Rider (Spirals of Destiny) (18 page)

“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 possibilities 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.”

“Your challenge is officially noted, Trainee … What is your name?”

“Andrea Hawthorne.”

“Trainee Hawthorne. Now, for disrupting my infirmary and causing this ruckus, every single one of you just earned extra duty. You’ll all be in here next free day and you won’t leave until this place is spotless! I am going to speak to your captain right now and if anyone other than my patient is here when I return, there will be hell to pay!”

All but Rebekah scattered and followed the healer out of the room. She lingered looking like the cat that ate the proverbial canary. Leaning against one of the wooden columns, she let out a self-satisfied chuckle.

“Do you think this is funny?”

“Hilarious is more like it. Now, you can’t resign, Reese. The captain can’t even fire you until the challenge is held.”

“I thought you wanted me to resign. Now you’re happy I’ll be lead rider for at least a few more weeks.”

“Positively ecstatic. I want to see you humiliated – in front of everyone! Even if you win, you’ll get fired, sooner or later. My guess is sooner. You’re a toxin.”

Kayleigh laughed and pointed at Morganstern. “You’re pathetic, Rebekah. Do you really want to be lead rider that badly?”

“No. I’m not really even interested in being lead rider, but I won’t stand for it being you. You don’t deserve it!”

“Why? Because of my mother? Because your father was unfaithful?”

That got under the girl’s skin. “You’ve no right to speak about my father!”

“And you’re just a petty little girl clinging to your father’s pant leg. My mother’s flaws are many, and I know it. But you can’t bring yourself to think of him as anything less than perfect. You don’t really hate me, Rebekah, you hate him and yourself.”

The girl took a step toward Kayleigh’s bed and stopped. Her face was red with rage, but somehow Rebekah regained control of her emotions. “You’re just trying to keep me here with your lies until the healer gets back. It’s not going to work.”

She spun and began her retreat. Kayleigh let her words chase after Morganstern. “The only lies here, Rebekah, are th
e ones that you tell yourself.”

“
Your rider will be defeated. Andrea has been schooled in the blade since she was old enough to walk.” Kyrinda boasted.

Majherri was in an ill mood to begin with and this idiot female wasn’t improving things. As the challenged rider, Kayleigh has the choice of combat. If she chooses to joust, your Andrea cannot possibly win.

“
They aren’t going to let you joust after the incident at the stable two days ago,” Lycenae interrupted.
“I heard they’re forcing your rider to choose hoof-by-hoof combat.”

“
It’s hand-to-hand combat, fool. Try to at least learn something from that spineless wretch that sits in your saddle.” Majherri was angry. Much of this was his fault and it was being laid at his rider’s feet. He hated the knowledge that Kayleigh was suffering due to his actions. Worst of all, it sounded like he would be forbidden from helping her during this first challenge. Again, he sensed the human rules were getting twisted in order to place Kayleigh at a disadvantage. She’d told him about the challenge during their visit yesterday, but her not being allowed to choose the style of combat wasn’t mentioned. He wondered if she knew, or were they going to ambush her with this news as well.

Majherri trotted off, turning his backside on the two of them and flicking his tail in an insulting gesture. Already the first wave of unicorns was arriving for mating season. Tents were springing up everywhere he looked. These would mate quickly and after the first few days, leave for the Portal that would carry them back and allow the others to race across the continent before the season ended.

“
I can see you are in a foul mood. Should I even bother with conversation, or are you going to circle the island in unpleasantness?”

“
Pasha, I’m in no mood for your games this evening.”

The female ignored his ire.
“I’ve been with Gomlius in the stable. He’s resting now, but he continues to grow weaker. He wishes to speak with you.”

“
There is nothing I can do for him. Whatever helped me to survive The Wasting is not going to help him. He’s already progressed further than I ever did.”