Bonder

Wervan rolled over, avoiding the light that was shining through the window. Arbol squawked loudly and Wervan jumped, backing away and opening his eyes quickly. The green alis gryph hissed and started to preen. Wervan reached out and stroked his head, not quite sure what he did but apologizing for it anyway. He rubbed his eyes and got out of bed, changing into some clean clothes. After that he walked into the main living quarters and sat down heavily in one of the chairs. Solluz, who was stretched out on the chair opposite him opened an eye lazily and purred. He walked over, scratched her chin and then went to find his boots.

After he finally found them he walked down the stairs from his caer and into the dining hall. He took a table that was near the back and sat down, waiting to be served. When the waitress walked up she pulled a small menu from her pocket and set it in front of him. “Morning Wervan. Are you to play with the horses again?” She asked him. He nodded and said, “Yes I am. I’ve gotten pretty far with that flea-bitten gray gelding so I’m going to finish him up this week hopefully.” The waitress nodded and said, “Maybe you can show my how to ride sometime.” He smiled and looked up at her. “Maybe I will, but I’ve got to have a horse safe enough to ride first.” She nodded and said, “Yes I suppose. So what’ll it be?” Wervan looked the menu over once more and then said, “I think I’m going to go with the number two today.” She smiled and said, “Something new huh? Getting adventurous?” He shook his head and said, “No not really. I’m just sick of having the number four every time.” She smiled and said, “I’ll be right out with your order.”

The waitress brought his food back and he ate it quickly, knowing he had to get out and ride before it got too hot. He left a tip for the girl and then walked from the hall, hoping he’d have enough time to ride a couple horses before the afternoon heat set in. When he reached the barn there was a large group gathered around one of the stalls, one that held one of the horses that he was working with. “Can I help you?” He asked as he walked towards the stall. A few of the men looked over and one said, “Have you taken this one out yet?” Wervan nodded and said, “No, not since yesterday morning.” The man nodded and said, “I think there’s something wrong with him.” Wervan frowned and walked towards the stall, pushing the door open quickly and stepping in. He took one look at the black mare and then raced out again, running towards the tack room.

He ran back to the stall, carrying a bottle of mineral oil. He shoved the crowd back and kneeled down by the restless mare. “What’s wrong with her?” A small girl asked. Wervan forced the mare’s mouth open and opened the bottle, pouring the liquid into her mouth. “She’s colicing, and she could die,” he said as he held the bottle in place while the mare tried to break away. “What’s that?” She asked. Wervan sighed and said, “You don’t want to know the details. Give me her halter,” he told one of the men. He handed it to him and he slipped it over her head. “Help me get her up,” he said as he clipped her lead to the halter. A few of the men walked behind her and started to rock her up. “What causes this?” One of the men asked as they got her to her feet. Wervan led her quickly from her stall and said, “Well being over worked and then drinking a lot of water will do it, but intense heat can do it too.” The man nodded and walked beside Wervan as he led the mare from the barn.

He walked her around the barn a few times and then gave her some more mineral oil. She pulled back as she got the taste again and Wervan smiled, patting her neck and then walking her again. “She’ll be ok?” The little girl asked as he came around again. He nodded and said, “Yes I think so. Someone go get the head trainer for me.” Two men ran off in different direction and Wervan desperately hoped they could find him. After an hour of walking the mare the head trainer showed up and stopped Wervan. "She was colicing?” He asked him. Wervan nodded and said, “Yes sir. Circling her stall, getting up and lying down again, circling again.” The trainer nodded and said, “Good job, any other apprentice would have missed it.” Wervan raised an eyebrow. “Thank you sir, but I’m not an apprentice, I’m just a bonder who was asked to train until the eggs hatch.” The trainer nodded and said, “Well you’re a good trainer I can trust my horses with.”

Wervan walked the mare around the barn a few more times and then the trainer told him to put her away. When he had shut her door and walked back out the trainer called him over to the paddock. “Have you riden anyone yet today?” He asked. Wervan shook his head. “No sir I haven’t. I got here and there were people all around the mare’s stall so I took care of her.” The trainer nodded and said, “I want you to work this one today.” Wervan looked out at the horse that the trainer was pointing at and asked, “The black one?” The trainer nodded. “Yep that’s the one. I know that you’ve been working with that gray gelding but he’s at a point where anyone could finish him and he’d be fine. I really need someone to start that black stud.” Wervan frowned and said, “If you don’t mind me asking sir, why me?” The trainer shrugged and said, “Well everyone else is afraid of him for one. He has the temperment of a winged wolf somewhere in there.” “Hidden by the angered dragon?” Wervan asked. The trainer nodded and said, “Yes but I think you can handle him, and if you can’t then I’ll put you back on the gray gelding.”

Wervan looked out at the black again and said, “Well I don’t mind trying him but I don’t exactly have a lot of time to do anything with him. The eggs are supposed to crack within a month and I heard that they might crack early.” The trainer nodded and said, “Well do what you can. Maybe you’ll have just enough time to settle his mind a bit so that someone else can finish him.” Wervan smiled and said, “You want me to get on now?” The trainer looked down at Wervan and asked, “You want to?” He shrugged and said, “Well I don’t see why not. I mean, if I’m going to start riding him I might as well start now.” The trainer smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll go catch him and bring him in. Check on that mare once more and then meet me out here with his tack.”

Wervan walked back out to the paddock carrying the black’s saddle and bridle. The trainer had him tethered to the fence and was now nowhere to be seen. Wervan sighed and set the saddle down, walking to the horse’s side and patting his neck gently. The stallion shied and backed up against the fence. “Whoa, you’re alright,” Wervan said as he patted the stallion’s neck again. He snorted and looked at Wervan. He put his hand up to the black’s nose and let him smell him. The stallion then lost interest and Wervan went and got the saddle, placing it on the horse’s back, leaving it there for a moment before getting the girth and fastening it on one side. He walked around to the other side and pulled the girth to the other side, letting it touch the horse’s barrel before beginning to tighten it. When he did the stallion kicked out and nearly hit the fence. “Whoa boy,” he said as he stopped tightening it and let the horse chill out. After a few minutes he pulled up again gently and this time the stallion only shorted and threw his head around. When the girth was tight enough Wervan stepped back and patted his neck.

He unclipped the halter next and let it hang around his neck so he was still tied to the fence. He picked up the bridle and put the reins over the horse’s head. The black stood quietly so Wervan pulled the bridle up to his face and slid the bit into his mouth. When he had the bridle on he patted his neck again and then unhooked the halter, letting it fall against the fence. He walked the stallion to the riding ring and locked the gate behind him. As he climbed to the horse’s back he reared up, high enough that Wervan worried that he would flip over. He leaned forward suddenly, causing the horse to loose his balance and fall back to the ground. He tried to rear again but Wervan kicked him sharply in the side. He clucked the horse on and as they walked around Wervan began to wonder if he was really as tough as the trainer had said. After walking around a few times he asked for the trot and the stallion didn’t put up a fight at all. He did some circles and broken lines and then asked for the canter.

The stallion snorted and took off bucking and rearing. Wervan lost his stirrup and tried to rein the horse back but he only made him go faster and buck harder. After a couple times around the ring he stopped dead, causing Wervan to end up on his neck. The stallion whirled around and took off again but Wervan leaned up and yanked back harshly on the reins. The black slid to a stop and then bucked once, which Wervan wasn’t ready for, and launched him from the saddle. Wervan landed in the dirt about four feet away and sat there for a moment, trying to figure out how the horse got him off. “Oh who cares,” he said as he got up, cracking his neck, which was now incredibly sore. The black looked at him for a second and then took off in the opposite direction, having no intention of being caught. Wervan sighed and said, “I can’t wait for those eggs to hatch.”