Ginn Hale - Lord of the White Hell Book One

"I've got money on me too." Javier didn't move away from Kiram but his stance shifted just slightly and Kiram could feel him distancing himself.

"For all three races?" Nestor asked.

"I expect to be in the top five for the short run. But Lunaluz won't take second to any other horse on either of the long runs. We could take those jumps in our sleep, we practiced them so many times." Javier spoke with such assurance that Kiram found himself feeling that he must be right.

The four of them joined the other students gathered inside the courtyard of the stable. Atreau and the other Hellions all informed Javier of the bets they'd placed on him. They slapped his back and issued absurd threats for his failure. Kiram watched them, saddened by the insight that this was the only way that these Cadeleonian men could offer him their affection.

Master Ignacio arrived and all of the students quickly arranged themselves in rows according to their years. As always Nestor stood beside Kiram.

"I noticed your uncle isn't here today," Nestor whispered hopefully.

"There was an incident at their lodgings and he had to stay in case someone needed a physician." Kiram was aware of how vague his reply was but Nestor accepted it without concern.

"So he hasn't changed his mind about taking you back?"

"Not that I know of."

They both went quiet as Master Ignacio walked through the ranks of second-year students, assigning them their duties for the races. Both Nestor and Kiram were in charge of keeping onlookers from crossing the track just before the finish. Kiram couldn't imagine anyone who would rush out past two lines of ropes at oncoming horses and he guessed the job was something just to keep them in one place and accounted for.

Once Master Ignacio was done with roll and assignments, the grooms brought the horses out from their stalls. Kiram stroked Firaj's muzzle. Firaj drew in a deep breath of Kiram's hair. He seemed excited to go for a ride, despite the wet chill of the morning.

By the time they reached the tournament grounds the sun had burned through most of the cloud cover. A fine mist hung in the air, catching the light and flaring briefly into rainbows.

Groundsmen had hauled bales of hay out across several fields and strung up rope barricades along side them. The hay bales formed a wide corridor, looping around stone walls, and circling out into a thinly wooded glade, marking the racecourses. Taking in the route firsthand, Kiram felt relieved that he wouldn't be competing but also worried. There were at least three walls and two wooden fences that the horses would need to clear in addition to whatever other obstacles lay out in the woods.

Kiram observed Javier, remembering how he had first seen him riding Lunaluz across the summer fields. He had looked so handsome and assured. This morning he still radiated beautiful strength, but shadows of exhaustion hollowed his eyes. The knowledge that Javier had spent the night searching for him instead of sleeping gnawed at Kiram.

Onlookers, both wealthy and poor, already gathered around. They thronged the rope barricades. Many of them had brought tall wooden stools, and some had hired men to wave banners displaying the colors of the riders they supported. Groups of girls clustered under bright parasols.

The only covered shelter was a dais near the starting line. Royal banners hung from the roof and armed guards stood at attention at the foot of the dais. Kiram thought he caught a glimpse of Prince Sevanyo sitting in the shadows, among his attendants and courtiers.

On the grounds, the black and yellow Helios' colors were well represented, as were the red and white stripes of the Fueres family. As the crowd grew the numbers and variety of banners and ribbons increased. Kiram had no idea who some of the more wild assortments represented. There seemed to be countless shades of blues, reds, yellows and violets and scattered throughout were simple flags displaying either Sagrada blue or Yillar green.

In the sea of color Kiram noticed the absence of the stark black and white of the Tornesal house. He wondered if it saddened Javier that no one flew his colors. Kiram searched the growing crowd for Fedeles but didn't see him anywhere. Then to Kiram's surprise he caught sight of two huge banners displaying the white field and black sun of the Tornesal crest. Lady Grunito stood between them, surrounded by attendants. She wore a magnificent golden fur coat that made her look almost like a bear. She waved at Javier and he waved back.

"I knew my mother would come through for him," Nestor said. "Elezar wouldn't stop nagging her about it all last night."

"I'm glad he did," Kiram said.

"It's not like she wasn't going to support Javier all along. She had the banners made months ago but she wouldn't let Elezar know that. She likes to tease him."

Kiram nodded. He could see how someone might want to give Elezar a hard time. He warmed to Lady Grunito, though he knew very little about her; she had cajoled his uncle on his behalf, no doubt to please Nestor-and she had brought banners for Javier knowing that Elezar would want them. For all her appearance of ferocity, Kiram imagined that she was in fact a very loving mother.

"By the way." Nestor reined his roan stallion a little closer to Firaj's side. "I had an idea about how to keep you at the academy last night during prayer service. It's a little crazy but I think it would work."

"Great. What is it?"

"You convert."

"Convert?" Kiram was so stunned by the suggestion that he initially thought he misunderstood Nestor.

"You convert and then request sanctuary at the academy chapel. There's no way your family could get you out of there."

"If I converted they wouldn't even want to. They'd never speak my name again. My mother would never forgive me."

"Is it really that serious an offense?" Nestor asked.

"How would your mother feel about you becoming Haldiim?" Kiram asked back.

"Very poorly," Nestor admitted after a moment of thought. He sighed. "Well, I thought I'd at least mention it."

"Thanks for trying. Who knows, if it comes down to it." Kiram couldn't even bring himself to say that he would consider it.

He and Nestor took up their positions near the finish line. Now and then Kiram shouted at a curious boy who had ducked under the rope barricades. He guessed that he looked a little imposing atop Firaj because the boys fled away and nearby parents hauled their children back from the ropes as well. The judges took their positions beside the green and blue ribboned finish line. Far across the field the riders from both schools lined up at the start. They saluted Prince Sevanyo and then the starting bell rang out. The pounding thunder of horses' hooves was instantly drowned out by the roars and cheers of the crowd.

Kiram's entire body tensed as he watched Javier push to the front of the riders. He saw crops slash and the rain soaked earth slide from beneath the horses' hooves. His stomach felt like a clenched fist when an animal stumbled. Each time Javier neared a jump or rounded a tight turn Kiram looked away, scanning the rope barricades. He felt like a coward but he was terrified of seeing Javier fall.

Then suddenly the riders were storming past both him and Nestor. The cold air smelled of sweat and horses. Wet clumps of sod and mud flew through the air and spattered the hay barricades.

The first race had been the short run. Javier took second, just behind his cousin, Hierro Fueres. The Helio twins took third and fourth, though Kiram wasn't sure which twin had won which place.

Javier looked flushed and happy, grinning and leaning close to Lunaluz's neck. He stroked the stallion's jaw and whispered something in his ear. Lunaluz pranced back to the starting line with his head held high.

While the groundsmen adjusted the bales of hay for the next race, Kiram thought he heard someone calling his name. He searched the crowd and caught sight of Alizadeh approaching. Rafie was nowhere to be seen.