Rider (Spirals of Destiny) (32 page)

“That’s the other thing I figured out. I don’t really think I’m a battle maiden. I think I’m a sorceress. I might even be able to do some of the earth and air magic, but I never really spent much time watching them. Would you like some water?”

He moved closer. As his face brushed against her hands, she could sense his broken bond. It was a frayed rope dangling and slowly unraveling. In her mind, she could feel the strands. An idea came to her, but before she could do anything, he backed away.

“Rheysurrah! I might be able to save you. Danella said my bond with Majherri wasn’t a real bond and she broke it. I might be able to make a bond with you.”

The unicorn did not like the idea. When she stepped forward, he lowered his horn.

“So dying is the better option then? What would Annabeth say? What would she want you to do?”

He pawed the ground with his hoof and warned her to come no closer.

“Do you want to avenge her? I do! Do you want to make sure those trainees make it out of the desert alive? I do! Don’t you want to know if you fathered a colt or a mare with T’rsa?”

Her argument seemed to have an effect on him. He raised his head and took a less threatening stance.

“I won’t try it unless you agree, but I still have to secure her body. So let me approach. We need to start moving. You can decide along the way. It might not even work, but I’d like to try. You shouldn’t have to die if you don’t want to. I may even be able to learn how to cleanly break the bond at some point and you could go and find another rider.”

Rheysurrah moved closer and allowed her to tie Annabeth’s body across his saddle. She scrounged for supplies from the dead nomads and used some of the dried fruit to feed and water the wary unicorn.

Climbing into the saddle of Brownie, she led the unicorn in search of the other girls. The sun continued to lash out at them and Rheysurrah tired quickly. Kayleigh didn’t realize that he’d stopped and had to turn back and ride for a quarter of a mile.

“Do you need some more water or food?”

He shook his head.

“We can break here, but that won’t help us catch up to the others.”

He shook his head and backed away a few more paces.

“What? You’re just giving up! Do you really want to die in this desert, when you could still fight? My friend wasn’t a quitter and I don’t think you are either!”

He snorted.

“I loved her too. She was one of the few people that believed in me, treated me with respect, and helped me when others stood by and did nothing. You might think you’re betraying her, but if I don’t try to save you, I’m betraying her friendship and all the times she came to my aid. War is already here and I don’t know if I’ll ever get a chance to bond with Majherri again. I know I’ll be able to try and forge a bond with another unicorn to spare it from the wasting. I’d rather save you. Will you please let me try?”

The unicorn stared into the sand for a full minute. He lifted his head and walked to her.

All she could say through her tears was, “Thank you.”

Placing her hands on either side of his head, she closed her eyes and saw each side of the frayed ropes that symbolized their broken bonds. In her mind, she brought the ropes together and began the process of tying the frayed strands into one. A tingling feeling, like when a limb falls asleep spread over her body. She could feel Rheysurrah shudder also. The sensation spread and built as more strands came together. At some point, it was no longer her doing it, but the bond was taking on a life of its own. It was a beautiful and precious thing to behold. The last of the strands knotted and the finished product surged with energy sending both of them reeling.

Kayleigh opened her eyes. She looked a Rheysurrah and could feel his surprise. Standing, she brushed her clothes off and walked over to him. She ran her fingers through his mane and he did not rebel against her touch. The bond was successful. Her new unicorn would live.

When the sand started to give way to solid ground, they found a hill. Using Annabeth’s sword, Kayleigh cut through the scrub brush and pushed it into a pile. She tied a rope to Rheysurrah and he pulled portions of downed trees into a pile. With the greatest of care, Kayliegh positioned Rider Welsh’s body on the funeral pyre and said her goodbyes. Walking back a few paces, Kayleigh gave Rheysurrah the privacy to say his own farewells. She tended to the horse and waited.

A few minutes passed and her unicorn lifted his head and neighed loudly. Kayleigh walked back to him leading “Brownie” and tying the horse to the unicorn’s saddle. Touching Rheysurrah’s mane, she drew the magic connecting them and used that magical fire to light the wood.

As she stared into that cleansing flame, Kayleigh knew she was forever changed. She’d been weak and unprepared. Majherri was captured by the traitor Danella and Annabeth had perished. The other recruits were running scared and could be in grave danger.

“Never again!” she cried to the sky above. Her anger drove back her fear. The world didn’t need another frightened trainee. It needed a warrior. Strife had come to the Blessed Continent and her powers would be needed – whether she could master them or not.

Mounting Rheysurrah, Kayliegh looked eastward, toward the slumbering kingdoms who were unaware of the danger facing them. She leaned forward and whispered in her unicorn’s ear.

“Let’s ride, Rheysurrah!”