by P. C. Cast
Mari was blinking to keep her tears from leaking down her face when Nik turned. She saw him start in surprise when he realized everyone had joined them—and then his eyes, too, went suspiciously wet.
“Thank you.” Nik’s voice carried across the beach. “This means more to me than I can put into words. Just—just thank you.”
“This would make Sol so happy,” O’Bryan said.
Nik nodded and wiped at his eyes. “Yes. Yes it would. And I dedicate this sun greeting to my father, the Sun Priest Sol of the Tribe of the Trees.”
“To Sol!” said the Companions.
“To Nik’s father, Sol!” Mari shouted.
“To Sol!” echoed the rest of the Pack.
Nik met Mari’s gaze and whispered, “I love you so much.”
Mari could only smile and nod. She knew if she spoke she would burst into emotional tears.
Nik turned and faced the rising sun. He lifted his arms, and the Companions followed him. Mari lifted her arms as well, nudging Sora to do the same. Directly behind her she heard Lily whispering to Dove, describing what was happening, as well as giving her directions as everyone raised their arms as if to embrace the sun.
Nik threw back his head so that he was staring directly at the sun. Every canine on the beach turned his or her muzzle up so that they too were gazing at the bright yellow ball of fire.
“Behold the wonder of our Pack!” Nik shouted. “Pack! Behold the first beams of our lifeline—our salvation—our sun!”
Though Mari couldn’t see Nik’s eyes, she knew they’d changed color, from a warm, mossy green to a shining yellow-gold that was perfectly mirrored in Laru’s eyes. Nik laughed, a sound of pure joy, as he embraced the sun. She saw filigree patterns lift from within Nik’s body to glow from under his skin—patterns that mimicked the Mother Plant, the enormous fern that the Tribe wrapped every infant in for the entire first year of his or her life, that magickal plant somehow absorbing into their bodies to create a mystical bond with the sun, a bond that was shared with their Companions.
Mari knew all of this intimately, because her father’s blood had gifted her with the same magick, and the Mother Fern fronds he’d stolen for her and that her mother had swaddled her in as an infant had made sure that magick was awakened by the sun. Delicate fern filigree patterns lifted from her skin, and Mari threw back her head, staring at the blazing ball of light, reveling in the warmth and strength that swept from Rigel to her, further solidifying their unbreakable bond.
She heard Sora gasp, and glanced to her right to see her friend staring up at the sun, looking directly at it, as her pup’s eyes glowed with light. Surprised, Mari’s gaze found Jaxom. The Earth Walker, too, was staring directly at the sun, an expression of shock slackening his young, handsome features. Beside him, pressed against his thigh, Fortina’s eyes blazed.
Interesting … Mari thought, wondering how sunlight, shared with their bonded Companions, would affect Earth Walkers, but there was no time to follow her thoughts.
“May the blessings of the Sun be with us today!” Nik turned and addressed the Pack, closing the sun greeting.
“That was really something,” Mari said, as she stepped into Nik’s embrace.
“We’re really something! All of us—this whole Pack. Mari, I have never been this happy,” he said, bending to kiss her thoroughly.
“Okay, Pack, let’s get on the water now!” Antreas said. “Unless our Sun Priest and Mari Moon Woman need some private time.” The Lynx man waggled his eyebrows at the Pack, causing everyone to laugh good-naturedly.
“Don’t tempt me,” Nik said as Mari stepped out of his arms and hurried to the shoreline with the Pack. “You know how I feel about that river.”
“I do,” Mari heard Antreas say to Nik. “But I also know how you feel about Mari. Seems she’s leaving you behind.”
Then there were more amiable chuckles as Nik jogged to catch up with his Moon Woman.
CHAPTER 10
ONE AND A HALF YEARS IN THE PAST—HERD MAGENTI’S FALL CAMPSITE, OZARK PLATEAU
“Remember, Riders, it is easiest to awaken the properties in crystals and stones when you are in communion with your horse. As Crystal Seer trainees, your strongest communion will be while you’re on your horse’s back.” Dawn, the Rider of the Lead Mare of Herd Magenti and the most powerful Seer in the herd, paused and met the gaze of each of her six pupils—the young female Riders who had shown the most promise for becoming Seers. Out of this small group, narrowed from twenty young women down to the remaining six, her replacement, the next Lead Mare and Rider of Herd Magenti, might be chosen.
Though every mare in the Herd could compete for Lead Mare status, the four fillies and their Riders were exceptional, and Dawn had a very strong feeling that one of them would be the next Lead Mare. Her gaze lingered on her daughter and she was filled with pride—though she was careful not to outwardly show favoritism, she was not as neutral in her thoughts. River and Anjo are doing so well! They excel at everything! “If you feel ready, go ahead and mount.”
The girls stood and each of their horses—four fillies and two geldings—knelt so that their Riders could easily mount them. Then the six young horses and their Riders eagerly faced their teacher.
“Here is what I would like you to do,” Dawn began after mounting her own mare, the spectacular Echo, who had served almost a decade as Lead Mare of their Herd. “Each of you has a clear quartz crystal that you chose before class today, correct?”
The Riders nodded.
“You cleansed your crystals in the light of the full moon last night, correct?” Dawn knew that each girl had done as required. The six who remained were well beyond making such a simple, irresponsible mistake as not bringing the correct crystal to class or not cleansing it, but Dawn liked to reiterate each step in the awakening process, as someday one of these girls, hopefully her talented daughter, might be teaching her own young Seers.
“Yes,” the class spoke as one.
“Excellent. Now, hold your crystal like this.” Dawn placed her own well-used quartz crystal between her palms, weaving her fingers together as if clasping her hands in prayer. “If your crystal is tipped, that tip should face up. If it is not, take a moment to try different positions for it in your hands. Listen to your intuition. The crystal will speak to you. It will tell you how it should be held.”
Dawn paused, watching her six students adjust their crystals. She was pleased to notice that River didn’t fidget around with the crystal at all. She held it still and true between her palms, her hands clasped around it, her eyes focused down on the finger-sized shard of pure quartz she’d found the summer before in the Quachita Mountains, near the Valley of Vapors and the hot springs where Herd Magenti wintered.
“Dawn, I can’t tell which way to hold mine.”
Dawn shifted her attention instantly from her daughter to Skye, the Rider of a lovely dappled gray filly named Scout, who had been one of the weanlings from Herd Magenti who had Chosen a Rider from the same Herd. Often weanlings Chose Riders from other Herds, which helped to keep inbreeding to a minimum. And, truthfully, Scout was not one of Echo’s fillies, though her dam’s bloodlines did cross with hers far enough removed to allow her to be a serious contender for Lead Mare. The stallion that had sired Scout had been one of the minor Herd studs, allowed to breed only after the mares picked to be bred to the Lead Stallion were all covered, or impregnated.
Dawn couldn’t deny that Scout was a sound, beautiful mare, and Skye was very obviously going to enter the Mare Test. She thought that there was something rather cold about the young woman, but she was intelligent and popular with the Herd, so perhaps she just didn’t know the girl well enough to understand her.
Dawn studied the crystal cupped in Skye’s hands. It was the size of a chicken’s egg, flat on the bottom with many faceted tips pointing upward from its base. A difficult crystal equates to a difficult student flitted through her mind, and Dawn had to force her face to remain impassive, though
she did tap Echo on the shoulder in acknowledgment of her mare’s comment.
“Hold the crystal close to your heart,” Dawn instructed, and Skye quickly did so. “Now, close your eyes and instead of concentrating on the crystal, concentrate on Scout. Her intuition is more highly developed than yours. Let her feel the crystal through you, and through her you will feel which way it should be held.”
The girl closed her eyes and bowed her head, concentrating so hard that her brow furrowed. Suddenly she opened her eyes, smiling victoriously.
“She showed me!” Skye leaned forward to stroke her filly’s smooth neck. “Thank you, Scout.”
“Well done,” said Dawn. “Everyone else have your crystals positioned?”
Six heads nodded.
“Quartz crystal is a stone of communication,” Dawn continued. “They are the easiest of the crystals for a Seer to awaken. Skye, I will begin with you. Tell me what properties of the Seer quartz enhances.”
“Quartz enhances body energy as well as thoughts,” said Skye.
“True.” Dawn shifted her attention to one of the two gelding Riders, a promising girl named Mist. Though not a mare Rider, so obviously not in contention for Lead Mare Rider, Mist had an aptitude for stones and Dawn was certain she would make an excellent Crystal Seer. “Mist, explain why Seers often begin their work by awakening a clear quartz.”
Unlike Skye, Mist paused and took her time responding. “Quartz crystals clear a Seer’s mind, enabling her to more effectively work with any other stone.”
“Yes, that’s right. Quartz is also a harmonizing stone—a powerful one. Cali, what does it harmonize?” Dawn asked the young Rider of an exceptional sorrel filly. The young horse was a true beauty—long-legged and wide of forehead and chest. Her Rider was an intelligent young woman, though she tended to lack confidence in herself.
Cali startled and her cheeks flushed pink. “Um, our thoughts and the thoughts of others?”
“Are you asking me or answering me?” Dawn asked, though not unkindly. When the girl simply lowered her eyes, the Lead Mare Rider moved on to another girl. “Luce, do you have a clearer answer?”
Luce, a passionate girl and the Rider of a big filly with unusual grulla markings of mouse-colored hairs on her body, shoulder and dorsal stripes, and black barring on her lower legs, was definitely one of the contenders for Lead Mare, replied quickly. “It harmonizes energies—thoughts, consciousness, and emotions.”
“Yes, with what?”
“Humans,” Luce said.
“Anyone else have an answer?”
River lifted her head. Dawn watched her daughter’s gaze skim over the two girls who had not answered, and when they remained silent, she spoke.
“Quartz harmonizes our thoughts, consciousness, and emotions with the Universe and the Great Mother Mare and Father Stallion. A talented Seer can use quartz to tap into the will of the Divine.”
“Exactly, and how does this aid a Seer?” asked Dawn.
“Well, if she can sense the will of the Great Mother Mare, then she can ask for guidance to make wise choices, and since quartz is a stone of communication, she should be able to easily pass along that Divine guidance.”
“Correct.” Dawn held in the rush of pride she felt from Echo, again being careful not to show favoritism for her daughter. “Today you do not need to try to tap into Divine guidance, though. Today I simply want you to awaken your crystal and have it focus your thoughts. So, first, each of you decide on a question. It can be as simple as ‘Which boy do I ride out with during the next full moon?’” Dawn paused as several of the girls giggled and blushed. “Or it can be more complex, like ‘How do I become the best Rider I can be for my horse?’ But be sure you focus on one question.” She paused again, waiting for her class to think of their questions before she continued.
“All ready?”
The group of six nodded again.
“To awaken your crystal, keep it clasped between your palms and raise it to touch your third eye.” Dawn demonstrated, placing her crystal in the middle of her forehead, with its point touching her skin. “Once it’s there, close your eyes and concentrate on your question. Your crystal will warm with awakening. When you feel its warmth you should also begin to feel your mind clear. Your concentration should sharpen. You might get an answer to your question quickly—or another question might come to your mind, one that involves the first. If that happens follow the path of the second question, as your crystal has led you there. And now you may begin. I wish you all a mare’s luck.”
Each of her students did exactly as she instructed. Dawn studied them carefully, automatically joining with her mare and using Echo’s heightened senses to observe each of them.
Skye was struggling, which surprised Dawn. The girl was talented, but there was something about her that made her try too hard, causing many of her actions and reactions to appear forced. Dawn could even see beads of sweat beginning to dot the girl’s upper lip, and she wondered what question she’d brought to her crystal. Obviously one that was either unanswerable, or perhaps her answer wasn’t what she expected.
Not a Seer? Echo’s question filled Dawn’s mind with her familiar wisdom.
We can’t know that yet, Dawn replied silently.
Echo snorted, and Dawn had to bite her lip to keep from smiling.
Behave! she told her mare, who swished her tail in cheeky response.
Though all Chosen Riders communicated on a psychic level with their horses, few Riders were able to hear their horse’s voice. The majority of the Herd communicated through emotion. For instance, if a mare sensed danger, her Rider would also feel that danger. Sometimes a horse and Rider communicated through mental images. From the moment Echo had Chosen Dawn she had heard her voice—usually in complete sentences. Dawn had asked her daughter how Anjo communicated with her, and River had explained through feelings and pictures.
Dawn was hopeful that as the pair grew together and their bond strengthened they would also develop the ability for silent speech, though that was not a requirement for Lead Mare and Rider.
Dawn shifted her attention to Cali, the Rider of the attractive sorrel Vixen. The girl was sweet, and whether or not the pair was chosen for Lead Mare and Rider, Dawn had hopes that Cali would be drawn to the counseling aspect of being a Seer, as her kind manner and intelligence would be an excellent addition to the small team of Seers who saw to the mental health of the Riders—though in order to be successful as a counselor or a Lead Mare team Cali would have to gain confidence. As she watched, Vixen’s head lifted, and then Cali’s eyes opened. A smile bloomed on her pretty face and Dawn motioned for the girl and filly to step out of line and join her in front of the class, which Cali did quickly, though her cheeks blazed pink again.
“Did your awakened crystal help you find your answer?” Dawn spoke in a soft voice so as not to disturb the other concentrating Riders.
“It did!” Cali whispered.
“Then you are finished for the day. Tomorrow bring your quartz crystal to class again.”
“Thank you, Mare Rider.” Cali bowed respectfully before she and Vixen trotted away.
Nice girl. Like her and her filly.
Dawn silently agreed with her mare before returning to studying her students. Luce and her grulla filly, Blue, were both very still and seemed to be concentrating together. Even the filly’s eyes were closed, and her bowed head mirrored her Rider.
She’s a smart girl, Dawn sent to Echo.
Filly is sound and a lovely color, Echo replied, and then added, but not as lovely as our River’s Anjo.
Dawn was agreeing with her mare when she heard a gasp, and her attention went to her daughter, whose large, dark eyes were open wide in a face that had suddenly gone slack with either shock or surprise. She motioned for River to join her.
Anjo trotted to her, rubbing her head against Echo’s neck affectionately in greeting, but Dawn only had eyes for her daughter.
“Did your crystal not awaken?” she
whispered to her daughter.
“No, it did. Easily,” River said.
“Did you find an answer to your question?”
River sighed and Anjo snorted and tossed her head restlessly. “Yes.”
“Why do you look as if someone just docked Anjo’s tail?”
“Because you’re not going to like the answer I got,” River said reluctantly.
“Would you like to share it with me? We can talk about it—maybe you’re wrong. Maybe I’ll just be surprised and not unhappy.”
River chewed her cheek. “Mare Rider, I would like to keep my own counsel, please, and figure this out myself.”
Dawn suppressed a frustrated sigh. “Then I give you leave to go. Return tomorrow with your quartz crystal.”
“Thank you, Mare Rider.” Her daughter crossed her wrists over her heart and bowed formally before Anjo turned and they cantered away.
Dawn looked after her eldest and, truth be told, her favorite child. Well, we did this, she shared her thoughts with Echo. We encouraged her to be strong-willed and self-reliant. Whatever were we thinking?
Echo snorted and flooded her Rider with silent amusement.
* * *
“Going out by yourself? Again?”
River finished tying the saddle pack onto Anjo before turning to face Clayton. “Yep. Today’s Seer class instigated a mission, so Anjo and I are off to complete it.”
“I’d love to help—if you’d like,” Clayton said. His arm was draped around his stud colt, Bard. The horse, though only two years older than Anjo, was already filling out with a thickened neck and powerful chest and rump. His solid black coat, relieved only by a white blaze on his face and four white socks, shone with health.
“Bard is really looking good.” River avoided the question. “He’s going to be a tough contender at the Stallion Run.”
“I believe he’s going to win the Stallion Run.” Clayton patted his colt’s neck affectionately. “I also believe you and Anjo are going to win the Mare Test.”
