Read Online The Mapkeeper and the Rise of the Wardens by Katie Cash - Free Book Online
Authors: Katie Cash
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she toed the ground.
Cadmus mounted his steed and motioned to one of the other men, who nodded and led the three unmanned stallions toward the siblings.
“Hello, my name is Quinn.” The man introduced himself with a kind smile, offering them each a set of reins. Exchanging a look of concern, the Barnes siblings communicated without speaking: none of them knew how to ride.
Lucy’s apprehension mounted as she watched her horse stamp at the ground with impatience. She’d seen plenty of horses on TV of course, but only now came to the realization that she had never seen a horse up close. It was so… big! Quinn held the reins toward her, waiting for her to accept them.
Mack had taken hold of his with confidence and was stroking his horse on the nose. Lucy already knew he would be a natural. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward and took the reins, though the huge animal unnerved her. Its sudden, jerky movements caught her off guard. She stepped away from the beast, clenching the reins as far away from her body as possible.
“Are you unfamiliar with riding?” Cadmus asked.
Heat flushed Lucy’s face—everyone was staring at her! In one swift motion, Cadmus slid out of his saddle and lodged the red pennant in the grass. In three swift strides, he was at her side. He slipped the leather reins out of her hand, taking control.
“Easy, girl.” He calmed the horse, stroking its nose and whispering in its ear. The muscular chestnut stallion relaxed. Cadmus turned to Lucy and held out a hand. Grateful that Luke’s horse was now rearing and absorbing the attention of the other bystanders, Lucy accepted Cadmus’ offer, sliding her hand into his. He led her to the stallion and put her hand on its nose.
“Shh… easy, Nel,” he cooed. His presence seemed to calm the beast. “Try to be still,” he directed Lucy. “The horse will relax when you relax.”
She stared into the horse’s large black eye. She had no idea what it was feeling. How did he know? She continued to pet its nose gingerly. “Okay. Are you ready to mount?” Cadmus took her hand once more and she nodded, though she was fighting back nerves—both about riding for the first time, and being in this strange, unfamiliar place.
He stepped up next to the saddle. “Nel is comfortable with you now. She’ll let you on with no problems. Here, put your left foot in the stirrup.” He held his other hand at shoulder height, and she found herself taking it without thinking twice. “One, two, three!” She stepped up and he lifted her with ease. Her right leg swung around and she plopped into the saddle. “Now, take the reins. Pull toward you to slow him down, and give a gentle dig with your heels to get him going. Remember—gentle.” Cadmus flashed a grin, then turned, unearthed his pennant, and mounted his horse.
“Whoa! Whoa, Brig!” Quinn and the woman were attempting to get Luke’s horse under control. It was a wild-looking black and white spotted mare. Safely astride her horse, Lucy giggled. Luke was in the saddle, clinging to the saddle horn for dear life. The horse reared with a sharp whinny. Lucy glanced back at Mack, who was already trotting in circles astride his gray mount as though he’d been riding horses all his life. Her gaze shifted to Cadmus, who was watching her younger brother with a vigilant eye.
At last Luke’s assistants managed to get Brig under control, and the group started off together toward the town. Lucy gave Nel the gentlest nudge, but she didn’t move. She nudged her again, a little bit harder this time.
Nel took off, almost throwing Lucy off her rear end! Tugging on the reins with all her strength, Lucy managed to recover from the shock and whiplash in time to stay on the horse. Her heart thundered and she bounced wildly as Nel caught up with the group.
Despite her uneasiness, Lucy forced a smile. Just try to go with the flow and figure this out as you go , she told herself as they crossed the soft, grassy field
Cadmus mounted his steed and motioned to one of the other men, who nodded and led the three unmanned stallions toward the siblings.
“Hello, my name is Quinn.” The man introduced himself with a kind smile, offering them each a set of reins. Exchanging a look of concern, the Barnes siblings communicated without speaking: none of them knew how to ride.
Lucy’s apprehension mounted as she watched her horse stamp at the ground with impatience. She’d seen plenty of horses on TV of course, but only now came to the realization that she had never seen a horse up close. It was so… big! Quinn held the reins toward her, waiting for her to accept them.
Mack had taken hold of his with confidence and was stroking his horse on the nose. Lucy already knew he would be a natural. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward and took the reins, though the huge animal unnerved her. Its sudden, jerky movements caught her off guard. She stepped away from the beast, clenching the reins as far away from her body as possible.
“Are you unfamiliar with riding?” Cadmus asked.
Heat flushed Lucy’s face—everyone was staring at her! In one swift motion, Cadmus slid out of his saddle and lodged the red pennant in the grass. In three swift strides, he was at her side. He slipped the leather reins out of her hand, taking control.
“Easy, girl.” He calmed the horse, stroking its nose and whispering in its ear. The muscular chestnut stallion relaxed. Cadmus turned to Lucy and held out a hand. Grateful that Luke’s horse was now rearing and absorbing the attention of the other bystanders, Lucy accepted Cadmus’ offer, sliding her hand into his. He led her to the stallion and put her hand on its nose.
“Shh… easy, Nel,” he cooed. His presence seemed to calm the beast. “Try to be still,” he directed Lucy. “The horse will relax when you relax.”
She stared into the horse’s large black eye. She had no idea what it was feeling. How did he know? She continued to pet its nose gingerly. “Okay. Are you ready to mount?” Cadmus took her hand once more and she nodded, though she was fighting back nerves—both about riding for the first time, and being in this strange, unfamiliar place.
He stepped up next to the saddle. “Nel is comfortable with you now. She’ll let you on with no problems. Here, put your left foot in the stirrup.” He held his other hand at shoulder height, and she found herself taking it without thinking twice. “One, two, three!” She stepped up and he lifted her with ease. Her right leg swung around and she plopped into the saddle. “Now, take the reins. Pull toward you to slow him down, and give a gentle dig with your heels to get him going. Remember—gentle.” Cadmus flashed a grin, then turned, unearthed his pennant, and mounted his horse.
“Whoa! Whoa, Brig!” Quinn and the woman were attempting to get Luke’s horse under control. It was a wild-looking black and white spotted mare. Safely astride her horse, Lucy giggled. Luke was in the saddle, clinging to the saddle horn for dear life. The horse reared with a sharp whinny. Lucy glanced back at Mack, who was already trotting in circles astride his gray mount as though he’d been riding horses all his life. Her gaze shifted to Cadmus, who was watching her younger brother with a vigilant eye.
At last Luke’s assistants managed to get Brig under control, and the group started off together toward the town. Lucy gave Nel the gentlest nudge, but she didn’t move. She nudged her again, a little bit harder this time.
Nel took off, almost throwing Lucy off her rear end! Tugging on the reins with all her strength, Lucy managed to recover from the shock and whiplash in time to stay on the horse. Her heart thundered and she bounced wildly as Nel caught up with the group.
Despite her uneasiness, Lucy forced a smile. Just try to go with the flow and figure this out as you go , she told herself as they crossed the soft, grassy field
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