Page 155 of Wind Rider

Anjo leaped forward into a gallop, weaving around tents and people without breaking her stride. River moved with her as if they were the same being—purple ribbons streaming behind them. Someone hadclosed the gate that opened to the outdoor arena where all of the stallions of the Herd and their Riders were congregated, running sprint match races while weaving between long poles, practicing their maneuverability. At the sound of Anjo’s powerful hooves pounding against the dirt, as one the Riders and stallions looked her way.

“Gate’s down!” River told Anjo.

I know. That is why I told you to hold on.

Anjo gathered herself and gracefully jumped over the gate, clearing it easily. When she landed, she didn’t slow. Instead she stretched out into a flat run, sprinting through the group of stallions so that they had to scramble to clear the way for her. When Anjo got to the poles she barely slowed, but wove through each one before turning to prance back to the stallions, head and tail high, ears pricked, confidence, strength, and beauty radiating from her.

Led by Jasper, the Riders clapped and cheered as their Lead Mare and Rider approached, and the stallions trumpeted greetings—the loudest of all being Ghost, who was present, but held himself off from the group of stallions and Riders.

Anjo halted in front of the group, and River raised her hand so that they quieted.

“Thank you for that greeting. Anjo appreciates the enthusiasm of her stallions.” The horses tossed their heads and looked pleased. “And I come with news for my stallion Riders. The Mare Council has made their decision about Ghost.”

Jasper stepped forward, with Blaze by his side. He bowed respectfully to River. “Your stallion Riders are eager to hear their decision.”

“Good! The Mare Council decided that it should be my choice whether Ghost joins the Run or not—but if he does, they agree that I must be his Rider.”

There was a brief smattering of whispers that rustled through the Riders, but as soon as Jasper spoke again they stilled.

“And what is your decision, Mare Rider?”

“Before I tell you that, I want to announce a change. I have listened to talk among our Herd, and I am going to hold to most of our traditions, because those traditions have brought us peace and prosperity for so, so many years, but I also believe there is room for new traditions. The stallion Riders should have more of a voice in decisions that pertain to breeding. I propose that beginning at the end of this summer, after the Stallion Run, each stallion Rider will get to vote on my choice of which mares should be bred to which stallions. Those votes will be tallied and then presented to me. I will weigh the majority vote carefully, along with the recommendations of the new Herd Stallion Rider, before announcing my final decisions.”

“So it will be like the new Herd Stallion Rider gets one vote, and then the rest of the Riders also get one—with the majority being that vote?” Jasper asked.

“Exactly.”

Clayton stepped up beside Jasper, causing River to frown at him. He was not Herd Stallion Rider—yet. He had no right to step out of the Herd with Jasper. But before River could admonish him, Anjo’s serene voice advised otherwise.

That is stallion business—and it is Jasper’s place to hold the young Riders in check.

River gritted her teeth, but she agreed with her mare. The fact that Jasper allowed such a breach in behavior was evidence of the obvious—that it was time he and Blaze stepped aside.

“And what if you decide to ride Ghost and he wins?” Clayton asked in a voice that boomed across the field.

“Then Ghost will be Herd Stallion,” River said.

“Yes, we understand that,” Clayton said. “But how will that affect the vote? Doesn’t that give you two votes and the stallion Riders one?”

“Well, yes, it would. Though the stallion Riders don’t even have one vote right now. But if I choose to ride Ghost, and if we win, I will not be his Rider. He and I are not bonded. So, the stallion vote will serve in the place of the Herd Stallion Rider vote.”

“So, you’ll still get one vote?” Clayton asked.

“Yes, Clayton. I will still get only one vote—thedecidingvote. The same vote I have whether Ghost runs and wins or not.” River met andheld Clayton’s gaze until the Rider eventually looked away. She noticed then that Clayton was looking exceptionally thin, and it suddenly struck her why. He was anticipating her decision, and believed she would ride Ghost in the Run—and River weighed much less than any of the stallion Riders. Her weight could give Ghost an advantage, especially over fifty miles of racing.

Clayton starves himself so that he can beat you and Ghost. He wastes his time,Anjo scoffed.

“And what is your decision, Mare Rider?” Jasper repeated the question.

River lifted the fist-sized blue gemstone so that all of the Riders could see it. “I am going to call on tourmaline for clarity before I speak my decision.”

Jasper nodded. “Very wise, Mare Rider.”

“Tourmaline is a masculine stone,” River explained quickly. “It is also a clarifying crystal. Seers called it a Teller Stone for the insight it can provide during difficult decisions. What I ask of my stallion Riders is for each of you to simply be genuine. Think of your true feelings about Ghost and me competing in the Run. The stone and I will do the rest. Are you ready?”

As one, the stallion Riders nodded.

Still astride Anjo, River lifted the gemstone again, holding it up in front of her face in the palm of her right hand. She focused on her breathing, making sure it was deep and even, and then passed her left hand over the stone as she whispered to it.