Page 51 of Wind Rider

“That was really something,” Mari said, as she stepped into Nik’s embrace.

“We’re really something! All of us—this whole Pack. Mari, I have never been this happy,” he said, bending to kiss her thoroughly.

“Okay, Pack, let’s get on the water now!” Antreas said. “Unless our Sun Priest and Mari Moon Woman need someprivate time.” The Lynx man waggled his eyebrows at the Pack, causing everyone to laugh good-naturedly.

“Don’t tempt me,” Nik said as Mari stepped out of his arms and hurried to the shoreline with the Pack. “You know how I feel about that river.”

“I do,” Mari heard Antreas say to Nik. “But I also know how you feel about Mari. Seems she’s leaving you behind.”

Then there were more amiable chuckles as Nik jogged to catch up with his Moon Woman.

CHAPTER 10

ONE AND A HALF YEARS IN THE PAST—HERD MAGENTI’S FALL CAMPSITE, OZARK PLATEAU

“Remember, Riders, it is easiest to awaken the properties in crystals and stones when you are in communion with your horse. As Crystal Seer trainees, your strongest communion will be while you’re on your horse’s back.” Dawn, the Rider of the Lead Mare of Herd Magenti and the most powerful Seer in the herd, paused and met the gaze of each of her six pupils—the young female Riders who had shown the most promise for becoming Seers. Out of this small group, narrowed from twenty young women down to the remaining six, her replacement, the next Lead Mare and Rider of Herd Magenti, might be chosen.

Though every mare in the Herd could compete for Lead Mare status, the four fillies and their Riders were exceptional, and Dawn had a very strong feeling that one of them would be the next Lead Mare. Her gaze lingered on her daughter and she was filled with pride—though she was careful not to outwardly show favoritism, she was not as neutral in her thoughts.River and Anjo are doing so well! They excel at everything!“If you feel ready, go ahead and mount.”

The girls stood and each of their horses—four fillies and two geldings—knelt so that their Riders could easily mount them. Then the six young horses and their Riders eagerly faced their teacher.

“Here is what I would like you to do,” Dawn began after mountingher own mare, the spectacular Echo, who had served almost a decade as Lead Mare of their Herd. “Each of you has a clear quartz crystal that you chose before class today, correct?”

The Riders nodded.

“You cleansed your crystals in the light of the full moon last night, correct?” Dawn knew that each girl had done as required. The six who remained were well beyond making such a simple, irresponsible mistake as not bringing the correct crystal to class or not cleansing it, but Dawn liked to reiterate each step in the awakening process, as someday one of these girls,hopefully her talented daughter,might be teaching her own young Seers.

“Yes,” the class spoke as one.

“Excellent. Now, hold your crystal like this.” Dawn placed her own well-used quartz crystal between her palms, weaving her fingers together as if clasping her hands in prayer. “If your crystal is tipped, that tip should face up. If it is not, take a moment to try different positions for it in your hands. Listen to your intuition. The crystal will speak to you. It will tell you how it should be held.”

Dawn paused, watching her six students adjust their crystals. She was pleased to notice that River didn’t fidget around with the crystal at all. She held it still and true between her palms, her hands clasped around it, her eyes focused down on the finger-sized shard of pure quartz she’d found the summer before in the Quachita Mountains, near the Valley of Vapors and the hot springs where Herd Magenti wintered.

“Dawn, I can’t tell which way to hold mine.”

Dawn shifted her attention instantly from her daughter to Skye, the Rider of a lovely dappled gray filly named Scout, who had been one of the weanlings from Herd Magenti who had Chosen a Rider from the same Herd. Often weanlings Chose Riders from other Herds, which helped to keep inbreeding to a minimum. And, truthfully, Scout was not one of Echo’s fillies, though her dam’s bloodlines did cross with hers far enough removed to allow her to be a serious contender for Lead Mare. The stallion that had sired Scout had been one of the minor Herd studs,allowed to breed only after the mares picked to be bred to the Lead Stallion were all covered, or impregnated.

Dawn couldn’t deny that Scout was a sound, beautiful mare, and Skye was very obviously going to enter the Mare Test. She thought that there was something rather cold about the young woman, but she was intelligent and popular with the Herd, so perhaps she just didn’t know the girl well enough to understand her.

Dawn studied the crystal cupped in Skye’s hands. It was the size of a chicken’s egg, flat on the bottom with many faceted tips pointing upward from its base.A difficult crystal equates to a difficult studentflitted through her mind, and Dawn had to force her face to remain impassive, though she did tap Echo on the shoulder in acknowledgment of her mare’s comment.

“Hold the crystal close to your heart,” Dawn instructed, and Skye quickly did so. “Now, close your eyes and instead of concentrating on the crystal, concentrate on Scout. Her intuition is more highly developed than yours. Let her feel the crystal through you, and through her you will feel which way it should be held.”

The girl closed her eyes and bowed her head, concentrating so hard that her brow furrowed. Suddenly she opened her eyes, smiling victoriously.

“She showed me!” Skye leaned forward to stroke her filly’s smooth neck. “Thank you, Scout.”

“Well done,” said Dawn. “Everyone else have your crystals positioned?”

Six heads nodded.

“Quartz crystal is a stone of communication,” Dawn continued. “They are the easiest of the crystals for a Seer to awaken. Skye, I will begin with you. Tell me what properties of the Seer quartz enhances.”

“Quartz enhances body energy as well as thoughts,” said Skye.

“True.” Dawn shifted her attention to one of the two gelding Riders, a promising girl named Mist. Though not a mare Rider, so obviously not in contention for Lead Mare Rider, Mist had an aptitude for stones and Dawn was certain she would make an excellent Crystal Seer. “Mist, explain why Seers often begin their work by awakening a clear quartz.”

Unlike Skye, Mist paused and took her time responding. “Quartz crystals clear a Seer’s mind, enabling her to more effectively work with any other stone.”