After they had finished their classes, they enjoyed talking during lunch. Then came the part of the day that the boys’ called ‘fun’. It was the ouch part of the day. All the physical stuff would come between now and dinner.

All of the pages walked out into the training yards to where they stood not too far away from the enormous stables. “Older pages,” Commanded Winthor. “Get your horses saddled and out of the stables. Tell the stable hands to let the other horses out of their stalls, but not out of the stables after you let yourselves out.” The older pages who already had horses went into the stables.

“You first years are going to get a horse. The horses choose you, not you them. They will choose you according to the way they feel about you. It is said that a horse can read a person’s soul. The rumors are true: there is a king among the other horses, but he has not been able to choose anyone yet. Maybe one of you will be his match, but I doubt so. Countless knights have come through to see if the horse would choose them, and he hasn’t liked anyone yet.”

All the boys gulped. The older pages exited the stables. Then they lined up their horses behind the young pages. “This is my favorite part of the year.” Said one of the oldest pages. “Wonder if the king’ll choose anyone.”

“I don’t care, I just want to see some of the bad kids get the bad horses that we left behind last year.” There were several other remarks like these.

Winthor pulled out a handful of black cloths and gave a strip of each one to all the first-year pages. “Put these over your eyes. One of the best ways for a horse to choose you is to see how everyone works when blinded. Good luck.” Winthor said as the boys covered their eyes.

…

James watched as all the boys slipped the cloth over their eyes. The doors of the stables opened, and horses poked their heads out, slowly making their way into the fields.

It was obvious which one was the king. He stood taller than the rest as an enormous horse. He was beautiful.

He looked down at the pages. A lot of them were walking around and tripping or walking in wiggly lines. He saw Thomas who was walking directly forward. He wasn’t tripping, and his line was perfectly straight.

Thomas couldn’t see anything. He didn’t know what was drawing him to walk forward, but he did it regardless. He could feel horses all around him. It seemed he had walked right into the hoard of the horses and yet, none of them had bumped into him.

Then before him stood a horse. Thomas stopped. The horse was breathing down on Thomas. The horse bowed its head, and Thomas ran his hand through the horse’s mane.

He touched his forehead to the horse’s forehead. They leaned into each other. Thomas could tell that this horse was meant for him.

Thomas wasn’t very sure what they were supposed to do once they found their horse. He waited there, and then all of a sudden, the horse lowered. He guessed that the horse had kneeled down on his front legs.

The horse knickered. “Do you want me to get on your back?” Thomas whispered.

The horse knickered again, and headbutted him. Thomas could pretty much understand what the horse wanted, so he walked around the horse, and climbed on. Even being on its knees, the horse was tall.

“Where do you suppose Thomas has gone?” Asked Terrance, mounted on his tan gelding. “All the other boys have been chosen, so what about Thomas.” He looked out through the crowd. Every blindfolded boy was mounted, except Thomas.

“I don’t know.” Replied James. “Last I saw was Thomas walking through the crowd of horses.”

“That’s brave, even for a half-blinded person.” Said Terrance impressed.

“Look, out there!” Said Hanley suddenly.

They all looked to where he was pointing, and saw a horse stand up among the other horses. He had a small boy on his back that looked distinctly like Thomas.

“No way.” Said James.