Yuila takes an unnecessary risk.
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The next two days on the trade road were oppressively humid. Yuila wanted to run Sova, even if for only the short breeze it would render, but Edvard denied her request. The road had departed the brook's course, and he did not want to overexert the animals unnecessarily. Yuila pouted for two hours, and a few times Mina thought the girl was going to break the mare out into a run without his consent, but did not. The second night the brook, which was more of a small river now, reengaged the road, and Edvard allowed Yuila a short gallop before nightfall.
The Big Sand River was only a day's travel, according to the map, but with the little local rainfall lately could actually be located anywhere from a day to two days up the road. Either way, from the river it was a two- or three-day journey to Sel Deuo.
Edvard wasn't anticipating the venture into the city. It was the largest establishment they had yet encountered, and was known far for its clash of peoples. Most towns on the trade road were Saecula, but Sel Deuo was a menagerie of all nationalities. Sammis had once speculated the metropolis was so far from any other large port city that foreigners caught there for more than a few weeks were absorbed into its population against their own volition.
He knew his father was exaggerating, but now that they were about to enter the city themselves, new light shone on the statement. At best, they would only be in the town for a day—overnight—and then back on their way. A decent night's sleep in a bed and a long soak in the bath house would do them all good.
He looked over at Yuila as she batted at a large fly buzzing around her head. The girl looked guiltily away, and he wondered what she was up to. All day she had asked to run Sova, and he had turned down every request. The road was curvy, the trees too narrow around it. She had alternated between whining and glowering at him for the last few hours.
Until they took the next tree-hugging turn in the road and the field broke open to the south of them. The expanse of long grass proved too much for Yuila, and she shot Edvard a defiant look, then turned Sova into the field.
With a shout and a kick, Yuila put the pinto mare to a full gallop across the field.
"Damnation," Edvard muttered, tightening the reins as Neito instinctively pulled at them.
Mina heard him say something else under his breath, but she couldn't hear it clearly.
Across the field Yuila took the mare in a large circle, running at full gallop, and headed back to the road. She slowed to a trot as she neared them. Sova was still jogging when Edvard called out a command Mina didn't understand.
The mare obediently halted in her tracks, and Yuila nearly pitched head first into the tall grass over the horse's neck. She winced and dislodged from the mare's mane and kicked the horse's sides, but the mare stood her ground.
Yuila gave Edvard a stubborn look as he pulled the gelding up to her and yanked the reins out of her hands.
"She'll stop at a dead run at that command, too!" He wound the reins around his hand, leaning closer to the girl.
She shrank back in her saddle.
"Don't you ever do that again, you stupid Crone!"
"It was just a little run, Edvard."
"You don't know what's out there." He gestured to the field. "Holes, ditches, animals or—"
"Then let me run her more!"
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