In the saddle

Vel took a deep breath, savoring the complex mingling of smells and scents. The horse underneath him, the leather of his saddle, the hoof-churned mud and even the hay and manure coming from the stables, he loved it all. He was currently letting Glaweder, his chestnut brown courser, run a few wild laps around the track while he waited for his sister to join him. Glaweder needed pretty much no direction for this, and Vel was happy to just enjoy the feeling of wind on his face and in his hair while his mount worked off excess energy. He had always loved riding, both because it was simply fun, but also because it levelled the playing field. In the saddle, his disability did not hold him back. He did rely on some special equipment though. While he could make do with a regular saddle, his bad leg wasn’t always reliable, and so he used some modified saddles of his own design that allowed him to strap himself down. He also wasn’t as able to use his feet to signal his horse, but that usually worked out fine. And the two horses he owned himself were so in tune with him that they barely needed any direction from him at all, they communicated at a near telepathic level.

After Glaweder had run off the worst of his paddock induced restlessness, a slightly unsure looking Adeline finally emerged from the stables on her roan. It really was a gorgeous animal and its spectacular coat shimmered lightly in the sunlight. A recent gift to Adeline from their uncle, Lady Rienne’s older brother, mount and rider were still fairly new to each other. His sister looked great too in her tight leather riding outfit as she pulled up alongside him.

“Okay Adi, since the two of you are still getting used to each other I figure we’ll just go for a slow ride around the outside of the estate, sound good?” Adeline gave him a slight smile “Yeah that sounds good, thanks for coming along.” Vel was happy to help, even though he wasn’t sure how he was helping “I’m not sure why exactly you need my help with this to be honest, but I am always happy to combine my favorite activities. Riding and spending time with you.” Adeline’s smile widened at that “It’s reassuring to have the best rider I know along, and besides I’ve told you before, just your presence seems to calm the horses.” She had indeed told him that before, as had most of their grooms and even the mistress of the estate’s stables. Vel wasn’t sure if that was true, but he kind of had to take their word for it, as he couldn’t exactly check to see what the horses were like when he wasn’t there. “Seriously, Celina is already noticeably calmer now that I’m with you than she was when I first got on her.”

The twins kept their playful back and forth chatter going as they slowly trotted their horses towards the large estate’s main gate. Vel was glad he had let Glaweder run wild for a bit, otherwise the fiery courser would likely have chafed at the slow pace. Coming from the stables, they were approaching the main path that led from the gate to the manor from the side. Vel was looking at his sister, admiring her body in the tight outfit, when she suddenly stopped her horse and let out a curse “Oh shit, of course he’d show up to ruin such a lovely morning.” Vel, having stopped Glaweder, looked over to the path with a sinking feeling in his stomach. He had a pretty good idea who he would see. Sure enough, riding up the path from the gate was Lord Luthor Andros himself, surrounded by a small entourage.

Nearly as tall as his son, but significantly more legged, he cut as impressive a figure as ever. His black hair had yet to show any signs of receding, and both it and his beard were only showing a slight smattering of silver. He sat straight backed, and even though they were too far away to see, Vel knew that the deep blue eyes he and his twin had inherited would be staring ahead imperiously. He really looked every inch like the great lord and war hero. His entourage seemed to consist mostly of his regular attendants and lackeys, but Vel thought he could make out the mayor of the nearest township as well as some other local bigwigs. “Let’s just wait till they pass, hopefully Father will just pretend we’re not here, he’s pretty good at that.” Adeline sounded quite bitter about it, especially as she said the last part. Vel tried to find some words to make her feel better, he felt like this was at least partially his fault. Adeline’s relationship with their father would probably be a lot better if not for her loyalty to him. The words wouldn’t come though, so instead he just reached out for her hand and squeezed it, hoping that would convey how he felt. Judging by the smile he got in return; it at least did something.