"No," Newt says with a wry, knowing smile, a little sad at its edges. "People harbor all sorts of opinions about animals, not all of them good. But this ceremony of your people, of the horses choosing their humans, I like that quite a lot." He manages to offer her another smile.

"Yes, indeed," he says with a chuckle. "I've often considered Gold, for such a purpose, but then, I think of how I would look, shouting 'Gold' constantly in public."

"I'm rather at a loss, it would seem," he says.