The Tourney at Ashford

The rain had kept her from riding that morning, and the storm had left Perlera unsettled. The Sand Steed wasn't the only one who felt off-balance. Since the events at the joust, Kaliya's stomach had churned uncomfortably. Now that the rain had stopped, the clouds starting to blow away, promising that the downpour shouldn't begin again for at least an hour or two, she hoped that a ride might settle both herself and the horse.

She changed into her riding dress and took Perlera out to the meadows, the steed kicking up mud as they walked.

Having been giving his own Pearl some exercise in the meadows Tal was now simply walking her to burn off some of her remaining energy. The big destrier had so very much! He was continually impressed by the outwardly calm horse's deep rooted passion and competitiveness. She was a strong mare with great spirit.

I'm lucky to be riding you.

Stroking her neck he then increased the pressure on her flanks very slightly. It was enough to send her from a walk to a quick trot and into a canter in mere moments.

Laughing joyfully for a few seconds he lead her around in a wide figure of eight and then off toward the edges of the meadow faster and faster. He was hardly surprised when the large horse demonstrated it still had plenty of stamina yet for another gallop. Naturally, on a destrier the speed wasn't as impressive as sleeker mounts, but the thundering hoofs and just how high up he was were easily as thrilling.

Unmindful of her surrounds, Kaliya pushed Perlera to a canter, the Sand Steed seeming to glow in the strange post-storm sunlight. For what the slender steed lacked in strength, she more than made up for in speed, and her smooth 3|4 gait could outpace a destrier at full gallop. The Sand Steed, and her lighter rider, did not drum half the thunder of the destrier, but in Kaliya's distracted mind, the mares' hoofbeats merged and she would not have realised that Tal was there if not for Perlera's awareness of the larger mount.

She immediately recognised both Pearl and her rider, slowing to a walk.

As did Talieas, who took the reins in one hand to gradually slow his horse while lifting the other in greeting. Gradually bringing Pearl around to meet with her he called out cheerfully.

"Good day! A pleasure to see you here Lady Kaliya. You look most well on Perlera." And indeed she did. While he was wary over a woman trying to take the frontlines he was much more open minded about those who wished to ride properly or know some self defence. Kaliya ticked one of those boxes very clearly.

Perlera tossed her mane, prancing a few steps as they finally drew to a stop, "well met, Tal," she answered cautiously, the handsome knight's good cheer only amplifying her sense of unease.

This unease he did pick up on. "Perhaps I mispoke. Is there something bothering you m'lady?" He could guess what and did so. "Is it about the incident this morning?"

Still cautious, "it is," she said to both questions. "It is difficult to find cheerr when the Warrden of the Rreach's body lies in Ashforrd castle, awaiting the Silent Sisterrs."

Tal gives a few nods, stopping his horse beside hers with him facing her. "I can understand that." However, it sounded like he had a different perspective. Nonetheless he wasn't so rude as to hurl it her way uninvited. Instead he let her set the pace, and topic, of conversation.

"I underrstand you comporrted yourrself most herroically." Though she had been there, she had not had the stomach to watch what had unfolded.

"Any good knight would have done the same." Tal replies with utmost sincerity. "I only hope Lord Baratheon will reconsider drinking before a joust in future."

"I do not doubt, Tal, but not everry good knight did." Kaliya sighed a little, "I fearr therre will be rreperrcussions for the Barratheons. It is a fine bloody mess."

"Aye, very." He lifts a hand to make a point. "I will say few knights were nearby and able to act swiftly. Those who defended Lyonel were thugs, not knights. Wearing good armour does not make someone a knight eh?" Lowering it he takes the reins with both hands.

"Join me in circling the meadows?" He suggests, nudging his horse into a slow walk.

She agreed, nudging Perlera to a walk, the Sand Steed's gait is smooth, seeming to float along the muddy ground, "once more I find myself grrateful forr yourr prresence, Tal. Had you not been therre to stop things frrom becoming worrse..." she shuddered a little.

Tal shifts slightly left and right as his own horse walks along. Due to the height difference he was turning his head and tilting it down a fair amount, which was making him a little self conscious. It was likely this that had him blushing ever so slightly from her words, though he did acknowledge them with an appreciative smile.

"Your words are too kind m'lady."

"Only if they werre not trrue." Unlike the knight, Kaliya remains mostly focused ahead of them, only occasionally glancing up at Tal. "If you would indulge me a little, I underrstand Lorrd Warryn is a widowerr? I would rratherr not brring up the question overr the negotiating table this afterrnoon, not yet anyway, but I would be interrested to know if he is considerring rremarrying soon."

Her flattery has him scratching his cheek and feeling a little abashed. Still, it was kind of nice.

At her query he makes a thoughtful noise. Seeing no issue with sharing a little information Tal replies honestly. "You're well informed Lady Kaliya. I can say that his priorities lay with strengthening his House, but remarriage is something he will have to consider soon. Certainly it is his father's preference. If a good match were suggested I believe Lord Warryn would duly consider it." He paused a moment before asking directly. "Did you have one such in mind m'lady?"

"Possibly, but I must be surre that it would be a suitable match for the girrl. She deserrves betterr than I got," as did I.

The knight doesn't reply, instead focusing on taking in her words and then considering how he might improve the lady's mood. Looking up for a few moments an idea occurs to him.

"Do you wish to try riding a destrier? If, of course, your Perlera would not be too jealous."

Kaliya looked up at Tal curiously, "if you think that would be all rright? I am... not much of a horrsewoman, I confess," she felt like something of an embarrassment to her heritage, admitting this, but Perlera was the only horse she had ridden, and even then she had not practised as much as she would have liked since her marriage.

"Then this makes all the more sense m'lady." Tal was quick to suggest. "You will find no finer trained steed and I will watch over and guide you as much as you need." Smiling heartily he slowed his horse to a stop. "Besides, I think you are being too humble or mayhaps underestimating yourself. Come, it will help clear your mind."

Swinging his right leg to the left over his saddle he hopped off, moving to Kaliya's sand steed to assist her down with a hand if she wished.

She accepted Tal's hand as she dismounted, internally teasing herself that she must be getting soft, letting men help her when she'd been riding most her life. Perlera wasn't in fact the only horse she'd ever ridden, she was misremembering that, for she had learned to ride at a young age, but youthful memories were often vague at best.

Kaliya approached Pearl, a little warily, for the mare was beautiful, but also very large. But she concealed her nervousness as she looked to Tal, "I suppose it would be easierr to mount with the saddle as it is, and have you adjust the stirrups once I have my seat?" She petted Pearl's neck, delaying the actual attempt to get up on the beautiful horse's back.

For his part Tal provided help respectfully, offering only the support of his hand for her to use dismounting rather than trying to completely help her out of the saddle or anything else insulting. He moved alongside her to Pearl.

Nodding, and smiling with a hint of mischief, he replies to her suggestion. "That's one option. Or~" Lifting his hand quickly to his lips he whistled with two fingers. A high pitched noise. When he lowered his hand it was not the only thing that lowered. The great destrier also bent down until it was laying on its stomach. A very neat trick.

"I can adjust the stirrups after she rises. I find this way much easier for mounting." And indeed the height was nowhere near as intimidating.

Pearl was looking to the side now and attentatively following each of their movements.

Kaliya's eyes widened at the display, her racing mind already realised that a Sand Steed wouldn't be able to perform such a trick, the fine boned horse wouldn't be able to get off the ground again. She moved to Pearl's side with far less trepidation than before, and it was child's play to swing into the saddle, from both the reduced height and the fact that the destrier couldn't move unexpectedly.

In the saddle, Kaliya settled herself, smoothing her divided skirts. The anxiety was back, because now she had to keep her seat while Pearl stood back up. She twined her fingers into the base of Pearl's mane, ready to lean forward when the mare started moving. "Do you do this forr all the girrls?"

Her wit has him laughing as he moves to lift the fallen reins for her to take. "Now, now, I don't pry for your secrets." He scolded lightly and playfully, dodging her question.

Stroking Pearl's neck tenderly he divides his attention between the horse and the lady. "It looks like you have a good idea - aye, she steps up with her front legs first." Meaning Kaliya would indeed need to lean a little forward for a moment. "Here we go." Giving a final pat to Pearl's side he steps back and then ushers her up. "Up, up."

Upon his command Pearl started to rise, stepping up with her front legs and then her back. Kaliya's weight was negligible to the mare. She stood up straight and proud and waited, still watching Talieas with all her focus, as he moved to her side to do Kaliya's stirrup adjustments.

She laughed in response, "that means yes," feeling a little more at ease. Kaliya leaned into Pearl's neck, her grasp firm on the destrier's mane, but not so much as to hurt the mare, and when they are up, she straightened, settling into her seat. The sheer size of the horse was somewhat disconcerting, like trying to straddle an entire fishing boat, I will be sorre afterr this, she realises. But there is also something delightful in being so high up, like she could see for miles, towering over the meadows of Ashford.