A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

Chapter 603 A Stronger Foundation - Part 5

They were massive creatures. Only now that he was amongst them again could Oliver truly remember and appreciate just how big they were. Of course, there was a range of sizes. There were some ponies mixed amongst the larger horses, but by and large, they were intimidating creatures, letting loose more than a few neighs as they passed, along with billows of hot air from their wide nostrils.

Oliver could hardly fathom riding them.

"Ah! It do be!" A man shouted, standing up straighter from his task of cleaning. "I'd thought it to be you, Ser! Thought it to be, but I told meself to steady on committing too much to bad eyes. I says that there's no way Verdant Idris would be gracing the likes of us with his presence. No way indeed, not when there's so much drama flooding the castles."

"Hello, Nelson," Verdant said warmly. "It is good to see you again."

One would not expect a noble to greet a man that was very clearly barely of servant class so warmly, but the emotion from the priest seemed genuine, as he shook the man's hand, ignoring the stray strands of hay that stuck out at angles from the man's greying hair.

"It's good to see you, my Lord, very good indeed," Nelson said. Oliver noticed that the old man squinted as he talked to Verdant, as though he was having trouble seeing him. "I told Casper that we'd be seeing you, I did. I said 'not long lad, not long'. I knew you'd be visiting us, now that you've accepted your heirship again."

"I am sorry that it took me so long," Verdant said softly.

"Oh, aye, you don't need to apologise. No, horses are more intelligent beasts than people give em' credit for. Some of em' are more intelligent than people, I'd wager. Casper, like his master, he's got a good head to him. He understands. Didn't complain even once all these years," Nelson said.

"He's a few stalls down from where he was last – had to move him, when your brothers got their mounts."

Oliver found himself laughing too. He'd managed to hold it in as he saw Verdant wrestle with his horse, but Nelson gave him an excuse to breach that damn. "That certainly sounds like wisdom."

"That is Oliver Patrick, Nelson," Verdant told the stablehand, as he rejoined him. "That's for you too, Casper," he said, calling over to his horse, as he gestured towards Oliver. Oliver could have sworn that the horse nodded his head. "My new Lord. The man whose goals have become my goals, who I shall serve until the end of my days."

"Ahhh," Nelson said, nodding, as he continued squinting at Oliver. "I thought there was something familiar about ya. Can't see as well as I used to, you see, but I got a sense for different things instead. Men of your sort, there's always a tingle in the feet when you come by. Even the horses get nervous."

"Are they nervous now?" Oliver asked, curious.

"Have a look, my boy," Nelson said, gesturing around. "Not a single one but Casper has kept his head over the stall. They're usually curious sorts, but they know danger."

"They fear me?" Oliver asked. It didn't exactly feel good to be feared by animals. Especially not animals that he had no intention of hunting.

"Fear?" Nelson said. "Oh, aye, some would call it fear. But they're clever animals. I reckon it's their way of showing respect. You wouldn't go begging to a Lord now, would you? I figure it's the same for the horses.

They know not to beg to someone above them."

That was a considerably more compassionate way of putting it. Oliver nodded, appreciating it. He found that he liked the old stable hand. The enthusiasm the man had for his work was proving infectious.

"My Lord plans to learn how to ride," Verdant told Nelson. "Do you think Casper would allow him?"