Chapter 25: Vibrancy

Every twenty minutes, you bring the horses back to a trot. But five minutes later, you urge them back into a gallop. It’s a race-standard pace, slightly slower on day one than it will be on the last. The phoenix’s sides burn beneath you at the perfect race temperature.

“Won’t the horse get tired?” Quinn asks.

It had been quiet for long enough that you’d forgotten about her.

“You don’t have phoenixes in your world?”

“Phoenixes,” Quinn repeats. “We call them horses. Are they a certain breed, then? Clearly they run farther….”

“As long as the sun is out, they can keep running. Don’t worry. I’ve been doing this my entire life. Most people would say that I was born for this.”

“What?” Bravos calls from behind. “Everything all right, Pippa?”

You glance back. “Yes, I was just explaining…”

“Explaining what? Were you talking to me?”

Your eyes dart back to Quinn. Both of you raise an eyebrow at the same time. You could see the other spirits, but clearly Bravos can’t see Quinn. And it makes sense. None of the viewers could see the spirits in the years the Madness intervened. Only people connected to the spirits can see them.

That could make things interesting.

“Sorry, love. I’ll explain when we stop for the night.” As you settle back over the horse, you speak in a whisper for Quinn. “The Madness years make so much more sense now. Seeing random competitors talk to no one. Watching riders fall from their horses for no reason. It’s such an amazing advantage.”

Quinn says nothing. So you ride. Cycling between gallops and trots, pressing deeper into the red-bellied course. The sun rises high and quick, backing the desert ground and blurring the distant landscape. Both you and Bravos pull riding hoods overhead to shield yourselves from the pressing glare. Even for an Ashlord, it’s a bright and burning world today.

As the sun starts to set, you check the leaders on your bracelet:

Adrian: 403 paces
Etzli: 370 paces
Imelda: 225 paces

Only Imelda’s name surprises you. Adrian and Etzli were always going to be in the thick of the action. You’re certain that Adrian is glancing at his own bracelet and wondering where you are on the course. A quick mental picture forms of the map.

Even if they’re in the lead now, night is coming.

The other riders will be staggered through the strangled valley below. Some of the leaders will reach the open plain, but no one will be completely safe. Tonight there will be fights and poisoned ashes. Bones will break. Riders will lose their chance at glory through the smallest mistakes. But the secret route saves both you and Bravos from all of that.