Ian and Jarrett went to the Blade Headquarters building first, but not to join the assembling team. They didn’t even go upstairs. Instead, they went into the stables to get horses. “Wait a minute,” Ian said, as a groom was on his way to saddle a horse for him. “Is Fiona Moon’s horse here?”
“Mal?” asked the groom. “Yes. But he won’t let you ride him; he won’t even let any of us gear him up.”
“You were right,” Jarrett said. “She doesn’t go anywhere outside the city without Mal. Ever.”
“I was afraid of that,” Ian replied. To the groom, he said, “Take me to him. He’ll let me ride him.”
They reached the stall, and the groom stood back as Ian entered. Mal snorted and pranced, not at all happy with the intrusion. Ian walked right up to the horse, running his hand over his nose. “Remember me?” he asked.
Mal snorted.
“Fiona is in trouble. She is missing, and I need you to help me find her. Do you understand?”
Snort. Stomp.
“I need you to let the groom get you all saddled up so I can ride you. Then we are going to go find Fiona and bring her home. Okay?”
Mal snorted and bobbed his head, turning to look at the groom expectantly.
Ten minutes later, the two men rode out of the stables, Jarrett on his horse, Davidson, and Ian on Mal.