Page 123 of Wind Rider

“Hey there, Deinos. Thanks for getting up early with us.” River stroked the filly’s slick neck. “Her coat is really beautiful. We don’t see many black-and-white paints in the Herd. I think she’s going to grow into an exceptional mare.”

“That means a lot coming from you.” April smiled happily. “I’ll look forward to which stallion you decide she’s best bred to someday.”

“I will, too,” River said—taking a moment to relish the possibilities of the future. She would love nothing more than to lead Herd Magentiinto another era of prosperity, peace, and strength—and part of that leadership would be choosing which mares are bred to which stallions and when.

“Hey, hold still and close your eyes. I know this is going to get all messed up as soon as you start sweating, but you and Anjo are going to look incredible until then.”

River did as April commanded, relaxing under her sister’s expert touch as she used lavender and white to highlight her dark eyes and then painted the wavy lines that symbolized a river—her namesake—on her cheeks. River was glad her sister was there, especially as her mother couldn’t be. It was against Herd law for the Lead Mare Rider to show favoritism toward any of the Candidates who would take her place, and that included her daughter. Dawn and Echo would give the signal that would begin the first leg of the Test—a five-mile race to Bitter Creek, which is where the first of the Mare Test obstacles was set—and then the outgoing Lead Mare and Rider, along with the majority of the Herd Magenti, would cut across the prairie to be at the finish, where they would greet every pair. Dawn and Echo would wait with the rest of the Herd as the Mare Council tallied each pair’s score. Then the Council would give Dawn a slip of purple ribbon on which would be embroidered the name of the new Lead Mare/Rider team. Dawn would then read the name of the team aloud to the entire Herd.

After that there was one more Test—perhaps the most important of them all, because if the Rider failed that Test she would never be allowed to be Lead Mare Rider. The Rider of the Lead Mare of Herd Magenti must be able to awaken a crystal before the Mare Council and the Herd—and be a strong enough Crystal Seer that the Council felt the crystal’s awakening. If she could not do that, whoever the Council had placed second would be given the same opportunity—and so on until a Lead Mare Rider who was also a Crystal Seer was chosen.

The Mare Test was quite a bit different from the Stallion Run. For the stallions and their Riders the Run was a race—a test of strength and stamina. But a Lead Mare team needed more than strength and stamina—they needed wisdom, compassion, intuition, and courage,as well as being fast and strong. And then beyond all of that, the Rider of the Lead Mare must be a Crystal Seer.

The stallion who crossed the finish line first was always named Herd Stallion. Quite often the first mare team that crossed the finish line was not named Lead Mare and Rider.

“Hey, where did you go?” April asked.

“Huh? Oh, sorry. I was just thinking about the Test, and also about how difficult today must be for Mother.”

“She’s ready to step down. She’s made that clear,” said April as she opened the wooden chest that held her sister’s most cherished possessions and lifted the amethyst necklace that used to belong to their grandmother. In the flickering candlelight it winked and twinkled magickally as April fastened it around River’s neck, where it nestled against her bronze skin, spreading warmth and contentment throughout her body.

“Oh, I don’t mean that. A decade is long enough to lead. Mother has earned the years of relaxation and respect that are waiting for her. I meant that it must be difficult for her to be forced to stay away from us while I get ready. I’ll bet the only person more nervous than you and me is Mother.” River’s fingers brushed against the smooth purple stones, gathering the warmth from them and letting their comforting aspect soothe her.

“I’ll be with Mother as soon as the Test begins. And don’t forget—she has a lot of faith in Anjo and you. Speaking of your mare, I was asking if you want any symbol besides your two-wave river lines painted on her hips.”

River’s intuition spoke before she’d even processed the answer. “Yes. On one hip paint a dove in flight and paint two wavy lines on the other, as well as on her chest.”

“What does the dove symbolize?”

The words came to River without her being conscious of thinking them. “Freedom and love.”

“Huh. I didn’t realize that’s what doves symbolized,” April said as she turned to Anjo and started painting her hip with thick purple dye.

“I’m not sure if doves symbolize that to everyone, but to me theydefinitely do.” River bent to begin wrapping Anjo’s legs as the image of a sweet, eyeless dove filled her mind.

***

April had been right. River decided she and Anjo did look incredible as they pranced through the camp, making their way to the starting line of the Mare Test. The entire Herd was already there, waiting and watching expectantly. A huge shout and cheer went up as a team took their position on the starting line. River was able to get a glimpse of who it was, and her stomach roiled when she realized it was Alani and her magnificent buckskin mare, Doe, they were cheering.

“I knew it. They’re probably the strongest team here,” River muttered, more to herself than aloud.

Walking beside her with her yearling, April whispered to her sister, “No, you and Anjo are the strongest team here, and you’re fromourHerd—not a stranger’s.”

River gave her sister a side look. “Herd Magenti East aren’t strangers.”

“Well, they also aren’tus.You’re the best ofus,and the best of us is going to win today.”

April is wise,Anjo’s confident voice rang through River’s mind.

“You’re right. She is.” River reached forward and stroked the side of her mare’s neck affectionately.

“Who is what?” April asked.

“Anjo said you’re wise, and I agreed.” She smiled at her sister. “And you’re right, too. I am the best of us, and I need to remember that part of being a Lead Mare Rider is confidence. I didn’t lack it before today—and I’m not going to start lacking it now.”

April’s grin blazed. “There’s the sister I know!”

Another cheer lifted from the starting line.