A Chapter where Drustina teaches a young teenaged boy an excellent lesson in honesty and horsemanship.

A Boy jockey and his horse. (Hellenistic art.)

The Angry Mermaid 50

Or

Y Morforwyn Dicllon 50.

Mabina. The youngest daughter and Twin to
Drustan Her twin brother.
Grandpa Erin the twins grandfather.
Giana The twins grandmother
Caderyn The twins father.
Herenoie The twins wise and beautiful mother.
Morgaran The Twins oldest brother.
Aiofe The twins oldest sister. Famous for her beauty.
Tara The twins second oldest sister. Famous for her grace.
Feidlim Twins aunt (Caderyns’ beautiful sister.)
Mogantu Twins uncle (Married to Feidlim.) Chief of the Gangani tribe.
Brun. Twins 2nd cousin and the Acaman clans’ blacksmith.
Feorin. Twins second brother. Also training to be a blacksmith.
Rhun Feidlims’ son and Feorins’ favourite 1st Cousin. (Both red-heads.)
Arina Child of a Demetae fisherman, (rescued by Aiofe, Drustan and Mabina.)
Penderol Dumnonii Minor chief.
Udris Young Dumnonii warrior.
Dryslwyn High chief of the whole Celtic nation. Dwells in Brithony.
Bronlwyn Dryslwyn’s wife (and queen.)
Magab The moor who taught numbers.
Eric Saxon galley slave rescued from Corsair pirates.
Carl Another Saxon galley slave rescued by Drustan.
Torvel Celtic galley slave rescued from the same captured corsair ship
Arton. Turdetani Chieftain Holder of Gibral Rock.
Carinia Arton’s wife.
Isobel. Arton’s adopted daughter.
Appotel King of the Turdetani Tribe. (Southern Iberia.)
Bramana Queen. (Wife of Appotel)
Pilus King of the Capetani.
Shaleen Pilus’s queen and sister to Bramana.
Pedoro Lord Marshal of the Southern border region.
Lady Shulaar Lord Pedoro’s wife.
Taan. The scullery maid.
Isaar. Pedoro’s oldest son.
Ferdie Pedoro’s 2nd son
Sular Pedoro’s 3rd son
Gontala Pedoro’s youngest son.
Shenoa Pedoro’s only daughter.
Portega. Tyrant King to the west.
Portua. Portega’s grandson.
Jubail. Old Fisherman.
Mutas Magab’s younger brother and usurper.
Walezia King of Malta.
Alviar Megalomaniacal bishop of Carthage. (Hates Drustina.)
Ethelia Female healer who treats Drustina during her pregnancy.
Seripatese Drustina’s faithful horse.
Astos & Amitor Minor royalty who govern Alexandria. King and Twin Queen.
Meronee Nubian Queen of Nobatia The northern Kingdom of the Nubians.
Horam The Egyptian master Boat builder.
Muraa King Astos’s male partner.
Tuk Makurian general.
Fantu. Makurian Captain.
Irene Emperor Leon’s only child.
Leon Byzantine Emperor.
Zano Byzantine general who defeats the Bulgars with Drustina’s help.
Urthos The Gaul elected captain of the 4th ship. Ex Barbary galley slave.
Horus Horam the boat-builder’s son.
Sister Catherine. Leader of the pirate nuns.
Guthrun Jarl of Bornholm.
Etheline Guthruns’ wife the countess of Bornholm.
Seripatese Drustinas’ mare
Capenda Taras’ mare.

The Angry Mermaid 50.

An unseasonal spring storm disturbed Drustina’s morning lie-in. The Bornholmians were all busy securing various artefacts and buildings as the screaming banshee wind tested every weakness and tossed unsecured items along the streets and occasionally into the harbour. In the paddock outside the town walls, the jarl, his guards and even Drustina’s companions were struggling with the visiting villagers calming all the horses and trying to gather them in a strong barn that stood firm against the city town walls. It was the only building outside the town with heavy stone slabs for a roof. Most houses had turf rooves that easily withstood even the worst polar storms. Elsewhere in the fields however, knots of straw and battens were being shredded by the furious wind as assorted hay stacks were being stripped of their coverings. Chaos and pandemonium reigned as Drustina sat up, then hobbled slowly to the window and stared down at the mayhem. She was relieved to see Tara leading her beloved Seripatese and her own horse Capenda to the safety of the stout barn. Then she watched both Carl and Heingist doing their best to calm the excited stallion that was rearing and screaming with fear. Drustina cursed the injured foot that had made her a passenger and watching the shambolic scene simply got her more agitated. Reluctantly, she flung herself on the bed again and lay cursing her luck until Etheline appeared with a tray of wine and some scones.

“Lunch will be little late today my dear. It’s a bit busy out there.”

Drustina gave a wry smile at Ethelines’ capacity for understatement.

“Yes. Just a bit I see. I suppose the cook had to first catch the chickens as they were blown past on the wind.”

Etheline grinned.

“This is to keep you going; there’s no knowing when calm will return.”

“How often does this happen? We had something like this only a few days ago. My ships were at sixes and sevens.”

“It’s fairly common in March but unseasonable for April. It should soon pass though. Long foretold long passed ...”

“And short foretold, soon past.”

“Oh you know that one as well. My father was captain of one of the long ships that used to visit Britannia. I learned it at his knee.”

Drustina fell silent for she had to bite her tongue. Etheline had more or less revealed that her father was, (to Drustina’s eyes,) a Viking pirate. Etheline sensed the tension and frowned slightly.

“Sorry Drustina; that was thoughtless of me. If it’s any consolation, I can only say that my father visited the east coasts of Britannia. That is south of Yorvik to Londinium.”

Drustina did not respond. To her, any Viking was a pirate, a robber and a murderer not to mention rape. She was still frightened she might say something she would later regret, instead she changed the subject.

“When are those villagers returning home?”

“Probably tomorrow. This storm will make it dangerous to travel the cliff edge road.”

Drustina remembered the tortuous path they had followed for she thought it was the villagers hoping to dissuade her from travelling right across the island. It was however, acknowledged by Etheline as normally the shortest route.

“Then best check our horses before they leave. See they do not try the same trick again.”

“Don’t worry Drustina. My husband will see justice done. Your horses are well guarded.”

“What about the boy? He had little part in the horse stealing, that’s what he was trying to tell me when we were under Seripatese’s belly.”

“Too bad. Justice can be harsh. His uncle should have thought of that when they tried to steal your mares. It’s punishment enough that he’s lost that fabulous stallion.”

“It seems a bit hard on the boy. I’d like to speak with him before he returns to that village. Can you bring him to me early tomorrow morning, provided this blasted storm has blown itself out?”

Etheline smiled for she had an inkling of what was in Drustina’s mind. She reached out and squeezed Drustina’s wrist - to be surprised by the sinewy ‘whip-chord’ strength that lay hidden under the soft golden skin.

“Gosh you’ve got sinews like a man! I hope you’re not offended by my saying that. You’re a good person Drustina. The world needs more like you. I’ll have instructions passed to his uncle that ‘The Lioness of Carthage’ requires the boy’s attendance ‘’’ alone! That will set the villagers ears agog.”

“Yes, it probably will,” Drustina sighed. “I don’t trust that uncle of his,” she continued, “the man’s a thief.”

“Well it’s strange you should think that. The death of his father was under suspicious circumstances. The man was an expert fisherman and strong swimmer, his boat was never found yet his body was washed up only a few miles from the village quay.”

“Oh. D’you think the uncle had a hand in it?”

“Nobody knows. Guthrun held an inquiry but little came of it. The boat is probably washed ashore on the coast of Sven. It was a strong south-westerly wind that evening and men get drowned while fishing all the time.”

Drustina finished her soup and lay back to sleep. Etheline kissed her forehead and left. Sleep was the best cure for broken bones, once the setting was done. She slept the day through and all night and woke with a huge appetite. As she wolfed down her breakfast Tara and the twins appeared. Drustina felt a wave of pleasure surge through her aching bones and she patted the bed gently beside her. The twins scrambled into the bed and burrowed affectionately close to their mother. Drustina savoured the attention for now the twins were beginning to accept her as their mother. As they cuddled together, there was a nervous knock on the door and Tara answered it.

Etheline stood with the boy who had owned the stallion. Etheline smiled but the boy peered fearfully into the room so Drustina smiled and motioned them both to approach the bed. After catching Ethelines’ eye, Drustina went straight to the point.

“Now boy, I want the truth. How did you come by such an excellent horse?”

The boys’ lip trembled nervously as his eyes flitted everywhere but into Drustina’s gaze. Finally he mumbled.

“It was my dads’.”

“And; go on.”

“When he was drowned I got it.”

“A horse that good is rarely left to just run with the mares. How was it loose that morning when we were grazing our horses?”

“My uncle had given me a row the night before. For punishment, he let Titan loose and told me to try and capture him myself. I couldn’t. He’s too strong.”

“Oh, that’s his name is it, Titan?”

The boy nodded tearfully.

“And what’s your name?”

“Cedric your majesty.”

Drustina’s heart ached to just hold the kid and hug him instead she just smiled.

“You don’t have to address me as ‘Your majesty’, although technically it’s still correct. Just call me ma-am. Now as to you and Titan; they are both excellent names so I’ll tell you what I’m going to do but firstly, I am going to give you some advice.”

The boy stared at her expectantly as Drustina gathered her thoughts.

“Firstly boy, you are too young to control a horse as powerful as Titan, leastways, to control him by force. To handle a horse as excellent as he, you must learn the other route. You must get the horse to trust you and like you. I am going to teach you how to do that.”

The boy’s mind was working feverishly as he tried to decipher the coded message this famous queen was telling him. Suddenly he realised what was being said and Drustina’s face split into a huge grin as she recognised the boys’ elation.

“D’you mean ... d’you mean?”

“Yes Cedric, I’m giving you your horse back. I am not a thief!”

The boy let out a squeal of joy and flung himself around Drustina’s neck completely forgetting she had two toddlers beside her and a very painful leg. Tara and Etheline both leant forward simultaneously to yank him clear as Drustina let out a grunt of pain.

“Steady lad, this leg is still painful.”

“Oh! I’m sorry your majesty ... sorry, sorry!”

“That’s alright lad. I’m a tough old bird. I’ll be out on crutches tomorrow and I’ll want you to stay behind for a week or more; so that I can teach you how to really handle a horse.”

“D’you mean ...”
“Yes, tomorrow Tara and I will take you down to the stables and get you started with Titan. I believe Jarl Guthrun is interested in breeding from Titan and I certainly am. You have an excellent horse there lad, your father left you a fine gift to remember him by.”

The boy’s lip trembled with gratitude then his expression changed.

“But my mam. I have to fetch and carry for her. I have to help with the spring ploughing. There’s only me and my younger sister.”

“That will be sorted. I have several strong men who can help your mother this spring. They are trustworthy and all know the plough. You have an asset in Titan lad. I don’t know how your dad came by him but he will do wonders for the islands’ bloodstock.”

“He brought him back from Saxony, last year your majesty. It was a trading voyage.”

“A fair trade then, not a raid.”

“No ma-am. My dad was an honest trader he used to make several voyages each summer to Saxony and Pola. He was going to use him to breed once he was older.”

Drustina nodded knowingly. The stallion would certainly improve the islands’ horse population, indeed it was exactly the reason Drustina wanted Seripatese to be served. Finally Drustina leant over and pulled the boy close as she whispered in his ear.

“Cedric, your father was a wise man, that horse will fetch you a decent income in stud fees. D’you know what stud fees are?”
Cedric nodded and smiled as Drustina gave him once last piece of whispered advice.

“One last bit of wisdom lad. Don’t trust your uncle, he’s a thief. He tried to steal my mare, make sure he does not try to steal your stallion.”

Having given this private advice Drustina resumed normal speech.

“Now be off with you. Make yourself useful in the Jarls’ stables. You’ll find the Jarl admiring your horse but don’t worry,
Guthrun won’t steal your horse but I’m sure he’ll want a foal by Titan, just as I do.”

The boy gave a whoop of delight and dashed away as Etheline and Tara tried to dry their eyes.

“I’ll say it again Drustina. You’re a wise old bird. That Queen Meronee taught you well.”

Drustina grinned and lay back to play with her twins. Later she tried out her crutches properly and made it to the great hall.
It was a relief to eat with her companions as guests of the Jarl. Guthrun talked about her treatment of Cedric.

“The boy’s enchanted by you dear lady. You certainly know how to win a kid’s heart. D’you think he deserves the horse.”

“He didn’t do anything wrong Guthrun, it was that uncle who was after our horses.”

“Yes. I sussed that. Is the horse safe in the boy’s possession, I mean his uncle is the village headman. He could easily take it from the boy under some sort of ‘loco-in-parentis’ deception”

“That’s for you to ensure that he doesn’t Guthrun. You and I can sign a document of title that the boy cannot dispose of the horse until he’s twenty one. That will stymie any attempts by that rapacious bully. Tomorrow I start my bit by teaching the boy how to get the horse to come to his voice. Once the animal accepts the boy, it will be hard to steal it.”

“I’d love to see this. Who taught you how to talk to horses?”

“A travelling horse trader in Iberia who traded horses from the Camargue marshes. The Iberian king gifted me Seripatese and the trader showed me how to win her affections. We have been as one ever since.”

“Yes, both Etheline and I are envious of your friendship with that mare. Have you seen her since the injury?”

“No.”

“Well she’s got a nasty gash where Titan’s hoof caught her, right down her flank and rump.”

“Just like me then,” Drustina smiled then added ... “scar-arse.”

The whole table fell to chuckling as Carl pronounce.

“She’s back lads. Our warrior queen is back.”

The meal became an enjoyable break and late that evening, Drustina hobbled carefully back to her chamber in preparation for the morrows’ lesson. She found Tara cuddling the children but she did not resent her sister. Her life made many demands so having the childrens’ aunt as a nanny served to compensate well for Drustina’s parental shortcomings. Gently she lowered herself onto the wide bed and fell asleep almost instantly. It was mid morning before she woke to find a fretful Cedric fidgeting impatiently in the stable. Titan had apparently been wholly un-co-operative and now stood disobediently inaccessible in the centre of the paddock daring anybody to try and capture him. Drustina watched the pantomime then went slowly to her beloved Seripatese to inspect the gash on her rump. Tara had done a good job of stitching it and Seripatese seemed not to be too distressed by the vicious slash. As Drustina hobbled slowly to her mare, Titan stood watching curiously so Drustina stopped, spoke softly then half turned away from Seripatese. The mare pricked up her ears, gave a soft snuffle then ambled casually over to Drustina whilst showing absolutely no fear. When they met, Seripatese rested her head on Drustina’s shoulder as the warrior queen gently stroked the mares’ nose. The pair stayed like this for several minutes while Drustina occasionally reached back and brushed the scab that was forming on Seripatese’ rump. It looked clean and healthy and the mare showed no distress but Drustina did not move.

Instead, she continued stroking the mare and generally fussing gently about every aspect of Seripatese’s’ welfare. All the time she watched the stallion surreptitiously whilst avoiding any form of eye contact.

At first the restless horse stamped his fore-hooves and occasionally snorted but after whisking his tail several times he eventually became more curious about the activity between mare and woman. He raised his magnificent head and even Drustina could not help but admire the stallion’s form as the horse stared directly at her. Drustina knew to avoid the young stallion’s gaze for it might be taken as a threat, a claim to the pretty white mare the stallion had come to regard as his own. Instead Drustina bent down behind Seripatese and whispered reassurances as she once again gently stroked the wound. Her seeming disappearance piqued the stallions’ curiosity and he slowly walked towards the pair. Once again, Drustina turned her back to Seripatese and this forced her beloved mare to curl around and rearrange her stance so as to see Drustina’s face. Drustina had not moved a step and this reassured the young stallion as he moved closer yet. Drustina took some sweet, broken scone from her satchel and held it in the flat of her hands as Seripatese turned eagerly to take it. The stallion became more curious and Drustina continued talking to her mare whilst still presenting her back to the stallion. Eventually she knew the stallion was immediately behind her for Seripatese had tensed slightly.

“Steady girl,” Drustina whispered, “let’s not frighten him.”

Seripatese curved her neck further then extended her head past Drustina to nose-greet the young horse. Drustina continued gently stroking Seripatese until she felt the stallions’ hot breath in her hair and his shoulder brushing ever so gently against her back. Still she ignored the horse but the horse would not now ignore Drustina. He gently ‘head-butted’ her in the small of her back and forced his head between Drustina and Seripatese. Drustina was fairly sure it was a demand to be acknowledged but she was not one-hundred percent sure. Perhaps the stallion still perceived Drustina as some sort of threat to his possession of the mare. She continued talking softly to Seripatese whilst gently stroking her until the stallion could bare the negligence no longer. The horse forced his muzzle onto the nape of Seripatese’s neck and stared directly into Drustinas’ eyes.
Drustina paused then whispered very softly.

“Jealous are you?”

The horse gave a soft snuffle and Drustina slowly slid her hand along Seripatese’s back until it fetched up against the stallions’ muscular neck. Drustina savoured the young muscle and thought ‘If you were a youth my boy, my juices would be flowing now.’ Instead she let her fingers trace lightly along Titans’ neck until they reached his ear then she stopped. For long moments the stallion simply stood there until he became impatient for more attention. He snorted softly, tossed his head and turned directly to face Drustina. Drustina let her hand trail down Seripatese’s neck until she reached the point where the stallions’ nose was now resting on Seripatese’s shoulder. She gently touched his nose and let her hand rest gently on the soft velvety pad while the horse familiarised himself with Drustina’s scent. By now she was talking constantly and slowly raising her voice so that the horse would learn to recognise her voice.

Eventually, the horse seemed to be getting bored so Drustina upped the ante. She slowly turned her back to Titan and started gently leading Seripatese towards Capenda simply by holding a tress of Seripatese’s mane. The stallion was not to be ignored and he stepped around Seripatese’s quarters to align himself with Drustina’s other shoulder. Drustina did not hold his mane for her other hand held the crutch that eased her damaged ankle. Her plan was to have the horse simply attach himself to her like a limpet to a rock. She simply reached up and pressed her knuckle against Titan’s cheek thus inviting him to establish a constant mode of contact. The horse obviously appreciated the contact without entrapment and he soon settled close behind Drustina with his head just touching over her shoulder. All Drustina had to do was occasionally raise her hand to her shoulder and rest her knuckles where she had first accustomed the horse to feeling her contact. Slowly she limped across to Capenda, a move that the stallion thoroughly appreciated for it brought both mares close to him and his control. Capenda looked up and her natural herding instinct told her to join the pair. She aligned herself beside the stallion and Drustina took them on several slow, calm laps of the paddock. By now she had also let go of Seripatese’s mane and the three horses simply pressed close behind her with their necks arched gracefully together to stay close to their hobbling mentor. At the entrance to the barn Drustina paused and called softly to Cedric.

“Very slowly boy, back towards me whilst looking over your shoulder.”

Many people had watched the earlier enchantment and a deathly hush settled on the paddock as the boy sidled slowly backwards hardly daring to breath. He halted with his back almost touching Drustina and the three horses’ heads looming over him. Drustina continued speaking very softly.

“Now lad, stand still and bring your hand up slowly to stroke my mare Seripatese.”

Cedric obeyed to the letter and Titan immediately reacted by inserting his nose gently between Seripatese and Cedrics’ hand. Cedric felt a thrill of enchantment course through his bones and his grin almost split his face. He desperately wanted to ask Drustina what it meant but was too afraid to make even the slightest whispered noise. Drustina turned slowly and spoke softly.

“He wants you to pay him attention and ignore the mare lad. He wants’ your companionship.”

Cedric thought his hammering heart would frighten the powerful horse but Drustina slowly exchanged places with the boy who now found himself standing right alongside Titan while the horse arched his powerful neck and nibbled expectantly at the boys shoulder. Drustina reassured him.

“Don’t be frightened lad. His ears are pricked up and his eyes are quiet. He does not fear you and he sees no danger. Now come, walk with me slowly around the paddock without touching him. I’m afraid I’ll be a bit slow, hobbling with this damned crutch and all, but stay close to me and give me your other hand to steady myself.”

Cedric stayed close to Drustina and squeezed her hand ecstatically as the three horses attached themselves the pair with Titan constantly snuffling at the young boys’ neck. Within an hour, Drustina had the stallion coming to Cedrics’ softly spoken word. There was no shouting, no bridles or halters, no curses or scampering futiley around the paddock. Simply a soft call and an affectionate pat when the horse approached. Cedric was enchanted by the progress. Then Drustina had the boy feed the horses to reinforce the relationship.

That night, the rest of the villagers returned to their village but Cedric was ordered by the jarl to remain under Drustinas’ tutelage until he had cemented a solid bond with his stallion.

Cedrics’ uncle was somewhat miffed by the instruction but Guthrun was the jarl and his word was law. Cedric slept that night in a cot at the foot of Drustina’s bed. It was her way of telling him he would be her student for the next fortnight. That night Drustina explained to Cedric in detail.

“Your horse Titan is a very valuable animal and you have every right to expect stud fees for any foals he produces. That was your fathers’ intention and you will benefit by that plan now he has gone to Neptunes’ realm. I will not pay you for any stud fees for I expect my payment will be teaching you how to control and keep the horse. Besides, I gifted the horse back to you after Guthrun ruled in my favour. As I told you the other day; I am not a thief but you must agree I am entitled to my mare being put in foal by him.”

Cedric nodded vigorously and smiled eagerly.

“Yes your majesty.”

“Will you stop calling me ‘your majesty’! If you want to show respect just call me mistress.”

“Yes your ... sorry, yes mistress.”

“Right, now go to sleep. You’ll be up early and busy all morning tomorrow.”

Drustina crawled softly onto the pillow and curled up under the blanket, grateful for the cool soft cotton sheets that Tara had brought with them all the way from Byzantium. The twins and Tara hardly stirred and within minutes, Drustina was asleep.

In his cot that lay across the bottom of Drustinas’ bed, Cedric lay awake in the dark wondering at the myriad tales he had been told about this incredible lady who had deigned to teach him so much. He kept sitting up and sneaking a peep at the woman whose face lay illuminated by a shaft of moonlight until the moon finally swept around the sky and put Drustinas’ face into deeper shadow. He was beginning to hero-worship the twenty-three-year-old girl that was reputed to also be a boy.

Through staying awake half the night, he was mildly chagrined to find himself being woken by Drustina vigorously tugging his arm and shoulder. The sun had already thrown its brilliant light through the opposite window and it seemed the whole castle was awake not to mention Drustinas room. Tara was feeding the twins while Drustina had already turned her back on Cedric to go and relieve herself.

Eager to satisfy his curiosity, Cedric quickly slipped behind Drustina to relieve himself in the same ablution. He caught a glimpse of her standing to urinate like a man before she caught him looking and turned impatiently towards him.

“Yes boy. It’s cock ... just like yours!”

Cedric blushed firstly from embarrassment as he received a full frontal view then he felt ashamed of his invasion of her privacy as she turned away and completed her activity.

“I’m sorry miss ... uhhmm, mistress. I was sort of curious.”

“Curiosity will get you into trouble one day boy if you don’t learn to control it. There’s a time and a place to be curious and a lady’s lavatory is not one of them.”

Cedric struggled to finish his duty and finally crept back to the bedroom while Drustina carried on washing. As he returned, Tara looked up from feeding the twins.

“You’re looking sheepish.”

“I made a mistake.”

“I can guess what it was you dirty little bugger. Was she angry?”

“No, just sort or impatient and resigned.”

“Well be thankful she wasn’t really angry or you’d have had the flat of her sword across your arse. If you’d been a man she might have run you through.”

“Is she that fierce?”

“Ask Eric or Carl. Ask Countess Etheline. The mistress killed a giant berserker Jarl called Blueface when she was only thirteen or fourteen summers.”

“I heard some of the soldiers talking about that; so it’s true then?”

“As true as you’re standing there. Now go and get some wine and food from the kitchen, make yourself useful for a change.”

Cedric trotted obediently to the kitchens while Tara smiled up at her younger sibling as she returned to the bedroom.

“He was just curious.” Tara grinned. “Apparently he only has one younger sister.

“I know, the puerile little sod.”

“He’s only a boy. Go easy on him.”

Drustina sighed. She found it hard to believe a fourteen-year-old boy could be so immature. She silently asked herself; ‘Was I that immature at fourteen?’ Then she shook her head slowly and tried to remember exactly what she was like the day she had fought the terrifying fight with Blueface. She unconsciously chose that incident because it was still the best remembered incident from that time of her life. Then a dull ache filled her heart with yearning. Amongst her companions now, there were none who had been with her that day. Images of Mabina, Aiofe and Arina drifted through her consciousness and she wondered if she was destined to go through life losing companions and friends to circumstance and events. A melancholy sense of loneliness overtook her and she finished dressing in silence. Then she played distractedly with the twins until Cedric returned with the food.

The boy peered nervously around the door then sidled silently towards the table. After placing the tray he sensed he was still not too popular and he was about to slip silently away when Drustina spoke.

“Just eat your food here then we’ll go and see to Titan.”

“Are you sure mistress? I could eat in the kitchen.”

“You’re my guest, you’ll eat in my apartment, at least, at breakfast you will.”

He sat nervously to the table and chewed silently as Drustina and Tara attended to the twins. Drustina caught him staring and she frowned.

“What?”

Cedric hesitated and Drustina had to drag it from him.

“Go on lad; I can tell something’s eating you.”

Cedric still remained silent, he was too afraid to ask until Tara sensed the boys’ confusion. She explained.

“Drustina is their mother lad and yes, she carried them in her belly. Just go with it, like we all do.”

Cedric nodded uncertainly and Drustina exchanged a private grin with her older sister as the boy scooped up his food and wolfed it down. The moment he was finished, he made his excuses and left. Tara spoke softly to Drustina.

“Go easy on him. The poor kid’s confused.”

“He’ll calm down once were with the horses. He’ll realise I’m a woman in my nature despite my reputation. D’you want to bring the twins down to the paddock?”

“You go. I’ll follow you down. Give the boy a chance to calm his nerves.”

Drustina grinned, gathered some bread from the breakfast tray and left.

In the barn she found Cedric talking quietly to the three horses, Titan, Seripatese and Capenda. She declared herself then approached while talking softly. The horses stirred as Seripatese and Capenda stepped to stick their heads through the rails to welcome Drustina. Titan remained close to Cedric and the boy once again felt the tight thrill of bonded acceptance. Drustina congratulated him as she handed him a crust of bread.

“Well done lad. He favours you now, that’s an excellent sign.”

This reassurance settled the boy and he smiled gratefully as Seripatese gave a soft snuffle and stretched eagerly through the rails to accept the remaining bread in Drustina’s hand. Cedric offered some bread his hand hopefully to Capenda and a huge smile broke across his face when instead, Titan lowered his head and stretched out to sniff the proffered arm. Drustina smiled at the boy.
“See lad. It works. He trusts you. I see you didn’t bring any bread?”

Cedrics’ smile vapourised but Drustina slipped him some more bread and Cedric gratefully extended his hand again to Titan who greedily took the second titbit. Drustina squeezed the boys’ shoulder as she fed the remaining bread to the mares.

“This time the bread’s a special treat. Now; perhaps a piece of bread or a titbit first thing in the morning but don’t make him expect it every time you meet.”

“No mistress.” He replied as Titan nudged him expectantly.

“Now lad, d’you want to lead him out into the paddock?”

“Please.”

“Right; gently twist a hank of his mane through your fingers and walk with him to the paddock. Don’t pull too hard just let him go where he wants to go but at a slow walk. He won’t wander far from the mares.”

It went exactly as Drustina described it would and Cedric found himself standing by the main gate with all three horses standing at his back. Jarl Guthrun looked on and Cedrics’ proud smile would have outshined a summer sun. Drustina followed up just as the Jarl asked the boy.

“Have you ridden him yet.”

Drustina replied for Cedric.

“Not yet Guthrun perhaps by tomorrow. This way he’ll be able to ride his stallion without even the bridle or saddle to control him. Just watch and learn.”

Cedric was surprised that this wonderful woman should be so familiar and casual with the Jarl himself and he realised he was truly in august company. He had already noticed how all other women lowered their eyes becomingly when they spoke to the Jarl, even Countess Etheline did so. This warrior queen however, this Drustina, looked all men straight in the eye and spoke directly. He was day-dreaming about having so famous a tutor that Drustina had to gently poke his shoulder to progress the next lessons.

“Tomorrow you might take your first ride lad. For the rest of this day I require you to remain in the paddock with these horses, even if it rains. Don’t touch the horses or try to command them. Just let them get used to you piece by piece. Don’t leave the paddock until the sun goes down and the horses are stabled ... by you.”

Cedric nodded vigorously and Drustina departed across the paddock to where Seripatese was nuzzling the twins' fingers as they were carried in Tara’s arms. Guthrun joined the women as Cedric remained with Titan.

“Why d’you make him stay there all day?” He asked Drustina.

Drustina grinned.

“To get him out from under my feet. He’ll follow me around like a lovesick puppy otherwise. Besides, it will teach him patience.”

Guthrun let out a chuckle and they returned to the castle to take an early lunch.

Thus the fortnight passed until Drustinas’ wounds were comfortable enough to travel. When she left for the Store Belt, she looked at the farewell party that comprised the Jarl and his wife accompanied by various dignitaries then her heart warmed as she spotted the sight she had been hoping to see. Behind the Jarl and only visible because he had been allowed to accompany his prized possession, Cedric was proudly sat astride his stallion with tears in his eyes. The powerful horse now stood in perfect obedience despite the fact that two of his mares were distancing themselves even as he watched while snorting and snuffling. Drustina’s smile broadened as she realised the stallion was now more attached to the boy than it would be to any mare in future ... such was the success of the training and programming she had inculcated in the horses’ brain. Only death would ever separate the horse from his young master in future.

‘Job done.’ Sighed Drustina as she watched the wind fill the sail as the Angry Mermaid danced to her turn and followed her companion ships into the setting sun.