Shota changed into a boy before the party reached the edge of the woods lining the shore. He stuffed into the saddle in front of Azuki, who, he suddenly realized, had very quietly learned to ride. Riding double as a human was a mistake, Shota discovered quickly. He was now too big. He couldn't dismount unless his sister did so first, so he turned back into a sparrow to become boy on the ground.
When had Azuki found time to learn to ride? Being able to talk to Blackie helped, of course, but learning the signals he was accustomed to receive from his rider, learning how to balance and anticipate his moves, and learning to work together made her proficient. Shota had ridden Blackie north for many ri, each ri equaling close to four kilometers, or two and half miles, he reminded himself, workin
