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"He doesn't actually like people that much, does he?" Segundus asked, looking at Brewer with awe and respect.
"Well, he tolerates most of them," Childermass shrugged and patted the horse on the side over the stable door. "He hated Lascelles. But it's understandable."
Segundus winced at this name though they never met in person.
"He seems to love you in his own way," he continued.
"I hope so," Childermass said at the same very moment when Brewer gently but persistently nuzzled his palm. "Sorry, lad, carrots all gone."
"Oh, no, I have an apple! Does he like apples?" Segundus yelped in excitement and provided quite a large fruit from his pocket.
"More than people!"
The schoolmaster offered the apple to Childermass, but he shook his head.
"Why don't you give it to him yourself?"
Segundus went a little paler.
"Alright, I'll try," he said after a minute of consideration, "but I would like to keep my fingers, I use them for magic."
"Don't be afraid. You're a generally lovable person, the odds are in your favour."
Segundus closed his eyes, took a deep breath, did some sort of hop and then calmly got closer to Brewer's head. The horse looked very invested in the future events.
"Oh. Can he eat it whole?"
"Generally, yes. But I better do one trick, just in case."
Childermass took the apple and, with a curious movement, a bit of effort and a weird scrunch, divided it in half.
"How…" Segundus gasped.
"It's no magic," Childermass explained. "I can show you later. Now go forth and give them to Brewer."
The professor gathered all the confidence that hadn't escaped during Childermass's circus performance, closed his eyes again and reached out to Brewer's face.
"Well, it feels soft, so I don't think it's teeth," he finally said and carefully opened his eyes.
"Seems you fall into the 'tolerable' category."
"It's an honour. And I'm serious."
Segundus fed the rest of the apple to Brewer, hummed and asked:
"Why Brewer? I mean, the name."
"Oh, it's a long and very fascinating story… Which I know nothing of. I got him the year when the Yorkshire Cathedral incident happened, and he already had this name for quite a while."
"It does sound quite horse-y," Segundus agreed.
"But I can tell you the story of how I got him. For free, no less."
"Do tell! I just hope you haven't frightened some poor people into giving him to you for good."
Childermass ignored the remark.
"I was passing through the village near Hurtfew when something blew up (I believe it was a gunpowder cabinet of some unlucky pistol owner) and a few horses broke free onto the streets. All but one were quickly captured but Brewer was too stubborn (and quite dangerous, I must say). No one wanted to risk it…"
"But you risked it!" Segundus laughed, making Childermass frown for some reason.
"Well, yes, I did. The owners then said that they had enough of him and his wild behaviour and handed him to me since I've already managed to control him. But by God, he enjoyed bucking me off."
"You're very brave, John," Segundus sighed affectionately.
"And what about you?"
"... what about me?"
"Are you brave, John?" Childermass asked with intimidation and opened the stables, letting Brewer out.
"Do you mean I'll have to ride him?" the professor reacted in a weak voice.
"You don't have to. But your fingers are still intact, and you may be lucky this time as well."
"I don't actually enjoy heights in any form…"
"I'll sit behind you."
"Alright, yes!" Segundus yelped again, just a bit too loudly and eagerly.