Lys: A Change In The Wind

Aithne was just barely outside of earshot of the two, securing one of her horse-blankets. She had learned much of horses in the past week- as much as one could learn in a week, at least. It seemed whenever she was not sewing, or needed for some other task, whenever they both had the time, the Guttersnipe was dragging her out to the pasture or the stables. Aithne had even begun learning to ride.

At first she didn't really wonder why the Guttersnipe was teaching her so much in such concentrated doses- horses were the girl's life, and Master Lucius's life, when he was not reading. It was necessary that she learn.
But then she caught the undercurrent. It wasn't long before she noticed the urgency in all of the Guttersnipe's training. There was something coming, some reason it was imperative that she learn and learn quickly. She started paying more attention to what was occuring- sitting quietly in the corner of the solarium whenever she could, watching, listening, thinking.

The signs were there for anyone who was really looking. Master Lucius's household had all the markings of a warrior band about to break camp and go into battle. She prayed daily that Vortigern, and especially Mordred, would not see what she saw. She took comfort in the fact that much of what she knew had come from being within Master Lucius's private household, not the villa at large, and hoped it would be enough to throw the hounds off the scent.

Why they would be flying, she did not know, but she was fairly certain she knew where. Lord Ambrosius's rath. There was no other possibility. Not with the Guttersnipe. Not after the White Animal's visit.

Lord Ambrosius. For a moment, stroking the horse's mane, she wondered if she would truly be taken along. It seemed beyond reach. But if Master Lucius was going, she would, of course, follow. And why else would it be so terribly important that she know how to ride?

It was unfortunate that her lessons in that particular discipline were failing. She believed she exasperated the Guttersnipe more than once with her inability to keep her seat. She excelled in caring for the horses (though she was always supervised in case she might be taken by a fit)- feeding, brushing, even tacking them. But riding was always chancy. Nevertheless, she stuck to it. She had a feeling it would be the difference between life and death in the very near future...