That female who is so stupid she doesn’t even appreciate who I am or how honored she should be that I let her stay. She will go with us.

Nightshade? I’m surprised. But you could hardly blame her for not being honored. You were ready to let her die of thirst last night.

I would have let her drink. I just had to be the one to permit her to have it. You got in my way.

As she stared at him, she was beginning to believe that she had done just that. The restlessness. The volatility. The disturbance and impatience. Blind. She must have been blind. And now you don’t mind Nightshade being with us?

She is stupid. Those foolish men have ruined her. How else will she learn?

How have they ruined her?

Maybe not ruined her…yet. I have decided to save her. But they have made her so tame that she doesn’t know what it is to be free. She’s even confused why I would want to talk to you. And she doesn’t realize that I am king. I have to show her.

I see. She was having trouble keeping him from sensing her amusement. But you said she was stupid. Is it worth your effort?

Perhaps not that stupid. I can feel she realizes I’m amazingly beautiful and wise. How could she not? She just doesn’t understand the rest. I have to teach her.

That’s very generous of you. She glanced at Nightshade standing quietly waiting. Nightshade was also amazingly beautiful, and her wisdom might be entirely different from Chaos’s. The chestnut thoroughbred had a serenity and control the Nisean would never possess, but it didn’t indicate a lack of strength. It was probably that strength that was attracting Chaos now, along with the inevitable draw of sexual mating. He was the lightning and she was the slow-rolling thunder that moved the storm. What a team they would be. This might bring her endless trouble, but it was also a miracle and Sasha refused to be sorry about it. Though you’ll have to be patient. She pulled herself into the saddle. Because Nightshade might believe she deserves respect herself since she’s so foolish she doesn’t know you’re king. Suppose we take it very slowly?

*  *  *

5 P.M.
24 Hours to Race Time

Davidow was waiting when Sasha brought Chaos and Nightshade back to the stable. She stiffened warily, her gaze flying to his face. It was totally noncommittal. “I hope you had a better day than you expected. You’ll be glad to know that I had no problem with Chaos. I was able to run both him and Nightshade for most of the day. He must have worked out his bad temper on the track.”

“I know. I had a glimpse of him a couple of times today when Reardon called me back here to watch you.”