Chapter 106
One morning, when only a few days of our stay in the capital remained, Danel suggested horseback riding to me.
“Horseback riding? Here?”
“Yes. There’s a riding trail in the woods behind the townhouse.”
I set down my teacup, still half-filled. It was a very intriguing suggestion.
The capital’s vegetation was different from the region where I had lived. Since the winters were milder, the variety of tree species was greater, and the trees themselves tended to grow larger.
Besides, while staying in the capital, I inevitably moved around far less than usual, and the restlessness was beginning to build. There was no training ground for spear-throwing, nor were there any leisurely walking paths.
“That sounds fun. But when will we have time? We only have a few days left here. Tomorrow and the day after, we already have plans.”
“I’ve heard the woods aren’t that large—three or four hours should be enough to ride through them all. We could probably go now.”
If that was the case, there was no need to hesitate further.
I headed upstairs first to change clothes. But there was one problem. I had not expected to go riding in the capital, so I hadn’t brought any riding attire or equipment at all.
With no other choice, I decided to wear the dress that was the most comfortable to move in. It was the very same one the maids had dissuaded me from wearing on the day we went to the cathedral.
Today’s preparations for going out were kept simple. I tied my hair up high in a single knot so I wouldn’t feel hot while riding, and I wore a hat to shield myself from the sun. Ah, and since I hadn’t brought my riding boots, I settled for a pair of leather boots that reached up to my ankles.
Still, an outing was an outing. By the time I came down to the first floor, Danel had already finished all the preparations.
He was waiting for me by the back door, and behind him stood two horses brought from the stable.
I walked over to one of them and stroked its muzzle.
“These aren’t riding horses, are they?”
Neither of the two was a light breed typically used for riding. But they weren’t draft horses either. They looked more like a breed known for their fiery temperament and swift pace.
Danel lifted me up onto the saddle.
“When I checked the stable, there were many kinds of horses. I chose these because you like speed, Laurea.”
“We’re going into the woods, not on a road. Will that be alright?”
“The stable master said it should be fine.”
As he said this, Danel vaulted smoothly onto his horse in a single motion. Perhaps because of his height, mounting the saddle seemed almost effortless for him.
We needed no one else’s help.
We rode on, and after passing a few townhouses that all looked alike, the forest came into view.
Once we reached the trees, we picked up the pace a little. The horses had seemed somewhat temperamental at first, but thankfully they obeyed my commands well enough. It seemed that noticing the confident pressure of my thighs had eased their nerves.
Riding was immensely enjoyable. The trail was well maintained and almost flat, so there was little effort required to handle the horse.
And perhaps because it was spring, flowers bloomed everywhere. Not only pansies and geraniums like those I had seen at the western plaza, but also wild roses and lilies dotted the path.
After riding for quite some time, we came upon a lake. At its calm, rippling shore, a multitude of daffodils bloomed.
“Shall we rest there for a bit?”
I called out to Danel, who was riding beside me. Because of the loud drumming of hooves, I had to raise my voice, which made the horses’ ears flick.
Instead of replying, Danel simply nodded. We veered off the riding path and headed toward the lake.
Up close, I noticed several fences set up for tethering horses. We chose one, halted the animals, and tied the reins to a post. Both horses seemed familiar with the place and went straight to the water’s edge to drink.
“I didn’t know there was a lake here. Did you?”
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