Chapter 34 was before this...
A palfrey. Laun could see the difference in the fine line of the horse, how it was saddled and the fine gold tracings on the harness. But she had no idea what a palfrey really was. The other horses and the pack mule were also good, but the palfrey was standing there, slightly nervous and beautiful.
The smith was one of those looking at the horses. He was checking the shoes, noting with displeasure the type of nails used. The red-colored horse needed to be shown everyone who was near her before she settled down, being led back and forth in the stable by her halter. Laun had never really been around the horses. She did not know what to do. This one was not as big as the other horses, but the type of shoe the smith said was on her was made for combat. The term Destrier was also bandied about, which meant absolutely nothing to Laun.
The smith pointed at the upraised hoof with the handle of his hammer. “You see here, the nails are put in this way to give more traction, and the shoe it’s self has a sharpened edge along the front.” He tapped on the shoe, the horse shaking her head when he did so. “A good bit of work here. Too bad the iron is soft.”
Fount took Laun’s hand and put it on the horses’ nose. The nose was soft and once the horse had her scent, pushed into her hand. Laun started to stroke the nose while Fount lightly kept her hand under his. Her hand went up between the eyes and the palfrey snorted, tossing her head. Laun jerked back, scared, but Fount took her hand and put it on the horse again. He leaned in and whispered into her ear, “If you treat her gently, she will respond to you. A tender touch on her nose lets her know you are not going to hurt her. Stroke here under her chin...” »Read More