Page 119 of Ashborne: Defiance

Bren had trotted out to the aisle and now returned to my side with what I could only describe as a mass of straps rolled up in her arms. I’d seen Voski harness and unharness Kham several times, and was trying to remember all the pieces. Now, I watched, fascinated, as Bren unrolled the straps and searched among them as she spoke, and took hold of the harness in very particular spots.

“I made some adjustments to your harness last night—the same ones I make to mine. We aren’t as heavy as the men, so we don’t need some of the thicker straps. And that means your harness is a little lighter than our brothers’. It also means we have a double responsibility to clean and check them every day, watching for straps that might stretch too thin over time. I’ll help you. And show you how to do it. But… oh dear, there’s so much, Grace. I’m sorry. It’s going to be overwhelming for a while. Just know that it can be done. I’ve done it. You can too.”

I nodded happily. “I don’t mind having to learn a lot. It’s worth it. I’ve wanted something like this my whole life—in fact, this is better than when I used to dream about riding away to a distant kingdom on a horse. I’ll do whatever it takes. I promise.”

Bren smiled and walked to Koa’s side, holding the harness. “You’ll do great. Come talk to me if you get discouraged. The men can be… well, for them, the insults are how they show love.” She heaved the harness, her voice tightening with the effort. “They don’t always understand—”

I froze as everything happened at once.

41. Be Still

~ GRACE ~

As Bren threw the harness up, and over Koa’s withers, Koa shifted slightly—and the harness smacked her on the shoulder, startling her.

Her head shot up and her wings snapped wide. Her tail whipped around to counterbalance her weight as she threw her great bulk sideways—but because of the loft above the stable, the rafters weren’t as high. She cracked her head on one of the beams and shrieked.

The stable shuddered, and dust trickled down over our heads as Koa whipped around again, her tail narrowly missing Bren, who squawked and ducked, dropping to the straw with her hands over her head. A good thing, because the harness fell to the ground with a smattering of thuds, and two of the buckles almost smacked her in the head.

When everything had stopped moving, I hurried forward to pull Bren back to her feet, as I tried to soothe Koa in the link. ‘I’m sorry! She didn’t mean to hurt you. She only missed!’

Koa wasn’t speaking in words. She’d crowded herself into the corner of the stable, the ear on the side where she’d hit the rafters, drooping. She shook her head again and again.

“I’m so sorry, Koa! You’re broader than Akhane and I misjudged—”

I rushed forward to grasp the harness and pull it away, because Koa seemed hesitant to move forward while it lay in the straw in front of her. Dear Lord it was heavy.

“She’s hurt her ear—she’s showing me the pain!” I said to Bren as I dragged the heavy leather toward the opposite wall.

“I’m so sorry, Koa—”

A heavy, deep snort sounded from the aisle and we both turned to find Kham standing outside the door, his head extended into the stable.

“Stop moving, both of you,” Voski said from where he stood next to Kham’s leg.

My heart trilled at the sight of him, but it dropped immediately. He looked awful.

Skin so pale he looked gray around the edges. Dark smudges under his eyes—like bruises. Far worse than yesterday when we’d arrived. As if trying to hide them, he’d let his hair fall over his eyes and he stared through it.

I braced for his anger, but to my surprise, his eyes were locked on Koa. One palm lifted in a gesture to stop, the other low, but extended out from his side, he stepped forward slowly, a soothing whist-whist-whist sound rushing between his lips.

Then he looked over his shoulder at Kham, who filled the doorway of the stable, his head weaving back and forth on his long neck, crooning.

And Koa answered him with little trills and a small scream.

Kham rumbled. Voski nodded.

“She hurt herself, but not badly—Kham’s making certain. He thinks she’s okay, but a little scared. Next time you want to harness, do it outside. You need more room when you aren’t as practiced.” He didn’t sound angry, which was a relief. But his tone was flat.

Bren grimaced. “I forgot how little room there is in the loft stables. It’s my fault. I should have thought of that.”

Voski shrugged, and didn’t look at either of us, just kept staring at Koa. “Kham says she’ll be fine. But I think it would be best if I helped with the harnessing this morning,” he said with a bemused sideways look at Bren.

“Will she let you?” Bren asked.

Voski nodded. “I’m her mate’s rider. She trusts me even if I piss her off,” he murmured, in a soft, tender tone that said he was grateful for the fact. The warmth in his voice pinched in my chest. A bolt of jealousy crackled behind my ribs. I had to swallow it back. I was glad that Koa trusted Voski—and that he would be kind to her.

But, why couldn’t he be warm to me?