Page 122 of Wind Rider

“I think I’m more nervous for you today than I was before Deinos Chose me.”

“Stop it! My stomach is already turned inside out. April, what if we do a terrible job? What if we don’t just lose, but losebadly?”

Hands on her hips, April turned to face her sister. “What does Anjo say about that?”

River snorted, sounding a lot like her mare. “She says we’re not going to lose.”

“Well, mares know things. Didn’t she tell you she knew I was going to be Chosen at my very first Presentation?”

“You know she did, because I told you that.”

“See—mares know things. Especially Lead Mares.”

“She’s not Lead Mare,” River said.

“Yet,” April said.

“But we’re so young, Anjo and me. I counted seven teams that arrived from the other branches of our Herd—seven teams,April. And all but one of them are older than Anjo and me. Do you know that Alani and her Doe have entered?”

April sighed. “I do. They’re a strong team from the Herd Magenti East.”

“Strong and experienced. Doe is ten, and that makes Alani twenty-six. They know a lot more than I do.”

“But they aren’t you and Anjo. No one else is—you two are special. Now get over here so I can work on your hair.”

“I don’t know why we bother.” River sat in front of her sister, and Aprilbegan combing out her thick raven’s-wing-colored curls. “Anjo and I are going to look like a mess by the end of the Test.”

“Of course you will, but everyone understands why. Forty miles and whatever insane tests the Mare Council has for you over the course of those miles will take a toll. But the Herd will remember how you looked when you and Anjo pranced to the starting line and shot off, leaving everyone behind.”

“Hey, don’t expect Anjo to set the beginning pace. Didn’t you hear that Willow and her Gontia decided to join the Test? Gontia can beat Anjo in a sprint.”

“In a sprint, sure. But not over forty miles,” April said.

“They’re strong competition. Willow is two years older than me. She’s had two more years to condition her mare,” River said. “Luce and Blue are a strong team, too. They’re passionate about winning. I’ve watched them preparing. Ever since that day in the mud trap Luce has made Blue’s conditioning a priority. Add that competition to the seven teams from the other Magenti Herds, and I’m really worried.”

“Riv, pull yourself together. You’re forgetting something really important. No one knows more about what it takes to be a Lead Mare Rider than you. Well, except for Mother, who isactuallyour Lead Mare Rider. You’ve been watching Mother for a decade. And for the past three years, since Anjo’s Choosing, you’ve been accompanying Mother as she goes about Herd business. This year you even attended the Mare Council with her. Our people know that. They’ve watched you earn the leadership role you’ve grown into,beforethe Mare Test. And you know Herd members seek you out, especially for your opinion on their horses.”

“Yeah, that’s true. But I would be one of the youngest Riders ever to win a Mare Test.”

“Youngest doesn’t mean that you also wouldn’t be qualified. Look, Riv, our Herd, Magenti Central, is the largest of all five of our branches. We hold the best of the Magenti territory—we have the strongest, smartest, fastest horses. You know what you’re doing, and the Herd is pulling for you.”

“Not the whole Herd,” River said.

“Oh, who cares about Clayton and his minions? Skye and Scout can’t beat you,” April said.

“They’ve been training hard since the mud trap, too,” River reminded her sister.

“Doesn’t matter. You’re a better Rider and Anjo is a better mare. And, sure, Skye has her little group of followers, but they’ll all shut up once you and Anjo win today. Plus, can Skye really awaken a crystal?”

River shrugged. “Yeah, I think so. I’ve seen her do it a few times in class.”

April scoffed. “Afew times? Inclass? Please. You could awaken a crystal in your sleep. Even if something bizarre happens and Skye beats you in the Test, she must awaken a crystal so that the entire Mare Council can feel its properties—in front of the whole Herd. That’s a lot of pressure, and Skye does not perform well under pressure. You do.” She handed her sister a small mirror. “What do you think?”

River stared back at her reflection. April had braided her dark hair close to her scalp, weaving thin purple ribbons decorated with embroidered silver mane from Echo. Her braids fell all around her shoulders to almost reach her waist. Dressed with Magenti’s purple, River looked fierce and ready for battle.

“I think you did a great job. Thank you,” River said.

“I’m going to paint your face now, and as soon as your mare gets back I’ll paint designs on her, and then we can braid the ribbons into her mane and tail and wrap her legs.” Anjo snorted as she entered the tent, with April’s newly bonded filly close behind. “There you are! And right on time.” April smiled at Anjo, and then rubbed her filly’s wide head.