"I'll take Sebastian," Eva said, her decision easy.
She ran her eyes over the rest, needing to find a good one for the general. The obvious pick would be Orion, but some instinct told her Caden would be better suited to him.
She found her choice in a large roan with speckled wings. His eyes were intelligent and he seemed well-equipped for battle. He'd suit Darius.
"Him, for Darius," she said pointing. "Orion for Caden."
After that, it didn't take long to choose. Fiona got a pretty gray mare with a white blaze on her nose. She was sweet but Eva could tell she was also fierce. Roscoe got a stallion who was the opposite of the mare but his eyes were gentle.
"What about saddles?" Ghost asked. "I don't know about anyone else, but bareback is already difficult when the horse has four legs on the ground. I don't want to see how much worse it would be midair."
Eva exchanged a glance with Orion. "He has a point. Talks will not go well if we end up splattered all over the ground."
There was an irritated snort from him.You sound like the Battle Queen.
Eva smothered her surprise, amusement threading through her at the thought of Shea having a similar conversation with him. It did sound like something like the Battle Queen would say.
Orion bobbed his head before trotting over to the saddles they had set beside the buildings in the hopes of using. He nosed through them, snorting on several and spraying them with snot in a clear rejection.
Finally, he nosed around Eva's, a simple blanket with a sparse saddle and two stirrups. It was one of her spares. Ajari had coached her on which stood the best chance of meeting with Orion’s approval.
This will do. However, it will still need to be modified slightly.
Eva relayed his instructions to the rest and it didn't take long to scrounge up several saddles that fit the Kyren's specifications.
Darius clasped hands with Hanna. "Take your time on the way home and don't take any chances."
She smiled, her gaze lingering on the Kyren with a trace of envy. "When I said I'd serve you in any capacity, I didn't quite know what I would be missing out on."
He chuckled. "Next time."
"If there is one," Hanna said.
He slanted a look at Eva. "I have a feeling there will be."
Hanna smirked. "You and your feelings."
"Be grateful. It's what led me to give you a chance after all," he said.
She shook her head. "Can't argue with that."
Reece joined Eva as she went over the saddles. "Be careful."
"I'm not the one who has to remain behind and guide them home," Eva said. She wouldn't classify the pathfinder as a friend, but they shared a lot of common ground. Neither were quite outsiders, but they weren’t Trateri either. Both existed on the fringes, necessary and needed but not accepted by everyone.
"Our stories of the mythologicals say they can be capricious and cruel. It would be wise not to forget that," he instructed.
"From where I stand, humans are the same. As long as I treat the mythologicals as I would a human, I’ll be fine," she said lightly.
His lips twitched. "True enough, little Caller. Perhaps you're right."
He turned to go.
"Reece, do the pathfinders have stories about the callers?" she asked.
In light of recent events, Eva decided it would be better not to trust the mythologicals to tell her everything she needed to know about herself and her abilities.
"If we meet up again, ask me then." Reece waved a hand over his shoulder as he walked away.
