In some ways, his new rider was like the young male, Abasa, skittish, easily upset, and uncertain of her place. Just as he had scolded the unicorn with the broken bond, Pasha scolded him for being needlessly rough when breaking in his new rider.
As if Captain Lynch, or all the doubters will be easy on my rider! Kayleigh needs to be prepared for the seasons ahead.
His flawless argument was rebutted by the female in a series of body movements and tail swishing. Be mindful that you’re not trying to remake your old rider. Hooves down that path will leave you both wallowing in misery. If you really want to help your rider, I suggest you start by making peace with your sister.
He lowered his cracked horn in defiance. “She should be the one making peace with me!”
The tip of her horn traced the circles up to the break. Tiny flickers of magic appeared where the two met. Why he allowed this when he was angry, he wasn’t certain. Pasha had an infuriating effect on him, and she knew it!
“Both you and T’rsa are cut from the same cloth, stubborn and prideful. If you are so eager to quarrel with the human Lynch, make allies with your sister and the earth is soft on your journey, or in your case, the heat warms and strengthens you. T’rsa’s ties to her rider mean that she won’t make the first move. You must be the one to raise your horn in compromise.”
Majherri move away from her horn, but only a tiny bit, to not insult her. He blinked and blew a long, resigned breath across his lips. I will consider your advice.
“That is the most intelligent thing you’ve said in some time. There’s hope for you yet.” The younger female seemed pleased and turned away from him swishing her tail attractively.
He snorted, mostly to himself, and wondered if he’d be able to attract the attention of a different female before mating season began.
“Majherri, would you come here, please?” His rider’s voice interrupted his thoughts concerning the mysteries of the female unicorn.
Kayleigh was standing by the fire maiden and her obnoxious mount, Rheysurrah in a fairly open area away from the others and with at least a short trot to the nearest tree. Obviously Kayleigh was about to get a lesson in channeling magic and they were establishing a safety zone. Majherri thought back to the night of the battle. He managed to set his hooves alight, which said something for the potential of his rider.
Moving alongside her, he nuzzled her hand in greeting as she listened to Rider Welsh speak. “First, we’ll just focus on a slight touch with the finger tips. You’re going to concentrate and feel the heat in your connection. Even in combat, you’ll want to draw on the magic through one hand and release it with the other.”
“Why?”
Welsh laughed, “Well, it’s the biggest drawback to being a fire maiden. The energy flows from your unicorn through a connection. If you’re not using a hand to connect, it comes from you legs when you’re riding. The heat can burn a big hole in your pants and the rashes are no fun either, trust me on that one! So, you can spend a lot of time sewing and a lot of money on salves, or you can learn to keep a hand on your ‘corn when drawing fire magic out of it. If it’s any consolation, water maidens get a similar speech, because most of them get off their ‘corns and look like they’ve wet themselves.”
Majherri reasoned that Rider Welsh was one of those overly cheerful types that annoyed Danella. He paused picturing his former rider and briefly worried that there’d be a day when he couldn’t remember what she looked like. He didn’t like the direction this series of thoughts led. Kayleigh was his rider now. She deserved his loyalty and attention.
“Alright,” Annabeth said, “let’s start with something simple. Place your hand at the base of Majherri’s neck, just like I’m doing. Close your eyes and concentrate. Can you feel the magic there below the surface?”
Majherri lifted his head upwards as he sensed Kayleigh trying to connect with the power inside him.
“Yes.”
“Good. Now here’s the way I think about it, picture a soup ladle in your mind. You’re going to dip it in and pull some of that power up your arm and into you. Does that make sense?”
“I think so.”
“If that doesn’t work, you’re from the beach areas, so picture it like pushing your hand into the sand and the power is all the grains that are clinging on your skin.”
“Which one’s better?” Kayleigh asked.
“My instructor liked the sand thing. Soup ladle works for me. You’ll eventually find the visual that helps you the most. Meanwhile, keep feeling the power and watch me. I’m going to snap my fingers on my other hand and make a little spark … just like so. Be careful, that hand is recently healed, so let’s not burn it again.”
Swishing his tail with undisguised irritation, Majherri realized that this was going to be a very tedious process. He felt a slight pull on the energy within him. It was negligible at best. Nothing happened at first, but on the third attempt, Kayleigh managed to make a tiny flame floating between her thumb and forefinger. Pure excitement rushed through the bond from his rider. He tried to recall how it had felt the first time Danella performed fire magic, but couldn’t quite remember the scene.
“Well done!”
Majherri glanced at Rheysurrah, who rolled his eyes for both of them. It was amusing how humans could be so impressed with little things. Now, if she had triggered a full Fireshade, where Majherri and his rider were enveloped in a majestic blanket of blazing spellfire, that would’ve been impressive.
Danella had managed the Fireshade in battle three times … that he knew of. Just as a group of earth maidens using Thunderhooves could break a formation, a single fire maiden using Fireshade could scatter opponents by becoming a charging fireball. The terror it inspired was legendary and only one in perhaps twenty fire maidens ever managed the feat. A look at Welsh and Majherri doubted such magic was meant for her.
“I do not like the way you are looking at my rider!” Rheysurrah warned tossing his mane and lifting his head, so that he could stare down at Majherri.
“Fortunately, your permission is not required for how I look and what I think.”
“Be careful Majherri, the humans have a saying. I believe it is pride comes before the fall. You’ve already fallen once. I would think that you would be less full of yourself with this second chance.”
“What are they doing?” Kayleigh asked.
“They’re posturing. Our unicorns don’t like each other that much.”
“I get the sense that Majherri’s not that popular.”
“Lieutenant Sheppard’s mount seems to like him as well as Andover’s ‘corn. That’s probably from the work you two did to help that one reconnect with Recruit Andover. Now let’s practice this basic fire conjuration a few more times until you’ve got it. The thing is, keep the fire between your fingers and not burn them.”
Majherri sensed pride from Kayleigh at being recognized for achievement. She tries too hard to fit in and perhaps I try too hard to stand out. We are an oddly matched pair.
Rheysurrah snorted and conveyed his anger. “Do you think what I said is funny!”
“No. I was reacting to my rider. Surprisingly, my sun does not rise and set with what you have to say. What is funny is that your rider asked mine to permit you to pursue my sister. Actually, I take that back. It is sad that you have brought your rider into a matter that is most certainly not her business.”
“T’rsa says it is none of your business either!”
Majherri was puzzled by this declaration. Every time T’rsa had mated and he was present on the sacred island, she forced the males come to her for his approval. There was a jolt of anger and he felt Kayleigh’s grip tighten as she reacted to it.
“Poor, poor Majherri, you may have a rider, but you still have no status. That must keep you awake at nights, does it not?”
It was a pathetic taunt from an inferior. Still, it required a response. “In that case Rheysurrah, I give you my blessing. She has clearly become a fool to the human that ri
des her and has lost the ability to draw the attentions of the better unicorns in the herd. You will have to do. Pursue her to your heart’s content. It gives me one less place to avoid if both of you are in the same pasture.”
“Whoa! Whoa! Rhey, calm down! Kayleigh, why don’t we break for the night? We’ll get together tomorrow.”
Majherri let out a sound of amusement and triumph as Rheysurrah’s rider led him away. That human gave him several angry looks.
“You did that didn’t you?” Kayleigh asked the obvious question.
He gave her pride and assurance in return. I will do it again and as many times as I require.
His rider removed her hand and broke the connection between them. She rubbed her forehead and swept the blonde hair out of her eyes. “Could you at least wait until I’ve had my lesson to anger her unicorn?”
Tolerance was not something Majherri was accustomed to. What his rider asked of him would require an effort on his part, but he would try.
Before thirty of the human minutes passed, Pasha found him. She usually was able to sneak up on him, much to Majherri’s dismay, but he was ready for her this time.
“What did you say to Rheysurrah that has him wanting to challenge you?”
“That is amusing! He is considering challenging me when he chided me for having no status. Does he covet my position? I was just doing what you said I should. I made a gesture to my sister and gave my blessing for him to pursue her.”
Pasha gave off an air of being bemused. “I’m certain you used that same tone with Rheysurrah. He is clearly overreacting. Although, I know he and T’rsa have spoken. She seems displeased with your kind gesture.”
Majherri mused that one positive thing this female had was a sense of humor. “That is a shame. My words and their meaning were sincere.”
Pasha made humorous noises. “Obviously. Do you wish to know what your sister said when I announced my intention to pursue you?”
“You’re being rather bold now. Perhaps, I will be less of an outcast when we return to the pastures surrounding the school. You may have competition.”
She snorted, ignoring his comment. “T’rsa asked why I was set on punishing myself?”
He chortled at the idea of Pasha asking T’rsa for her permission. “And how did you answer my sibling?”
“You are more interesting than irritating, at least for the moment. Try to keep it that way. I also know that despite your current behavior, none of your previous mates spat when your name was mentioned. A few even indicated that they might consider you again, so you must have some redeeming qualities. I’m sure I’ll discover them at some point.”
Mahjerri openly laughed at her. “You didn’t speak to the right ones, then! But they are correct, you could do a lot worse. The males in the herd are becoming less impressive with each season.”
It was then that he noticed how much he was enjoying the banter. He could still feel the emptiness where Danella used to be, but Kayleigh was his new rider. It was time to begin anew, even if that meant spending so much time with these foolish younglings.
Things became more relaxed as the caravan moved away from the northeastern coast of the continent. The threat of raiders and bandits receded when they travelled the inland roads toward the more densely populated kingdoms. In all his years, Majherri never quite understood why the powers above and below allowed the humans to occupy the highest place on this world.
At least all the wars and fighting gave him something to do.
Chapter 10 – A Sliver of White
“It’s like nothing I’d ever dreamed of,” Kayleigh said staring at the great city before her, the words dribbling from her gaping mouth. It seemed that each city had gotten progressively larger. But Talcosa dwarfed them all.
Talcosa, seat of the High-King and the Council of Kings, home to the Great Library, said to have a copy of every tome ever printed, and the largest city in the world. Kayleigh felt like she needed to refocus her eyes to see it all rising above the walls that surrounded the city.
Because of her mother’s wanderlust, she’d seen a great deal of the south and the east, but it was always the small villages and rarely the cities. Kayleigh mused that every village she ever lived in could be fit into a tiny corner of this monstrosity. It made her think of watching the tiny ant hills and all the creatures that scurried around them.
Their caravan had joined with others, a constant stream of wagons on roads made smooth by the unending number of travelers upon them. Every wagon piled high with goods to feed the marketplaces. Mixed in amongst the merchants were fancy carriages, decorated with heraldic symbols from lands she’d only read about. These were filled with nobles of all ranks, each looking to make their mark on the greatest society.
Columns of soldiers rode in various directions, proudly with banners held high. Those that passed dipped their colors upon noticing the unicorn riders. There was a nervous energy in the air amongst the recruits. The wagon drivers and the soldiers were anxious to get home, Sir Aeric back to his estate, and the battle maidens back to The Academy.
Hardly anyone slept during last night. Excitement was in the air as one journey was almost complete and the next one about to begin. Several times, Lieutenant Sheppard had them out walking alongside the wagons, but weeks of this had strengthened the recruits to the point where they could easily pace the slow moving wagons on the clogged roadway.
“I see it! I think I see it!” Ellen exclaimed pointing off to the left of the city. The great city butted up to a massive lake that fed the sea of humanity that surrounded it. They could see the tiny dark specs of the numerous fishing boats out gathering the lake’s bounty.
Further toward the center of the great lake was an island of modest size. While the city encroached on the edge of the lake and threatened to exploded, the island had only a few buildings on it and the land was obviously well kept, but undeveloped. It was The Academy and Kayleigh knew it was about to become her home, the first home she had chosen and not simply been brought to.
Compared to the towers and ziggurats of the High-King’s city the castle on that island was not terribly imposing, but everyone knew that the amount of magical energy on that isolated strip of land was staggering.
“I’m not looking forward to the boat ride,” Francine said.
“That lake’s as smooth as glass,” Rebekah Morganstern answered. “You don’t have anything to worry about.” Her father owned many of the fishing boats in Helden and though Kayleigh doubted the girl had ever been out on one during a squall, it didn’t stop Rebekah from talking like she had.
“Do you know how to swim?” Kayleigh asked.
Francine’s sheepish look was all the reply needed.
“Guess you’re not water maiden material.”
Kayleigh eyed Rebekah and said, “Do you always have to be so mean?”
Morganstern replied with a look of mock innocence. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Reese.”
“She’s just jealous because you’re going to be lead rider,” Ellen said with a scowl on her face. Rebekah had been just as critical of Ellen’s farm girl background.
The girl laughed it off and tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Jealous? Of her? Hardly. No, I plan to enjoy watching Reese run herself ragged trying to prove that she belongs.”
“Here I thought you were going to challenge me as soon as you could.”
The false sincerity was practically oozing from the younger teen. “Goodness no. That would be a waste of time. You’ll fail long before anyone challenges you. If they don’t pick me as your replacement, I’ll just have to see if the next person deserves the spot.”
Kayleigh took a calming breath. Rebekah was goading her into an argument and trying to humiliate her. “I won’t fail. Get used to taking orders from me for the next five years, Rebekah.”
“I doubt it. From what Rider Welsh says, lead riders rarely hold the position for the full term, much less for multiple years. My father loved to make wage
rs, perhaps we’ll get all the students to place bets on the day you get replaced. The person closest will win the prize. What do you think about that?”
She was about to respond, but saw that Captain Lynch was approaching. One thing she had to admit was that Rebekah always seemed to know when to end a conversation and get the last word. It usually left Kayleigh seething.
“Recruits! We need to prepare to enter the city. In a few moments you will be given your ceremonial white robes. You will walk beside your unicorns, ahead of the wagons. You will look straight ahead. You will not engage in trivial conversations. In fact, you will not speak at all. You will follow us down to the docks, where we will board the ferry that takes us to The Academy. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the voices chanted as one.
“Good. Until you are inside The Academy, those are the last words I want to hear from any of you. Now, line up and go to that wagon. Rider Welsh will give you your robe. Place it over top of your garments and then lead your unicorn to the front.”
Kayleigh accepted the robe from the fire maiden. She had worried that it would look out of place on her older frame, but it adjusted to her size. She realized that the robes were enchanted! The lining was soft and pliable. The fabric flowed with her movements. To all appearances, she glided across the ground.
The color was amazing. It wasn’t just a plain white garment. It was glossy and had depth to it – like polished ivory. Even if she hadn’t been told to be silent, there were no words she could use to describe the splendor of the robe she was wearing.
Majherri gave her an appraising glance and she could tell he was happy for her … even if he acted like this whole ceremony annoyed him. Kayleigh knew that much about her steed already. He butted her gently in a futile effort to get her to relax.
She was positioned at the front, directly behind Captain Lynch. Lieutenant Sheppard quickly rode up and down the forming line and arranging the recruits and their unicorns.
“Eyes forward, Resse,” Lynch said, not even looking at her.
Rider (Spirals of Destiny) Page 8
