"I'll know if you do not."
Miach smiled. "I imagine you will." He looked at Morgan. "What of you? Saddle or not?"
Morgan shifted. It wasn't in her nature to shift, or to display discomfort, or to doubt herself. Then again, everything that had happened to her in the past month had been out of the ordinary, so perhaps this was not unexpected. She looked at Hearn.
"Perhaps a saddle," she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.
"Perhaps a gentler mount," Hearn offered. "Just until you feel secure."
Morgan chewed on her next words for a moment or two. "For me to feel secure might take longer than a pair of circles around your lists. "
Hearn studied her for a moment, then turned and called for another of his lads. A sturdier-looking beast was brought in, saddled and apparently ready for a lesson.
Not a lesson for him, but a lesson for her.
Hearn took Reannag's reins from her. "You'll learn quickly," he stated.
"I had better. "
"I wasn't going to say that," Hearn said with a twinkle in his eye, "but that would be best. Here, lass, come over here and I'll give you a leg up."
Morgan took a deep breath, then considered her weapons. She decided finally that perhaps it was best not to bring them all on board at first. She handed off her sword and a clutch of daggers to Miach, then walked over and let Hearn boost her up into the saddle.
The horse only shifted slightly.
She took a moment or two to get used to the idea, then smiled. Perhaps it would not be as difficult as she feared?
The horse, unaccountably, reared as if he realized he had something atop his back he did not care for. Before she could find the words to convince him that she meant him no harm, he was bucking wildly beneath her. She was not graceless, but this was completely beyond her experience.
She fell off, but landed on one leg, feeling quite confident that she would manage to at least hop briefly in an undignified fashion before she got both feet back under her.
There was a horrendously loud crack.
Morgan only realized that it was her leg to make that sound the moment before her world went black.
She felt as if she were swimming in deep water. It was similar to the feeling she'd had during her time aboard the ship, but this was easier. Perhaps she was not seasick. Perhaps there was no magic involved.
Perhaps she'd landed finally on her head and lost all sense.
She kept her eyes closed and tried to understand where she was. She smelled hay and horse. She sensed Miach nearby and heard Hearn making noises of concern and worry.
"At least the stable is cleaner than the house," Hearn said gruffly. "Smells better too."
"She will be well."
"I've never seen a break this severe."
"My lord Hearn, she will be well."
Hearn sighed. "I feel responsible."
"I daresay she won't hold you so. Now, if you would be so good as to let me think for a minute."
"I suppose there is no need to call in a physick, is there, with you about?"
Miach must have glared at him, for Hearn sighed.
"I'll say no more."
