Rider (Spirals of Destiny) (21 page)

“
You’re not seriously worried about your rider? These contests are hardly dangerous.”

Majherri shook his head at Pasha. “I have spoken with several of our kind serving in the west. Alone, none of their stories are worthy of note, but when taken together, they paint a disturbing picture. Someone should speak of this to the Greater Herd.”

“
Painting pictures? You’re picking up your rider’s terms, Majherri. Perhaps you are trying to stare through a group of clouds to see the moon, only to find it is elsewhere. Don’t spend all your time looking down and chasing shadows. You might miss the light in front of you.”

“
Something is amiss in the west. Believe me, don’t believe me. That is your choice, Pasha, but do not say that I did not warn you!”

“
I am a friend to you, Majherri. As your friend, I say that going before the Greater Herd at this moment would be a mistake – not when your status is questionable.”

“
Perhaps with your support, they would be willing to listen to me.”

The female gave him a scolding look.
“By the stars! You are difficult! I came here to thank you for staying with Gomlius in his time of need, not to be enlisted to help you bypass your sister and address the Greater Herd. How did any of your previous mates keep their sanity intact?”

He pawed at the ground and replied,
“I stayed with Gomlius of my own accord. It was not done to please you. I am what you see and nothing more. You are young, strong, and beautiful, Pasha. Truly, I am honored to be considered worthy of your interest, but I will not change because you or anyone else wishes it. If you cannot accept that, then perhaps it is time we stopped playing games and found someone else to mate with this season.”

His words stung her and part of him regretted saying them. Yet, the rest of him knew it was necessary. He might have a new rider, but he was still an older unicorn and very set in his ways. Understandably, most unicorns choose to mate with others close to their age groups.

“
Damn you, Majherri! You make me so angry. You do the right thing for all the wrong reasons. You pick fights when you don’t need to. For what? What does all this get you? Tell me, truthfully, are you happy?”

He paused to consider her question.
“I have things in my life that make me happy. My new rider makes me happy. She is innocent and naïve, but she is my friend and my ally. Her support fortifies me. Occasionally, you make me happy, when you aren’t trying to make me prove myself to whatever impossible standards you have in your mind. As for the island, the herd, and the Greater Herd, I am not happy. The atmosphere on this island makes me feel confined. I yearn for the wide open spaces. I was a scout and one of the very best at what I did. You were a lancer, and perhaps therein is the difference. I want to be out there again. My first rider was offered the chance to come here and teach, twice. Both times she refused and turned down the promotion. It was not the life we would choose.”

She tried to interrupt him, but he cut her off.
“The younglings in the herd are foolish well beyond any measure. To them, I am the crazed outcast. Spend some time with the younglings and see the truth of which I speak. As for my sister and the representatives of the Greater Herd on the island, I am no fool. They are content to ignore me and pretend I do not exist, all the while, keeping a careful watch over me. I even heard a rumor recently that my sister objects to my participation in this year’s mating season, but hasn’t garnered enough support to make her case to the Greater Herd. Is that being truthful enough for you?”

Pasha was clearly upset.
“I spend more time with the younglings than you think! Many of them look up to you and would gladly befriend you, if given the chance. They see your strength, but you either blindly ignore them, or do your best to destroy their confidence. I am old enough not to be affected by your belligerent tantrums, but the younglings wither under your harsh critiques, so they have learned to avoid you rather than rouse your ire. As for T’rsa, most discount what she says, because it is widely known her rider blames you for the loss of her sister, but it’s so easy for you to hide behind your scars, both real and imagined and pretend that everyone is out to get you.”

“
My scars are my own. I’ve suffered for them and been mocked for them.”

Pasha lowered her head.
“I don’t want to mock you, but you’re impossible to reach.”

“
Not from where I stand. I’ve come more than halfway. When I trot to you, you turn and gallop away, only to tell me that I must again come to you. There’s a limit and we have reached it. You need to make a decision.”

The female remained skittish.
“You’re right. I haven’t been fair to you, but I need just a little more time. I promise it won’t be much longer.”

Majherri nodded and replied,
“Take what time you need. Just let me know when you are sure.”

He let her trot off. Despite her protests, he knew that many others were listening to the filth his sister spewed. The island was becoming more restrictive with each passing day and he worried that his mood was affecting Kayleigh. Majherri did his best not to let it show during the times they were in contact, but the bond was a horrible place to try and hide feelings.

The sun was setting. On the hill overlooking The Academy, he saw others gathering. With all the visitors, it looked like a sizeable portion of the Greater Herd was coming together. Instantly, he decided to go. If they would call him a fool, so be it.

Approaching the circle, he was challenged by a defiant male. “
You have no business here.”

“
The Greater Herd represents all unicorns and the last time I checked, I am a unicorn. I have concerns I would bring to your attention.”

A second male, and a much older one, approached.
“So this is the mysterious Majherri. I have heard that you stood with my son during his final moments.”

“If you are Tyrix, then you have heard correctly.” Majherri showed respect for male. His rider was one of the human generals and his status was elevated because of that.

“
Your name is often mentioned when the Greater Herd meets. Yet this is the first time you have graced us with your presence. What matter do you bring before us?”

T’rsa reared angrily.
“As the head of his herd, I have not given him permission to address this gathering.”

Majherri stiffened and replied,
“Apparently, I have no business here. If I did, I would say that I am troubled by stories coming out of the west. Caravans going missing, poisoned wells, and other tales that have been recently related to me. My first rider is not the only rider that has been lost in the west over the recent seasons. With our eyes ever looking southward, it may be prudent to glance to the west every now and again.”

“
I do not support this speculation.”

Tyrix nodded.
“Your objection is noted T’rsa. Majherri, I thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. Losses in the west have been unusually high in recent times, but it is also true that the nomadic humans are prone to violent conflicts over the scarce resources. You know all too well how hostile the living conditions are there. Rest assured I will speak with the leaders of the western herds when they come here, or as other opportunities present themselves.”

Majherri didn’t detect any real sincerity in his words. He knew enough to realize that he was being placated.
“Thank you for hearing my words. Safe journeys to all of you.”

“
The Greater Herd exists to serve all of our kind, Majherri. Safe journey to you as well.”

His message delivered, Majherri turned and left.
They will ignore me. That much I am certain of. I can only hope that all this is just foolishness on my part. If I could leave and go find proof, I would. For now, I can only watch the seasons pass me by from the shores of this island.

The days leading up to the challenge passed like the clouds in the sky. The history class was given a series of lectures by the legends that put down the southern uprising. The fourth and fifth years received personal lessons from all eight of the finalists in the High-King’s annual jousting tournament.

With the day of the challenge at hand and the bleachers of the reviewing stands already filled to capacity. Kayleigh lined up her recruit company into a tight marching formation, six abreast and on foot. The column was surrounded by two squads of battle maidens. The mounted air maiden in front of her, looked over her shoulder and nodded at Kayleigh.

“Company! Forward march!” This was one part a parade, combined with a trust building exercise, and a demonstration of why even a small group of battle maidens could wreak havoc upon a group of defenders.

The air maidens on the flanks worked together and created an overlapping dome of hardened air. Kayleigh swallowed involuntarily, as fifty of the High-King’s Royal Archers stepped up on the pair of elevated platforms they marched between. They took aim at the students, but their best shots bounced harmlessly off of the overlapping disks of hardened air with the sound of hail on a rooftop.

Just ahead, a ditch ten feet wide had been created. It was filled with water and on top of that water was a layer of oil. A single archer sent a flaming arrow into the water and a plume of flames threatened to halt the march. Four fire maidens parted the wall of flame almost effortlessly as a pair of water maidens solidified the water into a hard surface. Kayleigh did her best not to pause before stepping onto the water. She did not sink. It was if someone had hidden a bridge just below the surface.

Racing by her, a trio of earth maidens galloped up to the side of the “city wall” and then rode sideways along the length of it, scurrying like spiders on woodwork. The ground shook, but it was nothing compared to what was happening to the stone wall. It separated and collapsed into a pile of rubble creating a rough, but very passable gap.

On the other side of the wall, was a group of nobles, who symbolically raised the white flag indicating the surrender of the fake city to the thundering cheers of the crowds in the stands.

It was an emphatic demonstration of how easily a trained group of battle maidens could approach a city unimpeded by that city’s defenses and break through the walls in just over a minute, all without the use of catapult, ballista, or battering ram. Kayleigh’s company could easily have been armored knights now racing through the enemy city and overwhelming the ill-prepared defenders.

“Company halt! Right face!” Kayleigh stepped forward and marched quickly to the middle of the column, executing a turn before snapping to attention and saluting General Jyslin, who returned her salute.

“Company fall out by the rows!” Kayleigh called out and led the single file line over to where seating was waiting for them. They took their places as the other classes performed their demonstrations. Kayleigh cheered, but did her best to keep her muscles from getting stiff. They didn’t have much practice sitting in armor and there was still her contest with Andrea Hawthorne to be decided.

As the fifth years were performing, Captain Lynch appeared from nowhere. “Reese, Hawthorne. On your feet by me.”

Kayleigh stood as the captain said, “You’ve selected your seconds?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Seconds, stand and join us.” Ellen stood up. Things were somewhat cool between them since the night in the infirmary. Kayleigh had listened to her apologies and accepted them, knowing it would be insane to alienate one of the few people who were genuinely nice to her. Even so, there were still enough hurt feelings to spare between the two girls.

Surprisingly, Morganstern also stood. Hawthorne liked Morganstern about as much as she liked Kayleigh. The girl had a penchant for turning up where she wasn’t wanted. Andrea might be doing this as a strategy, or she could see Rebekah asking to be her second. Either way, she was going to battle Andrea Hawthorne. She wouldn’t let Rebekah get under her skin during the challenge.

Majherri and Kyrinda made their way to the outside of the circle. Kayleigh stepped up and selected a padded sword and medium shield from the weapons rack. She handed it to Ellen, who went to meet Rebekah in front of the captain, so the weapons could be inspected.

Meanwhile, Kayleigh went to Majherri and stroked his mane. She took off her helmet and rested her forehead against his side, searching for his strength and encouragement.

She was not disappointed. He was proud of her and urged her to victory.

“Thank you,” she whispered, replacing her helmet and turning to face the circle. Ellen offered the practice sword to her and pointed to the barrel of dye. Kayleigh inserted the sword into the red dye and allowed the liquid to seep into the padding. She was the red champion and Andrea the blue. The marks on their armor would be easy to spot in the crowded stands. She practiced with the weight of the weapon and shield while Captain Lynch explained the rules to the audience and the reason two first years were allowed to participate in a challenge before it was normally permitted.

Odd, she didn’t mention the real reason was that Andrea’s mother requested it.