TD - 15th Hussars HQ

'Don't pay attention to Naphy, Spotted Dick, er, I mean Herrero, is a decent enough horse.' Parker led Willoughby quickly towards the place where the reserve horses were stabled. 'Though whoever bought him for us, must have been either blind or blind drunk.' He muttered quietly.

"Blind.., blind drunk, sergeant? " He looked around at the horses that awaited to replaced the steeds lost in battles. He saw tall and some shorter horses, elegant and a slight bit less elegant. With each that he saw he wondered if it were the one, but as he couldn't find much flaw in them he knew they were not. Sergeant also had not halted yet, so it seemed the horse they were going to see, was further on.

"Herrero... the Blacksmith?"

Parker grunted: 'Well, I would not know, having no knowledge of the heathen languages.' Parker kept walking. It was getting dark, but even in the gloom the stallion stood out like an eyesore among the herd. Shaking his head, Parker muttered to himself again.
'I tell you, he is only doing this because the Grand Review is tomorrow. I pray he'll not get himself or anyone else in trouble

Willoughby caught sight of the strange animal. It looked.. well, it looked ugly in a way, with it's strangely patterned coat and a black and white head. One ear black, another white if he was right from this distance and light.

But seeing that Parker hasn't yet stopped he imagined that though Pierce was cruel, he might not be as much.

"He is only equipping me with a horse because of the Review, sergeant?"

'No, I think he is equipping you with this horse because of the Review.' Parker came up and stopped by the strangely coloured horse and patted it's neck. 'Hey there Spotted Dick, I brought your new rider to see you.'

The stallion sniffed at Sergeant's hand, huffed and turned away disdainfully.

"This?..." Willoughby looked at the horse. He actually had to take another look before he could say something that had been more kind. "..it's..." He began and then:"... Spotted." He finished. It wasn't unkind. It wasn't quite a compliment either.

"..very spotted."

Parker chuckled, then stepped aside. 'Now, we've not got all the bloody time in the world. Let him get acquainted with you. We don't want any accidents at the Review tomorrow.'

"Am I to attempt riding him then?" Accidents could happen the next day if he had no idea as how to lead the horse or how he would react to his prodding and pressing. He took a slow step towards the stallion and reached out with his hand.

"...hey." A spotted horse. A sore eye, just what he needed - he thought bitterly. At the same though it was a horse no less.

'Not now. You'll have time before the Review. Everyone is to be up an hour before dawn,' replied Parker.

Herrero studied Willoughby and then turned his flank to him, holding his head high and acting like Willoughby was but a bug, not worthy of his notice.

"Sergeant. Will there be enough time?" He lifted an eyebrow at the horse. The cheeky bastard. Not only was he not the best sight, he was also a horse who's behavour did not look promising.

"That is.. I shan't have trouble with him, sergeant?" He smacked the flank lightly, and kept well away from a possible kick.

'There should be, we are to gather for the review at eight,' Parker was starting to sound a little impatient. 'No one's ridden him yet, lad, so you'll be the one to tell us how much trouble he really is.'

Herrero replied to the smack by ignoring Willoughby completely.

And make a fool of himself and perhaps even the Hussars at the review? Suddenly he regretted having to appear there tomorrow himself. He knew nothing of this horse but the colour of his coat. He moved to the animal's side, closer and then pushed to have the horse's body move away from him, making space. "Oy!"

He looked at Parker: "..Right. But those that sold him, had they anything to say about the animal? How does he.. behave normally, sergeant?"

Parker shrugged. 'I wasn't the one buying him. He is calm and well-behaved most of the time, I hear, but acts like he is a Lord or something.'

At such treatment from Willoughby, Herrero snorted, flicking his tail, and cast a baleful glance at him but did not respond otherwise.

"Well, if he's calm... That's something." Unless it also meant that once he would request that he moves, the horse would stand put. Since they had more time to spare, Timothy stretched his hand out and as he talked softly to the animal he began to stroke his back. First slowly at one spot, then moving higher to the horse's neck. He observed Herrero for a reaction.

At first Herrero paid no attention to the petting as if that was only expected of Willoughby, but after sometime he turned his head to him and gave the trooper a slightly more favourable glance.

A sound of approaching footsteps sounded and soon two troopers appeared, looking like the perfect stereotypes of hussars: tall, with mustaches and not completely sober. Parker glanced at them, but they weren't any of his men, so he paid no heed.

"..Give me a chance." Timothy whispered to the horse, gently stroking his neck. He glanced over his shoulder at the two Hussars, though it was more their footsteps that he heard than their faces that he'd seen.

His attention was back on Herrero. Perhaps he would have to give him a chance himself, and see past that exterior that earned him such a dreadful name. He knew some horses disliked being touched around the ears and some liked it well enough. It was all a sense of building trust and he.. wanted that.

The hussars stopped nearby. One elbowed the other in the ribs.
'Just look at it! Seems like Spotted Dick finally has a rider!' They dissolved into laughter, alcohol making this statement seem funnier than it was. 'At least, no one would be able to see the dirt on him!' Added the other.

Herrero, who up till now seemed to be warming up to Willoughby in view of his neck being stroked, gave the laughing man a vicious glance, as if sensing their derision and snorted, baring his teeth.

"Hold your tongues!" Timothy snapped and turned around to cast a glare at the two Hussars. Perhaps he was rash in this action though Herrero was going to be his horse now, and thus his partner in battle.

"Drunken sods! You've lost nothing in the stables.. be gone with you!" He hadn't even realised that he was stroking the stallion soothingly across his furred neck. Here was a sergeant no less. They'd hear from him, he hoped.

The two troopers were inclined to be good natured. They dissolved into laughter and under the joined annoyed gazes of a horse, a sergeant and a trooper began to move off.
'One looks like a Spotted Dick, another acts like one,' proclaimed one of them, and laughing they walked away.

Willoughby wasn't amused, but he was quite relieved that the two men left. His attention back on the horse, he studied the dark spots up closer. "Well...they've a bit of a point." He murmured and smiled at the horse. "We might have an excuse for you if we miss out on a cleaning." All those words spoken so softly that only the horse could have heard them. Of course he doubted that Herraro understood, but perhaps he would feel and understand his tone of voice.

"There... those men gone, 's better now, isn't it?" He murmured pushing a bit of the horse's mane over to the other side of his neck.

'And we best be going too, lad.' Stated Parker firmly.

Herraro already forgot the drunk men and let himself be petted, still looking proud and haughty but obviously enjoying himself.

"Yes, sergeant." He gave the horse a final pat and then slipped away from him and walked to Parker with a smile. "...thank you for letting me see him early, sir." Even if the horse was still.. well spotted.

Parker grunted in answer, and in silence led Willoughby back to his confinement.

Herraro snorted softly at the absence of more petting and flicked his tail in annoyance.

Willoughby followed after Parker realising that his dinner was most certainly cold now, but he did not care nor mind. He saw the horse that he were to ride from now on. A butt of jokes, he was sure. A spotted creature that was a horse and not some kind of.. hm, cow? No, a cow's spots were broader and covered a greater portion of it's body.

he knew he'd have to establish with his horse, who the master was, and dreaded the next morning where his skills would be most certainly put to the test. But he'd mastered Bella for a while, though with trouble. Surely a much calmer horse, could not pose a problem?

He smiled :" Thank you for letting me see him before tomorrow, sergeant." He murmured once they reached the doors of his confinement. Though it was probably so as not to have one of their own embarrass them, it was a fair good thing done.

'Don't mention it,' replied Parker before shutting the door. 'And I really mean don't mention it'.