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He went into the barn and came out with a saddle and a harness looped over his arm. He lifted a blanket and then the saddle onto Barg’s broad back. The leather creaked as he adjusted the placement, securing the strap around Barg’s belly. He worked with ease, his big hands moving in a way that told me he’d done this more than a few times.

“I don’t use a saddle or harness.” He nodded at the leather as he buckled the strap. “But I learned humansdo. Some are scared of falling, so we make sure they feel safe.”

“How do you control your sorhox, then?”

He waved toward the other creature, standing on Barg's opposite side. “I use foot commands with Ebar. All orcs do. No saddles or harnesses for us. The sorhoxes we'll use with tourists are well-trained, and for the humans on our rides, we chose the gentlest. We don’t want anyone getting hurt.”

I eyed Barg again, who stood patiently, his long tail flicking at flies.

Ruugar’s hands brushed against Barg’s hide as he adjusted the strap one final time. Absurdly, I envied the sorhox for a second. Ruugar was touching him. Stroking his side. Calling him a good boy.

I wanted him to callmea good boy—girl.

The thought was so ridiculous that I blinked hard to shake it away. What was wrong with me? He didn’t want me that way, and he never would.

“Time to mount.” He patted the saddle. “Put your foot in the stirrup. Use the horn to pull yourself up.”

Easier said than done. “I’ve never ridden a horse before, and this creature isn’t a horse. He’s much bigger.” Especially when compared to me, and I was five-seven, not exactly petite for a woman.

“Barg knows his job. Get up and settle. See how it feels.”

I took a deep breath, then another. Logic said this wasn’t impossible. It was just riding. People did it all thetime, right? Even on subterranean dragon nightmare beasts like this one.

Placing a foot in the stirrup, I leaped up, grabbing the saddle horn. My foot slipped out of the stirrup, and I dangled in the air, my legs scrambling. I had to hand it to Barg. Other than peering back at me, he remained still. He didn’t even laugh as far as I could tell.

Ruugar's hands went around my waist, and he boosted me up, holding me more or less gracefully while I swung my leg over Barg’s side and planted my butt in the saddle. There actually was nothing graceful about it, but I was seated.

While I adjusted my weight, Barg stood like a statue.

I grinned down at Ruugar. “Thanks for the help.”

“Anytime.” His brow furrowed. “We might need to bring a stool or arrange for a stump of wood for you to climb on. I'm sure you could've gotten up yourself if you had something like that.”

“Oh, yes, sure.” Probably not, but I was willing to roll with it. I lifted the reins and gripped them tight. “What do I do now?”

“It might be best if you let Barg follow Ebar for now. He won't wander. I’m sure you’ll start feeling more comfortable soon.” He adjusted my hands on the reins and eased the cluster to the right and then the left, guiding my hands. “If you want him to turn right, nudge the side of the reins on the left side of his neck like this. To turn left, nudge on the right. And to bring him to a stop, pull them both back gently.”

“What if I’m not gentle enough?”

“We don’t use bits. I don’t think you could pull back hard enough to do more than startle Barg. Just remember he’s well-trained and that he’ll respond to your commands, and you two will get along fine.” He demonstrated and it seemed fairly easy. “Barg will do whatever you ask. Your most important task is to keep your feet in the stirrups and not fall off.”

“Seems reasonable enough.” The ground was a long way down.

Ruugar was tall, though. He didn't even need a stool—or a stump—to touch the reins to show me what to do.

“You're all set?” he asked.

I nodded, forcing a grin, because what else could I do? Right now, sitting on Barg’s wide back, I felt small and unsteady in a way that had nothing to do with the ride.

Ruugar was sweet without realizing it. Gentle without even trying. He didn’t know how carefully I was tucking every one of these moments away, how much I’d think about them later, when I had no right to.

A week. That was all I had here. And when it was over, Ruugar would probably be relieved to see me go. I was creating complications in his well-organized life.

He studied my face, and I was reminded again of how kind he was. Endearing. I could just eat him up.

Well…as a figure of speech. I didn't truly want to do anything else.

Did I?