<span style="font-size: 9px">Meanwhile, in the skies over the castle...</span><br/><br/>“AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!”<br/><br/>Robin’s scream of terror slowly morphed into nervous, triumphant laughter as the pegasus pulled out of her dive, the tops of the trees just below shaking as she beat her powerful wings and slowly regained altitude. The silver-haired tactician collapsed weakly against her stead’s neck, her body still shaking with laughter as she tried to catch her breath.<br/><br/>“Stay alert!” Cordelia chided her almost immediately. The red-haired warrior sat just behind Robin, her arms wrapped around the tactician’s waist for support. “And not so loud! You’re not just a passenger, Robin. Your pegasus relies on you to guide her, to be her partner; she can’t trust you to do that if you’re screaming in her ear.”<br/><br/>As if to emphasise the point, the pegasus twisted her stately neck to fix her rider with a judgemental eye. Robin sat bolt upright at once. “Ah, sorry, sorry!” Letting go of the reins with one hand, she reached out to gently stroke her steed’s neck. “I’ll try to keep it down.”<br/><br/>Mollified for the moment, the pegasus snorted and turned to look ahead once more. Cordelia shook her head, a slight smile tugging at her lips.<br/><br/>“Alright, I think that’ll do for today. Take us down by the stables.” The pegasus knight pressed against Robin’s back as she leaned forward a little to bring her arm into view, pointing down to the castle below. Robin nodded her understanding, took careful hold of the reins again, and gently steered her mount back towards the ground. The majestic creature spread her wings wide as she slowly glided down, only to tuck them back in as her hooves reached the earth and she came, trotting, to a stop.<br/><br/>“Well?” Robin asked, twisting in the saddle to glance backwards to Cordelia. “What’s the verdict? Am I a qualified pegasus knight?”<br/><br/>“No.” Cordelia replied, without hesitation. After a pause, she added, “But you are getting better. I wouldn’t recommend trying to ride into battle, but I think you might be ready to ride alone soon.”<br/><br/>The tactician beamed in response. It wasn’t quite what she was aiming for, but even that could be enough to open some interesting strategic possibilities. She turned and slid from the pegasus’ back, her knees shaking unsteadily as her feet made contact with solid ground. A rumble from her stomach reminded her just how long they’d been out there; the tactician glanced up at the castle, then back to her red-haired friend.<br/><br/>“Well, I say that it’s time for dinner. Care to join me, Cordelia?”<br/><br/>The pegasus knight shook her head. “I want to make one last patrol while there’s still light.” Sliding forward in the saddle, she took up the reins and urged the pegasus into a run. The steed unfurled her wings and leapt into the air, circling around to pass overhead. “Enjoy your night, Robin!”<br/><br/>“You, as well!” Robin waved farewell as the pegasus and her rider receded into the sky, then turned back towards the castle. She could see lights burning in the windows, and she was eager to go seek out some food, but… there was something she needed to take care of, first. Her lesson with Cordelia had been rather impromptu, but they’d both insisted on doing it right. Her usual clothing, including her voluminous robes, were resting in a neat, folded pile in the stables. Right now she was dressed in the uniform of a pegasus knight; long boots, a breastplate and long gauntlets to protect her upper body, and a tunic which ended a short distance down her thighs. The outfit was well suited for her training, but Robin preferred her own clothing.<br/><br/>The tactician’s twin silver pigtails bounced as she made for the pegasus stables, already reaching back to unbuckle her breastplate and start loosening her tunic. The stables were quite open, but (with the exception of a few of the Hoshidans) it was rare for any men to come out this way. Robin felt quite comfortable getting undressed out here, under the assumption that she would be quite alone.