Astra's Second Piece of Luck with a Horse

"Hey, why so formal?" Astra asked. "We're friends now, aren't we? I'd much sooner that you called me 'Astra'. Though not in front of strangers, where it might be better if my true name is not known."

"Thank you, A-Astra. I do n-not recognise the horse or its tack, but then it wasn't likely that I would. But it's strange that a horse should turn up here. It must be a good distance from the nearest farm. And even stranger that it has saddle, stirrups and bridle."

"Well, perhaps the gods are smiling on us. He's certainly a welcome sight." (Being more familiar with horses than Hesht was, unlike him Astra thought of the stallion as a "he" rather than an "it".) "My legs still aren't quite back to normal, and we shall make far better time if we can ride. I take it that the trail is good enough for that?"

"Oh, yes, I should think so. But whoever that horse b-belongs to may have need of it, Should we just take it?"

Astra smiled. "Your honesty does you credit, Hesht. But I think that our need is almost certainly greater than the owner's. Besides, we can't return the horse in any event, since we don't know where he has come from. And if he's some way from home then he is unlikely to return there of his own volition."

"I suppose you're right, A-Astra. But like I said, I can't ride, so will have to walk while you ride."

"That won't do. We wouldn't be able to go any faster than if we both walked, if we did that. No, I'll mount first, and then you can climb up behind and hold on tight to my waist. You'll be quite safe if you do that. This horse is easily strong enough to carry both of us. A mounting block would have been useful, especially with my legs still being not quite right, but fortunately he seems remarkably docile, especially seeing that he's a stallion rather than a gelding."

1. Astra mounts, with some difficulty (not helped by her long robe [48589]), and Hesht scrambles up beind her, albeit with even more difficulty.
2. Astra mounts, but Hesht - unfamiliar with horses - is unable to.
3. But before Astra can try to mount the horse...

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