#rivervale_lodge

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Gwen is getting ready to head home, pretty sure that Mischka is with seed, to put it nicely . Oak and Mischka seem actually very fond. He licks the Beardog and wags, and she hardly bears her fangs at him at all

Brekke notes this as well, and nods. "Oak seems pleased. And I think Mischka does as well? You know her better."

"She likes him a lot more than she lets on. In fact she's feeling very happy she came here and got to know him. " SHe assures

The girl seems to have a gift with animals, not just dogs, as even Mackeral liked her, but it does perhaps remind the Chief of the girl's reluctance to ride. She KNOWS horses well enough. Fed them while others were out

"I am glad." She regards Gwen a moment. "You are a fine hand with the dogs. Do you also care for the horses at SilverWolf?"

"Grooming, and feeding them when I need to, but Dame Lavender and Dolph, eh's the groomsman official, do the bulk of it. But horses are too big a part of the Baron's world not to have every one learn a bit of them"

She nods. "Have you tried jousting yet? It strikes me you would have some natural advantages there."

"AH." A stop from her actions, that freeze up one sees when one doesn't have a good poker face ready "I'm sorry I don't want to endanger the horses by riding them. I'm very heavy"

"Hmm." Brekke considers her, then says, "Come with me."

She turns and heads for the stables.

"Yes, Chieftain.." She follows.. "You see.. it's not just be being a troll.... I'm hardly the biggest troll on a horse I know that.. "She feels she should explain even as she tags along "But my stoneskin ... it ads more .. at least I think it does.. and I'm not the most agile rider" flushing this is not what she wanted to do but it's the Chief and well darn

"I can understand your concern, and I am glad you care for the welfare of the steeds. But let us get you on Stormwake and see what he makes of you. Then we will know better." She clicks her tongue as they approach the paddock, calling the stallion over.

Stormwake trots over, adn eyes the the Chieftain, is this a warrior? Fortunately, Gwen HAS known batttle, on the day of her own dream dance and the Chief knows of this

"Yes, the welfare of the steeds... that's.. what i was.. thinking of.." Not entirely true, a big part of it

Brekke nods to Stormwake. "Gwen needs some experience with riding," she says to the horse, stroking his neck. "Let me get you saddled, and then you will carry her, yes?" Even without Whispering the horse, she knows he's intelligent enough to get the general gist of her tone.

A nod, very well. Perhaps becoming a father has gentled his own prejudices.. and he trusts his two legger to know character. He grows to full size as suits trolls

"I khnow how to ride " true "I just uhm..."

Brekke beckons Gwen to join her in the paddock as she saddles up Stormwake. She is practiced and quick in the process, but not hurried. "Hmm?" she invites Gwen to finish her thought.

"I don't really WANT To learn how to joust.." Truth "because I'd be terrible at it" She believes it true "And it would be embarrassing"

She pauses to look at Gwen. "Then...you need not joust. It was a suggestion. But why do you think you would be terrible at it?"

"I tried to tell you, my skin, I'm not just heavy, I'm clumsy compared to others like... I dance by staying in place. I see others on the back of horse back, they move so smoothly it's amazing but .. I just know the poor animal will be logging extra 25 chimerical pounds of limberness lacking klutz! Bad enough I'm going to be more work for a horse that deserves a better rider, I'm not going to fall on my face and disgrace Silverwolf hold which is KNOWN for the best horses and good riders! I won't shame them or myself like that" SHe crosses arms, perhaps not so much in defiance but in insecurity.

Despite her heritage, it's not hard to guess she is blushing with shame at the admission

Brekke regards her and empathizes. She knows how deeply shame aches. "Then it is good that we are not at SilverWolf now. They will not see. And there is no good rider who has not fallen while learning." She finishes tightening the cinch of the saddle. "Falling is what happens when we test the limits of our skill. When we fall, we know where we must improve. With work, the falling happens less...until we test our new limits. Come...let me help you up. Stormwake, stand." She offers her cupped hands for Gwen to step up.

"But.. " a sigh "yes, Chieftain"

And she is helped up

Once she is in the saddle, Brekke checks that her feet are in the stirrups properly and then steps back to observe. "How do you feel?"

"Very on the spot and grateful most of my ancestors weren't plains tribes, or this would be extra embarrassing" That said, "I can ride. I learned that much, the baron insists" And she does ride, at a slow easy pace "See? I'm good" But she's not good. She's uncomfortable, too stiff, back straight is fine, rigid like rigor is bad

"Hm. You are beginning. You could be good." She regards Stormwake as they move. Does he seem to be struggling?

Stormwake has no trouble with her weight. She has stone skin, but he's used to hauling trolls in PLATE Mail. He is less than impressed with her timidity and insecurity

"Stormwake is carrying you easily, you know," she points out.

"Well, yes, but if you put my stony hide AND armor on him both, it would probably be a bit much for him.. HEY!"

At this, Stormwake hit the brakes.. so to speak, and the girl splats the ground, with an insulted looking horse.

"Okay, what did I do wrong?" She asks looking up at the horse

Stormwake snorts and looks at the Chieftain, letting HER explain. This girl just insulted him

Brekke doesn't move to help. "You said he would not be able to manage the weight. He disagrees."

"You have fallen," she observes. "What will you do now?"

"Get up," Gwen says, trying not to sound testy, "Of course" As if it's obvious "If there's one thing worse than falling , it's not getting up again." She rises and eyes the horse "Fine. Stormwake. But we have horses just as strong as you at Silverwolf and I don't like putting them through this either." She gets on the stirrup and remounts. Stormwake allows this though the expressions given by his ears and tails at the talk of other horses at other stables is easy to read. An almost Gwydionessque 'Here we have quality, not quantity'

Or perhaps that's just Brekke's imagination of a Gwydion horse less than impressed with Ailil boasts

A brow. "You are not 'putting him through' anything. Stormwake is a war horse. He carries me in full armor, weapon, barding, and at a gallop. You think too little of his ability. And you think too much of your burden."

She flushes again and rides "I like my dogs. I don't need to ride, let alone joust. " A switch of goal posts, though she might believe it true.

"You do not need to ride," Brekke agrees. "But that is not why you do not ride. You said as much yourself." A pause. "Try this...sit back more as if you are sitting in a chair, leaning back against it."

She does, but is very self conscious. Clearly she's been taught how to do this, but some part of her is visualizing her collapsing like a redwood that's been hacked at the other side

"If you fall, your people are not here to see you. Only I will see you, and I do not mind. Stormwake is skilled; he will carry you. Trust him. I think you have never slept on horseback, have you?"

"SLEPT? No.. " Clearly this is something she never considers "I mean, I've heard about tribes that did that but.. does anyone still do that?" The curiousity of the question distracts her, and this is a good thing, her worries driven back by distraction, she does not fret, she simply does.

Stormwake approves of the change

"I have done it, when questing. Think of it...asleep, I cannot control whether I fall or not. But Stormwake does not let me fall."

"Wow, good horse." She admits and pats him llightly with a free hand guiding with knees "You're a smart one too huh?"

Stormwake would shrug if such were the equine way. He is a warhorse. Stupid war horses die

She nods. "He is very smart. He has lived through much." A pause. "Better," she assesses.