DragonKnight - Donita K. Paul [26]
“And if one of the kindias we broke wins?”
“Well, then, I’m out a lotta coins, but my reputation is not only safe but doubled, maybe even tripled. Your kindias break down, they’ll say how shrewd I am not to let you cheat me. Your kindias prove out, then I’m a shrewd dealer with the best stock in the country.” Hoddack grinned and went off to speak to one of the other men.
N’Rae came back to Bardon’s side as soon as the owner moved off. “The kindias are excited. The ones who have raced before can hardly wait. They want the people to quit fooling around and get them out to the starting line.”
“How about the ones you broke yesterday?”
“I didn’t break them. I told you, that’s an absurd term.”
“The kindias you introduced to the barn, then. How are they doing? Nervous? Scared by all this hubbub?”
“They were at first, but I explained to them what’s happening, and now they’re eager to run.”
“Hoddack has given me permission to ride. Which one of our kindias would be a good mount?”
“You’re asking me?”
“Of course! You would know.”
N’Rae’s mouth hung open for a second. She snapped it shut, then pointed to a pale kindia with a dark mane and dark stripes on his legs. “The men call that one Ten because he has ten stripes on his legs. The other animals admire him and consider him their leader.”
“Then I shall ride Ten.”
Ilex explained the route twice.
“I want you to win this race, boy,” the old farm worker said. “It’s been a long time since I rode in one, and it would feel mighty good to be backing the winner. And I’m backing you. Remember the turn at the giant monarch tree leads to a sudden decline. It’ll be like sliding down the hill on the kindia’s rump.”
Bardon nodded as he continued to stroke Ten with his bare hands, giving the animal a chance to become familiar with the new rider.
“And remember,” continued Ilex, “the starting rope takes about two seconds to hit the ground. Don’t spur your mount until you count to two. You’d be surprised how many races are lost with the kindia’s front feet tangled in the rope. You better hope the kindias on either side of you have smart riders too.”
N’Rae stood at Ten’s head and seemed to be lost in an exchange of ideas. Bardon’s mouth quirked at the corner as his kindia nodded as if replying to something the young emerlindian said.
A trumpet blast from the main house signaled for the men to bring their mounts to the starting line. A forty-foot rope stretched from the porch of the big house to the large barn. A crowd continued to gather from the town and neighboring farms.
Bardon looked over the throng. Hoddack’s going to get the publicity he wants. As he walked with Ten, he watched the men around him leading their kindias up the hill. These animals certainly don’t act like horses do before a race. They’re plodding toward the starting line as if they were going to nothing more than another stable. Yet N’Rae says that each one is excited.
At the top of the hill, they stood with the kindias as Hoddack gave a speech about riding fair and a brief description of the route.
Now I’m glad Ilex told me which trails to take. Hoddack’s description doesn’t amount to much.
A magistrate from the town ordered the riders to make ready. They climbed into the saddles. Bardon, without thinking, vaulted onto Ten’s back as if mounting his dragon. He heard the stir among the onlookers and deliberately focused on getting Ten to a place along the rope.
Two burly marione men untied the starting line and held it taut. The magistrate called for silence. The crowd hushed.
“On the count of three, these men will drop the rope. Let this be an honest race, honoring the fair city of Norst. One.”
Bardon leaned over Ten’s neck.
“Two.”
He squeezed his knees against the saddle.
“Three.”
The rope fell. Bardon counted to two and dug in his heels.
On either side of him, racers plunged forward. He vaguely recognized a kindia several mounts down rearing