It was easy to “light” the knife again. She twisted it in her hand and watched the flame dance across the sides of the blade. It flickered when she placed it on the ground, but she kept her attention on it and the flame strengthened.
“Very good. Keep the flame off the tip and put on a glove. I’m going to count backwards from ten. When I reach one, pick it up and bury throw it into the hay bale. Keep it lit the entire time. Are you ready, trainee?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Kayleigh said working the glove onto her hand and listening to the countdown. At one, she grabbed it and hurled it at the target. The miniature fireball struck home and stayed there burning for a moment before the lieutenant tossed a bucket of water on it.”
“Good work. Now, let’s do it again.”
During the next few throws, Lieutenant Sheppard stood near the target and continued dousing the hay with water, while challenging Kayleigh to make the fire stronger. Without warning, her instructor pitched the contents of the bucket at Kayleigh instead of the target. The knife hit, but the fire had disappeared mid-flight. Drenched, Kayleigh gave the lieutenant a sour expression.
Sheppard smiled and affected an air of innocence before saying. “Concentration needs to become second nature, trainee. In real combat, targets rarely stay still and are quite capable of striking back.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Kayleigh’s reply was more a grumble of discontent.
“I think that’s enough for tonight. I hear you’ve been challenged.”
Kayleigh nodded. “They won’t let me do jousting, so I’ll have to choose the weapon challenge. Trainee Hawthorne is much better with the blade.”
“The best fighter isn’t always the victor,” the earth maiden counseled. “The one who executes the best usually is. My advice to you is to do what you can do and do it well. Honestly, I can’t even remember who was lead rider for my first three years except for the two week period I held the position, before someone else beat me. It’s only as important as you make it, Reese. Do try to remember that.”
“I will ma’am,” Kayleigh snapped to attention in her wet clothing.
“Dismissed. Go get yourself dried off.”
Despite the festive atmosphere, Kayleigh found she wasn’t in a celebratory mood. Majherri was being distant after the incident with their magical bond and the death of the riderless unicorn. She could feel his reluctance every time they touched. Added to this was the anger of her classmates. With her stuck in the infirmary, the rest of the company heard the story as framed by the duo of Hawthorne and Morganstern and as a result, most were turning a cold shoulder to her.
Raising her fist, she knocked on the door to Captain Lynch’s office.
“Enter.”
“Trainee Reese, reporting as ordered.” Kayleigh said as she noted that Andrea Hawthorne was present and at attention.
“I’ll say this for your benefit as well as Trainee Hawthorne, since she may be replacing you, I don’t like having to send people out looking for my lead rider. I expect you to be accessible and when summoned I expect you to arrive promptly.”
“I was in the stables, ma’am.”
“You are not supposed to have unsupervised contact with your unicorn!”
“Majherri was not in the stables, ma’am. I was assisting the stable master in the upkeep of the building.”
The captain didn’t look pleased by her explanation. “You have an answer for everything these days, recruit. However, I do not find your answers satisfactory.”
Kayleigh paused, trying to decide if she should reply. Though it could probably get worse, she decided to speak her mind anyway. “I am required to answer all questions truthfully, ma’am. I cannot control how you view the answers.”
“What was that?”
“I was in the stable. The stable master can verify my presence. I came directly here as soon as I was informed.”
That answer and the tone did nothing to improve her relationship with her commanding officer. From the look on the captain’s face, it struck a nerve.
“There is a slate board in the barracks. There is chalk next to that board. You can write, can’t you? If you so much as leave the common area of the barracks to go to relieve yourself, I want it on that board. Now, enough of this! We’re expected in the commandant’s office. Follow me.”
Kayleigh fell into step next to Andrea Hawthorne. They walked behind Captain Lynch. The younger brown-haired warrior showed no expression. Her face was a mask of complete seriousness.
“Just think Andrea, if you win, this can all be yours.”
The captain delivered a scathing look over her shoulder and that stopped any further conversation. Kayleigh decided she’d been insubordinate enough for one day and began to wonder why they were going to see General Jyslin.
This isn’t something that happens every day. With Hawthorne here, it’s likely about our challenge. What do they want now? Maybe they’ll insist that I fight with my hands bound as well! At least Lynch looks as happy as I usually do. Turnabout is fair play.
As the captain raised the door knocker, a voice inside said, “Enter.”
They ventured inside and came to attention. Several others were waiting inside as well.
“At ease, captain, trainees.”
“Greetings, mother,” Andrea said to the larger than life presence of General Althea Hawthorne. Her defense of the Four Hills Valley from the southern armies was one of the first lectures in their history of warfare class.
The general gave her daughter a brief embrace. “It is good to see you again, Andrea. I’ve have made a request of the commandant. I know your upcoming challenge is scheduled in four weeks time, after mating season and the festival has ended. Even so, the challenges during the first year are delayed to ensure the participants are physically ready. I can personally vouch for Andrea’s readiness and the lead rider is almost three years older. I think the question of readiness does not truly apply here.”
General Jyslin spoke up, “What General Hawthorne is saying is that she would like to see this challenge in person before she is forced to leave for the southern command. We can schedule it along with the upper classes challenges and the demonstrations. However, given the unusual nature of this request, I would like for you two young ladies to agree before we announce this.”
Hawthorne immediately agreed. To Kayleigh, she looked like an eager puppy wanting to perform a new trick. All eyes settled on Kayleigh.
“It doesn’t matter to me either way. Sooner is better than later. I agree.” she said.
“You don’t seem very enthusiastic, trainee,” General Jyslin commented. The silver-haired woman stared through her with penetrating hazel eyes. Kayleigh stiffened under such scrutiny.
“My apologies, ma’am.”
“Very well,” General Jyslin said and turned her attention to Captain Lynch. “The challenge between Trainees Hawthorne and Reese will be added to the schedule of events. All of you are dismissed, except for Trainee Reese. I would like to speak with you further.”
“Do you wish for me to remain?” Meghan Lynch asked.
“No captain. I’m sure your lead rider can find her way back after I’m through with her. Carry on.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Lynch saluted and exited. Kayleigh wasn’t certain whether this was a good or bad development. As the rest followed out the door, she remained at attention. The commandant’s office was spacious and well decorated. A trophy case displayed awards from kingdoms spanning the coasts of the Blessed Continent. One wall was dominated by a stained glass window of a unicorn. She guessed that the setting sun would line up with the window perfectly and create a dazzling effect on the opposite wall.
Behind her desk there was a large oil painting of the mounted and much younger general passing reviewing her troops. The hair was longer and the skin tone much darker, but there was no doubt who the subject of the painting was.
The general gestured to a chair and said, “At ease. Sit child. I’ve been meaning to call you up here
for a chat since the beginning of the year, but the time was never right.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Now, how do you like The Academy?”
“It’s exciting, ma’am.”
“Just what I’d expect you to say child, but if you were that excited and you were fitting in nicely, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Would we?”
Kayleigh fidgeted, trying to look anywhere other than the old woman’s eyes, and replied, “I suppose not, ma’am.”
“I understand from speaking with your healer after your magical release that your classmates staged a bit of a coup and asked for your resignation. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you choose not to resign?”
“I didn’t, ma’am. I wanted to sleep on it and not make a snap decision.”
General Jyslin nodded slowly, “A sensible approach. Now, it’s been a few days since and the choice has been rendered moot because of the challenge, but humor and old woman, what would your decision be now? Would you have resigned?”
Kayleigh certainly hadn’t expected that! She felt her teeth against her bottom lip as she weighed her answer. Thinking it over, she said, “No. I wouldn’t.”
That answer seemed to please the general, but she pressed forward. “May I ask why?”
She knew General Jyslin was leading her somewhere. “I haven’t done anything that I should be ashamed of, ma’am. My bond with Majherri is unusual at times, but each bond between rider and unicorn is different.”
“You are quite correct. Should you be victorious in your challenge, these problems will remain. Suppose your classmates ask a second time. What will you do then?”
“I’ll make that decision when the time comes, ma’am. I have to win the challenge first.”
“True, there is great wisdom in tackling problems as they arrive and not worrying about what shall be. Still, there is every chance that Captain Lynch will fire you after the challenge. She is, as am I, concerned with the reports from the instructors evaluating you. Your magic presents itself in fits and uncontrolled bursts.”
“Yes, ma’am. It does. But since my time with Majherri is now limited and closely watched, it doesn’t interfere with how I perform my duties.”
“Well said, but what if there is a better candidate among your classmates? What if the captain chooses to replace you? Are you prepared to accept that possibility?”
“That is her decision, ma’am. If one of the others wants to replace me, it’s up to them to prove it.” Kayleigh answered, nervous and running out of breath. If this is a polite conversation, I’d hate to see an interrogation.
“Indeed it does. Our system is often strange, even when viewed through my tired eyes. We take young ladies, special young ladies, from all over. We bring them here, put them together, and immediately tell them that we are all special and that none of us is different from the next. That system serves us rather well in almost all cases, except of course, when someone special stands out from the crowd. That is when we learn how inflexible our system can be, child. Each and every one of you girls here are my girls. I want all of my girls to grow to their greatest potential and carry that greatness to all corners of the world. The true measure of my legacy is not on a pillow in that display case. My legacy shows up every year for mating season riding her unicorn. She has many names, achieved many great things, and sits high in her saddle smiling in the face of adversity. I already see a bit of that legacy in you, Kayleigh Reese.”
Kayleigh was too dumbfounded to do anything other than nod.
“Well, I should probably dismiss you, but I wanted you to know that I am rooting for you to smile in the face of your hardships. Now, I’m impartial as to who wins, or whether you remain lead rider for your class, or not. But I am rooting for you to achieve you own level of greatness. I wish we had a chance to sit down earlier, but thank you for taking time out of your day to listen to my ramblings. Dismissed.”
Kayleigh stood and saluted. She waited until she got into the hallway to wipe the tears forming in the corners of her eyes. For the first time, it felt like someone understood.
Chapter 19 – Mating Games
“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 critiq
ues, 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.
Rider (Spirals of Destiny) Page 16
