“It would be a good way to get killed. The Vesna is too rough in these parts, and the last place you want to be right now is on a main travel route.” Vanya glanced over his shoulder. “Not everyone has airships at their disposal.”

“I’ve never ridden a horse before,” I admitted, staring uneasily at the animals.

“It’s not hard,” Mikhail said. “All you need is good balance.”

“You’ll be a natural, Toma,” Vanya added, buckling the first saddle. “I can tell just by looking at you.”

I was taken off guard by his charming words. “You think so?”

“I know it.” He extended his palm. “Give me your hand.”

Hesitantly, I placed my palm in his. His touch was like lightning, sending a pleasant shiver running down my spine as I allowed him to guide my hand toward the horse’s muzzle.

The animal’s nostrils flared, and its hot, moist breath brushed against the back of my hand. Gently, Vanya placed my fingers atop its snout. It nuzzled my palm, its thick tongue flicking out to deposit a gritty green skim of saliva upon my skin.

I laughed, surprised. I had half expected the horse to bite me. As I stroked its nose and forehead, it leaned its head forward, encouraging me to continue petting it.

In the corner of my eye, I spotted Mikhail watching us with a strange expression. Not angry or anything, just distant, his gray eyes clouding over as if he were lost in a dream. The moment he noticed me staring, he turned away and began tacking up his horse.

“Ready to get on him?” Vanya asked.

“I don’t think I can,” I confessed, my stomach fluttering with apprehension. The saddle was so high off the ground. “I’m going to fall off and break my neck.”

“Maybe just a leg.”

I looked at him quickly, surprised to see his smile grow, his green eyes bright with amusement.

“I’m just teasing you. You’ll do fine.” He guided the horse to a hay bale. “Step up.”

Hesitantly, I stepped onto the hay bale. At Vanya’s guidance, I put my foot in the stirrup and hoisted myself up, holding on to the saddle horn to balance myself as I swung my other leg over. I smoothed out my skirt to keep it from bunching.

“Good. I told you you’d be good at this. Now, let’s try walking.” Clucking twice under his breath, Vanya led the horse forward.

I clung to the saddle horn, adjusting to the animal’s slow, jostling gait. After circling the stable twice, I felt comfortable enough to take the reins. I rode back and forth across the yard as Vanya tacked up the remaining horse.

“You did a pretty good job,” he said to Mikhail, who had already strapped on his horse’s bridle and saddle. “I thought you’d just have servants to do that for you.”

“Right, because I’ve never put on a belt before and am incapable of buckling straps on my own,” Mikhail said sarcastically.