Page 74 of Valdemar

“I’ll ask,” Starbird replied, with a small smile. “But I don’t think it’s an impossibility. What am I to do for boots?”

“Wear what you have, until the leatherworkers can get your measurements,” Restil advised. “There’s nothing worse than boots that don’t fit.”

“Truth!” said Temon.

Starbird had decided that she’d use the downstairs room behind the kitchen as her bedroom. Although it was windowless, like Delia she felt that the extra protection from the winter cold would be worth it. “You know,” she said thoughtfully. “What if we put things to sit on upstairs and took down the middle wall? I wouldn’t mind hosting gatherings and parties up there. If I got tired of you all, I could just go back downstairs and leave you to enjoy yourselves.”

:Did Radiant advise her to say that?:Restil asked Darshay.

:No, that was her idea.:

“Sometimes Tayledras overbuild their ekeles just so they can do that,” she continued. “I think it would be nice for Heralds to have a little social space just for Heralds.”

“I vote for that!” Restil enthused, and earned himself a smile.

:You are shameless.:

:I am seizing the moment.:

Starbird had been at the Palace long enough to know about meals and the like, but when the bedroom and kitchen had been arranged, and they were all discussing just how to set up that “gathering room,” the bell rang for dinner, so they all went in with the entire group of Heralds. Restil could have sat at the high table, but he preferred to sit with the Heralds. Starbird got a taste of the camaraderie that had sprung up among them, and he could tell she felt welcome and accepted.

Altogether, though the fare was a lot simpler than anything you’d get in a Vale, Restil thought she enjoyed the meal.

And finally he took her and Radiant to the stables and got Radiant fitted with a good saddle and a hackamore. Darshay ambled along, and he showed her how to put the gear on Radiant.

“And now the question: do you ride at all?” he asked. “I never saw horses when k’Vesla Vale was still here.”

“I do, but I rode dyheli. They don’t care much for saddles and won’t tolerate anything on their heads.” She eyed the gear on Radiant. “How do you—”

“Watch,” he said, and demonstrated mounting using the saddle. “Go ahead, try.”

Before he had finished the sentence, she was in the saddle. “Oh . . . my,” she said. “Oh, this is much more comfortable than a dyheli.”

He chuckled. “I’ve seen them. You could cut yourself on those backbones. Come on, let’s see how you like riding a Companion. I think you’ll never want to ride a dyheli again.”

He led the way, first to the field, then over the fence and into it, but it was very clear that she was quite comfortable on Radiant’s back, comfortable enough that she took a very high jump without so much as a wobble. So he and Darshay increased their pace to a trot. Then a canter. Then a gallop.

And then, because there really wasn’t anything better than putting Darshay to her fastest pace, and because she didn’t need any urging, Darshay obeyed his impulse and poured on the speed. Starbird was able to keep up for a little, but not for long. He looked back over his shoulder and saw her dropping back, even though Radiant really was doing her best.

:Told you I’m fastest.:

:And I believe you!:

They doubled back to where Starbird and Radiant had slowed and were coming to a stop, completely unable to keep up.

“This is incredible!” she shouted with glee as they neared. “This is so much better, smoother, and faster than any dyheli can manage! Even a King Stag!”

“And they can do this . . . well, I wasn’t able to find a moment when Darshay was tired when I went out with that proclamation,” he told her, pulling up alongside. “I don’t think there is a limit to how long they can gallop. The real limit is how long we can stay awake in the saddle.”

“Radiant was doing her best,” Starbird replied. “But you two just shot off like an arrow from a bow! And I think you have your Tayledras name now.”

“Oh really?” He grinned, feeling absurdly pleased. “Something like ‘Recklessidiot’?”

She made a face at him. “No, of course not. Windrider. You are definitely Windrider.”

He didn’t even try to hide how fantastic that made him feel. “I’ll take that,” he said. “And I’m honored.” He felt warm all over under her approving gaze. “You’re probably one of the best riders in the Heralds.”

Now she blushed. “I’m glad you think so. And as much as I would like to keep riding, I still need to finish up my quarters. I don’t suppose you want to help, after all you did earlier?”

“Of course I do.” He could not help grinning now. “Let’s get to it!”

:Absolutely shameless.: