‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘Thinking.’
One of the stable’s lackeys linked his hands. Jimmy looked at them, then at the tall horse, and put his foot into them. Not that he needed a step up, but he’d observed that ordinary folk got a little disturbed when you exhibited excessive agility.
The stablehand was thick-armed. He also surprised Jimmy by the strength he employed giving him a leg up, almost tossing him right over the horse. Had the thief been less agile that’s exactly what would have happened. He glared at the man, who shrugged and grinned, almost looking disappointed.
Jarvis shook his head. ‘They’re all like that,’ he said to Jimmy. ‘Everyone thinks it’s fun to play practical jokes on a beginner.’
The fellow shrugged again, and showed strong yellow teeth much like those of his charges. ‘Life’s dull,’ he said, ‘y’have to make your entertainment when ye can.’
Jimmy glared at him. ‘Do you like gratuities?’ he asked, pulling a silver piece out of his belt.
‘Huh?’ asked the lackey.
Switching to street vernacular, Jimmy said, ‘You like tips?’
The man’s grin broadened. ‘Certs!’
Putting the coin away, Jimmy said, ‘Then find your entertainment somewhere else.’
Coe laughed. ‘Let’s go,’ he said and turned his horse.
But Jimmy could tell, even before they left the yard, that his horse had a sense of humour much like the lackey.
Suddenly, he thought, everyone I meet is a character. Gods, when will I be able to go home to Krondor? By the time they passed the last booth at the edge of the market, his arse was already sore. It can’t be soon enough, he thought.
They still weren’t out of traffic—everything from a herd of sheep being driven in toward town, to wagons heading out, and more pedestrians trudging along beside the dusty white ribbon of highway that snaked off to the north; a faint hint of the ocean came on the breeze, and the occasional trees showed the direction of the prevailing wind by the way they leaned to the right. Dust got into his teeth, kicked up by feet and hooves and wheels. The deep ruts showed that mud was probably worse.
Jimmy coughed and shifted uncomfortably and the horse decided that meant it should take off at a trot, and nothing he could do or say thereafter would change its mind. Coe came up beside him, obviously trying not to laugh. ‘Sit back,’ he said. ‘Don’t yank on the reins, as that will only irritate it. Tug once as you sit back, then release the pressure. If it doesn’t stop, tug again.’
Jimmy sat back, shifting his weight to the rear of the saddle.
The horse hesitated, as if uncertain what its rider wanted, but after a couple of steps, it slowed, then stopped.
Coe’s horse made as if to nip it and Coe handily yanked the beast’s head away.
Jimmy gasped out: ‘Thank you.’ It’s stupid to be afraid of falling off this thing! he thought, rubbing at a rib where the hilt of his sword had thumped him painfully. I’ve jumped down from far higher roofs!
‘You really don’t know how to ride, do you?’ Coe said.
The young thief shook his head. ‘I’ve never left Krondor before,’ he said. ‘And there I had no need of riding.’ He made a wry face. ‘I’ve seen it done often enough and it looked so easy. I was sure I could manage it.’
Coe gave a cough that sounded suspiciously like a muffled laugh. ‘Well, for starters, you see that loop in front of your left knee? You can slide the scabbard of your sword through it. Until you’ve ridden a little more, having it loose at your side can be dangerous.’
Jimmy slid Prince Arutha’s gift from his belt-sling and through the loop and the sheath settled firmly.
‘Riding’s more like dancing than just sitting down on the animal. You’re quick and strong, though, it shouldn’t be too hard. Just remember that the horse’s back is going up and down whenever it’s moving. The faster it goes, the faster the movement. That’s why you grip—so you don’t bounce up and down even harder. Use your knees like springs—as if you were jumping down from a height . . .’
All right, I’ll try that, Jimmy thought: he was reminded of the way Prince Arutha had shown him the sword. He was immediately aware that the mare was more relaxed. Which makes one of us, he thought bitterly.
‘Now remember that the horse can feel what you want it to do. If you squeeze tighter with your thighs and lean forward, it knows you want to go faster. If you lean back, it knows you want to stop. Try turning it by pressing one knee, touching the rein to the same side of its neck, and leaning a little forward and in the way you want to go—just a little, more a matter of shifting your balance than moving—you only pull on the bit when you need to shout. Right, that’s good. Now—’
‘This is pretty tiring,’ Jimmy said after a few minutes.