Free Rider (Spirals of Destiny) by Jim Bernheimer Page B

you to speak with in private.”
    “Thank you.”
    “You are welcome. After we leave Miros, I’ll need a day or two to recover before I can use my healing magic on your hand. There are still too many there who require my help. I don’t want you to think that I am needlessly cruel. In the meantime, the pain you feel will be a reminder that you need to prepare like no other recruit before you, because there has never been another recruit like you before.”
    There was a pause and Lynch signaled for T’rsa to come close, sliding into the saddle in one fluid movement. “I am going for a ride to clear my head, recruit. Make your way back to camp and think about what we discussed this evening. ”
    Seconds later, they were alone and staring at each other. It was somewhat uncomfortable. He stepped closer and she hesitated before sticking the knife in the length of rope she used as a belt, and placing her uninjured hand on the side of his neck. He vehemently denied what Lynch was implying about him. Kayleigh's eyes showed that she didn't entirely believe his denials.
    “She has a point. I didn’t leave my home just so you could be the next controlling force in my life. I wasn’t ready to fight.” She said quietly.
    It was easy to use hate to justify his decisions with Lynch, but less so with Kayleigh confronting him.
    “If you’re expecting me to be Danella, you’re in for a letdown. I can’t be her. You just heard her. They’re going to hold me to some unreachable standard. It’s not fair! I just want to be a battle maiden, not the second coming of General Jyslin!”
    Her words were tinged with her fear and insecurities. Majherri knew how much Kayleigh worried about fitting in with the others. Young human females tended to concern themselves with things like that. He sent her a feeling of camaraderie.
    “That’s what we’re supposed to be – a team. I can do that, but you need to meet me part of the way. I’ve got enough on my hands without being a part of what you and Captain Lynch have going on.”
    Another awkward silence ensued. Even among beings that can communicate raw emotion to each other, sometimes there was nothing else to say. “Come on, let’s get back to camp. I need some rest. We probably both have a lot to sleep on.”
    Majherri kept his head held up, but it was much more of an effort than before. He paced his rider back to the wagons and after she climbed into her sleeping roll, he made his way back to a clear area to watch the stars. Pasha found him there.
    “ You angered your rider, my rider…actually just about every rider in camp,” Pasha commented without any accusation in her tone.
    “ Better the two human warriors died without injuring any of the barbarians and then the whole group descended on a camp filled with children and unicorns that know not their horn from their tail. That would have gone well.”
    “ True, but did you really need your rider at this time?”
    He thought the female’s question over. Majherri had been separated from Danella in battle before and thought nothing about waging war on his own. He knew why this was different. Perhaps giving the answer its own voice would help rid him of the demons plaguing his steps.
    “ I had … doubts of my own ability. I lack the confidence of my earlier years. My last battle, I did not win. I don’t even know what really happened, other than my rider was killed. I may never know. Could I have done more? Could it happen again? That failure haunts me, Pasha. There! I’ve said it. Does that make you happy? Both you and T’rsa have been looking for a confession this entire trip.”
    The younger female maneuvered around to look at him from his scarred side and where the crack in his horn was most prominent.
    “ None of us could come out of a fight with the scars you carry without giving our all. It’s obvious you fought to the best of your ability.”
    “ And it wasn’t enough!” He reared and pounded his hooves in