Steel Maiden by Kim Richardson Page B

mount, my eyes on the
platform, and I waited like everyone else.
    I wasn’t surprised when I saw the high
priest of Anglia stand up. He raised his arms and with a superior
smile on his face, he began to speak.
    “Welcome to the anniversary of the Day of
Reckoning,” his voice boomed.
    “After the world had been devastated by war,
the Temple of the Sun united the six kingdoms under one rule, and
we have lived in peace for over three hundred years. We celebrate
this day by inviting all the kingdoms to participate in the Great
Race for the glory of the Heart of Arcania.”
    I glanced over at my competitors, to remind
me again what I was up against. The fact that there were a handful
of women cheered me somewhat, but they looked as fierce as the men.
Some of them actually looked like men.
    “The rules are simple,” said the high
priest.
    His smiled widened. “There are no
rules.”
    Laughter erupted from the crowds and the
guards, but the competitors sat straight-faced, as I did. I studied
the other high priests. They watched their leader with stony
faces.
    “The Creator be with you all,” said the high
priest. “May the best man or woman win.”
    His eyes rested on me, and I stifled an icy
shiver. But before I had time to gather my thoughts, he walked
casually to the giant bronze gong and hit it with a great swing of
his jeweled staff.
    Immediately, the sounds of hooves tore the
ground like a great thunderstorm. The ground shook as the riders
and their mounts galloped through the west gates.
    All except for me.
    Rattled, and with my face burning in
humiliation, I took control of Torak’s reins and hit his sides with
my legs. I could see the disappointment in the high priest’s face
without looking.
    Torak galloped forward with a great bound,
and I lost control of the reins. I pulled myself straight with the
pommel, and as I fumbled with the reins Torak dashed towards the
west gate.
    As we thundered out the west gate, I caught
a glimpse of Brother Edgar standing next to the wall. He was
smiling. A chill rippled down my back. I guess he assumed that this
race would be my death sentence.
    I swallowed hard as I was thrown around on
the horse’s back. I cursed into the wind and felt like a fool.
    The Great Race had begun, and I was
last.
     
     

CHAPTER 12

     
     
     
    I DISCOVERED VERY QUICKLY that riding
did not come naturally to me.
    After the first few hours of riding, I had
chafed my inner thighs against the saddle. And if it weren’t for my
supernatural healing abilities, I probably wouldn’t have had any
ass to sit on at all.
    I kept sliding off to the side of my saddle,
cursing into the wind and pulling myself back up. At first my pride
had been hurt. How many people had seen my disastrous beginning? I
wondered if Landon had seen and had regretted helping me. I was
truly the worst prepared competitor. But instead of feeling sorry
for myself, I got angry.
    I had been left behind and was breathing the
others’ damn dust. It didn’t seem to bother Torak, but I couldn’t
breathe without coughing up a lung. I made a temporary mask with my
cloak in order to breathe, but the dust tapered off, and I could
breathe again without it. I wiped my eyes and peered down the road
before me.
    It was empty. The dust had disappeared and
so had the other racers. They were gone.
    It wasn’t that Torak lacked speed; his
strong, lean legs were like a great machine. But I had felt him
slow down a few minutes into the race. I realized after a while
that he was trying his best not to throw me off. He was trying to
keep me on his back. I liked him immediately after that.
    I hadn’t seen any of the others for at least
two hours now. I was already trailing behind.
    “Why did I have to steal that damn
crown!”
    I had to believe that there was still a
chance to save Rose and my village. I had never doubted for one
second that the high priest would murder thousands of peasants,
farmers, and children if I didn’t bring back that