By the time the Starfall party had pitched their tents and lit their campfires, Ser Barton returned from the Fowler encampment.
"Their leader is none other than Lord Franklyn Fowler, the Lord of Skyreach." Ser Barton removed his helmet and wiped the sweat from his forehead as he reported.
"I spoke with Ser Mason, the Master-at-Arms of Skyreach. I proposed that we travel together for the rest of the journey to Sunspear. After consulting with Lord Fowler, he agreed."
Arthur nodded. "Being able to travel together and look out for each other is excellent."
Then Arthur turned to the fat steward. "Karen, have the servants take a barrel of Peach Wine and a barrel of Amber Peach Nectar as a gift to Lord Franklyn."
Karen acknowledged and left the tent.
Ser Barton picked up a flagon from the table and took a swig. "In the Fowler camp, I also saw Prince Oberyn's bastard daughter, Lady Nym."
"Lady Nym?"
Arthur recalled Lady Nym's appearance, the dozen hidden blades on her person, and her demeanor during the negotiation with Ser Elwyn of House Blackmont.
Perhaps I can use Lady Nym as an entry point to visit the Red Viper.
Just as Arthur finished personally feeding the vulture he had named Sharpwing and was contemplating finding an opportunity to meet Lady Nym, Fat Karen returned from delivering the wine.
"Lord Arthur, do you know why the Fowlers stopped here?"
Arthur glanced outside the tent. The sun was dipping low in the west. "Isn't it because it's getting late?"
"No, they've been stopped here for three days." Fat Karen shook his head.
"I heard they found a herd of wild sand steeds nearby. Among them is a purple horse—tall, handsome, and swift as the wind. They've been trying to capture it."
Ser Barton, resting in the tent, immediately perked up at the mention of a fine horse. "Ser Mason didn't mention this to me. What's the situation now?"
Karen: "They haven't caught it. The horse is spirited and intelligent. If there are many people, it runs. Ordinary sand steeds carrying riders can't catch up to it."
"If a single rider approaches, it doesn't run; it attacks. It has already injured several knights who tried to tame it alone."
"Interesting." Arthur's interest was piqued. "I really want to see this horse."
"Karen, ask the Fowlers if they plan to try capturing it again tomorrow. I want to go watch."
Edric gathered the meat scraps left by Sharpwing and tossed them to the ravens in the rookery cage. "Me too."
Ser Barton: "If they don't go, we'll go ourselves. Even if we can't tame the purple horse, just looking at it would be good."
As dusk fell, Arthur, unable to contain his curiosity, switched to Sharpwing's vision. Not far to the east of the camp, near an oasis, he found the herd of sand steeds.
And among the herd of small, slender-necked sand steeds, the purple horse stood out like a crane among chickens.
Its coat was like a purple swallow. It had a well-proportioned body and long limbs, exuding a beauty that combined elegance and power.
Seeing its spirited appearance, no less impressive than Shadow, Arthur felt a surge of desire.
---
Early the next morning.
Arthur led over twenty riders to the oasis where the sand steed herd rested. Clearly, everyone was interested in fine horses.
Arriving earlier than them were about a dozen riders from House Fowler. The leader was not Lord Franklyn, but Lady Nym.
"Sers, are you interested in that purple horse?" Lady Nym looked at the knights of Starfall with interest, finally fixing her gaze on Arthur at the front.
"I must warn you, that horse has a fierce temper."
Arthur stared at the herd, which had moved away due to the dust kicked up by their arrival. Only the purple horse remained by the oasis, lifting its head to look at them as if provoked.
"Who doesn't love a spirited steed?" Arthur gestured politely.
"You arrived first. You have priority?"
After some discussion among the Fowler party, a tall knight carrying a coil of rope spurred his sand steed and galloped towards the purple horse by the oasis.
The knight's horsemanship was proficient; clearly, he came prepared.
Seeing only one knight charging at it, the purple horse did not run but charged towards the knight instead.
Its mane and tail were thick and silky, matching the color of its body and shining with a purplish-red luster. They flowed in the wind as it ran, looking incredibly elegant.
Watching the purple horse's form from a distance, Arthur couldn't help but praise, "Coat like a purple swallow, swift as flight."
"You know horses?" Lady Nym had ridden up to his side unnoticed.
Arthur glanced at her. After more than a year, Lady Nym had become even more beautiful.
Dark eyes, high cheekbones, full lips, and a straight long braid tied with red-gold wire.
Arthur: "I'm not blind."
"If you're not blind, you should just watch obediently from here?"
Arthur kept his eyes on the scene. "My Lady, I am watching."
The tall knight was calm. The rope in his hand drew an arc in the air, flying towards the purple horse's neck, but unsurprisingly missed.
The purple horse made a sharp turn, dodging the rope by a hair's breadth. The knight pursued closely. Man and horse engaged as if in a joust.
They charged at each other, but every time the knight's "lance" (rope) was "narrowly" dodged by the purple horse.
Seven times in a row.
The purple horse was extraordinarily agile and astonishingly fast, kicking up sand as its hooves flew.
"That horse is toying with Ser Cley."
Lady Nym's comment reached Arthur's ears.
"Obviously."
Just as Arthur spoke, the situation in the "tilting yard" changed.
The purple horse charged again, then suddenly turned right, dodging the rope.
Immediately, its front hooves dug into the ground. Pivoting its body, its two powerful hind legs kicked out violently at Ser Cley.
Ser Cley had been wary, but he was still a step too slow. The purple horse kicked the leg he used to grip his mount's belly.
The neck of his sand steed also took a hit. With a whinny, it collapsed directly to the ground.
Arthur clicked his tongue at the sight. This purple horse knows the 'Rabbit Kick'?
Several Fowler riders quickly rushed out to help Ser Cley, who was pinned under his horse and groaning in pain.
The victorious purple horse kept a distance from the approaching riders, watching quietly with its head held high, neither blocking them nor leaving.
Arthur asked, "Anyone else among you want to try?"
The Fowler knights remained silent. Finally, Ser Mason, the Master-at-Arms of Skyreach, spoke up.
"Ser Cley has the best horsemanship and horse-breaking skills among us. If he failed, House Fowler has no further intention of capturing this purple horse."
"Then it's our turn." Arthur looked behind him. "Anyone want to give it a try?"
Ser Williams, who had commanded the Right Wing valiantly before, suggested, "My Lord, I think it's better to try surround it with multiple riders."
Ser Barton, glancing at Ser Cley being carried back, also advised, "Arthur, the risk of capturing this purple horse alone is too great. I agree with encircling it."
Arthur also saw Ser Cley's miserable state. His left leg was broken by the kick, and his right leg crushed by his own horse. He probably wouldn't stand again.
Honestly, Ser Cley's horsemanship and skill were formidable. That was why no knight from Starfall volunteered.
Ser Mason: "We tried encirclement before. It's useless. It's too fast and agile; it never gives us a chance to surround it."
Arthur pulled off his headscarf. "Let me do it. I'm enough on my own."
Lady Nym asked quietly, "You want to capture it?"
Arthur took off his tunic, answering indifferently, "I'm going to tame it!"