So when he mounted onto the saddle, for one split second he was on my Steed’s back, and then Fireleaf sidestepped right out of the saddle, bit, and bridle,” Zeilas told her, gesturing with his hands. “For one more brief moment, Captain Geldas just hung there in midair, clinging to the reins and the empty saddle—and then whump! The expression on his face was priceless as he fell, and I’ll tell you, he made a very satisfying thump when he hit the ground!” Marta laughed. She covered her mouth, since she had been caught chewing some of the food he had cooked, Arbran style, and brought to this “indoor picnic” idea of his, since the weather was too stormy and sleeting outside the palace to go anywhere. But she chuckled, swallowed, and cleared her throat. “I’m amazed your Steed didn’t trample him.” “I asked him not to. We were visiting that town, looking for trade materials, and it wouldn’t do to injure anything more than his dignity, and a bit of his backside ... and he bruised his ankle, too.
