Page 52 of Wind Rider

“Yes, that’s right. Quartz is also a harmonizing stone—a powerful one. Cali, what does it harmonize?” Dawn asked the young Rider of an exceptional sorrel filly. The young horse was a true beauty—long-legged and wide of forehead and chest. Her Rider was an intelligent young woman, though she tended to lack confidence in herself.

Cali startled and her cheeks flushed pink. “Um, our thoughts and the thoughts of others?”

“Are you asking me or answering me?” Dawn asked, though not unkindly. When the girl simply lowered her eyes, the Lead Mare Rider moved on to another girl. “Luce, do you have a clearer answer?”

Luce, a passionate girl and the Rider of a big filly with unusual grulla markings of mouse-colored hairs on her body, shoulder and dorsal stripes, and black barring on her lower legs, was definitely one of the contenders for Lead Mare, replied quickly. “It harmonizes energies—thoughts, consciousness, and emotions.”

“Yes, with what?”

“Humans,” Luce said.

“Anyone else have an answer?”

River lifted her head. Dawn watched her daughter’s gaze skim over the two girls who had not answered, and when they remained silent, she spoke.

“Quartz harmonizes our thoughts, consciousness, and emotions with the Universe and the Great Mother Mare and Father Stallion. A talented Seer can use quartz to tap into the will of the Divine.”

“Exactly, and how does this aid a Seer?” asked Dawn.

“Well, if she can sense the will of the Great Mother Mare, then she can ask for guidance to make wise choices, and since quartz is a stone of communication, she should be able to easily pass along that Divine guidance.”

“Correct.” Dawn held in the rush of pride she felt from Echo, again being careful not to show favoritism for her daughter. “Today you donot need to try to tap into Divine guidance, though. Today I simply want you to awaken your crystal and have it focus your thoughts. So, first, each of you decide on a question. It can be as simple as‘Which boy do I ride out with during the next full moon?’” Dawn paused as several of the girls giggled and blushed. “Or it can be more complex, like‘How do I become the best Rider I can be for my horse?’But be sure you focus on one question.” She paused again, waiting for her class to think of their questions before she continued.

“All ready?”

The group of six nodded again.

“To awaken your crystal, keep it clasped between your palms and raise it to touch your third eye.” Dawn demonstrated, placing her crystal in the middle of her forehead, with its point touching her skin. “Once it’s there, close your eyes and concentrate on your question. Your crystal will warm with awakening. When you feel its warmth you should also begin to feel your mind clear. Your concentration should sharpen. You might get an answer to your question quickly—or another question might come to your mind, one that involves the first. If that happens follow the path of the second question, as your crystal has led you there. And now you may begin. I wish you all a mare’s luck.”

Each of her students did exactly as she instructed. Dawn studied them carefully, automatically joining with her mare and using Echo’s heightened senses to observe each of them.

Skye was struggling, which surprised Dawn. The girl was talented, but there was something about her that made her try too hard, causing many of her actions and reactions to appear forced. Dawn could even see beads of sweat beginning to dot the girl’s upper lip, and she wondered what question she’d brought to her crystal.Obviously one that was either unanswerable, or perhaps her answer wasn’t what she expected.

Not a Seer?Echo’s question filled Dawn’s mind with her familiar wisdom.

We can’t know that yet,Dawn replied silently.

Echo snorted, and Dawn had to bite her lip to keep from smiling.

Behave!she told her mare, who swished her tail in cheeky response.

Though all Chosen Riders communicated on a psychic level with their horses, few Riders were able to hear their horse’s voice. The majority of the Herd communicated through emotion. For instance, if a mare sensed danger, her Rider would also feel that danger. Sometimes a horse and Rider communicated through mental images. From the moment Echo had Chosen Dawn she had heard her voice—usually in complete sentences. Dawn had asked her daughter how Anjo communicated with her, and River had explained through feelings and pictures.

Dawn was hopeful that as the pair grew together and their bond strengthened they would also develop the ability for silent speech, though that was not a requirement for Lead Mare and Rider.

Dawn shifted her attention to Cali, the Rider of the attractive sorrel Vixen. The girl was sweet, and whether or not the pair was chosen for Lead Mare and Rider, Dawn had hopes that Cali would be drawn to the counseling aspect of being a Seer, as her kind manner and intelligence would be an excellent addition to the small team of Seers who saw to the mental health of the Riders—though in order to be successful as a counselor or a Lead Mare team Cali would have to gain confidence. As she watched, Vixen’s head lifted, and then Cali’s eyes opened. A smile bloomed on her pretty face and Dawn motioned for the girl and filly to step out of line and join her in front of the class, which Cali did quickly, though her cheeks blazed pink again.

“Did your awakened crystal help you find your answer?” Dawn spoke in a soft voice so as not to disturb the other concentrating Riders.

“It did!” Cali whispered.

“Then you are finished for the day. Tomorrow bring your quartz crystal to class again.”

“Thank you, Mare Rider.” Cali bowed respectfully before she and Vixen trotted away.

Nice girl. Like her and her filly.

Dawn silently agreed with her mare before returning to studying her students. Luce and her grulla filly, Blue, were both very still and seemed to be concentrating together. Even the filly’s eyes were closed, and her bowed head mirrored her Rider.