Iridesce: Day Without Dawn Book One by Cordia Pearson

Author:Cordia Pearson [Pearson, Cordia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Morgyn Star Press
Published: 2024-01-06T00:00:00+00:00

twenty-seven

RIDE LIKE A POET

I’ve seen women entangled in love’s spell, yet never thought I’d join their sisterhood.

Today, I rode like a poet. Every shift in the saddle, a lyrical stanza celebrating love. My hands on the reins, soft as if they were made of spider silk.

All my training horses have rejoiced with me, including my latest conquest, Silver. I think, canter, and he lofts into a depart.

Outside my round pen, Dree and Rafi beam. Beside them, an older Covener in a deep bronze tunic nods approval when I halt the colt beside them.

Dree cannot stop smiling. “Did he feel as good as he looked?”

I nod, then dismount and reach for the girth.

The Covener holds up her hand. “If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to try Silver.”

Rafi extends his arm in invitation. “Be our guest, Lady Edan.”

A croft head, here?

Even as I ask myself this, she slides between the rails, and greets the colt, who wuffles her hair, cut shorter than most men’s. She swings up with practiced ease and puts him through his paces. Unruffled by the change in riders, Silver does everything asked of him.

I whisper to Rafi. “Mind if I get some water?”

Gaze intent on Edan, he nods permission.

Idry isn’t in the pavilion. Odd enough any day, but startling considering the crimson-robed member of the Mother’s Order sitting at one of the tables. The silver in her waist-length hair suggests she’s in her fifties.

As I fill a beaker with water, she closes her book.

“As suspected, you impressed Edan enough to try the colt. So, how do you find life in Azalaïs, Thea?”

“Odd.”

“As do I. Were it not for the races, I’d be at Land’s End, and doing something more edifying than reading. Still, love is wonderful, yes?”

Refilled beaker halfway to my lips, I gape at her. Does she guess, or know, what happened last night?

She smiles at my amaze. “The first time I saw Edan, I thought the sun had risen in the west. Nothing made sense, yet everything did. Was it the same for you?”

I shake my head. Despite the light touch, I sense deep currents run below this woman’s placid surface. “Lady, how is it you know what few others do?”

“Edan insists on our attending the fall races, thus I’ve watched you for many years. Mind you, never like today, in total harmony with your horse. Have you known your beloved long?”

I force my answer. “Since childhood.”

“Ahh, and how will that play out, a Venari and an outcast?”

I’m still slack-jawed when Rafi enters and tosses me a pouch that I catch one-handed.

“Edan just bought Silver. She’s keeping him in training with you.”

My blank expression has him shaking his head. “As Silver’s trainer, you get your share of the commission. Five of the gold coins in that pouch are yours. Buy better clothes.”

I glance at my shirt. Though clean, it’s seen better days.

He scrawls a note for Idry, then weighs it down with the pouch. “Idry will give you a note of credit, so much safer than walking around with gold.

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