked.
She took a deep breath. “Let’s go.”
She nudged Fable with her heels to follow behind Legend as Oliver led them through the village toward the coast. She kept her elbows at an angle and close to her body as Valenden had taught her. Fable was much larger than the horses she’d ridden before, but the mare had such a smooth gait and confident step that it wasn’t long before Bryn settled back, getting the feel of her.
As soon as they passed the docks, Oliver glanced over his shoulder. “Ready?”
“For what?”
His response was to kick Legend into a trot. Bryn shrieked as Fable started trotting behind him. She made a fist with one hand in Fable’s mane while holding the reins with the other. Her thighs clamped tightly to keep her balance. A few snowflakes swirled around them as Oliver led the way onto the snow-covered beach.
Bryn was just starting to feel confident when Oliver nudged Legend into a full gallop.
“Wait!” Bryn called, but Fable took off after Legend without her prompting. Suddenly the wind was swooshing by her face. Sand and snow flew at her from where Legend kicked it up ahead. Panic made her grip Fable’s mane even harder. She’d only ever ridden this fast on horseback with Rangar’s arm around her and his command of the horse. It had been terrifying enough then, but now she was the only one in control.
Don’t fall off, for the love of the saints. Don’t fall off!
The two horses charged down the beach, kicking up sand. They veered into the frigid surf up to the tops of their hooves, then back onto the flat expanse of sand. The ocean stretched far to the left, the rocky hills of the Baersladen to the right. Bryn was overcome with thrill as much as terror.
Fable washers.
Oliver finally slowed once they reached a rocky outcropping that blocked the sandy beach. He eased Legend to a stop, then patted his neck.
Bryn’s chest heaved in and out with ragged breaths. Once she caught her breath, she yelled, “I didn’t say I was ready for agallop!”
“Gallop?” Mischief glinted in Oliver’s eye. “That wasn’t a gallop, Lady Bryn. That was a nice, gentle canter.”
She balked at the idea that they hadn’t even been going at top speed. She patted Fable, then grinned and looked up at Oliver. “I’m very relieved I didn’t fall off.”
“You liked it, didn’t you?”
She grinned wider. “Yes.”
They rode the horses at a walk on a trail through the forest to return to Barendur Hold. Bryn’s legs were aching, but she marveled at seeing the woods from horseback. The height gave her a new perspective on everything, and she felt great power working as a team with Fable.
By the time they returned and housed the horses in the stable, Bryn’s head was buzzing as badly as her thighs were aching. She made her way dreamily back to their chambers, where she threw her arms around Rangar.
She kissed him square on the lips. “Thank you.”
“Better than your previous first gift?”
“Seeing you in chains? Well, that wasn’tentirelyunwelcome.”
He smacked a hand on her ass, then captured her lips in another kiss. Bryn felt the magic of the winter horseback ride with Fable sing through her body, melding with her love for Rangar and his wild homeland.
He trailed his lips down her jawline while he muttered, “As much as I want to bed you once more before leaving, I have a feeling your thighs are already exhausted enough and couldn’t take much moreriding.”
