"Any horses that get to know Daine become more intelligent and kinder," Numair said. "And better at dealing with silly mages like myself who used to fall out of the saddle as often as not until she came along."

"Just don't think the wolves are any kinder for my presence," she said with a voice that was half joking and half serious. "I think Brokefang would lose his tail if he thought someone was underestimating the pack that way. I understand why they did what they did when the valley was being ruined, but I think he and a few of the others got far too much of a taste for mischief and would not mind an excuse to start it up again. Maura has enough issues trying to rule as it is."