THERE WERE HAPPY REUNIONS for the Devan riders, much time spent examining the fine Libyans by torchlight and lantern. I thought I was seeing double, for a man as like Canyd Bawn as two leaves of the same tree-save for having two sound shoulders-was weaving in and out, stroking each of the Libyans in turn, as if introducing himself to them. Having done so, he gave orders that the horses must be immediately settled. Then there would be time enough to exchange news and have the evening meal, which our coming had interrupted.
“Is he kin to you?” I had the chance to ask Canyd as I led Cornix and Spadix into the great barn.
“Own brother,” Canyd said, his tone hovering between pride and irritation. “Rliodri. He trains the horses, while I keep them sound for him to do so.”
I remembered then that Lord Artos had spoken of this Rhodri.
Cornix and the other three stallions were housed in their own barn, with the three pony stallions already standing at the stud.
“The stalls are big enough, lad,” Canyd said, waving me to lead both stallion and pony inside. “Take whichever one on the left is free.”
I had no sooner swatted Spadix on the rump to enter the stable-for where the pony led, the stallion would easily follow-then I heard a shout.
“What are you doing, idiot?” A dour-faced man rushed down the aisle toward me, brandishing his pronged wooden hay fork. “Such a spavined, ring-boned, misbegotten-”
“Not so fast, Teldys,” Canyd said from the entrance. “Unless of course you want this fine new stall in splinters.”
Teldys grounded his hay fork with a thump, looking from me to Cornix, who was now trying to pull free to join the pony in the stable.
“Ah! Like that, is it? And this is that so-special stallion Lord Artos bade me take extra care of?” His eyes wandered appraisingly over the black Libyan. “Well, I suppose we can see our way clear. Good job we made it larger’n usual. In you go with him, lad … What’dyou say your name was?”
“He’s Galwyn, pledged to be Artos’s man,” Canyd replied before I could open my mouth.
“Is he good enough for this black demon,” Teldys asked, “since he and his pony know the beast so well?”
“Aye. You don’t have to watch him to be sure he does what you tell him,” Canyd said, nodding his head approvingly. “But see for yourself. Don’t take my word for it.”
“As if I’d ever argue with you, you old coper.” And a smile lit the man’s solemn features.
I came to learn that Teldys, who was Lord Artos’s stallion man, actually had a merry temperament; it was just that the bones of his face were long and the flesh on them seemed to be pulled down to his jawline, giving him such a dour look. He had a quick infectious laugh that you couldn’t help grinning at. And he listened. An admirable quality in anyone, as I discovered. I was quick to notice that no one argued with him and every one of the men moved hastily to perform the duties he assigned them.
“So, Galwyn, bed your charges down for the night, now we’ve finally got us all home where we belong.” Canyd winked at me before he turned away to settle Paphin.
When all the horses had been properly bedded, we were taken into the farm kitchen and fed an excellent hot stew with fresh bread, which, I must say, I had missed on the road. And there were pears as well as apples to eat. Not much fresh fruit had come my way since my father had died.
I didn’t mind that I was assigned a cot with the other unmarried men of the farm, and a peg for my scant clothing. The bedstead had a pallet of fresh straw and a good woolen blanket, and I could have slept anywhere that night and not heard the snores around me.
Thus began my service on Lord Artos’s farm near Deva.