Beverly dismounted, her breath frosting in the chill morning air. Beside her, Aldwin squatted, trying to stretch his legs out.
"I don"t know how you can sit in the saddle for such a long time," he said.
"I"ve been riding all my life," she defended, "and Lightning is a much larger mount than yours."
"Perhaps I should have a Mercerian Charger," he suggested.
"I doubt that would help," she said, "unless, of course, you"re intending to take up arms."
"No," he replied, "I"ll leave that to you, though I must confess I do like these early morning rides."
He let the stable hand take his mount away, then followed his wife as she led Lightning into the stable.
"I love watching you two," he said. "You have such a bond with each other."
Beverly continued removing the saddle, "My father always
