Black Horses for the King

In order to defeat the Saxons invading his land, Lord Artos (Later known as King Arthur) needs to develop a swift, mobile cavalry, the first ever on his island. This means he must breed Libyan horses: the only ones large enough to carry his armed warriors. Unfortunately, they are desert horses, with hooves accustomed only to hot, packed sands. Enter Galwyn Varianus, son of a bankrupt and dishonored aristocrat, and a runaway from his tyrannical uncle's ship. With his gift for languages and his knowledge of horses, young Galwyn becomes invaluable to Lord Artos as an interpreter at the horse fairs on the Continent and, later, as the first farrier to accompany him into battle to repair and replace his horses' iron sandals.