Claudas had watched the apple disappear in Copper's much larger mouth with a delighted laugh, his laughter renewed when the pony snuffled at the boy's hands for another bite. "Good boy," he praised the pony with a broad smile, simply enjoying his affections.
Then it was time to go! Claudas settled into the saddle, sure to hold on just as he had been taught. Most of his time in the saddle had been around the Courtyard, although, steadily, he was being allowed to go longer and longer distances. (Of course, to him, Town was pretty far away, so even that was a sort of adventure for him!)
It was still a little alarming when the pony suddenly moved forward, but, as the stables fell away behind them, he began to relax. He turned to give his father, the biggest, broadest grin, looking adorable and proud upon his pony, as though it were a gallant war steed!
"Are we going somewhere fun?" That, obviously, was the most important thing!