The oppressive air he had radiated quietly dissipated, and his voice returned to its earlier calm, even taking on a hint of teasing. "Can you ride? I don't remember ever seeing you on horseback. Aren't the Free Folk Beyond the Wall better at traveling on foot?"
Feeling the pressure around her vanish, Ygritte secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Then her cheeks puffed slightly at Viserys's "disdain," and a little of her wildness and pride returned.
"Of course I can." She straightened her back and leaned forward slightly, trying to make herself look taller. "I learned ages ago, in my very first month at Castle Black, from old Jimmy, who looks after the stables. Even he said I learned quickly, much faster than those newcomers."
There was unmistakable pride in her voice, as though learning to ride were a magnificent achievement, especially for someone who had once been one of the Free Folk.
Watching Ygritte try so hard to prove her worth to him, Viserys finally could not help letting out a quiet laugh.
This time, his laughter sounded relaxed and genuine, dispelling the last trace of tension between them.
He gently raised his hand and tucked a stray lock of red hair from Ygritte's forehead behind her ear. The intimate gesture made her cheeks grow warm.
She turned her head slightly in embarrassment. To conceal her momentary fluster, she raised a hand and pretended to spit out the straw that had long since disappeared from her mouth, then brushed nonexistent dust from her hands. Her movements had the brisk, seemingly carefree air peculiar to women from Beyond the Wall.
"All right, then it's settled, Your Grace." She stepped back, out of Viserys's reach, and tried to keep her voice steady. "I'll wait for you to take me away. You