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Page 208
If Walter was somewhat startled at Simon's confident assumption that a wife should ride out to rescue her husband, he was growing sufficiently familiar with the ways and thinking patterns of Roselynde not to comment. He called to the grooms and watched with interest their trepidation at approaching Simon's Ymlladd, who, indeed, greeted their invasion of his territory with slashing hooves and snapping teeth. Nor did he completely spare his own master, and Simon cuffed the horse a blow with a balled fist that might have shattered the skull of a lesser animal.
It was not surprising that Walter was mounted before Simon. Beau, too, was very lively, prancing and cavorting because he had not been exercised for several days, but he certainly did not try to buck Walter off his back, which Ymlladd seemed determined to do to Simon. Simon sat out the antics with accustomed skill, smiling and patting the destrier when he quieted and consented to go forward.
"Now that you are betrothed to Sybelle, you will have your pick of the young stallions at Roselynde," Simon said cheerfully. "There are two that are of especial spirit and strength."
"By spirit, I suppose you mean a temper like that fiend of yours," Walter retorted. "Is this a device to rid the family of me? And so soon? Do I deserve it?"
"Oh, you will have little trouble with them." Simon shrugged casually. "You are a good two or three stone heavier than I. Mama says they were docile as lambs under Simonher first husband, I mean. It has something to do with the weight, she thinks."
Walter cocked an eye at Ymlladd, who was now cantering along in a way that suggested he could continue to do so indefinitely. Although he could not believe that any rider or circumstance could make one of those destriers docile as a lamb, Walter was not indifferent to the beauty and stamina of the beast. And by the end of their thirty-mile ride, when Beau was beginning to show signs of tiring, Ymlladd took exception to one of Simon's men crossing his vision and put on an exhibition of attacking as if he were fresh from the stable. Really, the animal seemed tireless, and Walter determined to accept a stallion if one were offered. At worst, he could dilute the line with a more common mare, hoping to retain strength and some of the spirit while eradicating the devil's temper.

 
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