Page 157 of Wind Rider

“Ask him why he wants to be Lead Stallion.”

Ghost rested his muzzle on her shoulder as Anjo responded for him.

He says the Herd will need a champion, and he believes he is strong enough to be that champion. He wants to protect the Herd—always.

“Good. Then let’s win this. Starting right now. Anjo, I’m going to mount Ghost, and I need him to do as I say.”

Of course! Ghost is honored that you will be his Rider, if only temporarily.

As the golden stallion knelt gracefully so that River could mount him for the very first time, she spoke hastily to her mare, who relayed everything to the stallion…

Later, April told River that just before she and Ghost thundered back to the Choosing Theater, Clayton had been making a lot of noise, saying that no one even knew if shecouldride Ghost in the Run. Had anyone seen River ride the stallion? Even once? Anyone?

When no one spoke, Clayton had continued railing against Ghost, saying he was, after all, nothing but a rogue stallion who should probably be put down before he became dangerous.

But the field went silent when Ghost thundered back with River confidently astride. The stallion slid to a stop, snorting and prancing in place.

“I almost forgot to wish my Riders luck.” She grinned at them. Even that short sprint had her head reeling with Ghost’s speed. River was positive no stallion in Herd Magenti—in all of the Herds—had his power and speed.And he’s been letting Anjo win races against him—clever boy!“So, best of luck to all of the stallion Riders racing against Ghost and me, but you’ll understand if I don’t wish you a mare’s luck—I think it only proper that I keepthatparticular luck for myself.”

She cued Ghost, and like she’d been riding him for years instead of mere minutes, the stallion whirled around and sprinted from the field, throwing dirt and grass behind him and all over the other Riders.

“I’m not sure that was necessary,” River told him as they rejoined Anjo and she slid from his back, petting his smooth neck affectionately.

Not necessary, but fun?her mare asked.

River looked up at the golden stallion and her beautiful silver mare. “It definitely was fun. Anjo, we’re going to beat every one of them.”

Anjo’s response was tinged with humor.Of course you are! The only horse who can beat Ghost is me—and then only when he lets me.

“You know he lets you win?”

Ghost’s snort sounded a lot like laughter, and Anjo nipped him playfully on the neck before her typically confident answer sounded in River’s mind.

I am Lead Mare. I know everything.

CHAPTER 23

ROCK MOUNTAIN PASS—THE PACK

It took two weeks for the Pack to acclimate to the constant climb that was their path through the Rock Mountains. Mari decided it really wouldn’t have been that difficult had they not had a whole world of supplies with them, and because of that it took a while for new blisters and then calluses to form on shoulders and hips from where they’d rigged the straps for carrying the litters. Thankfully, every Pack member’s hands had been toughened from months of using paddles or oars, so getting used to their new method of travel wasn’t too hard. And everyone—even Danita and Dove, who had come to love the water—was happy to be on dry land.

At the two-week mark they reached the snow line, which meant they were able to camp every night safely on the ground, instead of climbing into the boughs of the giant pines and strapping themselves there in the travel cloaks the Tribe had called cocoons. But when they came to the snow line, Antreas had explained that the swarm and other predatory insects, like wolf spiders, would not bother them, as they could not tolerate the cold. Even at that altitude there was still plenty of green in the forest around them and the days weren’t terribly cold. The nights got frigid, but the Pack soon learned to circle around a large campfire—everyone close together for warmth. Antreas taught them to buildtemporary lean-tos using those same travel cloaks the Earth Walkers had been busily weaving all during the trip. They blocked much of the cutting night wind, and made the frosty darkness a lot easier to bear. It was strange for every member of the Pack except Antreas to sleep in a forest andnotbe either fifty plus feet above the ground or snug in a burrow below.

The morning that began their third week in the mountains, there was a dusting of snow on the lean-tos, though the sky was clear and the sun they greeted painted the sky with watercolors of mauve and daffodil.

“We’re crossing a treacherous part of the pass today,” Antreas told the Pack after they’d greeted the sun, broken their fast, and repacked the litters. “The rail runs along the side of a steep cliff, and then we have to cross a bridge.”

“A rail bridge? How is that still standing and safe?” Nik asked.

“It’s not the original bridge the rails were on—none of those are still standing. Lynx guides built a suspension bridge where the rail ends and anchored it to the other side of the gorge where it begins again. It’s just wide enough to accommodate the litters, but we’ll have to cross in single file. I’m really proud of you. We’ve made better time than I expected. If we keep going at this pace we’ll be leaving the mountains in just two more weeks, at the end of summer—giving us enough warm days left to build shelters for the winter, just as we planned.”

The Pack cheered themselves and then set out. Today Mari and Nik were walking beside a litter carrying Mariah’s eleven pups—as well as their father, Cammyman, after Mari decided that, though his lacerated legs and amputated tail were healing well, he’d walked long enough. Mariah was completely recovered from giving birth, and generally the only time the well-conditioned Shepherd rode on the litter was when she needed to nurse her pups.

“They’re starting to open their eyes!” Mari picked up one of the blond puppies and kissed its nose as it blinked, molelike, at her. Beside her, Rigel whined, and Mari bent so that he could sniff and lick the pup before she put her back on the litter. “That puppy smell—I’ll never get over how much I love it.”

“Apparently, neither will Rigel,” Nik said, grinning at the young Shepherd.

“My Rigel is going to make a wonderful father someday,” Mari said.