"Show off," she grumbles, suppressing a smile as she takes the arrow. "Yeah? What's your first?" He's happier and more comfortable out here with the prospect of getting her sword wet then he's previously been, at least in her company. Lashan, despite the admonishments of the twin healers, is ambivalent, the caution she'd slowly taught herself jostling side by side with concern for the girl and a nostalgic anticipation.

She opens up the gap between them and tests her stability in the saddle, starting to call on Fighter's blessing to reinforce her fading strength. Her armor stops being so heavy. Picking up on some otherwise imperceptible shift in her posture and attitude, Thistle tosses his head vigorously, making his tack click. Lashan clucks to him and tells Guts, "Here, watch this."

Leaning forwards she gives the gray gelding a word in her native tongue and he stops to rise up on his hind hooves and paw at the air, snorting with excitement. When he comes down she gives him another cue and he rocks forwards to lash out behind him with his rear hooves in a very fast motion. It's likely to dislodge any sticks and dirt stuck to his hooves and send them flying at Safflower and her rider.

"That's my good boy," Lashan says, and similar, rubbing Thistle's neck and generally getting him to calm back down. She has an advantage in both training horses and getting them to fight for her, in that her gifts work on animals. Compared to people they're uncomplicated creatures, brimming with fear but willing to trust her when she's calm and steady.