Rider (Spirals of Destiny)

by Jim Bernheimer

  Kayleigh took a sip from her water flask and poured some into her hand, letting Majherri lap it from her uninjured palm. When he finished, she climbed up into the saddle and patted his neck. He responded with the image of them running free and alone.

  Leaning down to his ear, she whispered, “After we get to safety. Let’s get to Jaruciax first.” He could sense her doubts and indecision, but chose to leave the matter alone.

  Riding on the island was usually a pleasant affair. The worst experiences involved mud and downpours. Even then, that was a mixed blessing, keeping the unicorns and the riders cool. The desert steppes were an unforgiving mix of vicious heat and wind driven sand. Kayleigh kept her chest piece, but the helmet was replaced with a towel wrapped around her head.

  They halted midway through the morning and sought what little shelter was available and hastily improved by the trio of earth maidens manipulating the rock. Her services wouldn’t be needed until nightfall, when the desert rapidly cooled, giving up its heat. Even then, it was doubtful, because they’d be riding after the sun sets. With her Yar knife, she drew lines in the hot sand and watched the overworked Amanda Edwards struggling to summon more water.

  “How are you holding up, Kayleigh? Is your hand okay?” Annabeth sat down next to her.

  “It’s very tender, but the vial of healing tears worked wonders. I feel like I should be doing something right now.”

  “We all do our part, when called on. There’s not a lot for either of us to do at the moment, but if we run into part of that rearguard, you’ll have more than enough to keep you busy. So, stay sharp and be ready. Good thing you had a map for this kingdom.”

  “Just lucky I brought one.”

  “Yes it is. I saw you had lots of other maps too. I saw you lost your bedroll and some other bags at the battle. Hope it wasn’t anything that will be too difficult to replace.”

  “Everyone said I was over packing,” Kayleigh answered cautiously.

  “It’s you and me, Kayleigh.” Annabeth said quietly. “You had a heavy jacket rolled into your bedroll. Something you wouldn’t need anywhere except in the far north this time of year. You were over packing for just a few weeks off the island, but I have a theory. Would you like to hear it?”

  Kayleigh looked the older woman in the eyes and said, “Please. Let’s not do this now.” Her blue dress was also rolled up in that bedroll. It was the last connection she had with her mother. She couldn’t think of that now.

  “Okay, but if you’re really considering what I think you are, all I ask is that you give me the chance to talk you out of it. Alright?”

  “So, what do we have to be on guard for in the desert … other than this army?” Kayleigh nodded and quickly tried to change the subject.

  “Aside from the usual assortment of snakes, spiders, and everything else, I guess sand trolls are probably the largest and most dangerous thing around. Ogres and giants are a rarity in these parts. The trolls bury themselves near trails or by an oasis during the day and come out after the sun sets – very tough to spot from what I hear, though they get sand everywhere.”

  Kayleigh rolled her eyes at the joke and said, “Sounds like a charming place. It is amazing people live out here.”

  She nodded watching the unicorns cluster around where Amanda was making water. The reddish-brown haired girl was doing her best to meet there needs. Her eyes drifted over to Majherri, who was separate from the group. He was inspecting a few of the desert plants.

  Lowering his head, he used his horn to stab into one of them and thrashing his head back and forth. The top of the plant fell to the ground. Majherri turned and looked at his brethren, giving them a look of contempt, before sticking his snout down over the exposed body of the plant and licking.

  Annabeth stood and motioned for her to do the same. They walked over to Majherri. Welsh crouched and picked up the prickly top of the plant the unicorn had skewered. Using her two fingers, she scooped out some of the pulp and put it into her mouth.

  “It’s actually kind of sweet. Smart unicorn, you’ve got there Reese,” she said offering the piece of plant to Kayleigh.

  “Yes he is,” she replied. Kayleigh used her knife to peel the skin and barbs off of the plant to make it more accessible for Majherri as the others waiting in the water line started to make their way over.

  “That reminds me of a conversation where you said he was worried about what was happening in the west. Obviously, I owe him an apology. Rhey gave me the impression that all the other unicorns ignore Majherri. Considering we’re out here and nobody else seems to know about a Portal city being destroyed or an army moving right under everyone’s noses, I’m woman enough know when to say I should have listened, not that it would’ve done any good.”

  Majherri stopped gnawing on the pulp of the plant long enough to acknowledge Annabeth.

  Kayleigh peeled a few more plants for the other unicorns and cut another in pieces for the riders to chew while Lieutenant Townsend called Annabeth over to talk strategy and ordered the others to rest and stay out of the sun. She got under the improvised shelter which was noticeably cooler, but still unbearably hot, and passed out the pieces of the plant. Some of the girls may have actually been asleep, but for most, it was an exercise in futility.

  “I’m worried about the lieutenant,” Laurel whispered pointing to where Rider Welsh helped their leader drink from her canteen. “Her one arm is broken and the other arm took an arrow in the shoulder. She can barely move it let alone fight.”

  “Why are you telling me this, Laurel?”

  “The day the reassigned you to our year, the captain summoned me and the section leaders into her office. She told us to keep a close eye on you because you are that powerful … powerful enough to even make General Jyslin concerned. We were ordered not to speak of this with you, but given the situation, you need to know. I saw this firsthand at the Portal. If we get into another fight, we’re going to need you.”

  She flushed, both from the heat and a bit of embarrassment. “I’ll do everything I can, Laurel. I might be as powerful as you say, but I don’t really know how to use it. Do you have any ideas where those rock scorpions came from?”

  The other air maiden, Marcia Temple, crawled up next to them. “My guess is the army is being led by a sorceress or a sorcerer and their acolytes. Whoever it is, they are strong enough to leave those things behind and not really care about them. I’m scared to think of what that army might have with it, if those aren’t the frontline troops. My great aunt is an enchantress and no slouch either. It would take her months to create those constructs. So the other side has been preparing for years. This might be the start of another great war.”

  “Let’s hope not,” Laurel said.

  “We should try and get some rest. Something tells me that things won’t get any easier from here on out.”

  The other two girls agreed and Kayleigh closed her eyes and tried to pretend that it was like falling asleep on Helden’s beach at the height of summer. When that didn’t work, she waited for exhaustion to catch up with her.

  Fortunately, it didn’t take long.

  The difference between day and night in the desert is … well the difference between day and night!

  Kayleigh chuckled at her internal joke. In the driving sun, the desolation was everywhere you looked, an ever present, all encompassing landscape where little existed. In the darkness, the view was narrower and more focused. With the stars in the sky, she could see fairly well, but she found herself staring at the area that was visible around her. She was looking for any change or even a hint of change as they moved along, even though there was none.

  Every few minutes, she used her heatsight. Though the desert sands releasing the trapped heat interfered with vision beyond a very short range, she was able to see some shapes on the landscape surrounding her. The trailing unicorns behind her stood out remarkably well. That worried her, because she was “on point” and responsible to spot any ambush ahead.

&
nbsp; Sure! Put the girl who’s been doing this for a few months right up front. At least, I have you, Majherri to fall back on. At least you’re in a better mood. The wide open spaces call out to you, don’t they?

  Majherri agreed with her. There was too much to do right at the moment for the usual feelings of worry that often traversed their bond. It was a refreshing change to not feel the bottled up anger and frustration that vexed both of them to no end.

  Shapes were moving toward them. Majherri spotted them as well and Kayleigh raised her hand to alert the group of riders behind her. Within thirty seconds, the lieutenant was next to her, covering the ground at a speed only an air maiden could achieve.

  “Small party of travelers, ma’am – two wagons and five, maybe six riders. What are your orders?”

  Townsend signaled for Welsh and Whitaker to come up and join them. Kayleigh sensed the tension building during the wait. When the other two riders arrived, Townsend continued, “Welsh and I will approach and get what information from them we can and if possible barter for some of their water. If hostilities break out, we can outflank them and reform a mile down the road. Whitaker, you’re in charge, any questions?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  The two made their way ahead to the wagon as the other trainees rode up. The group watched and waited as the lieutenant and Annabeth conversed with the nomads.

  “Is it wrong to admit that I’m nervous?” Amanda Edwards said to no one in particular.

  “Just be ready if we need to move,” Laurel said trying to sound official and calm everyone’s nerves.

  Kayleigh swallowed and waited for something … anything to happen. She felt Majherri’s anticipation. It didn’t matter whether they were going to fight, run, or just talk.

  Long seconds dragged into minutes and things were going well. She started to relax, as Annabeth began moving around the side with one of the nomads. That’s when the monsters burst out of the wagons. The first one’s arm smashed into Welsh and knocked her from Rheysurrah’s saddle. She’d never seen them before, but Majherri assured her that the grotesque creatures were sand trolls.

  They stood nearly nine feet, with long, thin arms that stretched down to their knees. Their faces were covered with rubbery leather-like skin.

  Kayleigh froze in horror, but Majherri was already speeding to the fight with the cries of Laurel Whitaker calling for her to stop. Flames spattered across the sand as they released their combined magic. Drawing her dagger, Kayleigh sent a fireball at the one terrorizing Annabeth.

  The dismounted warrior brandished her flaming sword defensively and was trying to get back to Rheysurrah, but the trolls and one of the riders circled about the pair and prevented that reunion. The injured lieutenant was allowing her mount to join the fray and engaged four of the mounted riders at once.

  Kayleigh knew her fireballs wouldn’t be enough of a distraction. She had to do what Annabeth asked her to do, throw all notions of control to the wind and just let the magic she shared with Majherri do what must be done. She started pulling on her end of the bond, seeking all the magic her unicorn had to offer.

  Welsh sliced one of the troll’s hands off, but the other troll dashed her to the ground. This made Kayleigh’s fury build. The flame grew, almost becoming a third partner in the bond between her and Majherri. It swirled around them and coalesced into a wave of energy surrounding them. For a brief second, it collapsed back on itself, and almost disappeared. Kayleigh shook with the effort of pushing more magic into the wave and screamed when everything broke loose.

  Pushing herself high in the saddle, Kayleigh sensed the elation on the other side of the bond. This was fireshade – warrior and unicorn combined into a speeding mass of flame from which there was no escape. Majherri accelerated, faster than she’d ever ridden him, despite the damaged hoof.

  The trolls forgot the fire maiden in front of them and spun to face the new threat. Impossibly long arms reached out to strike as Majherri left the ground and bowled into the sand troll. The energy of the fireshade exploded on impact and the dark desert night was momentarily driven back by the light of a miniature sun.

  The troll trying to stop them did not survive the impact and the other was tossed aside like a plaything. Both wagons were upended. Kayleigh gasped for breath and could do nothing more than stay in Majherri’s saddle. She saw his hooves lifted and some of the ground clung to them like webs of a spider as the sand was converted into molten glass.

  The lieutenant had seen what was coming and gotten clear. Her mount was engaged with one of the few remaining human warriors. Rider Welsh was rolling on the ground extinguishing the flames on her clothes. A warrior with his rags burning charged at Annabeth with his spear. Kayleigh scrounged for any magic, but was too weak. She opened her mouth to shout a warning, but the words died on her lips. It wasn’t necessary. Laurel dashed by on her mount and delivered a killing strike with her sword.

  The other trainees arrived seconds later and the two nomads still able to flee did so. The badly injured troll was crawling into the desert, likely trying to bury itself in the sands and heal. Back on her feet, Welsh would have none of that. Flame sprung to life on her blade and she finished it by cleaving the creatures head off.

  The older fire maiden stepped away from the monster’s body and walked over to Kayleigh. Midway there, Rheysurrah came alongside her and she vaulted into the saddle. “You don’t follow orders very well do you, Reese?”

  Kayleigh looked sheepishly at Welsh’s singed garments and hair. Rheysurrah’s mane had also lost much of its luster. “Sorry about the burns.”

  “They’re nothing. I’ll take them over being dead any day. But you’ve got to promise me something.”

  “What’s that?”

  “When you do figure out how your magic works, you’ve got to teach me how to do the fireshade. Is that a deal?”

  “Okay.”

  The others were surrounding the lieutenant as she interrogated the remaining nomad.

  Welsh turned to Laurel Whitaker and said, “I also am grateful to you. Was that your first kill?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Well, you’re blooded now. It’s time to look him over and take a weapon from him. Take a moment and choose wisely, it should be something that you will become accustomed to using as a primary weapon. The spear might not be sturdy enough, but the scimitar at his side looks promising.”

  “What?”

  “Is something wrong, Kayleigh?”

  “I didn’t choose this knife, Lynch told me to take it!” Kayleigh tried to remember what other weapons the Yar had, but he must have had something more threatening than a small throwing dagger. Once again, she felt cheated.

  “Oh, somehow nothing you say anymore about that woman surprises me. I recommend you ask her for an explanation in front of the General when we get back. Now, let’s get back to Laurel. What do you think? An air maiden could throw that spear an incredible distance, but what do you do after that?”

  Laurel nodded, “I’ll go with the scimitar.”

  “That’s what I’d do in your place as well.”

  Kayleigh sulked, already trying to picture Meghan Lynch’s excuses. No doubt she’d make up something that sounded perfectly acceptable to everyone else. They went to Lieutenant Townsend. The woman was crouched in front of the injured nomad, who was leaning back against the bottom of the overturned wagon.

  “Look at his eyes,” Amanda said. “Don’t they look strange? Is he under some kind of a spell?”

  Annabeth thrust her hand forward and touched Rheysurrah with the other, her conjured flame lit the area. The nomad shrunk back from it, but everyone could see that there was no white in his eyes, just large oval pools of black.

  The lieutenant didn’t care about his unusual eyes. Instead, she said, “I’m getting tired of asking you the same question. Why did you attack us?”

  “You intrude on the Master’s domain.”

  “You’ve already said that. Who is this master? Wh
at were you doing with those trolls? Where is your army now?”

  “The Master is our god! You walk upon his land. He … he will …” the man broke off in a fit of coughing before spitting up blood. He winced in pain. “I go to him now, but I know he will come for you and your heart will beat for him, or you … you will suffer … a thousand days of torture.”

  Two more fits of coughing came and went before the nomad ceased breathing. Weary, the lieutenant stood and looked at them. “See if they have any usable water and food. Unhook the horses and let them go. Move quickly, ladies, we are running out of nighttime and the sooner we can leave this desert, the better.”

  “What about the things he said, ma’am?”

  “Never trust the words of a fanatic, Edwards – a dying one even more so. It’s cause for concern, but we can assume much of what he was saying was a lie. My guess is this god of theirs is nothing more than a powerful wizard. Look at his eyes now … back to normal.”

  Kayleigh looked at Annabeth and she shrugged, “I’ve never heard of a compulsion strong enough to turn a troll into a thrall. Then again, I know precious little about this species of trolls.”

  It took only a few minutes to find what little the nomads had to offer. The small amount of food and water found was added to their meager supplies. Townsend stared at Kayleigh and said, “I assume your unicorn disregarded my orders.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Both of you did a good job, but you dragged the rest of the trainees along with you. I can accept that Majherri and, by extension you, aren’t going to listen to me. That said, be mindful of the others. I will make it clear to the others that if you decide to go solo again they are to leave you on your own. Anyone who can do what you just did doesn’t need a bunch of trainees in the blast area. Are we clear on this?”