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“Come on...” Laesara whispered frustratedly in the dim light of the morning. This hastar was the gentlest-bred one in the stable, and the stablehands had assured her of it's suitability for teaching. She'd arranged everything, from stirrup to saddle to the actual chunk of time she'd need to teach Malikai how to ride.

I'm really looking forward to that she thought to herself, and she was. I don't know why, entirely, but I am.

She certainly wasn't looking forward to humiliating him – to feign kindness and then set up the poor boy to fail – as some of her cousins would. She had tried to convince her father not to watch, but he had insisted. Since he was the one that ensured this time would be available, and since he pulled the necessary strings... I couldn't push him too hard. Which meant her imposing father would be watching. Which meant that poor Malikai would be under scrutiny. Which meant that this lesson would have to go extra without a hitch.

Except the goddess-damned hastar wasn't leaving its stall.

“Sorry, Milady...” said a stablehand sheepishly, “Stormwreath is usually really good about this...” Laesara glowered at the beast, trying to get control of its as it pulled away against its reins. She knew this hastar, and when she'd ridden him before, he'd been a dream, an easy hastar to ride. Too easy for her, an experienced rider, of course, but soft and gentle as a fluffed pillow.

“Apparently...” she said, slightly acidly, “He is not good today.”

“I'm sorry, milady...” the stablehand said again, “I'll get him some apples. Maybe that'll do it for him?”

She sighed, easing up on the reins and forcing her frustration to dribble away, a familiar strategy for dealing with her often aggravating world. “Yes. Let us try that.” She looked up at the cream-colored nose of the hastar, and into its dark eyes and reached out to its muzzle.

“Weeeeh...” it said, and shied away. Laesara sighed again and leaned against the wall to await the stablehand's treats.

“I do hope.” she said to the hastar, resigned, “That you will behave at your lesson.” That was all one could do with animals... hope. And she still had time yet.