Page 18 of Scales of Time
Yorness put a hand up, and the male came over to them. “Morienial, this is my bodyguard, Kris. Kris, this is my deceased husband’s nephew. We call him Mori.”
The silvery grey male looked at her with a slight smile. “So, you are new to this world?”
“I arrived yesterday.”
“You seem to have caught on to local fashion.”
“It is this or public nudity, and I look like a plucked bird without clothing. So, do I need to bring anything?”
“No, I will have packs for everyone.”
“Oh. Good. Have you been notified of my allergies?”
He nodded. “I have. The cook here is preparing a meal for you.”
“Excellent. Well, then, Morienial, when do we leave?”
“Call me Mori.”
She smiled, and he grinned. Twenty minutes later, he was escorting the three ladies out toward the gate in the fence. Havess and Neelis were excited.
“I thought you ladies would be riding every day.” Kris smiled.
Havess shook her head. “No, we only ride when we have a guide or guard with us. The mountains can be treacherous. They only let us ride out there with a guide and only after we are thirteen.”
Neelis said, “We do ride around the paddocks, but it isn’t the same.”
Kris nodded. “Right, just be warned that I am probably going to fall off a time or two.”
Mori said, “I wouldn’t recommend it. Folks frequently injure themselves in the fall.”
“I am not going to try, but I have been trained to fall. It is more likely than not.” Kris smiled. “I am realistic.”
Mori nodded with a slight smile. “I will endeavour to keep you on your steed.”
The next half hour was them separating their bonded birds while one had to be asked to take Kris. The little one at the back kept hopping up, but the other birds pushed her aside.
Kris asked Mori, “Why can’t I ride the little one? She’s not that much smaller.”
“She wasn’t bonded to anyone when she hatched. She’s wild. Never been ridden.”
“Can I try? If she doesn’t take the saddle, I will go back to trying to make myself agreeable to one of the others.”
Mori paused. “Fine. How heavy are you?”
“About half your density.”
“Ah. That might work then. I will get a saddle to fit her if you can get her to come forward.”
Kris smiled and walked toward the flock, and the tame beasts backed away from her. Her little buddy charged forward the moment there was a break, and Mori shouted, but Kris just stood still with her warm aura around her. The little miss came to her and snuffled her clothing. She stepped forward and pressed her head to Kris’s shoulder.
“Hello again, little girl. Your feathers are very pretty.”
There was happy trilling as Kris petted her little buddy. “Morning, darling.”
Mori spoke from nearby. “Well, she will definitely carry you. I will get a smaller saddle, and then, we will see if she will wear it.”
Kris spent a few minutes with her new friend, and when Mori brought the saddle out, she said, “He wants to put the saddle on you so I won’t fall off. Wouldn’t want your brothers and sisters stomping on me.”