The Column Racer (13 page)

“We really must be going rider,” said Jax, “good luck during the season, I am sure this won’t be the last time we hear of you.” He turned and walked to the doors. The bridle maker approached her with a smile.

“You definitely made an impression on him,” said the bridle maker.

“He hates me.”

“He hates everyone,” said the bit maker, “but not once have I ever seen him shake a person’s hand before, man or woman.” Areli gave a faint smile, and then said farewell once more to her tack makers. She watched them take their leave, and waited for the arrival of her new trainer, wondering how the trainer would measure up to the one she had while attending Oroin Academy.

Areli was sitting next to her dragon, looking over the sand, when she heard the tap-tap of heeled shoes. She rose from her spot and both she and Kaia looked over to the double-doors leading to the platform.

The woman, like all people from Abhi, was absolutely beautiful. She was as tall as Areli, but her heels gave her additional height. She had dark eyeliner around her eyes, bronze skin, blonde hair, and pocked cheeks. Her body seemed to be nothing but flesh painted-over-bone, as it was custom and expected for column racers to eat foods packed with vitamins but almost nonexistent in any sort of calories.

Their reception was warm. The trainer had a pretty smile and a gorgeous laugh. Areli couldn’t help but picture herself looking and being as magnificent as her when she retired. Her trainers name was Aubrie Summers. She used to be professional circuit rider, winning the World Race in her last eligible year.

“It’s so lovely to meet you,” said Aubrie, “I’ve heard so much about you . . . from everywhere actually, the daily, the Emperor, the other riders.”

“The other riders?” asked Areli, almost wanting to smack herself in the head for such a trite and stupid question. Of course the other riders were talking about her. The whole world was probably talking about her. The rider from the worst and poorest sector was now being driven around in carriages with gold statues prancing on the tops of them and living in a home larger than her old riding community all together. Of course, they were talking about her.

“Quite frequently, yes,” said Aubrie, “I mean undefeated seasons don’t happen often. I don’t care what sector you’re from.” Aubrie was right. Undefeated seasons are quite rare, so rare in fact, that it had only been accomplished by two other riders. And no one trying to win a World Race wants a rider like that on their team. And now Abhi Hall has two of them. Areli could already see the signs of a difficult and vexing relationship with the rest of her teammates. Areli shook the thoughts from her mind and introduced Aubrie to Kaia, feeding her dragon warm and happy feelings so that she easily warmed up to their new trainer.

“So a month on the road?” said Aubrie, “new saddle, new tack. I’m sure you’re dying for some sustained flying. We’ll start with conditioning your dragon. She’s going to need her strength and quite a bit of endurance for the dives around here.”

Aubrie stood back as Areli mounted Kaia and got her into the air. Areli was grateful that her new trainer didn’t ask about her travels, protecting both Areli and Kaia from the pain of reliving those moments.

“Just slow around the walls” said Aubrie, “we need to build. The season isn’t tomorrow, so we can take our time.” Areli did as Aubrie told her, and began to do slow laps around the elongated walls.

Aubrie was right. Kaia was running on labored breaths after only ten laps with little speed. Areli told Aubrie this, but her trainer told her that she needed Kaia to push through it. Areli continued in the circles until her dragon’s breathing became too bothersome to her ears.

“I don’t know if she can take anymore,” said Areli, a little panicked

“She’s going to have to,” said Aubrie, through a gold funnel, “these exercises are just as important for you as they are for her. Feed her the thoughts, Areli. Encourage her.” Areli had never done anything like that before. She was used to conditioning Kaia so extensively that she never had to shift her dragon’s emotions to dig through wariness and pain. She didn’t even know what to think. Areli searched her brain as to what feelings would inspire herself to trudge on even if her legs were about to fall off from her body.

She thought strength. She thought endurance. She thought lightness and happiness. Her dragon continued through the exercise, and then Aubrie told Areli to circle the wall the other way.

“Don’t you think she needs a rest?” asked Areli, “I mean, I thought we were just building?”

“We are, Areli,” said Aubrie, “we’re working on your connection. You need to be able to get more out of your dragon than your dragon is possibly supposed to be able to give you. You can do it. You have to trust yourself. Use your mind. Use your feelings.” Areli did what she was told, and Kaia continued to labor through.

“She’s getting really tired,” said Areli, “I never heard her like this.”

“Use your mind, Areli,” said Aubrie, “Kaia needs to give you everything she has, even if she has nothing left. I wouldn’t ask you to do it unless I knew that through you, Kaia would be capable of it.”

Areli continued to push Kaia, but worry was plaguing her mind.
Stop it, Areli
, she told herself. Kaia’s breathing was rough and raspy, and her already nonexistent speed was teetering on a total shut down of her wings. Areli wanted to stop.
Don’t you do it, Areli
. She had to fight with herself. She didn’t want to go on. She needed to rest her dragon.

“She needs to rest Aubrie,” said Areli, “she can’t take any more of this.”

“Areli,” said Aubrie, “if you want to become a professional rider, these are the things you need to be able to do. All the girls in the seven arenas before yours are willing to do whatever it takes to be the best. If you want Kaia to be the best she can be, then you have to control her. You can’t just direct her with your legs and your reins. You need to direct her emotions as well.” Areli continued with the circles as Aubrie requested, her eyes close to tears.

Kaia’s body dipped a bit, catching Areli almost off guard. She was lucky to grab the saddle horn, but her hand accidently went heavy on the reins and her outer leg pushed against Kaia’s side. They flew off course. Her dragon gave a weak and wary roar. Kaia went crashing towards the sand. Areli loosened the reins, her mind panicking for the briefest of moments as the world went spinning.

It was sand, wall, sky, sand, and then wall again. Kaia was past the point of exhaustion. Areli’s hands fumbled with the reins and the saddle horn, as her legs threatened to come out of the stirrups. She somehow heard Aubrie's words in her head. Control. She needed to control.
You have to live
, Areli, she told herself,
you’re not leaving the world. Not today. Not like this
.

Areli calmed herself as she fell to almost certain death, for both her and her dragon’s sake. She fell, unafraid to die, because the fear of death would seize her and her dragon, and both would not live to see another day. It was waterfalls, beaches, and Emperor Abhiraja’s forest. And then it was strength, aggressiveness, and the will to live.
Be happy, Areli
.

Just as Kaia was about to hit the ground, she twisted around. Areli’s hand on the saddle horn, her other hand fighting to be light on the reins, and her legs forcing themselves to kick feverishly. Kaia somehow found the strength to spread out her wings and they glided gently back to the platform.

Areli lifted Kaia over the worried spectators and they went back into the circles. They flew on fumes and glided slowly next to the walls. Areli forced herself to not shed a tear, not to feel a drop of worry for her dragon. She remained positive and filled her dragon with complete trust in her love and her abilities.

They circled above Aubrie, and then they slowly landed. Areli got both feet on the ladder and when she was back down on the ground, her dragon collapsed onto the limestone pavement. Exhausted.

“Areli . . . I’m so . . .”

“Please . . . don’t!” cried Areli, as she curled up next to her dragon, crying. Her trainer in Oroin would never have put her and her dragon at such a risk. She could have died. They both could have. She could feel hate suffocating her. Hate for the Emperor. Hate for Degendhard. Hate for Talon. And now hate for Aubrie.

Aubrie stayed there with them, even when the daylight had disappeared and the sky had turned black, accompanied by the beauty of the stars. She sat on the pavement floor, her knees to her chest, as Areli lay still next to Kaia, lightly stroking her dragon’s face.

“Areli,” said Aubrie, “I’m sorry. I didn’t think. I thought . . .” This was Aubrie’s eighth attempt at an apology, and again Areli didn’t say much of anything.

Areli couldn’t believe that her first day of training, with her brand new saddle and tack, was almost her last. She had never pushed Kaia like that. The only time she purposely tried to control her dragon’s emotions was when she was around people. She knew her dragon picked up on her own aggressive and competitive nature during a run, but she has never made her dragon do anything that her body couldn’t justly give.

There were people walking around them, as servants with large cotton sacks of ice rested and held them onto Kaia’s wings. Aubrie tried to plead with Areli that they had to get Kaia to the cold baths, but Areli told her that Kaia was too sore and that she could hardly move.

“You need to affect . . .”

“NO!” shouted Areli, “we’re not training anymore, let her rest, just let her rest.”

As the night waned on, Aubrie approached Areli, whose eyes were all out of tears. She touched the rider’s shoulder and curled-up next to her, wrapping her arms around the young rider’s abdomen. Areli didn’t move. She didn’t know what to do. She knew her trainer had the best intentions. Was she too hard on her? Areli couldn’t decide. Aubrie had nearly killed them both . . . no . . . it was her fault – she nearly killed them both. Areli had to be stronger mentally. She had to trust Kaia more. She had to trust her trainer. It was just hard, though. To listen to Kaia struggle like that. Areli failed them. Both her trainer and her dragon. She just hoped the Emperor wouldn’t find out about this incident. She placed her hand across Aubrie’s.

“We should get her to the ice baths.”

Areli controlled Kaia’s emotions, giving her strength when there was none, and stayed at the facility until Kaia’s body was soaked for an extended period of time in water with glacial sized ice cubes. Afterwards, her dragon’s body was coated in a thick white cream. And then she was given a shot of fast-acting muscle healer and stabilizer by the lanky vet she met the other day. Exhausted, Areli returned to her locker. She dressed into her normal attire and made-up with Aubrie, both sorry for what had happened. And then she returned home, wondering what her life would have been like if she didn’t win that last race. She wouldn’t have had to kill anyone. She wouldn’t have had to spend nearly months with the scent of death in her nose. And maybe – just maybe . . . Talon would have told her he loved her . . . if only he had more time to sort out his feelings.

The next day, Areli was approached by both bridle and bit maker, who heard the news, and were waiting in her locker room. They asked if she was okay. She reassured them that both she and Kaia were fine. Areli got dressed into her practice attire and was accompanied by the two back to the trailer area. Before they left, they showered her again with well wishes. When Areli and Kaia returned to arena eight, Aubrie was already on the limestone platform. Her trainer was relieved to see that the cold bath, along with the powerful ointment and shot, had Kaia moving with some fluidity.

Areli’s and Aubrie’s eyes met. Her trainer approached her with apologetic eyes. They hugged and Areli told her that from now on she would listen to her, whole-heartedly. She would not question or veer from what was asked of her. Aubrie also told Areli that she would listen to her as well. With the incident behind them, the pair went back to getting Kaia ready for the upcoming season, the sorting competition, and the moment that was fast approaching . . . the first team practice.

It had been a week and a half, and Areli and Aubrie had Kaia flying at the same level as she had been before they started their move to Abhi. During that time, they did everything from rollbacks, pre-turns, and back-ups, while working on finishing each column tight and always in perfect position for the next one.

Aubrie got Areli comfortable to the elevation, which is praiseworthy considering how much time they had to work with. Areli was in no means as great in the dive as the returning premiers, but she would have the fall and winter to get to that point.

The two also worked hard to perfect the technical aspects of the pattern. Especially since Areli was approaching from a drop that she was just getting the hang of and at speeds far greater than she had ever flown. It was both exhilarating and frustrating. The approach to the first column would come up so fast that in the first week, Areli had a terrible time just completing the turn. Aubrie made her do multiple visualization assignments so Areli’s mind was eased into the turn. As the date of the first team practice loomed over them, Aubrie had Areli close her eyes as they sat together next to Kaia on the limestone platform. Aubrie had Areli count out the perfect run, while telling her the critical moments in the pattern.

“I start on the elevation . . . then I’m in the dive.”

“How many seconds are you in the dive?”

“I can push Kaia to seven seconds.”

“If you go past that?”

“We’re dead.”

“If you don’t go far enough?”

“We might as well be dead.”

“Keep going.”

“We’re to the alley.”

“How many seconds to the column?”

“Three seconds.”

“When do you rate?”

“Two seconds.”

“Seconds to the next column?”

“Four seconds . . . rate at three,” said Areli, “five seconds to the third column . . . rate at four . . . and kick non-stop until we’re back out the alley.” She opened her eyes and found Aubrie smiling.

“I think you’re ready,” said Aubrie, “it might not be as flawless as the other’s, but at least you’ll be able to get through the pattern. Just remember the times . . . and you’ll be fine.”

Areli awoke in her bed, startled, and looked up at the elegant patterns sewn into the silk fabric curtain around her bed. She had the nightmare again. The one in which she was asked to execute Talon. Her parents no longer slept with her, upon her request. But now she wished they were still there. Today, especially, not only for the nightmares, but also because today was the first team practice . . . and she needed all the encouragement she could get.

She dressed and ate with her parents in the dining room, which was, as well as the rest of the house, furnished and decorated with her mother’s touches. Areli could see her mother’s personality in the draping that covered the windows, on the flowers that stood on the tables, and on the rugs and furniture that adorned their floors.

Areli played with her hot cereal as her father ate his usual eggs over-easy and a simple side of toast, no butter. Her mother was busy picking away at a grapefruit when her eyes caught Areli’s swirling hand making circles with her food.

“You should eat something, dear,” said her mother, “you’re going to be needing your strength.” Areli knew she was right, but no matter how hard she tried, her stomach and her eyes looked down at her bowl with repulsion. Not even the stars themselves could force her to lift even the smallest lump of wheat onto her spoon and into her mouth. Areli put down her spoon and asked to be excused. Her father stood from his chair, along with her mother, granting her request.

Areli stepped into the living room and withdrew the curtains. She stood in silence and stared at the carriage that would take her to the boarding facility.

“You’re going to do well, darling,” said her mother, startling her daughter. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” Areli nodded her head and took a seat on one of the elegant white and grey couches with dragons soaring across the fabric. “Talk to me, darling.”

“I’m not ready,” said Areli sullenly, “I mean, I’m as good as before we left, but I am nowhere near as talented as the other riders.” Her mother absorbed these words, and seemed to chew them, breaking them down and capturing every individual flavor.

“Areli,” started her mother, “have I told you that I’m proud of you?”

“Yes, mother,” said Areli, “many times before.”

“But how about here? Since we came to this city?” Areli thought about the week and a half that passed. She and her mother hadn’t spent much time together outside of the dining room. Areli usually left before her father woke. Her mother would follow her down the steps in the morning with bleary eyes and stand by the front door as the carriage carried her daughter down the drive. Aria would watch right alongside Areli’s mother, beautiful as ever, as if she fell asleep with her make-up on. Her mother would then sit next to Areli after she would return from the boarding facility, but Areli was usually too exhausted and too tired for any meaningful conversation, and she truly appreciated that her mother respected that.

Areli looked at her mother and shook her head.

“I want you to know, Areli,” said her mother, “I am proud of you, deeply proud, both me and your father. I also want you to know that I believe in you. Kaia believes in you. The Emperor . . . even though he is an evil, ruthless, and sinister creature . . . he believes in you as well. All I ask is that you believe in you. Your belief in yourself will surpass any of the talent that any other riders have. I promise you.” Her mother’s words put tears in Areli’s eyes, and her mother had streaks running down her face as well.

Areli lunged at her and wrapped her arms around her mother’s bony shoulders, not wanting to ever let go. Her mother held Areli the same way. Both their shoulders shaking. Areli couldn’t believe how close she was to losing her. Her father was right . . . she had no choice when she shot that Follower of Degendhard. Her mother kissed her on the head and the two sat there until Aria came into the room.

“Miss Roberts,” said Aria, “forgive my intrusion, but it really is time for you to go.” Areli had to force herself away from her mother, and they both worked to straighten out Areli’s black and red-patterned dress before walking to the doors. She kissed her father farewell, and he wished her good luck before his carriage doors closed and was swept away from the estate. Areli hugged her mother again, pressing her fingertips into her mother’s shoulder blades. Her mother held Areli’s hand until she was in her carriage and then stood back. She watched her daughter until Areli’s carriage could no longer be seen.

The carriage came to a halt just outside the gates. Something her driver told her would be the custom from this point on, till the start of next summer. Areli watched from her window as other carriages like hers, came out of their gated enclosures. Each waiting patiently for all the Hall riders to be present.

When they were, the carriages followed one another out of the community, through the city streets, and into the boarding facility. The best ranked rider on the team lead, and the worst ranked or the last of the new recruits to arrive took up the rear.

As the carriages traveled through, there were more people than Areli had ever seen on the elegant streets of Abhi. There were men, women, and children crowding on balconies and on rooftops. Children were hoisted onto their father’s shoulders as they tried to get a peek into the carriages curtained interiors. Areli waved back tentatively at the sea of hands motioning from side to side.

The streets echoed with shouts as people screamed the names of their favorite riders, but there was one name that she heard several times, and it wasn’t hers. Areli leaned further back in her seat. The crowd already had their favorites, and she was none of them, even though she had been widely publicized for having an undefeated season. She felt a sinking feeling in her chest. Back in Oroin, there wasn’t a single person who didn’t know her. Cheer for her. Love her. But that was in Sector D. Known as the home of the worst column racers in the world. Now, in Sector A, she felt like she was just another rider. She closed her eyes and tried to clear the names from her mind and visualized the crowd chanting her name instead.

When the carriages came through the walls of the facility, they didn’t stop in the stall room or even the trailer room. But continued down the bridge overlooking the training and exercise areas, onto the platform, and then dropped each rider off next to the large doors.

Areli was last to exit her carriage. She tried not to flush as all the other riders were looking at her. Seven young women, between the ages of fifteen and eighteen, all an inch taller or half-an-inch shorter than her . . . and all of them beautiful. She recognized every single one of them, as anyone from anywhere would recognize them.

As they walked through the hallways, Areli revisited the staring faces from her spot in the back and started connecting the names to them. In the front was Fidelja Bird, who is considered the most talented rider in the world who has still yet to win a World Race. Behind Fidelja was Tegan Patterson, the daughter of a wealthy merchant. She was in her last year of eligibility and would probably sink to any measure to secure a place on the World Circuit.

Following her was Perla Jones and Amira Morris, who were doyens like Tegan. Both extremely wealthy, both extremely talented. Areli would have to watch out for all three of them, as doyen riders are the most ruthless – for they only had one more chance to win a World Race . . . and extend the lives of their dragons.

The next riders were all new recruits. The three in front of Areli were all jejunes and all capable, as each received an invitation to race in the World Race the previous year, and each did so during their first year of Hall education – their tyro years. Dulce Ellis was the highest ranking of the newest additions to the team. She finished sixth, just behind Amira, in last year’s World Race, followed by Nadia Love. Both came from Halls in Sector A.

In front of Areli, walked Kiley Rose, a recruit from a Hall in Sector B. She shocked the world last year by finishing ninth and joining only a handful of riders in the history of the sport that weren’t from Abhi or Sector A to finish in the top ten in the World Race. And then there was Areli. The first rider ever to be chosen from Sector D. Also, among the company of Aquilina Hawkins and Fidelja Bird as the only riders to join the Abhi team their tyro year. There were high expectations for her to succeed, and she was sure that the Emperor was expecting her to have the same results as Aquilina, rather than Fidelja.

The girls were brought to their individual locker rooms, where they were instructed to wear everything except their armour and their headgear. They were then told to stand in front of their lockers until their individual trainers came to get them. As Areli stood there waiting, her head swiveled around like everyone else’s, except for Fidelja, who stood motionless, facing forward as if staring off into space.

Riders scowled at the rest of their teammates, mistrust on their faces. Some of the eyes landed on Areli, greeting her with both disgust and abhorrence. Areli was prepared for this. Aubrie told her that most of the girls would find her presence annoying, given that she is from a sector not known for having any sort of talent – ever, and also because she has no Hall experience. Areli tried to wipe their glaring eyes away from her memory but was glad that she had more time to study her competitor’s faces.

Fidelja had the face similar to that of a hawk; she had piercing blue eyes and dark blonde hair. Tegan’s skin was fair, the ends of her blonde hair were teased, and her stares at Areli were by far the most sinister. Perla had skin as deep as coffee, her thick black hair was wrapped in a bun behind her head, and her eyebrows were next to nonexistent.

Areli thought Amira was the prettiest. Which was quite a compliment, since everyone in the room was beyond beautiful. Maybe it was because the length of her brown hair, which was similar to what Areli’s used to be. She couldn’t help herself – she was jealous. Areli had to quickly look away from Nadia, though, as the young rider knew she was being watched and raised a questioning eyebrow towards Areli. The features that Areli caught sight of, before she hastily cast her eyes to the floor, were Nadia’s shimmering blue eyes and blonde hair with streaks of dark browns.

Areli was more careful now as she looked about the room, stealing glances at Dulce and Kiley. Dulce had skin as white as pearls and hair as black as night. And her wide dark eyes showed nothing but kindness, which is uncommon for a column racer. Kiley’s densely freckled face looked as stubborn as Fidelja’s, as a thick set of eyebrows rested above bluish-green eyes. All of the riders were tall, as riders were supposed to be, and all of them weighed no more than a feathered pillow.

Areli wondered if they were studying her as well. She wished she knew what they were thinking. She imagined the most ridiculing and demeaning statements that were floating around her teammate’s heads – and all of them directed at her. Her thoughts were interrupted by the tapping of heels against ground, which turned into soft thuds against carpet, and then tapping again as they found hard surface.

A woman walked through the locker entrance and looked at each of the girls, slowly. Her eyes stopped on Areli the longest and then she continued to the center of the room. Areli instantly knew who the woman was. Her name was Saniyah Flynn. She was a retired professional rider and would have certainly been the most successful rider on the World Circuit if it wasn’t for the emergence of her teammate, Aquilina Hawkins.