elingregory | Sleepy

It has been a long day but I've caught up and am back on course to finish on 30th November. :D

And here's a snippet:

The next morning Cynon led them on a long patrol out from the dun. They rode east to the sea then south along the coast, in filthy weather and an increasingly filthy mood. On their way their leader made them follow him through bogs and across rivers. They swam their horses from one bay to another, scaled cliffs and felled saplings to build a bridge from poles and raw leather taken from hinds they shot with their bows. They ate well, slept huddled together for warmth in what little shelter they could find and by the time they turned homeward it was with a new sense of purpose.
“I’ll kill him,” Aeddan snarled to Cynfal, glaring towards the head of the column, where Cynon’s bay horse was stepping out proudly.
“And I’ll hold him down while you do it,” Cynfal agreed. He was riding beside Pup, leading the horse and keeping an eye on the rider. Pup had fallen down one of the cliffs. He was nursing a gashed leg and a broken arm, which they had set and splinted with firewood and left over bits of raw hide.
“I don’t think it was that bad,” Pup said, his voice weak. “I learned a lot.”
“Yes, to avoid anything that requires climbing.” Aeddan snorted. “And now it’s all ‘ride in pairs – knee to knee, try to look like proper cavalry’. As if that what we’re here for.”
“Yes,” Cynfal said and winked at Pup. “It’s not like we know how, is it.”
“I’ve forgotten more about riding in close order than you’ll ever know,” Aeddan snapped, glaring over his shoulder. He saw Cynfal’s grin and scowled. “Oh, very funny.”
“Well go on, then,” Cynfal challenged. “Educate me.”
“Yes, show us how it’s done.” March leaned from the other side of Pup. “We’ll be all right, won’t we, Pup?”
“I would,” Aeddan said and cast a derisive glance at Cynfal’s mount. “but close order with a man riding a sheep is just too damned embarrassing.”
“Chicken,” Cynfal murmured and leaned back in his saddle to avoid a punch.