After breakfast Wolf reported to the stables for his first lesson. There were just a couple of pages and a squire cleaning stalls and laying fresh hay. Wolf introduced himself to the squire who set him to work shoveling manure.

Wolf worked for about a half hour before the teacher arrived. "So you're the boy who sleeps with wolves. They won't sleep with you after mucking these stables. Wolves and horses don't get along very well."

Wolf's senses went on full alert. There was something about this teacher he didn't like. He sounded a lot like his last math teacher, who always called on him when a really difficult problem was being discussed. Then the teacher made little comments about his lack of knowledge.

"Pull over a couple of stools so we can sit and chat." The boy did it and they sat down. The instructor started, "I said those things to you, not to make you mad, but to judge your reaction. Your face went flush and you stiffened up. Those are reactions any person, especially some kid who wants to have some fun at your expense, wants to see. The reason this is important is twofold: it teaches you that you have reactions that people use to judge you, and to introduce you to the possibility that you can control your reactions. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

"I don't think so sir."

"It's like this; people sense your reactions and act on them, horses do the same. If a horse senses you are afraid of him or that you don't like him, you can be sure he will make your life miserable. Horses and people can be alike in that way."

"Oh."

"All horses are different, some are nice and easy going and some are downright hateful. And that's just the tame ones. Let's see if we can find the right one for you."

"Thank you, sir." The instructor had just improved in his view.

They went down the line of the stables discussing the merits of every horse and then they walked back to look at the school horses. In the end they chose a smaller brown and white one with a friendly disposition, named Pinto Bean.

The next order of business being a saddle; he would have to share it among several pages. The instructor explained that this was normal and he expected Wolf to return it in as good condition as he received it or someone could be hurt. Safety being first priority; he would have to learn to repair his tack.

Wolf had to be fitted for a helmet, a motorcycle helmet. The teacher explained it gave him the best protection for his head for when he fell, and expected Wolf to wear it whenever he rode a horse, at least until he qualified to ride just by himself. It felt weird and geeky.

The instructor then explained that every hour of riding time required at least an hour of work to look after the horses. Horses required a lot of attention and all riders shared in the responsibility. When he was away from camp, someone else had to be found to take care of the horse. The boy had already learned this on the trip here and readily accepted the responsibility. The instructor then explained the boy's duties at the stables, which had already started this morning. Riding lessons were to start for real tomorrow.

The instructor left for another class and Wolf got to work cleaning his horse's stall. After he finished cleaning he took time to get acquainted with Pinto Bean, feeding him a fresh apple like Red had taught him and then brushing his coat clean.

Red came walking into the stables and took a look at Pinto Bean. She checked out the horse's teeth and hooves. She seemed to be pleased, and then she rubbed the horse's legs one by one.

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She stood up and turned to Wolf, "He's a good horse. I use to ride him, he knows what is expected. He may be a little long in the tooth, but that is to be expected for a school horse. They don't get too many young ones, they want experienced horses. I would say he's older than you."

"Isn't that kind of old for a horse?"

"Nah, He'll live another ten years easily. Why don't you saddle him up? I want to check out the two of you together."

Wolf went to get the horse blanket, "Are you going to teach me riding?"

Red grinned, "Nope, the horse is going to teach you to ride."

Wolf furrowed his eyebrows. Red was up to something. "How is that?"

"You'll see." Red said with an innocent smile.

Wolf finished saddling the horse and putting on the tack. Red walked around the horse checking the boy's work. She grabbed the girth strap and eased her knee into the horse's ribs; pulling the strap tight. "There, that should do it. You have to be careful about that. They love to hold their breath when you saddle them. It's a trick a lot of horses learn. But, you already know that.

"So what is this about the horse teaching me?" asked Wolf, still skeptical.

"Just mount up and follow me." Red turned and walked out of the stables.

Wolf hurried to comply, and soon walked Pinto Bean out of the stables behind Red. Once they were out of the stables and into the meadow Red turned on her heels to face the boy. Pinto Bean stopped without Wolf pulling on the reins.

"How did you do that?" a surprised Wolf asked.

"It's easy; the horse followed me not taking orders from you. You don't have the feel of riding him yet. But, you've noticed he didn't try to go off on his own. I want you to ride in a circle around me, and carefully follow my instructions."

The boy clucked the horse to a walk and started him around the girl. "Okay, now what?"

"I want you to attempt to fall off."

A surprised Wolf complained, "Are you trying to kill me?"

"Please trust me."

The boy looked at Red to see if she was serious. She appeared to be, so he started leaning over and instinctively squeezed his legs. He dropped his reins and put his arms out in anticipation of hitting the ground. He needn't have worried, the horse instantly stopped and turned to stay under the boy. Wolf grabbed the saddle horn and pulled himself back up.

Red had approached the horse, secured the reins and handed them back up to the boy. "This horse is very experienced with new riders. He will look after you. Pay attention to him, he will teach you a lot." Red started to walk away, but stopped and turned back, "Pinto Bean is all heart. Why don't you ride him awhile and become acquainted."

Wolf took her advice and trotted Pinto Bean out into the large meadow north of the stables. He found the horse eager to respond to the slightest command. The horse went right with a small pull of the reins. He gave the reins a slight pull to the left, and the horse turned left.

Wolf decided to try the fall maneuver. He started to lean over and dropped the reins. Pinto Bean instantly slowed down and turned to keep Wolf up in the saddle. The horse quickly came to a stop. Wolf for once felt safe on a horse. It was a revelation for him.

He gave the horse a gentle kick and they accelerated to a canter.

It was easy. It was exhilarating. And it was a surprise when he ended up on the ground. When he got over the initial surprise, he remembered flying off to the side of the horse, hitting the ground, and rolling to a stop. He looked up and a large white horse appeared in his view. It looked familiar and the rider looked very familiar. The rider looking down at him was the Wolverine.

The lady knight dismounted and knelt down to look at him closer. She placed a hand on the boy's chest holding him down. "What is your name?"

"Caleb."

The Wolverine frowned. "What name do you use now?"

The boy paused for a moment, "Wolf?"

"Do you know who I am?"

"Lady Knight, Wolf, no, Wolverine."

"Just lay down, until the nurse arrives." The knight ordered her page, Hildegard, to fetch the nurse and let her use the page's horse. Hildegard galloped off to carry out her orders. "So what do you think you were trying to do?"

"Ride my horse."

"You were going at a fast canter. You were leaning wrong when you turned. Did the riding instructor approve your riding that fast?"

"No Ma'am. Red told me to get to know him. I thought the horse would turn under me."

"Not while you are going that fast. I'm going to have a talk with Red. She knows better. How do you feel?"

"I feel alright."

"Good, I don't want you to be in pain while you are mucking out stalls. Here comes the nurse, when she is done with you, report to my tent."

Later Wolf reported to the Wolverine's tent. The knight invited him in and he entered nervously. "Wolf, have a seat." The boy sat down in a camp chair and the knight sat next to him. "Wolf, I've talked to the riding instructor and to Red. Nobody told you that you could go that fast on a horse. They also didn't tell you not to. You have to realize that when there is danger you have to go by the rules. I've decided what your punishment is."

Wolf cringed.

"You are going to muck Cloud's stall for seven days. Also I am going to give you a personal riding lesson each day."

"Yes, my Lady."

"And Wolf…"

"Yes, my Lady?"

"Try to obey the rules. They are there to keep you out of trouble."

"Yes, my Lady."

"You are dismissed."

Wolf, free to leave, reported back to the Raven, who agreed that the Wolverine's punishment for him was fair. He sent the page to his next class.