Stone of Tears

He scratched a little harder, the horse leaning into it. “Isn’t that right, Bonnie? You’re a good girl, aren’t you? Sure you are.” He looked over his shoulder at the Sister. “Jessup likes it when you scratch under his chin. Give it a try, show him you want to be friends.” He gave her a humorless grin. “Like it or not, Sister, we don’t have the bits anymore. You need to learn a new way.”

Sister Verna stared at him with a cold look. At last she unfolded her arms and went over to the chestnut gelding. She stood in front of him a moment and then reached out and stroked the side of his head, finally moving her hand under his jaw to give him a scratch. There’s a good boy,” she said in a flat tone.

“You may think horses are dumb, Sister Verna, because they don’t understand most of your words, but they understand tone of voice. If you want him to believe you, you had better at least pretend you’re sincere.”

She moved her hand up and rubbed his neck. “You are a dumb beast,” she said in a syrupy sweet voice. “Happy?” she snapped over her shoulder.

“As long as you’re nice to him. You need to gain his trust. Horses aren’t as dumb as you think. Look at the way he’s standing; he doesn’t trust you. From now on, I’m assigning you to Jessup. You’ll tend to all his needs. He must come to depend on you, to trust you. I’ll take care of Bonnie and Geraldine. You’ll be the only one to groom Jessup, and you will do it after he is ridden, and before he is ridden the next morning.”

“Me! Most certainly not! I’m in charge. You are quite capable of grooming all three, and will do so.”

“This has– nothing to do with who’s in charge. Among other things, grooming helps build a bond between you and the horse. I already told you: the bits are gone, you need to learn a new way. I need to teach you how, for your own safety.” He handed her a set of reins. Tighten up the halter and attach these to this ring, here.”

While she was doing it, he cut up the leftover melon rind into small pieces. Talk to him. Call him by name, and let him know you like him. It doesn’t matter what you say, you can describe what you’re doing if you want, but make it sound like he’s important to you. If you have to, pretend; treat him like he’s one of your little boys.”

She glared over her shoulder at him, then turned back to hooking up the reins. She started talking, softly, so Richard couldn’t hear her, but he could tell it was gentle. When she finished, he handed her some of the pieces of melon rind.

“Horses love this. Give him a piece, tell him what a good boy he is. The idea is to change his feelings about having the reins on. Let him know it’s going to be pleasant, instead of that bit he hates.”

“Pleasant,” she repeated in a flat tone.

“Sure. You don’t need to show him how much you can hurt him to make him do as you wish. That’s counterproductive. Just be firm but gentle. The idea is to try to win him over with kindness and understanding, even if it isn’t sincere, and not by using force.”

Richard’s smile vanished, and he let his features slide into a glare. He leaned closer to her as she stood looking up at him. “You should be able to do that, Sister Verna; you seem pretty good at it. Just treat him like you treat me.”

Her stunned expression hardened. “I swore on my life to bring you back to the Palace of the Prophets. When they see you at last, I fear I may be hung for doing my duty.”

She turned and gave the melon rind to the eager horse, stroking his neck and encouraging him with motherly pats. “There’s a good fellow. Good boy. You like that, Jessup? Good boy.”

Her voice was heavy with compassion and tenderness. The horse liked it. Richard knew it lacked sincerity. He didn’t trust her, and wanted her to know it. He didn’t appreciate people thinking they were so easily fooling him. He wondered if her attitude toward him would change, now that he had let her know he hadn’t swallowed her act.

Kahlan had told him that Sister Verna was a sorceress. He had no idea what she was capable of, but he had felt the web she had thrown around him in the spirit house. He had seen the fire she started with a thought. She could have easily started a fire the night before, without telling him to do it. He had the strong feeling she could break him in half with her Han, if she so chose.

She was just trying to train him; get him accustomed to doing as she said, without thinking. Just like training a horse.

Or a “beast,” as she had called it. He doubted she had any more respect for him than she did for her horses.

But instead of using a spade bit to control him, she had the Rada’Han around his neck, and that was much worse. But he would have it off, when the time came. Even if Kahlan didn’t want him and had sent him away, he would have it off.

While Sister Verna was making friends with Jessup, Richard started saddling the horses. “How far to the Palace of the Prophets?”

“It is a long way to the southeast. A long and difficult way.”