[Nurumaiel]

"Thank you, miss," Leofan said with a little nod to Aleia. "I do believe I will take this young lad on. I suppose I could do with some help around the stables." Aleia grinned, gave Anwir another warning, and then departed.

"I suppose first you'd better learn the ways of the job," said Leofan, turning his gaze to the boy. "You won't have any specific job in the stables. If I call you, you come; if I tell you to do something, you do it. That's the basics of it. It will mean more work for me, because I'll have to teach you everything, but it will be good for you." He knew it would also be good for himself, to teach a headstrong young lad who had previously made a living from stealing to do honest work and learn the ways of caring for a horse.

"We'll start with my own steed, because I know he won't harm you and you're just a beginner," said Leofan, leading the boy to one of the stalls. "His name is Mihtig, and though he has his faults, he's gentle and will treat you kindly, if you do the same to him."

Anwir reached up a bit nervously, for he had encountered many ill-tempered horses in his days wandering the streets. He ran his hand down Mihtig's shining bay neck. The stallion nicked in pleasure and stretched out to nudge the boy with his head. Anwir gave a cry of alarm and jumped back. Mihtig also looked a bit startled and tossed his head, then, observing Anwir's frightened eyes, gave a low whinny as if he were chuckling.

"What would you like to learn first?" Leofan asked.

"I don't know what there is to learn, sir," said Anwir, cautiously stepping up to Mihtig's head again. "But with your permission, I'd like to get to know your horse better first." His voice faltered, as if he were unsure how to put his thoughts into words. "I think that maybe I could work better here if I knew horses better."

"That's a very sensible plan, lad," said Leofan. "You and Mihtig get to know one another, and I'll get on with my work. Just let me know when you feel confident enough to learn." Then he went back to the horse he had been grooming, leaving Anwir and the stallion alone together.