Rider (Spirals of Destiny)

by Jim Bernheimer

  Majherri snorted dismissively. It was a sound Kayleigh was intimately familiar with. Rheysurrah responded with several angry noises and aggressive movements.

  “Looks like the truce has been broken,” Rider Welsh said shaking her head. “Why don’t you two unicorns go get a drink from the stream and cool your tempers? I think we’re done doing magic for today.”

  Annabeth waited until both were out of earshot before saying, “That’s one obstinate unicorn you’ve got there. He’s got a real gift for stubbornness. It’s obvious he doesn’t like me.”

  “I haven’t met too many humans or, for that matter, unicorns that he does,” Kayleigh said sadly.

  “How are you getting along with the other girls in your year?”

  “Okay, I guess. Morganstern is one of my section leaders, so there’s always some bitterness there. The Captain bumped Hawthorne down to squad leader and since she got a letter from her mother, she has been ice cold to both me and Rebekah.”

  “General Hawthorne’s daughter?”

  “The same.”

  “That’s not good. The general has a reputation for being a perfectionist.” Welsh stopped and smiled broadly. “I think your captain wants to be her when she grows up. I know, I know. I shouldn’t speak about officers that way, but it needed to be said.”

  Kayleigh couldn’t resist returning the smile, but not before glancing for any people eavesdropping. “Still, Hawthorne’s squad is improving by leaps and bounds.”

  “Whether they want to or not, eh?”

  “Andrea has a scary side, but she reserves most of her ire for Morganstern, which has actually made my life a little easier. I’m still racking up extra duty, but the two worst squads are coming up to speed and getting a lot less demerits than they used to. If you remember Alicia Santiago, she’s the other section leader and she’s as orderly as ever.”

  “I do. She’s the type that will make officer in her first five years out in the field. I’ll probably still be a rider.”

  “I think you’re great!” Kayleigh offered.

  “Yeah, but that’s because I’m a rabble-rouser and a troublemaker. I have the distinct impression that we’re kindred spirits.”

  “Not really,” Kaleigh said with a sigh. “Trouble goes out of its way to find me.”

  Rider Welsh chuckled and replied, “Well, if that’s the case, embrace it with open arms and use it to your advantage. Of course, there might be a certain stable master you’re more interested in embracing.”

  “It’s nothing of the sort!” She protested, but it sounded very weak.

  “Oh c’mon Kayleigh, do you think there’s a reason they switched him to the first years, where the five year age gap would make him consider one of you? Problem is, you’re not exactly thirteen, are you?”

  “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation!”

  Annabeth chortled and said, “I remember when I was here and several of my classmates said that they might look him up after their chastity vow was over.”

  Kayleigh was preparing a suitable reply, but noticed an object in the distance. “There’s a barge coming. It’s too early for the evening barge isn’t it?”

  “You’re right. Especially on a ‘free’ day. I wonder what is going on.”

  The pair watched the barge get closer. One thing Kayleigh had learned is that this island operated on a predictable pattern. Things happened on a schedule and there was precious little deviation. Before they knew it, they were walking down to the docks as the magically powered barge drew closer.

  “Let’s hope it’s a visitor,” Annabeth said just slightly louder than a whisper.

  A few of the male dockworkers were scurrying on the short pier. Kayleigh noticed Annabeth with her hands framing her eyes trying to see something. Her neck inched forward and then recoiled as she turned away, muttering something under her breath.

  “What is it?”

  “The black pennant is flying. It means their bringing back a riderless unicorn.”

  “Oh no!”

  “I’m afraid she’s right.” Brian Tomas stepped up next to them. “It’s a male. With it being so close to mating season, we’re going to try and encourage him to mate.”

  “Any word who his rider was,” Annabeth asked with grave concern.

  “I don’t know, but I heard the unicorn is from the eastern battalion and it happened a little over a week ago. Recruit Reese, I hate to impose on your free day, but we’ll be taking the male to my stables. I only just learned of this when the barge left the dock and haven’t had a chance to make a stall ready. Would you be so kind as to prepare the fifth stall for this new arrival? Put a fresh layer of hay down, fill the water trough, and get two blankets out of the storage closet.”

  “Of course.” She would have gladly done anything he asked. Annabeth had the decency to only half-smirk at how quickly Kayleigh answered.

  “Thank you. I’ll dock it from your extra duty total.” He said with half-hearted humor.

  Kayleigh scampered off to do as she was told. She worked quickly to ready the stall. Finishing, she waited against the wooden double doors to the stable and watched a small but grim procession grow at the dock and head in her direction. The two mounted riders led the one with the empty saddle and a line of unicorns that had been grazing minutes ago followed behind with their heads hung low. Tears welled in her eyes as the group approached, but Kayleigh made no move to wipe them away. She couldn’t take her thoughts away from the fact that a beautiful and majestic creature was being led to his death.

  If Majherri survived, maybe this one might as well!

  Passing by her, she was able to get a good look at the male. Her fleeting hopes were dashed. His coat had lost its luminescence. The shiny, almost reflective, white was replaced the dingy white color normally seen in dried bone. The eyes held no spark or energy. They just stared ahead, listless and dull. The rest of the male was thinner than he should be and his stride was awkward and lacked the smooth grace she witnessed every day on the island.

  Brian closed the gate behind it and began removing the saddle. The unicorn snorted and raised itself in anger, the first sign of life it had shown. He refused to allow Brian to remove his saddle. After a second time, the stable master relented and draped one of the blankets over the back of the angry unicorn. The saddle formed a strange hump that somehow made the scene even more painful.

  It was too much for Kayleigh. She stepped outside the stable and ran around to the other side, fully intending to cry her eyes out. Instead, she stopped finding Majherri there staring into the window. He was so very still, barely breathing and immobile. Reaching out her hand, she touched him gently. Despite her best intention, he flinched. The negative feelings she was experiencing were nothing like the sadness emanating from her mount. She buried her head in his neck and tried to reassure him. Unicorns don’t cry unless in physical pain, so she cried for him.

  They stood like that for a minute until Kayleigh heard a shout. She wasn’t certain what was wrong.

  Huh, what are they saying? When did it get so loud?

  She lifted her head and her eyes flew open. They were cocooned in a wall of blue flame. Panicked, she let go of Majherri and the flames faded away. The glass pane of the window was melted and the outer wall was blackened and smoldering. Had they been standing a few feet closer, the structure would likely be engulfed in flames. Curls of smoke rose from the ground where a barren patch was scalded into the dirt. A water maiden rode up. She conjured liquid directly onto the heated wood causing a hiss of steam to be released.

  Kayleigh took a step, but was suddenly very lightheaded. Her world spun as she dropped to the ground.

  When she came to, she was in the infirmary. Her arms and legs felt like they were made of lead. She reached over to the pitcher of water and poured some into a cup. Her throat was very dry and the water was soothing. Her cough alerted the others that she was awake.

  The bed she was in was comfortable, much more comfortable than h
er bed in the barracks. Large gaps separated the beds and Kayleigh remembered from the welcoming tour they received that the rider’s unicorn was allowed to visit through the wide doors at the other end of the room.

  “Quite a little scare you gave us there, lead rider,” Brian Tomas stood from his chair across the room where he was playing a game of chess with Rider Welsh, who also rose. “I know you spend far too much time in my humble stable to begin with, but that is no call to try and burn it to the ground.”

  “I didn’t …”

  He smiled brightly and said, “Of course not. If there is any blame to be had, it is mine. I should have had you take Majherri away from there. I was only thinking of the other unicorn. I had thought that the presence of one that had survived the wasting might somehow provide some encouragement. I gave no thought at all to how Majherri would react. I will go get him and bring him through the unicorn entrance. He made his intentions clear that I should come get him the moment you awoke.”

  “What happened?” Kayleigh said blinking and still trying to focus.

  Annabeth sat down next to her and smacked Kayleigh’s knee. “Remember those control issues I said you have. I do believe that I have grossly understated them. I don’t know if that was a fireshade transformation or even what to call that if it wasn’t, but whatever the two of you were doing, it took a lot out of Majherri and even more out of you. The fact you didn’t even know what was happening is troubling. You’re supposed to be in control and directing the power. Emotions can amplify magic and make it more powerful and that was a serious release of magic. It overwhelmed you.”

  Kayleigh gulped on her water and choked on some of it. Finally, she was able to croak, “What do we do about it?”

  “Right now, you aren’t going to be doing anything. Your captain and I had a discussion. … Wait a second, I actually agree with her. You need to work with a better teacher than me. After the festivities for mating season are over, there going to match you up with a couple of the instructors they have here and see which one you do the best with.”

  “But I like you,” Kayleigh said. It sounded like a childish protest.

  “Well thank you. I happen to like you as well. But I’ll say this; I’ve been in a few battles. I had good training here at The Academy and I’ve worked hard in the battalions. Sure, I’ve been scared, but I’ve never been terrified. I’ve always had my training to fall back on, just like you will, one day. When I saw you, today, I froze. I was terrified. I’ve never seen anything like it before. That’s why you need to work with the best instructors.”

  “Oh. You’ll still come and visit. Won’t you?”

  “Of course, you couldn’t keep me away if you tried.”

  The healer asked Annabeth to step outside while he examined Kayleigh. She replied that there was a barge waiting to take her and Rheysurrah back to the city and that she had to leave. A pungent draught was forced down her throat and she quickly drank another cup of water, trying to rid her mouth of that taste. He asked her basic questions to check whether she could focus before telling her that she would be kept her overnight, but could return to classes in the morning.

  The outside double door to the infirmary opened and Brian gestured for Majherri to enter. Captain Lynch followed in on T’rsa and Brian waved before closing the doors behind the Captain.

  “Though we don’t expect any problems, trainee,” Captain Lynch said. “It is a precaution that your contact with your unicorn be either in an open space or monitored by a water maiden. Stables are easily enough repaired or even rebuilt. This infirmary is another matter altogether.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Kayleigh couldn’t help the resentment, but as with all other things involving her captain, there was a sound reasoning behind it. Either way, she didn’t care at that moment. What mattered was Majherri. He turned into the aisle and moved next to her, lowering his head for her outstretched hand.

  There was relief, gratitude, and even shame swirling through their bond. She closed her eyes and reassured him.

  I’m okay. We’re okay. They shouldn’t have made you watch that other unicorn suffering.

  Kayleigh knew bonds don’t transmit the words, only feelings, emotions, and images. It’s impossible to hide something from Majherri and that worked both ways. Beneath the shame was concern for her health, anger that they’d been separated for hours, and a plea for forgiveness. It was a depth of emotion he did not show after taking her into battle against the Yar. It was a truth both genuine and frightening at the same time. He was scared he hurt her. She did her best to forgive him and more.

  After a minute she opened one eye, to make certain the room wasn’t burning. There was a sense of sarcastic mirth exchanged through the bond.

  “Annabeth thought that was a fireshade. You’ve done it before. Is she right?”

  Majherri shook his head no and confusion and uncertainty coursed through their connection.

  “I was hoping you’d know what it was.”

  Captain Lynch inserted herself into the conversation, “I’ve already consulted with several fire maidens on the staff. They are discussing possible theories, but have not settled on anything. I assume Rider Welsh explained that your lessons with her were over.”

  Kayleigh nodded, not trusting the kind of answer she’d give her captain at that particular moment.

  “Are you up for additional visitors? I will be taking Majherri back outside for the rest of the evening shortly, but many of your classmates wish to pay their respects.”

  Majherri obviously didn’t like the arrangement and Kayleigh wasn’t pleased either, but they both knew that he was going to leave.

  “Yes, ma’am. I’ll see them.”

  “Good.” Meghan Lynch replied, while backing T’rsa away from them. “I’ll give you a few more minutes to say goodnight before the three of us leave. You will need to find me tomorrow and we will schedule time for you to visit with him.”

  “Thank you.” Kayleigh pushed as much false sincerity as she could into those two words.

  The amusement on the other end of the bond made her whisper, “Tell me how you really feel, Majherri.”

  Ten minutes after the captain left with her unicorn a dozen of her classmates entered. Ellen she expected, but Kayleigh was mildly impressed with the turnout – all six squad leaders, Alicia, Rebekah, Francine, and a few others. After fielding numerous variations of what happened and how she was feeling, her eyes settled on the cold and calculating face of Rebekah Morganstern.

  She addressed the short brunette, “You’ve been dying to say something, Rebekah. Now is as good a time as any.”

  “It’s time you asked the captain to step down as lead rider. You obviously have problems and you need to deal with them. These problems don’t involve the company and we would be better off with someone other than you as lead rider.”

  “Would you be terribly hurt if I said no?”

  “Not particularly, I told the rest of them you wouldn’t do it. You only think about yourself.”

  “The rest of them …” Kayleigh trailed off ignoring the rest of the comment and looking at the faces in the room. Ellen looked away, but Alicia met her withering gaze.

  The dark skinned section leader said, “It’s nothing against you, Kayleigh, but Morganstern’s right about one thing. You need to solve the problems with your bond. Remember on the journey here when Francine almost lost her bond? You and Majherri helped her out. That’s all we’re doing here. You need time to fix things between you and your unicorn. If I’m lead rider and you’re ready for it again, all you have to do is say the word and I’ll step aside. Lead rider is a big deal, but not nearly as important as your unicorn.”

  “We don’t want to see you get hurt again, Kayleigh. You’ll be able to focus on your control without always worrying about the captain.” Ellen said, still avoiding eye contact.

  Several nodded and offered encouraging smiles. The one plastered on Rebekah’s face lacked any real conviction. Kayleigh weighed the poss
ibilities and tried to imagine this as something other than a mutiny. Unfortunately, it felt very much like one.

  After all the extra hours and running around trying to help all of them, this is how they treat me! What a bunch of ungrateful … I shouldn’t follow that thought. Yelling at them won’t solve anything.

  “Give me a few days to think it over. At least let me get out of here, first.”

  “What? So you can burn something else to the ground?” Morganstern scoffed.

  “Trot off! You’re just looking for a way to get out of challenging me.”

  “You’re unstable, Reese and unfit to lead. If you had any sense in that whore head of yours, you’d have realized it by now.”

  Arms grabbed Kayleigh as she bolted upright. Rebekah continued, “That just proves my point. You’re nothing but a …”

  “Enough!” A voice screamed. Everyone stopped and looked at the furious visage of Andrea Hawthorne. She shook her head and ground her teeth against each other before continuing, “Reese, you’re incapable of leading right now and you weren’t all that great to begin with. Morganstern, you’re years away from leading anything but yourself to the latrine! I’m tired of both of you.”

  Her finger thrust out at Rebekah, “I was demoted to clean up your mess! And you got my position! Just so,” the digit turned on Kayleigh, “the captain could continue a vendetta against you. Step down, Reese. Step down now!”

  Kayleigh crossed her arms in defiance. “Because you’ll throw a fit, if I don’t? I’m not worried.”

  “Step down or I’ll take you down myself.”

  “All I asked for was some time to think something over, Hawthorne! Give it a rest.”

  “Yes,” Rebekah said. “Quit pretending that you’re your mother, Andrea. It gets tiresome after awhile.”

  “What’s all this shouting?” The healer said reentering. “I heard you all the way down the hallway.”

  “Good,” Andrea said rounding on him. “You’re a staff member. Just what I needed. I’m issuing a challenge to my lead rider and going on record as being the first.”