But, seeing she shall never speak again, how did she
swear her oath of loyalty to his Majesty?" Mearch asked smugly.
"She can give the nod, and that with a true heart, which is more than
most so-called honest witnesses are called to testify with their lying
lips. That will be all, then, I trust?"
"Aye," Mearch said. "I get the idea. Even so, from what you have said
of her, I still say one could not give in equal trade one's best
stallion for such a woman. But I have a stallion, my best, that she may
have, for to ride upon. Send her down to me at the stables in a week.
No, better make it two weeks. My men only just caught this one
particular horse recently, and I still have to break him in, if I can."
"What are you saying? Do you mean, an unbroken, ungelded stallion?" Ibi
asked in disbelief.
Mearch shrugged.
"He has already broken three of my best trainers' numbskull heads, but
never -never!- have I seen such a fine creature," he barely glanced at
Si'Wren, and added, "or woman. But I, Mearch, can break him to ride
without ruining his spirit. It takes much strength, courage, wisdom of
the heart, and patience, and one dares never use too heavy a hand in
the matter. Yet it is possible, I think, but only by me. That girl and
that horse; they are the same.
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