“No better men to have as exemplars,” he agreed, nodding. “Now politics is how Artos is contriving to keep the kingdom quiet until he is ready to exhibit his new force. You do all you can”-and again he pressed my shoulder-“to further that, and you’ll have the full gratitude of the Comes-and”-he grinned again-“the profound thanks of all of us who will ride to battle on our fine black horses.”
Bericus swung up into the saddle. “One day, when spring is finally here”-and he wound his cloak tightly about him-“you may have a chance to see our new headquarters. It’s slow work but it’ll be a fine place when it’s finished: a base for our cavalry and a place for training the foot soldiers.” He looked off, frowning slightly. “The Saxons remain where they are. It’s the Irish we have to contend with right now. Vale, Galwyn,” he said in farewell as he kneed the gelding forward. “Just keep the Libyans safe and prospering!” he cried over his shoulder.
As if he needed to tell me. I thought constantly about their safety, Iswy topmost in my mind. Not that we had seen hide or hair of Iswy after that heavy frost. Nor had there been any roving bands stealing from outlying farms or harrying travelers on the roads. Still, I never forgot that particular danger.
I knew about the danger of Irish raiders, too, living as we did not that far from a favorite landfall of theirs. No wonder princes and chiefs around here were not quite so concerned about Saxon invasions, despite the well-founded rumors that Aelle and his sons intended to expand beyond their pale near Eburacum. The Irish were a problem now; the Saxons only a distant menace.
Of course, for Lord Artos’s marvelous plan of a swift-moving force to succeed, it would be five or six years before this year’s crop of foals were ready for battle. Would we be given the time? Would enough of the princes join forces with Artos to provide a large enough army?
In point of fact, the Libyan stallions could have been used in battle right now, since Rhodri had trained them to respond to movements of heel and seat so that a Companion had both hands free for his weapons. And I had to admit I dreaded the day Cornix would be taken from my care, for he was, indeed, the mark of both Comes Artos’s favor and my status on the farm.
BERICUS WAS NOT the only one who noticed that I had grown taller and stronger. All those hours on the bellows and the generous, good food were having an effect. Further, now that my arm bones had knit, I was excused from pumping the bellows and allowed to help make the horse sandals, which meant much work with a hammer.
Bericus had listened to both Alun and Canyd explaining about their device: had listened but had not seemed terribly impressed.
“He only rides the horses,” Canyd said later, when Alun had railed against Bericus’s lack of enthusiasm. “He hasn’t the care of them.”
“He cared for them on the journey here,” I said. Canyd eyed me a moment. “For his own, but not for all the others who are in our keeping.”
“Aye, he’s a Companion,” Alun said, altering his position, but I don’t think it was out of deference to my remark. The smith enjoyed opposing Canyd, if only to be contrary. But it was a good-humored antagonism.
That might even have been what led to an effective horse sandal, because if Canyd suggested one method, Alun would counter with another, totally different. Thus they explored many more possibilities. Boiled leather had long been ruled out as ineffective, and now all their efforts were concentrated on developing an iron rim to somehow attach to the underside of the hoof.
Once again an older pony was used to test the result. I do remember the look on the pony’s face when he first realized he had something stuck to his hoofs. He kept picking up his hinds and trying to kick off the unaccustomed weight. We had a good laugh at his antics.
I trotted him out into the cold wet afternoon, he still trying to dislodge the rims and then shying when the iron sandals clanged on stone. He picked his old legs up like a yearling, flicking his front feet. Gradually his kickings subsided as he realized he could not relieve himself of the encumbrances.