[Windmount Stables] Mount and Bow

by **Fallon** on September 19th, 2013, 1:43 pm

6th Autumn 513AV
Some early bell in the morning.

“So,” her Patron begun with a hearty yawn, “Today we are going to try something a little bit different.”

It was early morning in the windmount stables, the autumn sun having only just made its presence known to the world. Fallon herself though was still in the process of rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and awakening her consciousness to her sense. She was still in the stage of adjusting her sleeping pattern, and her sharp and quick awakening from her patron did little for her. In her dazed state she managed to take up her bow and dress herself –rather badly mind, she had managed to line her buttons up wrong and her hair was still somewhat knotted and unkept. With a stagger she followed after Sera Natasha, dragging her feet all the way to the stables as they did.

Too early. Too soon, she gave a bleary gaze at her patron before giving a low, solemn nod.

“Oh, you’ll like it, don’t worry,” there was a pat on her shoulders and the curling of a smile, “Trust me, you will!”
“I wish I had half your enthusiasm…” came the mumble.
“Pardon?”
“Yes Sera…”

Looking pleased with herself she led Fallon round the stalls, still talking loudly in the early morning. What about though Fallon was far from her mind, she was too busy clicking herself out and shaking her weary head. The patron gave a gesture to Javil and pointed at the saddles before picking one up and thrusting it in the general direction of Fallon. She gave a slow blink, fingers wrapping around the rough leather.
“Now, go sort him out and tell me about the saddle,” her patron leaned against the side of the stall as she watched the squire.

Begrudgingly she did as she was told.

Stroking the muzzle of the horse she gave him a gentle greeting, before moving her hands down to the sides and the smooth hide. There was a second yawn, the wincing of eyes as she threw the saddle blanket over him and kept her voice calm where possible. Hooves pawed against the ground, a low snort escaping before he turned his attention to more important matters – the hay. It was for the better, it meant she could at least get the saddle in place before going any further. Grasping hold of the Cantle, the squire slid it over his back and proceeded to pull the stirrups into alignment.

“Well it’s a saddle,” she gave a sigh as she pulled the cinch around and underneath, “You sit on it and ride a horse.”
“No no… more than that. Look at it Fallon. Look at the shape of it.”
Fingers pulled the leather through the buckle, the pin finding the hole as she gave it a tug. Lips pursed, eyes scanning it over as she looked at the structure. A finger tapped at the back of the saddle, her mind slowly realising that it was higher and steeper than others. It sharply hit the seat a good foot lower. But that was not the only thing. The front pommel of the saddle was larger, welling up into a distinctive horn shape. She rubbed at her eyes and then at her jaw.

“Bits are higher, and…” she gave it a firm tug and registered that the back and front were sturdier and solid in structure, “They’re harder too. And the seat itself, seems more snug.”
“Correct,” her patron gave a satisfied nod and gestured that she continued. Javil gave a whine as the bridle was slid over his head, the small buckles pulled and adjusted to fit him snugly. She clipped the reins on, giving a loud yawn as she pulled away. Her patron however was not done yet, “Don’t forget to strap the arrows to the side of the saddle.”
Fumbling for them, Fallon strapped the quiver to the front right side of the saddle, leaving the top open and pointing upwards. The horse gave a snort, stepping away as she finally managed to finally tighten it, “Done Sera.”

There was a moment of inspection, a scrutinising gaze as she studied the work of the squire, “Well, at least you can saddle a horse correctly. Now, mount up, I’ll be with you in a few chimes.”

by **Fallon** on September 19th, 2013, 1:46 pm

Those few chimes passed quickly in the sluggish mind of Fallon, and before she had chance to register she was already being instructed to follow after her patron. Horse shoes clipped against the earth as both guided their horses once around the stables. She rocked in the saddle, her back forced into being straight and her posture improving because of it. If only fractionally. It was uncomfortable to say the least. Sera Druva continued to watch, eying up and down the gait and how the squire held herself. Until finally she spoke.

“Right, this is what we’re going to do,” she begun in her usual authoritive tone, “Bring your mount to a stop. Then when you’ve done that we’ll begin.”

Giving a firm pull the reins, the squire felt Javil resist, his head pulling back and herself sliding in the saddle. Muscles changed and tensed, her shoulders pulling her back before the horse stopped with a snort. She tried to keep herself relaxed on the seat, her legs steady as she tried to make sure they did not flinch. Her patron gave a sigh, “You’ll have to work on that one. Anyway, this is what I want you to try and achieve today,” eyes bore at the squire, “To learn to ride without your hands.”

A double take was needed to confirm her patron’s words, “What?”
“You heard me correctly,” she shooed the reins out of Fallon’s hands, “Let them rest on the pommel, they’re not going anywhere.” Javil pawed at the ground, a low snort escaping before he shook his head. Hesitantly she released the reins and let them hang there placing her hands firmly on her lap. Her patron continued, “Good good, just keep them there relaxed for the moment. Now, you’re probably wondering where we’re going with this. Well let me explain. How do you control a horse whilst shooting an arrow?”

Fallon gave a frown, her brow knitting together as she thought. She knew that to pull the bow string back she would need to extend it out first with the other. She mimicked the movement in the air whilst on the top of the horse. Imagining she was still holding onto the rein; she saw it stretch out with either of the hands thus the direction of the horse was at risk of being altered by a simple pull. Well, petch.

She looked about herself, leaning closely down at her legs then about herself. There was a dissatisfied sigh, hands resting on her hips before she shook her head, “Not a clue. Let go of the reins and quickly snap at them once you’ve fired?”
Sera Druva gave a laugh, “It could work, but no. Okay this is what I want you to do, keep your back straight and your hands on your lap…”

With a wince the squire did as she was told, her fingers curling up tightly. With her feet in the stirrups, her first thought notion was that she was going to fall, that her balance was going to be lost and she was simply going to be sent tumbling to the ground in a heap. Of course, that did not happen and as the squire suspiciously peered at her mount. Javil turned his head back at her, the gentle shifting of weight beneath him as he remained in place. Fallon let out a long held breath, this was gradually getting more nerve racking by the tick.

“Now when you spur him on what do you do? That isn’t using your hands.”

Pausing, the squire chewed at her lip, her brow knitting with careful thought as she resisted the urge to whip the reins and ride off. So, she went through the motions. Raising her hands up she pretended she held the reins there. She made the flick with her hands, and her ankles gave a twitch in the stirrups. Looking down she gave a quick smirk in realisation, “I clip my ankles against his sides. I use my legs?”
“Correct,” her patron gave a nod and came up beside her, “What else would you use?”
Fallon pulled a face, eyes wincing slightly as the question bubbled away in her mind. What else could she use? She gave a lean, a low humming noise on her lips as she searched once more for an answer. She gave a click of her tongue, her brow having finally knitted itself together before she shook her head, “I don’t know Sera.”
“Is it that you don’t know? Or that you just have not realised yet?” Sera Druva gave a sharp point at her, “Come on, think about it. I know you can do that. Think about what you do, what gestures, wha-”

“Voice!” Fallon suddenly announced. Javil gave a nervous snort, his hoof pawing at the ground at the exclamation his rider had given. She watched her patron give a slight wince and then promptly gave a nod, “Good. Good. Now try it. And hands on your head, kill your temptation to grab the reins.”

by **Fallon** on September 19th, 2013, 1:49 pm

For a moment there was silence. With her hands placed on her head and her fingers laced together, the squire felt her back straighten. Her patron was watching expectantly, her hands ready to reach out and grab should her squire fall. Keeping herself righted, she clipped her heels into Javil’s her voice croaking into a nervous, “Let’s go.”

There was little movement par the gentle sway, the head turning slightly to look at her. The dark eyes gave a blink the hoof raising once more. Fingers gave a twitch as she resisted reaching down and grasping the reins, and her lips once more parted with a simultaneous, firmer poke with her heels, “Come on Javil!”

Once more, there was nothing. She rubbed her brow with thought, and gazed hopefully at Sera Druva. All she got however was little more than a shrug and a smile. Sighing she returned her hands to her head, and shifted her weight in the saddle. She gave a blink, and drew in a deep breath. She had to try and do this, she had to succeed. Less… well, she did not know exactly what her patron had planned next if she did not succeed. Clearing her throat she took a more direct approach this time. Fallon sat tall, shoulders back her weight shifting slightly in the saddle. She recalled the processes, her knees raising slightly, her legs coming away. She drew in a deep breath, tasting the air before acting all at once, “Javil! Walk already!”

There was a pause, which was then followed by a second clip of her stirrups. The hoof was raised, a moment of hesitation from her mount before slowly he gave a trot onwards, the low clip of hooves sounding out on the ground. She gave a sigh of relief, shoulders slouching whilst her hands remained in place. Her patron gave an approving nod and made way after them. It was difficult to say the least to keep her balance, she felt herself tilting and swaying from side to side more often than before. She felt her legs tighten, the muscles constricting as the gentle trot went and continued forwards. Jaw tensed, followed by her back as she continued ever onwards. As she did however her patron started to give a lecture.

“So, as you can’t use your hands, how would you turn your horse?” Her patron begun with much enthusiasm, “Well, to begin with there is the shifting in the seat. If you shift your weight to one side your horse should turn to it. Also, should you apply more pressure on the leg that the direction you wish to turn in…” there was a smile, “Well I think you get the idea.”

Fallon’s face had twisted slightly, eyebrow raised as she tried to even comprehend what her patron had just said. Her head tilted to the side, lips parting as grasped what had been said. Javil however was continuing his gentle walk forward and whilst she had managed to just about maintain balance at this speed, she was unsure if she would be able to continue to do so at an increased rate. Besides the issue of turning was quickly coming ahead, so she begun working on it with a bit of haste. She applied the pressure of her left leg, squeezing it in to the side of the horse, the spur clipping close to its side. Her shoulder followed after it, her face screwing up into a wince as she leaned out. At first there was nothing, and it was only as she continued to lean out slightly further, with her weight shifting to one side that the horse.

“Javil…” she begun as she forced her eyes to look ahead and her hands to stay where she was. There was a slightly more steady lean out, “Uh… Javil?” she gave a further lean, her left leg tapping firmly against his side, “Javil!”

There was a grumpy snort, before he considered slightly turning to the left. A gentle arch was formed, leading her round in a curve as opposed to turning to the left completely. She gave a scowl, and straightened herself up. Giving a curse she gave a firm throw of her weight once more to the left. This time Javil responded firmer and quicker, the arch becoming tighter and more defining. With her hands still on her head she pulled herself up straight, a steady exhale as the horse straightened up and continued his walk. Fallon watched the approving nod from her patron, and felt her shoulders relax. Her hands however remained fixed upon her head.

“Hard work isn’t it?” Sera Druva begun, “Don’t worry, with time it will become easier. Now, what have you noticed about it?”
“You have to put a lot of force into it,” Fallon gave a nod, “You have to be firm and sharp it seems to make them turn quicker. That or Javil is just plain stubborn,” her legs gave a twitch her face creasing as the muscles contracted, “And it’s a real strain on the leg muscles to say the least. I mean you have to sort of grip and turn at the same time which is a real strain.”
“Best build up your leg muscles then,” there was a pause, “And your stamina by the sounds of things. Perhaps you should take up running. Get the strength there.”
“If that’s what you recommend Sera.”
“Oh I do. Now, try turning to the right instead of the left.”

With a sigh Fallon begun, this time sharply pulling herself to the right. She heard Javil release a snort, his head turning in protest whilst her right foot gave him a tap. He turned, slightly quicker this time making her wobble. Fallon snapped back quickly, making herself straightened whilst the horse continued its gentle walk.

Gods this is hard.

by **Fallon** on September 19th, 2013, 1:51 pm

It was for a good few chimes that her patron watched her go back and forth, turning round at the gentle pace, her wobbling back and forth as she fought to keep balance. With her hands fixed firmly on her head of course. In good time however Sera Druva allowed her to place the hands on her lap. The pace however was still kept slow, it was the speed she could best control the creature at after all. Swaying slightly in the saddle, her form bopping along to the beat of the hooves, did Fallon finally turn her attention to her patron.

“Seems like you’re getting the hang of it. Now I want you to follow me round to the wall, and from there we’ll continue to the final stage. The bow.”

It was with a slow walk that Fallon guided Javil over to the edge of the Windmount stables and on to the towering wall that marked the edge of the city proper. Her instructions were made clear soon, as her patron gestured for her to take the bow, “Now for the fun bit. Steady your stance on the horseback, make him stand still.”

It's only fun for you.

Clearing her throat, Fallon let herself lean back in the saddle, a firm “Woah,” on her lips. Her knees came in, a slight shudder in her frame as Javil stopped. She had to stop and think about what was meant by steadying her balance though. Lips came together, her brow knitting slightly as she thought about how she sat. She knew what the knight was planning, but getting there was going to be the interesting bit. Her back straightened, her feet slipping more forward in the stirrups. She locked up her legs, and focused on keeping the upper half of her available for twisting. In doing so she felt herself hovering above the saddle. Legs trembled and tensed, and it was with a deep breath that she prepared herself for what her patron asked of her next.

“Now take up the bow and an arrow, and pretend you’re going to fire it.”

Her eyebrow rose, and sheepishly she did as she was told. Fingers fumbled, the notch of the arrow being pulled back in the sting. She was far from confident with the weapon, but at least she had a rough idea in what she was doing with it. There was a sharp intake of breath as she managed to bring it to rest before stopping suddenly. Her stance was fixed and off, how was she supposed to fire it?

Fallon gave a twist, the bow coming round to point at the wall. Or at least until she shook it off and turned to her patron, “I can’t do-“
“Twist at the hips Fallon, not at the waist. And when you’re ready,” she gestured to the wall, “Just let the arrow fly at the wall.”

Right… whatever you say… she drew in a deep breath, and felt herself lift above her seat as she twisted round at the hips. From there she felt her legs straighten, her grip on the bow moving and changing. It got to the stage where she felt herself almost standing up in the stirrups, and her stance was as close as possible to firing it dismounted. She gave a twitch, the bow rising up whilst the arrow was pulled back firmly. Her arm strained, the feathers coming level with her chin whilst her patron moved to the safety of behind. For a moment she gave a tremble, and released the arrow. There was the distinct crack of a string, a dull thud into the earth a few feet away. She gave a glance back at her patron to which the response was, “Do it again. I want to see it fly straight a few times.”

There was a sigh. Drawing it back, she felt the wood strain in her grip, the string tighten as it begun to contort under the pressure of the pull. With the arrow there she looked down its shaft, eyes narrowing down it. She drew in a deep breath, feeling it tense before she let loose the arrow once more. There was a dull clatter as it hit the wall, a distinct thunk of the arrow head hitting stone. She took a third arrow, getting more confident this time with the balancing upon the back of Javil. The arrow was slotted into place, pulled back and ready to fire just before her patron interrupted once more.

“Try shooting whilst moving,” she gave no time to protest however, for her patron had given Javil a gentle tap to send him on his way quickly enough. A gentle walk in which she was struggling to keep balance on. Her arm raised her back straightened as she loosely jostled from side to side. She raised the bow, keeping her form the best she could, before finally releasing it. The arrow flew of course, despite there being a lot of movement that caused her sit herself quickly back down, it managed to weave its way through the air. Giving a firm lean round to the right she managed to push Javil round and back to her patron. Though not without a lot of pressure and force. She released a held in breath, and shook her head at her patron.

“Good… good,” her patron gave a satisfied nod of approval. Shoulders sagging she reached for a second arrow “Well, keep at it for a couple more bells. When you’re done be sure to sort out Javil and collect your arrows. Then, the day is yours.”

by **Perplexity** on October 13th, 2013, 3:10 am

Riddled with Rewards!

Fallon

Riding: Horse	+3 XP
Observation	+2 XP
Rhetoric	+2 XP
Organization	+1 XP
Persuasion	+1 XP
Weapon: Short Bow	+1 XP

Lores :

Notes :

Solo [Windmount Stables] Mount and Bow