5th of Spring, AV 414
Windmount Stables
7th Bell (And a bit)
Windmount Stables
7th Bell (And a bit)
The song of the birds truly announced the start of Spring as their whistle rippled through the crisp morning air. The clear sky helped as well, allowing the sun's ray to illuminate the morning dew that clung to the fresh grass as it glistened and rippled with every breeze that brushed against it. Joren had no time to appreciate to scenery, in fact he found he had no time for anything anymore, it was all training and learning, it had left him absolutely shattered! Everything seemed to ache, all his muscles seemed to put up a fight whenever he asked something of them, worryingly even the ones he mainly reserved for the bedroom, but he seldom had time for that anymore, much to his increasing frustration.
In his hand he clutched a rough bit of dirty parchment that had been handed to him as soon as he roused reluctantly from his deep, peaceful sleep, with an almost illegible scrawl written in royal blue ink reading -
Joren,
You're not walking everywhere so meet me by the Windmount Stables and we'll get you started on riding a horse. I don't care how much effort it is, I want you to drag your sorry arse out of bed and meet me there by the 7th Bell or else, don't bother with your armour. I'll be waiting there.
Ser Theron Stalinsa
True to his words there his patron stood, crossed armed and brow furrowed as Joren stumbled towards him, his boots slick and slippery from the morning dew. "You're late" Theron stated simply as he gestured for him to follow him into the paddock as he swung open a splintered wood gate with a hair-raising squeak. Joren felt a little miffed, the seventh bell hadn't rung that long ago, was it really that much of a big deal? "I'm not th-" He began to say but Theron raised his sharply, making it clear he didn't want to hear a word of it.
"Late is late, there is no expectation. When I say I want you to be somewhere at a certain time I really mean I want you there half a bell before then, do I make myself clear?" He lectured, not bothering to look back as he lead him through the pasture.
"But I jus-" Joren tried to explain again but it was a fruitless pursuit.
"Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes..."
"Yes?" Theron asked quizzically while Joren rolled his eyes towards the heavens behind him, very tempted to find out if he could beat him to death.
"Yes Ser" He repeated glumly, irked at being interrupted.
"Good, I'd curb that attitude if I were you, I think you have potential but if you plan to be a difficulty squire I'll make sure my teaching will be Hai" He informed, making his point quite clear to the fiery Inarta as he stepped into one of the three barns that lined the pasture. Joren felt his eyes water as he stepped away from the fresh, clean air into a the hot, stuffy environment that filled the noisy stable, unable to ignore the overwhelming smell of shit flooding his nostrils at that very moment. Unaffected by the stench that was causing Joren to gag slightly Theron wandered in, beckoning his squire onwards into the bowels of the barn. "You'll be meeting your horse, well he's not your but you'll be riding him frequently, and you'll be learning how to take care of him of him as well. It's important for a knight to know how to care for the tools of his trade as well use them, I train men who prepare for everything not boys who panic as soon as things go wrong" He explained as Joren tried to listen over the sounding nickering mares and stomping hoofs.
Joren was actually quite excited about riding all in all, he wondered what the beast would be like as images of great warhorses, blinding sprinters and stoic endurance runners raced through his mind as Theron peered over into one of the many stalls and waved Joren over "Here he is" He said with a slight smile touching his lips as Joren wandered over, an excited grin brandished across his face as he looked into the stall. Theron chuckled behind him as the smiles vanished from Joren's face as he looked at his valiant steed...
...It was a pony.
