THE UNCALLED RIDER

That the west castle grounds were empty was a testament to the realm at war, so many soldiers pulled north and now to the east to face Second Empire. Usually there were cavalry soldiers exercising their horses, or units drilling in formation. Today, there were only Anna on Angry-Mad and Horse Master Riggs riding Condor. The west castle grounds was a large open sward with the castle rising to one side, and the castle’s curtain wall to the other. Anna, who had only ridden the mare in the close confines of the paddock with a fence around her, felt insecure in the openness. No doubt Angry-Mad, or “Maddie,” as Anna had decided to call her after her talk with Mason, could sense her apprehension.

Master Riggs sat Condor like it was more natural than standing on her own two feet. The gelding, she said, needed exercise, and she was certain Karigan would approve of her riding him. He certainly didn’t look as if he minded. She also said that since he and Maddie seemed to be getting on, or that Maddie at least tolerated him, that his presence might prove reassuring to her.

Anna had groomed her without injury. Most of Maddie’s attacks had become half-hearted as she grew accustomed to the attention, but half-hearted could still hurt. Anna also got used to Maddie’s ways. The mare gave off signals when she was about to explode, and Anna’s reflexes had grown swift. Of course, avoiding the mare’s sensitivities was the best way to prevent problems, but it wasn’t always possible, and some of her outbursts were due to ill-humor and sheer orneriness.

“Posting trot,” Master Riggs ordered.

Anna squeezed Maddie’s sides and they circled Master Riggs and Condor at a trot. Maddie had been well-trained at some point in her past and knew the signals. In fact, her gait was lovely and smooth.

“Very good,” Riggs said as Anna made her circuits. “The more I think about it, the more I believe she was someone’s fine riding horse. She really does have elegant movement.”

Anna was pleased her one-eyed, angry-tempered mount had some positive attributes. She was actually enjoying the ride until she realized Maddie had laid her ears back and was dropping her head.

Oh, no! Anna tugged on the reins to pull the mare’s head back up, but was too late. Maddie bucked and Anna was flung forward in the saddle. She grasped a handful of mane for the second buck and held on.

“Good save,” Master Riggs said. “Now see how keeping your heels down aids in maintaining a good seat so you don’t get thrown?”

“Yes’m,” Anna replied, feeling slightly rattled.

“No telling what set her off, though,” Riggs continued. “Your hands were quiet, so it wasn’t that.”

For Maddie’s part, she behaved as an obedient horse as if nothing had happened. The lesson proceeded more calmly until Riggs asked Anna to ride at a canter down the length of the field. Maddie started tossing her head, bucking, and twisting until she succeeded in dislodging her desperate Rider. Anna hit the ground and the air whooshed out of her lungs. For a moment she was not sure what happened, but then she saw her horse calmly grazing just a short distance away.

“Ow,” Anna said.

Maddie flicked her ear and swished her tail, and generally looked pleased with herself.

Master Riggs trotted up on Condor. “You all right?” she asked.

Anna wanted to say that no, she was not all right, but replied with the expected, “Yes’m.”

“Good,” Riggs replied. “You know what to do.”

Anna did. It was certainly not the first time she had ended up on the ground thanks to Maddie. Still, it was with no small amount of trepidation that she took up the reins, put her toe in the stirrup, and swung up. The mare tossed her head and stamped, but otherwise tolerated being mounted.

The rest of the lesson went more or less without incident. A small buck here, vigorous head tossing there, and resistance to Anna’s commands, but no spills. The one was going to be enough to make her very sore by the next day.

Following the lesson, after the horses were untacked and brushed down, she and Master Riggs gazed at Maddie in her stall. Maddie gazed back at them with her one eye.

“It’s not just orneriness from abuse,” Master Riggs said, “though that’s a lot of it. She’s trying to tell us something, but for the life of me I can’t figure it out.”

The mare blinked, then went to her hay rack, leaving the pair to gaze at her rump.

“We’ve given her the gentlest bit,” Master Riggs continued, “had her thoroughly examined by a mender and farrier, and treated her well, but something is still not right.”

Mason appeared beside them with his pitchfork. “How’d it go today?” he asked.

“The usual,” Anna replied. “Only got thrown once this time, though.”

Mason’s eyes were keen as he gazed at Maddie. “She’s a fine-looking horse up close as she was at a distance yesterday. She looks healthy, but . . .”

“But?” Master Riggs said.

An odd look entered Mason’s eyes. “Could be better.”

“She was in rough shape when we got her,” Master Riggs said, “and she’s been on a long road to recovery.”

“Hmm,” Mason said. “Anyone look at her teeth?”

“Of course. They were floated just—”

Not seeming to hear the horse master, Mason handed his pitchfork to Anna and went to the stall door. Maddie whirled and lunged, but he dodged her teeth just in time.

“What are you trying to do?” Anna asked.

He did not answer. In fact, there was a faraway look to his eyes as if he was unaware of anyone but the horse. He slowly advanced on the stall door again. “Easy,” he murmured.

Maddie laid her ears back again.

“Easy.” He continued to speak softly, and Maddie held herself ready to lunge but did not act. In fact, she seemed to relax as he continued to murmur to her. Then something curious happened. A blue glow formed around his hand, just like Anna had seen when Ben worked on healing Ty.

Maddie appeared mesmerized by Mason, and he by her, as if they were in rapport. Her ears slowly went to point, then flickered to pick out his words. She did not react when he placed his hand on her cheek. The glow pulsed and it seemed to flow into her cheek; then after several seconds, it vanished. His hand dropped to his side and he stumbled backward. Master Riggs caught his arm to steady him.

“You all right?” she asked.

“I—. Yes. What just happened?”

“You healed Maddie,” Anna said. “Or something.”

“Oh.” He wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. “Guess I did. It—it just flowed out of me, the energy, and somehow I knew what to do.”

“What did you heal?” Master Riggs asked. She’d been around Green Riders enough that she was aware of their special abilities.

“Tooth infection,” he said. “Back tooth, just starting to form an abscess. That’s why she was tossing her head so much and being picky about her food. Whoever looked at her in the beginning missed it. Easy to do, I suppose, especially when she’s so hard to handle. Also, her eye socket, the empty one, was bothering her. It gets itchy from dust and whatnot and should be cleaned with a damp cloth now and then.”

“You got rid of the infection?” Anna asked.

He nodded. “I repaired the tooth and gum. She’ll eat with no trouble now, and I expect she’ll get to her full weight in no time.”

“Aeryc and Aeryon,” Master Riggs said. “I’m afraid I wasn’t seeing past her personality to know she was hurting.” Despite her own misperception, the horse master looked extremely pleased. “Not only are you an apprentice animal mender, lad, but a true healer. This is wonderful. Your services will be in high demand.”

He gazed at his hand, opened and closed it. “I can’t believe it. It was so clear what to do.” He looked at Maddie again and grinned. “She’s feeding easily.”

Maddie indeed tugged at her hay and ate with enthusiasm.

“Thank you,” Anna said, and returned the pitchfork. “I think Maddie thanks you, too.”

“You found another name for her. I like it.”

Anna nodded. “Doesn’t sound, well, so angry.”

“I think I need to go sit down,” Mason said. “Feeling kind of weak all of the sudden.”

They watched after him as he made his way down the aisle and sank down onto a hay bale, his back against the wall.

“No doubt that’s his ability exhausting him,” Master Riggs said. “Keep an eye on him until he feels better, and then tell him to report to Mara. She’ll want to know. And I’m sure he and Ben will have a lot in common to talk about when they’ve a chance.” She turned back to the stall. “As for you, Lady Maddie, I am sorry I missed the signs you were hurting.”

Maddie flicked an ear in acknowledgment.

The horse master chuckled. “Good lesson today, Anna. Now that Maddie’s painful issue has been worked out, I expect more improvement in the coming days.”

After Master Riggs departed, Anna approached the stall. Maddie whirled again with ears pressed back.

“All right, I know,” Anna said. “You are still you, but I’m glad you feel better.”

Maddie snorted and returned to her hay. Anna started down the aisle to check on Mason, but paused to pat Condor on the neck. He nuzzled her shoulder and blew softly through his nostrils. She was under no illusions that she’d ever be able to have these kinds of moments with her own horse, which, of course, hurt in a lonesome way; nor would she be able to wield such incredible and important magic like Mason. Imagine! The ability to heal! Sometimes, actually, a lot of times, it depressed her that she couldn’t have a real Rider horse or do magic, but at least she was a Rider. She could never be unique in the way they were, but maybe among them, she was the unique one. The uncalled Rider who lacked a special ability and rode a one-eyed horse. She laughed and decided she’d just keep telling herself how unique she was.