Horses need daily exercise?
I don’t even know the first thing about them.
“Selina. If you know how to ride, could you please exercise the horse?”
The cow’s fine just grazing in her enclosure. If that’s not enough, we toss her some wheat or other grains.
But what about the horse? Is it really okay to leave him in the cowshed all day?
“Wouldn’t it be easier if you just learned to ride, Zoe? I already told you an adventurer ought to know how to ride a horse.”
Ugh. She did say that, but I don’t even know how to saddle one properly.
I managed to take it off once, somehow, but that’s it.
“Selina, you have to teach me!” I beg. There’s no other way.
Selina trudges out to the cowshed, looking grumpy, but then—
“The saddle and bridle aren’t even on!” she snaps.
“Well, I don’t know how to put them on!” I snap right back.
The horse lets out a nervous whinny.
“Zoe, don’t raise your voice around him.”
She’s probably right, but what am I supposed to do?
Turns out Selina knows how to ride, but not how to take care of a horse.
“Looks like we’ll have to post a request,” I mutter.
It’ll cost money, and I hate admitting I’m hopeless at something, but I do have to learn this sooner or later—how to saddle a horse, hitch it to a wagon, and drive it.
“Hey, how much do you think that kind of request would cost?”
Selina just shrugs like she has no idea. “Why don’t you ask at the guild?”
“Right!”
A silver crown? Five pennies? I’ll just ask Lena!
I pack the saddle, bridle, and bit into a wicker basket, loop a rope around the horse’s neck, and lead him along.
Time to teleport to the outskirts of Carlton!
Can I even teleport with a horse? Selina did it while riding him, didn’t she?
If I just hold on tight...
“Phew, what a relief! The horse came with me!”
He does not look pleased about the tight hug, and he definitely didn’t enjoy the teleport. His ears are twitching like mad.
“There, there,” I murmur, patting him as we walk toward Carlton.
“Where’d you get that horse?” a gatekeeper calls out.
“I decided to keep one, but I don’t even know how to saddle him,” I say. “I was thinking of posting a request at the guild… Do you think anyone would take it?”
The guards exchange glances.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to ask someone you know to teach you?” one suggests.
The other crosses his arms, thinking. “I could teach you myself when I’m off duty… but you don’t live in Carlton. Shouldn’t you ask someone from Lang Village? A lot of adventurers are the rough type.”
“What are you talking about? This kid’s an adventurer too!”
Sure, there are plenty of rough, idiotic adventurers. But I can always say no to them, right?
Actually? I will say no.
Resolutely, I lead my horse toward the guild.
“Wonder if it’s okay to tie him up here…”
Adventurers ride horses, sure, but where do they put them?
There’s a wooden railing out front that looks like it was made for tying reins.
“But what if someone steals him?”
I’m nervous, but I want to believe horse thieves aren’t common.
Maggie’s father left his horse tied up outside the lumberyard while he ate at the diner, didn’t he?
Still… I don’t trust adventurers.
Oh! That kid looks trustworthy!
“Hey, I’ve got a quick errand inside. Mind watching my horse for a bit?”
I hand a penny to a passing child and ask him to be my stable hand. No way am I telling Selina I got the horse stolen!
I wonder if you post requests at the same counter?
Just to be safe, I get in line for Lena.
“Um, here are ten mid-grade herbs. Also… do you take requests here?”
First, I hand over the herbs.
I’ve got enough saved up in my Storage to hit Copper-rank, but when it comes to asking for help, it’s easier with Lena.
“Yes, we do accept requests. Is it for an escort?”
I don’t need that!
“No, I’d like to hire someone to teach me basic horse-handling. How much would that cost?”
Lena’s expression turns puzzled.
“You mean horseback riding?”
“No, before that. I need to learn how to put on a saddle and hitch a horse to a wagon.”
She looks even more baffled.
“Isn’t that the kind of thing any farm kid would know? Oh! Right, you’re a witch… you wouldn’t have done farm work.”
Well, I do now, but I keep quiet so I don’t confuse her more.
“Let’s see… teaching someone to ride takes a few sessions, but saddling and hitching? You could learn that in one lesson. Even a child could do it. But I don’t know if any adventurers would be willing to teach—oh! I know just the person!”
I brace myself for her to say Walter—but she names someone else.
“Since you’re from Lang Village, Ms. Zoe, why not request Matthew? He’s well-off, and I’m sure he’d be happy to help.”
Matthew! Ugh, not my favorite.
But I can’t exactly say that to Lena.
“Um, I don’t mind paying a little extra, but I’d really prefer to be taught by a proper adult.”
Matthew will be eleven after the new year. Hardly what I’d call an adult.
Still, I manage a polite refusal. Phew.
But then Lena drops the bomb.
“Well… the thing is, a lot of adventurers are kind of scared of you, Ms. Zoe. I’m sure Matthew would say yes, though…”
Wait… does that mean no one else will take the job?
This is the worst! And no, it’s not about Matthew—it’s my reputation hitting rock bottom!
Hmph! So what if I’m the apprentice of the forest witch?
I feel a surge of defiance, but I swallow it down.
“All right, then. How much should I pay Matthew? I don’t want to be a bother.”
I have no clue what the going rate is!
“Five pennies for half a day, or ten for a full day, should be more than enough.”
In that case, I’ll ask for his help.