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Page 435
into the cart. No more harm will befall you than already has."
Their relief was so great that they worked with more enthusiasm than could have been expected. The tent was down and rolled, its contents stowed away by the time Siorl returned with a great black brute of a stallion that was kicking and plunging. Simon called his captain several improbable things, but Siorl shouted back that the stallion was the only horse he could find. Nothing but oxen were left. The stallion remained because he was too wild to handle.
"Not in this noise," Rhiannon cried. "I cannot quiet him in the middle of this chaos."
"Take Ymlladd," Simon yelled.
Rhiannon ran to the horse's head and stroked him. He, too, was nervous and snorting, eager to rear and fight as the smell of blood excited him more and more. Still, he did not attempt to savage Rhiannon, and she went to the side and up into the saddle before Simon came down. It would not do in the midst of such turmoil to leave the stallion with an empty saddle.
As it was, when Simon came down, Ymlladd plunged and reared, fighting the lessening of the weight he was accustomed to bearing until he realized there were still firm hands on the reins and a voice he knew well in his ears. It took time to strap Math's carrying basket on behind the saddle, as even Simon was cautious about approaching the horse where he could not see and Math was yowling like a banshee.
Then came the question of mounting the black destrier. Shouts brought men to hang on the bridle so he could not rear, and at least he was not as bad as Ymlladd and did not try to bite. Simon sprang into the saddle, tore the reins from Siorl's hands, and checked the horse as hard as he could. The black rose, pawing the air; Simon roweled him hard.
"Go," he bellowed. "Siorl, take her to Llewelyn before Ymlladd starts to fight."

 
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