Rider (Spirals of Destiny) (8 page)

They stopped. Three small piles of earth on the otherwise flat grassland marked the passing of the wagon drivers. The bodies of the Yar raiders were left to rot in the open. In the faint light, the two that were charred could still be seen. Captain Lynch rolled the most badly burnt of the two over and surveyed it looking for something. She reached onto his belt and retrieved a knife made completely from bone. It was straight and designed for throwing. She held it, testing the balance and nodded.

“You’re blooded now, Reese. Our tradition is to take a weapon from our first kill and make it our own. Eventually, you’ll be able to store some magic inside of it and call on it even when you’re not in contact with your unicorn. Search around for a sheath or get one in Miros tomorrow.”

Lynch reversed her grip and extended it to his rider, who took it by the handle and stared at it as the Captain continued, “Blooding usually doesn’t happen until the fourth or fifth year of training. Many recruits make it to the battalions without ever being blooded. Part of your training is supposed to prepare you for this eventuality. Taking a life is never easy – it should never be. Be afraid if it ever does become that way for you. Fortunately, this was cut and dry. These were raiders and they needed to be killed. They deserved to be killed. You did help save two men under my command and it is more than should have been asked of you.”

“I’ll be okay … ma’am.” The pronouncement lacked conviction, but his rider said it anyway.

“I expect nothing less, Reese. I doubt you will ever seek me out, but if you need to clear your mind, Lieutenant Sheppard or Rider Welsh will be available for you to speak with in private.”

“Thank you.”

“You are welcome. After we leave Miros, I’ll need a day or two to recover before I can use my healing magic on your hand. There are still too many there who require my help. I don’t want you to think that I am needlessly cruel. In the meantime, the pain you feel will be a reminder that you need to prepare like no other recruit before you, because there has never been another recruit like you before.”

There was a pause and Lynch signaled for T’rsa to come close, sliding into the saddle in one fluid movement. “I am going for a ride to clear my head, recruit. Make your way back to camp and think about what we discussed this evening. ”

Seconds later, they were alone and staring at each other. It was somewhat uncomfortable. He stepped closer and she hesitated before sticking the knife in the length of rope she used as a belt, and placing her uninjured hand on the side of his neck. He vehemently denied what Lynch was implying about him. Kayleigh's eyes showed that she didn't entirely believe his denials.

“She has a point. I didn’t leave my home just so you could be the next controlling force in my life. I wasn’t ready to fight.” She said quietly.

It was easy to use hate to justify his decisions with Lynch, but less so with Kayleigh confronting him.

“If you’re expecting me to be Danella, you’re in for a letdown. I can’t be her. You just heard her. They’re going to hold me to some unreachable standard. It’s not fair! I just want to be a battle maiden, not the second coming of General Jyslin!”

Her words were tinged with her fear and insecurities. Majherri knew how much Kayleigh worried about fitting in with the others. Young human females tended to concern themselves with things like that. He sent her a feeling of camaraderie.

“That’s what we’re supposed to be – a team. I can do that, but you need to meet me part of the way. I’ve got enough on my hands without being a part of what you and Captain Lynch have going on.”

Another awkward silence ensued. Even among beings that can communicate raw emotion to each other, sometimes there was nothing else to say. “Come on, let’s get back to camp. I need some rest. We probably both have a lot to sleep on.”

Majherri kept his head held up, but it was much more of an effort than before. He paced his rider back to the wagons and after she climbed into her sleeping roll, he made his way back to a clear area to watch the stars. Pasha found him there.

“
You angered your rider, my rider…actually just about every rider in camp,” Pasha commented without any accusation in her tone.

“
Better the two human warriors died without injuring any of the barbarians and then the whole group descended on a camp filled with children and unicorns that know not their horn from their tail. That would have gone well.”

“
True, but did you really need your rider at this time?”

He thought the female’s question over. Majherri had been separated from Danella in battle before and thought nothing about waging war on his own. He knew why this was different. Perhaps giving the answer its own voice would help rid him of the demons plaguing his steps.

“
I had … doubts of my own ability. I lack the confidence of my earlier years. My last battle, I did not win. I don’t even know what really happened, other than my rider was killed. I may never know. Could I have done more? Could it happen again? That failure haunts me, Pasha. There! I’ve said it. Does that make you happy? Both you and T’rsa have been looking for a confession this entire trip.”

The younger female maneuvered around to look at him from his scarred side and where the crack in his horn was most prominent.

“
None of us could come out of a fight with the scars you carry without giving our all. It’s obvious you fought to the best of your ability.”

“
And it wasn’t enough!” He reared and pounded his hooves in frustration. It was strong enough to make her flinch.

Pasha approached him again, closer this time and rested her head against his own.
“No, it wasn’t. But for the first time this trip, you’ve shown how much it hurt you. You’re starting to live again. T’rsa feeds off her rider’s anger, but deep down she wants you to heal.”

“
And what do you want, Pasha?”

She twisted her head in amusement.
“What I want, you’re not ready for right now – maybe someday soon though.”

“Abasa won’t let me touch him!” Francine exclaimed with a strangled cry.

Kayleigh looked up from where she was changing the bandage on her hand. The girl seemed like she was panicking and her smallish unicorn kept moving away from her. The rain from last night had broken and only a few clouds dotted the morning sky.

Captain Lynch approached, “What is the matter, recruit.”

“My unicorn … there’s something wrong!”

The water maiden looked even more stern than usual. “Do you still feel the bond?”

When Francine didn’t respond immediately, Captain Lynch shook her by the shoulders. “Answer me! The bond? Is it there or not?”

“I don’t feel it!” The young girl screamed.

Annabeth, the fire maiden moved over quickly and ushered some of the other recruits back. Kayleigh gathered that this was somewhat serious based on the tone. The scene in front of her was much easier to process than last night’s battle. She’d barely slept at all and hadn’t eaten more than an apple and a hunk of bread for breakfast.

Part of her wanted to join the onlookers, but common sense won out. She stayed where she was and watched as Majherri wandered over to her. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out the coarse brush and began working on him.

“Are they going to be alright?” she asked Majherri running her hand across his coat.

She found herself staring into the dark orbs of Majherri’s eyes and a feeling of loss and sadness passed through her being. Her unicorn didn’t think Francine and Abasa were going to get through this. Together, they watched Lieutenant Sheppard and Captain Lynch roughly handle Abasa into a submissive position, helped by their mounts, while Rider Welsh forced Francine’s hand on the unicorn.

The young unicorn was clearly frightened and letting loose fearful wails.

“Welsh, get her on Abasa,” Captain Lynch ordered. “We’ll lash the two of them together and hope that forces the bond to reconnect! Rope! I need rope, right now!”

Kayleigh watched Alicia turn and sprint in her direction. Using her undamaged hand, Kayleigh reached into the bed of the wagon and pulled out a coil of rope and tossed it underhanded to Alicia, who spared her a grateful smile before heading back to the disturbance.

Abasa managed to free himself, throwing the two Battle Maidens restraining him to the ground. T’rsa and Pasha immediately moved in and pinned the young unicorn back against a tree. Lieutenant Sheppard was the first one back on her feet. She grabbed Pasha’s mane and gestured at the ground beneath Abasa. The area blurred slightly and Kayleigh could see Abasa beginning to sink into the suddenly giving surface.

He tried to get out of the muck, but the ground solidified, locking three of Abasa’s four legs and effectively immobilizing him. Lynch and Sheppard worked quickly, maneuvering Francine onto the back of her steed. Welsh started binding the two of them together.

A short time later, Sheppard released the duo with Captain Lynch tying the other end of the rope to T’rsa. Abasa pulled and tugged, but T’rsa was easily a match for the much younger unicorn. This thrashing continued for easily five minutes before Abasa stopped bucking and seemed to accept his current state.

Captain Lynch looked around and clearly did not like all the gawking. She said, “The rest of you are supposed to be breaking camp! There’s plenty of work to be done in Miros, so get moving!”

Kayleigh finished brushing Majherri and loaded her bag and bedroll into the wagon. She helped Ellen with her gear and the two of them started packing Francine’s items.

“Ellen, can you handle the wagon?”

“Huh?” The blonde asked, momentarily confused before recalling what happened to their driver last night. “I can handle a wagon.”

“Good, I’ll have one of the others sit with you and you can show them how to do it. I’d do it, but…” Kayleigh trailed off looking at her injured hand.

“What was using magic like?”

“I was so scared, I didn’t even notice,” Kayleigh tried to dismiss it, not wanting to really discuss the matter. What happened was really beyond her description and she couldn’t find the words to do it justice. With whatever Francine was facing, it wasn’t the proper setting to speak something like this.

“I hope I’m a fire maiden like you. Most of us won’t find out until the testing ceremony a month after we get there.”

Casting a glance around, Kayleigh loaded the last of Francine’s things into a rucksack and replied, “I think we need to worry about getting there first.”

Kayleigh was thankful that she’d gotten Ellen to take the reigns. The other wagon missing a driver had to be told to do this. Part of her upbringing with her mother was to be the practical one. By the time she was eight, Kayleigh making meals or reminding her mother of things that needed to be done. Her mother often got lost in her current project and would overlook mundane things like cooking.

I hope she’ll be okay without me. What am I thinking? She’s the one who all but threw me out into the street with nothing! I need to focus and stay grounded. If I do that, then maybe I won’t completely fail at this lead rider thing after all.

She spent the miles in quiet contemplation. Ellen and Alicia were driving the wagon and the rest were reading quietly. Kayleigh just stared at the tree line and wondered what was on the road ahead.

“You don’t look well, Reese. How’s your hand?” Lieutenant Sheppard asked as she brought Pasha alongside the wagon.

“I’m okay, ma’am. How’s Francine?” She replied, glancing up at the front of the wagon train where the unicorn with rider firmly attached was being led by Captain Lynch.

Sheppard surveyed at all the expectant faces and said, “Abasa is the youngest unicorn in the herd. The bond might not retake. Every bond is different. Some are exceedingly strong and run deep. Others are a fragile tether until they are fully realized. The mental state of both the rider and the unicorn also come into play. The attack last night might have been too much, too soon for both involved. All of you need to be aware of this over the next few days as you spend time with your mounts. If you feel something isn’t right, tell one of us – immediately!”

She recalled Francine’s actions last night, holding the ax out to her and scared witless. To Kayleigh’s mind, the bond was like a pair of ropes knotted together.

“What happens if it doesn’t retake?” Alicia asked.

“We’ll try to force the bond for a few days, but if it doesn’t reappear, we’ll send her back home.”

The idea of going home struck like a slap in the face.

“What happens to Abassa, if that happens?”

The Earth Maiden took a moment to compose her answer. “He would return to the herd and come back out next year looking for a new rider.”

“But what about their bond?” Ellen asked.

“The bondspark is a connection, not a guarantee. Unless you were selected early, odds are that well over a thousand hands have touched your unicorns. There may be someone better suited for your unicorn. Whether it’s fate, destiny, or just plain old dumb luck, you made a strong enough connection to be chosen as a rider. You got there first. The bond is something to be nurtured. Only when you reach the point where you can call upon the unicorn’s magic can you relax and stop worrying.”