Wind Rider

by P. C. Cast

  River’s mother sent her daughter a quick, reassuring smile before hurrying from her side to face the Mare Council. Her boots clicked against the rock floor of the cave, which had been smoothed by generations of horses and their Riders. Dawn bowed low to Morgana, her wrists crossed over her heart. Then the old woman handed her a slim sheet of paper. Dawn read it, nodded, and then turned to face her daughter.

  “River, Lead Mare Rider of Herd Magenti Central, the Mare Council has unanimously voted that the decision about whether Ghost be allowed to join the Stallion Run with you as his Rider is best left up to you.”

  River felt a jolt of shock. April, who was standing beside her, as River had formally named her sister as her Second just that day, grabbed her hand and squeezed it quickly before releasing it.

  Dawn smiled. “I agree with the Council’s ruling. I have spent these past months transitioning my leadership of our Herd to you, and though I was confident in your ability to Lead before you won the Mare Test, I am pleased to announce to the Council and to our Herd that you have exceeded even my expectations. River, I have no doubt that you will make a wise, considered choice—and beyond all, I know that the choice you make will be what you believe is best for Herd Magenti.”

  River crossed her wrists over her heart and bowed to her mother respectfully. “Thank you, Mother.”

  “Young River, have you decided where your Herd will spend the rest of the summer?” Morgana’s strong voice carried across the cavernous room, which had been fitted with comfortable pelt chairs and padded with straw for the ancient mares resting beside their Riders.

  “I have,” River said. Though she had been Lead Mare Rider of her Herd for the past months, it was Herd tradition for the outgoing Lead Mare Rider to help in the transition of leadership, most especially in deciding which mares were bred to which stallions—and River had been grateful for her mother’s experience and wisdom that summer. But when it came to decisions like when the Herd was to move and to which camp, the new Lead Mare Rider had the final word—no matter how inexperienced she was. River cleared her throat and continued confidently. She’d made a wise choice—April had agreed, and so had her mother. “Herd Magenti is going to remain here, at the Rendezvous Site for the remainder of the summer and into fall.”

  Morgana nodded, but asked, “And what is your rationale for remaining here and not heading to one of Herd Magenti’s usual summer campsites?”

  “I decided we should remain here because of the Stallion Run. This is a traditional site for it, and so I thought it best if my Herd rest here while the stallions prepare for their Run. It’s a comfortable site, and close enough to the Rock Mountains that it doesn’t get too hot during the height of the summer. I’ll watch the leaves on the mountains, and when enough of them have turned we’ll move to our winter campsite in the Valley of Vapors.”

  “That is a sound decision,” said Morgana. “And now you have stallion Riders to speak with. I know they are anxious to hear the decisions made today.” The old woman paused and added, “I am not anxious to hear your decision on the Stallion Run. Like your mother, I have been impressed by you and your ability to put the needs of your Herd first—as you did so beautifully during the Mare Test.”

  “Thank you, Morgana,” said River.

  “So, I am not anxious about your decision—but I am curious. I look forward to hearing what you decide.” The old woman stood and pronounced, “I call this meeting of the Mare Council closed!”

  “It has been said!” echoed the other eleven members of the Council.

  Bowing respectfully, River, April, and their mother left the side room of the cave and made their way through the huge entryway, waving as Herdmembers called their greetings.

  “Where are the stallion Riders gathered?” April asked.

  “I told them to wait at the Choosing Theater,” River said.

  “Good idea,” said her mother. “They’ll be holding mock races and running the flags. It gives them something constructive to do while they wait for word about Ghost.” Dawn gave her a sideways glance. “You have made your decision, haven’t you?”

  “I have, but I’m going to use this as I announce the decision to the stallion Riders.” River reached into the pocket of her tunic and brought out a brilliant blue stone that nestled in her palm, catching the light of the midday sun and shining with all the colors of the clear summer sky above them.

  Dawn smiled. “Blue tourmaline! That is an excellent choice. It provides insight during difficult times and helps with clarity and focus.”

  “And it’s a masculine stone,” added April. “So it’ll resonate with the energy of the stallions and their Riders, automatically calming them.”

  “My girls have become such wise women,” said Dawn, putting an arm around each of them and holding them close.

  “We had a perfect role model,” said River.

  “Tell that to your younger sisters. Violet wants to cut off her hair. All of it. And Amber will be petitioning you soon to change the Candidate age from sixteen to fourteen.”

  River snorted. “I wouldn’t do that if I could—and I can’t. That’s a Mare Council decision.”

  “Exactly what I told her, but I’m just the old Lead Mare Rider. What do I know?”

  “Mostly everything,” muttered April.

  “And I don’t care whether Violet cuts her hair.” River gave her mother a perplexed look. “That’s something she goes to you about.”

  “Yes, and she already has. I told her no. She announced that she was taking the question to you.”

  “Great. Well, I have that to look forward to after I make some of the stallion Riders mad.”

  “You don’t think they’ll agree with your decision?” Dawn asked.

  “Oh, I’m sure many of them will, but as you know it’s impossible to please everyone, and with something this important emotions are running high.”

  “You’ll do the right thing—and I will support you,” Dawn said. “So will Jasper. He’s already told me that as the outgoing Herd Stallion Rider he believes it is his responsibility to transfer his loyalty from me to you.”

  “I appreciate that. He and Blaze have been a great team these past eight years,” River said.

  “They have, but like me they are ready to enjoy the retirement they’ve earned.” Echo trotted up, nickering a greeting, Anjo and April’s Deinos following close behind. Dawn greeted her mare by rubbing her wide forehead affectionately. “And now Echo and I will leave you to address the stallion Riders. Keep an eye on Clayton. He’s definitely leader of a group of young Riders. They follow him around like foals.”

  River sighed. “Yeah, I’ve noticed. I don’t think they have any idea how brainless they look.”

  “I don’t mind them as much as I do Skye and her clique,” April said.

  Dawn shook her head and grimaced. “I will never understand why some young women lose themselves in men. It’s as if they would rather forfeit their wills than spend one night alone in their tents.”

  “And River saved Skye’s life during the Mare Test!” April exclaimed. “The way she’s acted since makes me think she’s foolish or stupid.”

  “Skye isn’t foolish or stupid. She’s weak,” River said. “That’s why she’s with Clayton. Clayton needs a woman who is too weak to think for herself. That’s also why she’s not Lead Mare Rider.”

  “Exactly!” said April.

  “Each Lead Mare Rider has to face disagreeing factions within her Herd. My biggest test was right after I took over leadership. The outgoing Mare Rider was ill and unable to give me much guidance, and the Herd Stallion Rider disagreed with every breeding decision I made. Every single one. It was tiresome, and it did test my leadership skills, but Echo and I prevailed—and so will you, River. I believe in you.”

  “I believe in you, too. And so does the majority of our Herd,” said April.

  “Go give the Riders your decision. Stay strong. Stand proud. Do not waver. They’re like yoties—they can smell
fear.” Dawn kissed each of her daughters. Just before she mounted Echo and trotted away she said, “Don’t ever forget. A Lead Mare and Rider must always…” And then she mounted Echo and trotted away.

  “Be one step ahead of the herd!” River and April recited together.

  “You will do well…” Dawn’s parting words drifted back to her daughters.

  Anjo butted her gently with her head. I am ready to face the stallions. And I believe in you, too. Her sweet voice filled River with confidence.

  “Let’s mount and give the stallions a little show,” said River mischievously.

  “Oooh! Good idea. I’ll join you on the field,” said April.

  Anjo knelt and River mounted her. She took a moment to neaten the purple ribbons that dressed her mare’s mane, and then she smoothed her own wild curls, which were similarly decorated in purple.

  “Take me to the Choosing Theater! Fast! Let’s remind them that if I hadn’t broken my ankle Alani and Doe would’ve never beaten us in any race.”

  Hold on!

  Anjo leaped forward into a gallop, weaving around tents and people without breaking her stride. River moved with her as if they were the same being—purple ribbons streaming behind them. Someone had closed the gate that opened to the outdoor arena where all of the stallions of the Herd and their Riders were congregated, running sprint match races while weaving between long poles, practicing their maneuverability. At the sound of Anjo’s powerful hooves pounding against the dirt, as one the Riders and stallions looked her way.

  “Gate’s down!” River told Anjo.

  I know. That is why I told you to hold on.

  Anjo gathered herself and gracefully jumped over the gate, clearing it easily. When she landed, she didn’t slow. Instead she stretched out into a flat run, sprinting through the group of stallions so that they had to scramble to clear the way for her. When Anjo got to the poles she barely slowed, but wove through each one before turning to prance back to the stallions, head and tail high, ears pricked, confidence, strength, and beauty radiating from her.

  Led by Jasper, the Riders clapped and cheered as their Lead Mare and Rider approached, and the stallions trumpeted greetings—the loudest of all being Ghost, who was present, but held himself off from the group of stallions and Riders.

  Anjo halted in front of the group, and River raised her hand so that they quieted.

  “Thank you for that greeting. Anjo appreciates the enthusiasm of her stallions.” The horses tossed their heads and looked pleased. “And I come with news for my stallion Riders. The Mare Council has made their decision about Ghost.”

  Jasper stepped forward, with Blaze by his side. He bowed respectfully to River. “Your stallion Riders are eager to hear their decision.”

  “Good! The Mare Council decided that it should be my choice whether Ghost joins the Run or not—but if he does, they agree that I must be his Rider.”

  There was a brief smattering of whispers that rustled through the Riders, but as soon as Jasper spoke again they stilled.

  “And what is your decision, Mare Rider?”

  “Before I tell you that, I want to announce a change. I have listened to talk among our Herd, and I am going to hold to most of our traditions, because those traditions have brought us peace and prosperity for so, so many years, but I also believe there is room for new traditions. The stallion Riders should have more of a voice in decisions that pertain to breeding. I propose that beginning at the end of this summer, after the Stallion Run, each stallion Rider will get to vote on my choice of which mares should be bred to which stallions. Those votes will be tallied and then presented to me. I will weigh the majority vote carefully, along with the recommendations of the new Herd Stallion Rider, before announcing my final decisions.”

  “So it will be like the new Herd Stallion Rider gets one vote, and then the rest of the Riders also get one—with the majority being that vote?” Jasper asked.

  “Exactly.”

  Clayton stepped up beside Jasper, causing River to frown at him. He was not Herd Stallion Rider—yet. He had no right to step out of the Herd with Jasper. But before River could admonish him, Anjo’s serene voice advised otherwise.

  That is stallion business—and it is Jasper’s place to hold the young Riders in check.

  River gritted her teeth, but she agreed with her mare. The fact that Jasper allowed such a breach in behavior was evidence of the obvious—that it was time he and Blaze stepped aside.

  “And what if you decide to ride Ghost and he wins?” Clayton asked in a voice that boomed across the field.

  “Then Ghost will be Herd Stallion,” River said.

  “Yes, we understand that,” Clayton said. “But how will that affect the vote? Doesn’t that give you two votes and the stallion Riders one?”

  “Well, yes, it would. Though the stallion Riders don’t even have one vote right now. But if I choose to ride Ghost, and if we win, I will not be his Rider. He and I are not bonded. So, the stallion vote will serve in the place of the Herd Stallion Rider vote.”

  “So, you’ll still get one vote?” Clayton asked.

  “Yes, Clayton. I will still get only one vote—the deciding vote. The same vote I have whether Ghost runs and wins or not.” River met and held Clayton’s gaze until the Rider eventually looked away. She noticed then that Clayton was looking exceptionally thin, and it suddenly struck her why. He was anticipating her decision, and believed she would ride Ghost in the Run—and River weighed much less than any of the stallion Riders. Her weight could give Ghost an advantage, especially over fifty miles of racing.

  Clayton starves himself so that he can beat you and Ghost. He wastes his time, Anjo scoffed.

  “And what is your decision, Mare Rider?” Jasper repeated the question.

  River lifted the fist-sized blue gemstone so that all of the Riders could see it. “I am going to call on tourmaline for clarity before I speak my decision.”

  Jasper nodded. “Very wise, Mare Rider.”

  “Tourmaline is a masculine stone,” River explained quickly. “It is also a clarifying crystal. Seers called it a Teller Stone for the insight it can provide during difficult decisions. What I ask of my stallion Riders is for each of you to simply be genuine. Think of your true feelings about Ghost and me competing in the Run. The stone and I will do the rest. Are you ready?”

  As one, the stallion Riders nodded.

  Still astride Anjo, River lifted the gemstone again, holding it up in front of her face in the palm of her right hand. She focused on her breathing, making sure it was deep and even, and then passed her left hand over the stone as she whispered to it.

  “Awaken.”

  Instantly, the stone warmed in her hand. River stared into its faceted surface. Concentrating with all of her will, River spoke to the blue tourmaline, with Anjo echoing.

  “Mighty Teller Stone, I ask for your clarification.”

  Mighty Teller Stone, my Rider is in need.

  “Help me to focus.”

  Help her focus.

  “Help me to understand my stallion Riders.”

  Speak to her with the voice of stallions.

  “Help me to be wise.”

  My Rider is wise.

  “And always, always, help me to know what is best for my Herd.”

  “The Herd first and always!”

  Within the stone, images swirled in a sea of cerulean crystal. First she saw Jasper, his kind, open face nodding at her in agreement. Many of the Riders behind him were also nodding in agreement, though had River glanced up from the Teller Stone she would have seen that not one of them had actually moved.

  The image swirled within the crystal again, and when it cleared it showed Clayton. In the stone he was no longer standing beside Jasper, but he’d pushed the older man out of the way and had taken his place. He was staring to his right with a look of rage. The crystal followed his gaze to show Ghost before it refocused on Clayton. Under the influence of the crystal, the image that was reflected
showed Clayton’s rage, but as River kept studying him she realized she was seeing more than anger. Clayton was afraid.

  With a jolt River understood exactly what her childhood friend feared. Clayton believed Ghost would win if he entered the Run. If he didn’t believe that, Clayton wouldn’t be bothered at all by Ghost’s rivalry. And as River continued to commune with the stone, she understood more and more.

  If Ghost and I win, Clayton is going to try to split the Herd!

  River knew she was right. She could feel it through the stone, and she also knew Clayton well enough that she didn’t doubt for an instant that he was capable of leading a revolt within the Herd.

  And if Ghost does not compete and Clayton wins? River silently asked the Teller Stone.

  The scene within the stone shifted again to show Clayton shouting and red-faced as she stood up to him. And then another scene swam into focus. Riders were behind Clayton—young men and Skye, along with the small clique of girls that followed her almost everywhere. And everyone with Clayton had expressions filled with anger and hate as they glowered at the rest of the Herd where they stood behind River and Anjo—holding steady and true.

  He and his followers are not good for our Herd.

  Anjo’s voice drifted through the stone just before it went blank.

  River blinked, and her focus returned to the here and now. She closed her fist around the Teller Stone and bowed her forehead to press against it, publicly showing her appreciation and respect for the power it had shared with her. Holding it in her lap, she met Jasper’s gaze and announced:

  “What I saw in the Teller Stone solidified the decision I’d already made. In one month, on the last day of summer, Ghost will be competing in the Stallion Run, and I will ride him!”

  “Yes! I’m so glad!” April’s voice came from somewhere behind River, and as she clapped and cheered, Jasper joined her—nodding his head and smiling. The rest of the stallion Riders applauded, too, some more enthusiastically than others.

  Except for Clayton. He did not move. And he only took his narrowed gaze from River when Ghost reared and neighed triumphantly.