The Column Racer (8 page)

“He can see you,” said Emilee, “if you wish to cry, do it in there, but for the sake of the stars, shed not a single tear on this rug. He’s not worthy of them.” Kaia roared a scream of sadness. Areli’s pain was burning through her.

“Calm your dragon, missy,” said Emilee, “he will not look kindly to that either.” Areli tried to get a hold of herself. “Keep going, get them to the carriage, your dragon needs to be subdued . . . calm yourself Areli, calm yourself.” It was the first time Emilee used her name. Emilee held Areli’s shoulders gently. “Clear away the pain, wipe away the anger, you must Areli, you must.” Areli took deep breaths and felt her lungs choking her as she exhaled. Her eyes red, her heart searing, she didn’t know how she would be able to calm herself.

“Areli if you don’t, he will kill you,” screamed Emilee, “do you understand, he will walk out his palace doors, down these steps, and spill your blood on this very carpet.” Areli could feel Emilee’s tender hands on her shoulders, tears filling her eyes as well. She wiped away the tears on Areli’s face and hugged her like a mother would her child. “Please, Areli,” said Emilee, “please, I know you’re strong enough. Tears for Degendhard’s followers will not be accepted. You can’t shed a tear for her. Her death was deserved.” Areli pulled away from her.

“You don’t understand!” screamed Areli, “you don’t get it. You have all . . .” Emilee covered Areli’s mouth and shook her head.

“No, Areli,” scolded Emilee harshly, “
you
don’t get it. You are not in Sector D anymore. Degendhard is the enemy. Degendhard will always be the enemy here.” Areli’s dragon gave an angry roar, and started to smash its body against the metal bars, as its body was infused with the rage and anger boiling beneath Areli’s skin. “Areli, please! Calm your mind. Or you won’t get out of here alive. You’ve seen what he’s capable of. Please.”

Areli had to cover her ears as Kaia gave another ferocious roar, preparing to again take her aggression out on the trailer. Areli looked at Emilee and nodded her head. She closed her eyes, and somehow found the strength to remember the lakes of Sector B, the distant waterfalls after clearing the tunnel of the Mountains of Abhi. She let these images calm her, take her someplace soothing, relaxing, and beautiful.

The world went silent. All Areli could hear were the sounds of water pounding down the blue oceans, she could smell the fresh air; she could see the smiles of pride and jubilation expressed on the faces of her parents. When she opened her eyes, she was laying down on the step, being cared for by Emilee, who rocked Areli soothingly back and forth. Areli followed Emilee’s gaze and looked at Kaia, who was now lying down in the trailer, experiencing the beaches and waterfalls along with Areli.

Areli didn’t know how long she laid there in Emilee’s arms, but she didn’t want to leave. Her hatred for the woman evaporated through Emilee’s kindness, love, and compassion. She might not know the truth of Degendhard, but Areli was sure they had similar hearts. It wasn’t until Emilee looked down at her, and told her it was time they got her home, that Areli felt compelled to move. When Emilee lifted her up, both she and Bray assisted Areli down the steps.

Areli asked to see her dragon before they went to the carriage. When they were a few feet away, Areli told them they could let her go. And like a branch giving a leaf to the wind, they let her feet carry her to Kaia. Areli stuck her hand in-between the bars, her dragon put her nose up to it, and a sea of calm engulfed them both. Areli let the final tear roll from the corner of her eye, and then caressed the side of Kaia’s face.

A gentle hand touched her shoulder, it was Emilee’s. When Areli turned around, she hugged her stylist as hard as she could, as if she might never see her again. She wrapped her arms around her as if they were the best of friends. And Emilee embraced Areli the same way.

“You are much stronger than he may ever know,” said Emilee, “so much stronger.” Emilee and Bray walked Areli to the carriage doors, but before she entered, she took a quick look at the balcony near the Emperor’s throne room. He was there. Watching her. An emotionless expression on his face. She clenched her jaw as she looked at him, and then allowed Emilee and Bray to carefully help her in. The commander shut the door, and the two stylists quietly stepped away, neither of them taking their eyes off of the rider. Areli smiled at them as the carriage started off. And it saddened her to leave them there, to pretty the prey to their slaughter.

As the carriage exited the Emperor’s gates, Areli sat in the middle of her parents, clasping the arm of her father and holding the hand of her mother. As they entered back into the city, she realized why no one will turn in Degendhard the Great. People would rather die than give up hope.

Areli couldn’t believe she killed someone. She stared at her finger, the one that had forced back the trigger, and tears came to her eyes as she did. She had executed a woman, a woman whose only crime was supporting Degendhard. What would the Emperor do to them if he found out they actually helped one of Degendhard’s messengers? Brought him back to health? She knew it would be a fate worse than an arrow to the head . . . the Emperor would make sure they screamed.

Their first stop afterwards was the boarding facility, which was by the northern mountain wall of the Valley. The commander stopped the carriage and asked if they would like to see the coliseum. Areli turned to her parents, one at a time, and they silently agreed to get out. Anything to divert their thoughts from reliving their visit with the Emperor.

The Coliseum of the World stood as its own elevated ocean. The beauty of it was brought to life by the countless dragon oil lanterns that were attached to its exterior. Areli could see the outlines of flags that were waving on the top of the walls, one for each Hall that had a racing team. In the middle of them, raised three times as high, was the flag of the Empire, which stood next to the flag of Abhi, which also stood taller than the rest. Areli and her family should be happy, maybe even proud, but coldness had entered into their hearts. Leaving nothing but bitter remains.

“He won’t touch you again,” said the commander, sadly, “any of you. As long as Areli wins, you’ll be safe.” A single tear came from her father, a sniffle from her mother, but from Areli, a clenched fist. She was sure that if the Emperor ever touched her again . . . she would certainly kill him. They got back into the carriage and continued to the Abhi boarding facility.

The sky was dark, but the city was bright, as the past Emperors and their architects tried to create the feeling that the city rested amongst the stars. Lanterns were raised at seemingly random places above buildings and streets to replicate constellations and patterns. It was the spectacle Talon said it would be.

When they got to the boarding facility, they went through the same process of verification, but when the doors were opened, they weren’t met by elegant gardens, but large life-sized statues of racing dragons, so real that someone could easily mistake them as living. There was a large series of fountains leading to the stall room doors that had a large dragon decorating the front of them.

As they entered through the doors, Areli looked out her window at the large stalls that were on either side of her. Dragons seemed to swim on their lavish exterior. The carriage took a gentle wide right and continued down a long row of stalls.

The stalls were much larger than the ones in Areli’s old school, and were in one continuous row, instead of being parallel to one another, at least for the Hall riders. The carriage moved down until it stopped next to the last stall, leaving enough room for the trailer. Areli’s heart was pounding in her chest, as she was amongst the dragons owned by the best riders in the Empire. This was home. Even though she hated the Emperor with every inch of her being, she knew this is where she belonged, both she and Kaia.

When Areli’s feet came down on the dark marble floor, they were shaking. Her parents followed from behind. Her father still unwilling to let go of her mother. The walls for the stalls were tall but had gaps where diamond-encrusted bars allowed riders to check in on their dragons.

The walls eventually turned into bars that seemed to curve near the ever rising ceilings and attach themselves to the limestone walls. The commander handed Areli the halter, and her dragon moved around her trailer somberly, still feeling the dregs of Areli’s sorrow.

With the back of the trailer opened, Areli slipped the halter over her dragon’s face and placed her into the stall, which like the trailer was covered with a pillow of pine shavings and had an elegant bucket in the corner, full of clear blue mountain water. When Areli slipped off the halter, she hugged her dragon around the neck and kissed her on the nose, crying tears of exhaustion.

“We made it, Kaia,” whispered Areli, “we made it. Don’t worry, girl. Once we’re in the air again – we’ll be happy.” Before Areli got back in her carriage, she checked on Kaia through one of the gaps of bars. Her dragon felt her presence, walked over to her and layed down onto the shavings, allowing her master’s hands to rest on the tip of the nose. Areli fed her dragon soothing feelings to help her fall asleep, and then she was swept back into the carriage and back into the city streets.

They traveled amongst the man-made stars towards the other side of Abhi, towards the Lake of Riders. After they were authorized to enter by the guard outside the gates of the community, Areli held witness to some of the most beautiful homes in the world. They were in no way comparable to the Emperor’s palace in size, but in terms of luxury, they were of the same make.

The homes were organized in the same way as Areli’s old riding community, except for one major difference. The homes of the Hall riders were all on one side, facing towards the lake, and as Areli turned her attention to the other side of the water, she knew why. On the other side were the homes built for present and past professional circuit riders, the winners of the World Race, who were all granted lives comparable to the Emperor’s in terms of excess and wealth.

Further down the road, just past the Hall riders homes, were the homes that belonged to the Academy riders. These were tall and narrow townhomes. Six of them sitting parallel to one another. And rising at the end of the street was the large limestone complex that housed the riders not old enough to join the Academy team, or the ones unworthy or not talented enough to make either the Academy or Hall teams, but had enough money to keep their dragons to ride for pleasure.

The carriage stopped in front of the last house before the Academy living arrangements. The home wasn’t visible over the tall limestone walls that had two large lanterns on either side of the dragon-decorated gate. The home’s assigned guards viewed their papers and welcomed them to their new residence. She was home, they were home, and these were their guards.

The gates opened, and they were allowed to pass. The lanterns lit a path down the drive. Areli wished it was light out so she could better see the sides of the path that were swallowed by darkness, but maybe darkness better suited her mood. The limestone drive spilled onto a large parkway, its entrance marked by two large pillars with two oversized lanterns jutting out of them near their tops, which were flat to allow the statues of dragons to sit upon them.

The carriage took a wide turn around the parkway and came to a gentle stop in front of the large golden doors that were flanked by two columns on either side. A dragon's head made of stone rested above them. Areli squeezed her parent’s arms. The home was much larger than anything in Sector D. And it was quite an upgrade from their wooden townhouse.

The carriage door was opened by the commander, just as the door of the home was opened as well. There was a young woman, who seemed no older than Samara, waiting to greet them. Areli’s father was the last to exit the carriage. He wiped the tears from his eyes and shook the commander’s hand, thanking him for getting his family there safely.

Her mother hugged the man, and thanked him repeatedly, telling him he was welcome to visit any time he wanted. Areli embraced the commander as a friend, and wished him and his men safety and good weather wherever their orders take them. She wished her voice carried more conviction.

“Whatever happened with the Emperor,” whispered the commander into her ear, “I am deeply sorry. You have my deepest sympathies. May the stars watch over you, Miss Roberts, and your family. May they bless you and your dragon, and give you a successful season.”

“And may the stars do the same for you and your men, commander,” replied Areli as she gave him a light smile. He was one of the good ones. Maybe only one of few at the Emperor’s disposal. The commander mounted his horse and gave one last wave farewell before he led his men back down the drive, through the gates, and back into the starlit streets of Abhi.

After the gates closed, Areli became aware of the pair of eyes that were watching her from behind. She took in a deep breath, cleared her cheeks of the fallen tears, and calmed herself. When she turned on the limestone parkway, her parents were waiting for her. Both of their hands were stretched out wanting to take her hand, and a beautiful young woman waited to greet her charge. Areli took her parents hands into her own, and stepped up onto a slight elevation.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you,” said the woman, “we have heard so much about you.” Areli forced a smile at her, and then at her parents. “You must be exhausted . . . my name is Aria, I am the estate manager of number eight. I just want to introduce the rest of the servants, and then I’ll take you to your rooms. Don’t mind the bags; I’ll have someone take care of them.” She waved them into their new home.

There was a long line of servants that occupied the marble foyer with beautiful peach walls and large, draped, blood-red curtains. Areli tried to remember as many names as she possibly could, but Aria was moving through them quite quickly in preservation of time.

“Now to your rooms,” said Aria, after drowning them in a sea of names and faces, “Mr. Roberts, I was informed that you are to start at the health facility first thing in the morning.”

“Yes,” said Areli’s father, “that is correct.” Areli could tell even her father seemed dazed by Aria’s onslaught of questions and information.

“A carriage will be prepared for you,” said Aria, “will your family be joining you for breakfast?” Areli’s father looked to Areli and her mother, who both nodded their heads and told Aria that they would.

“Splendid!” said Aria, “and Areli, a carriage will be prepared for you as well, as your dragon is to be fitted for new tack and equipment tomorrow. You must be so excited!” Another obligatory smile swam to the surface of Areli’s face. Aria’s chirpiness was giving her a headache. “I would ask that after breakfast you have all your papers and documents ready. For the facilities purposes, of course.” Areli gave a nod of her head, wishing Aria would shut up already.

“And Mrs. Roberts,” said Aria, “don’t think you are getting off easy. You and I have to go through the entire house, each room and garden need to be adjusted to your liking . . . oh . . . Areli this is you room.” Areli hadn’t even noticed that they had walked up a steep flight of stairs, walked through a large hallway, with walls as tall as trees, and had stopped in front of elegant doors with flowers and dragons imbedded into the surface.

Aria opened the doors, and both her parents followed behind them. The room was like its own individual house and it embodied eternal beauty. The soaring ceilings had elegantly crafted engravings, and the floors were said to be made of only the rarest and most expensive woods. The four poster bed had small dragons situated on top of each post, and a crown hovered high above the middle of the beds elegant tapestry that held to the posts like a coat placed upon shoulders. Heavy draped luxurious curtains spilled seemingly from the ceilings next to the windows, each made by only the most skilled of hands, and a rug made with the most exquisite and scarcest of materials caressed the wood floor. Areli was stunned. It was a million times nicer than her cozy little room in her previous home in Sector D.

Aria exited the room to allow Areli time alone with her family. Her father gently touched her on the shoulder and her mother slipped her hand in hers. This is what they get for representing a monster. Luxury and fame. If she won for this monster, all of this would be multiplied. All she had to do was win. Win and the monster would never come for her. Or her family and dragon. She had to win. Her life carried no other purpose.
Degendhard is the enemy,
Areli reminded herself,
all I have to do is win.

Her father went to the door and told Aria that they all planned to sleep in Areli’s room for the night and asked if they could be shown their room the following day. Aria agreed and asked if they wanted her to send for servants to clean them before they were to get into bed. He looked back at his wife and child. The answer was immediate . . . they needed to rid themselves of the foulness of the Emperor’s touch.