«Search» Veran warbled softly and watched as her owner picked out the bay mare’s hooves. “What do you want?” Boland asked without looking up from his task. Veran crooned and flew over to land on the mare’s withers, who spooked and reared, whinnying in fright. “Veran! How many times have I told you? Don’t do that!” The alis gryph mewed and apology and then flew to the mare’s stall, landing and perching on the top of the door. Boland sighed, patted the mare reassuringly and then continued to pick out the other three hooves. After he was done he took a soft brush over her again quickly and then put the saddle on. As he tightened the girth the mare kicked out and turned her head, threatening to bite. Boland kneed her in the stomach and she turned her head around with a grunt. He patted her neck again and then went to the tack room to get her bridle. As he put it on Veran chirped from where she was perched and flew towards her owner, dropping something at his feet. When he finally looked down he sighed, bending down and picking it up. It was the mare’s shadow roll, a fleece covering that went over the noseband. He slipped it back onto the bridle and then fastened the buckles in place. He smooched lightly and the mare followed him as he walked out of the barn and towards the mounting area, where her jockey was waiting. As Boland led the mare towards the jockey he smiled and said, “You’ve done a great job with her Bol, and you know that her training it credited to you.” He laughed and then continued. “I mean, I’m only here to ride her through the race right?” Boland smiled and helped the jockey to his mares’ back. “Thank you Bleri I appreciate that. I wish I could ride her in the races but I’m too tall. I’d tower over all the others.” Bleri laughed and adjusted his stirrups. “Boland, you already tower over all the others!” After Bleri was ready Boland swung up on one of the other horses and started to walk the mare towards the track, so they could walk to the starting gate with the other horses. “Do you think Ruppan here can handle a mile and a quarter?” Bleri asked softly as they followed the number four horse, who was trotting sideways and tossing his head crazily. Boland shrugged and said, “I guess we’ll find out. You just ride her the best you can and I’ll be happy. Hey, and if you do well, I might even let you ride her in the next one.” Bleri laughed and said, “I sure hope so. Your mare is a pleasure to ride, but a monster to tack up. She got me here on my arm yesterday, see?” Bleri rolled his sleeve up and showed Ruppan’s owner and trainer his bite mark, which was already bruising over. “Oh that’s attractive Bleri. You should get some more of those. You know what usually works though? When she turns her head, kick her in the stomach. She usually turns right around.” Bleri nodded and said, “Yes maybe for someone who is six feet tall. I think she just sees ma as an easy target.” When they reached the gate they waited their turn to be loaded in. “Number five position is good right?” Bleri asked, not really wanting an answer though. Boland nodded and said, “Yeah I guess. I mean, it’s better than being on the outside.” Bleri patted Ruppan’s neck and then grabbed onto her mane as Boland dismounted and led her into the gate. She snorted and backed up once and then sighed, settling in as she usually did. Boland patted her once and then climbed up onto the divider, taking the lead off and tossing it to one of the track hands. Bleri adjusted his goggles and his stirrup position as Boland whispered, “Just keep her in fourth or fifth position if you can, and then at the far end of the backstretch, start moving her up. I want her flying down the homestretch, hopefully in first place.” Bleri nodded and took the reins up, knowing it wouldn’t be long until the bell rang and the horses came out of the gate. Boland leaned back as the bell rang, Ruppan grunting and rushing forward, coming out of the gate clean and powering away, wanting to get to the front, and then bunching up as Bleri pulled her back and settled her into fourth position, as her trainer had advised. He moved her to the inside as the rounded the first turn, Ruppan still fighting to get to the front and Bleri fighting to keep her in position. The mare was barely even breathing hard yet and Bleri forced himself to relax, which would hopefully have the same effect on the mare. As they raced down the backstretch Bleri started to loosen up a bit, just enough to get the mare going a little faster but not enough to let her surge forward and run herself into the ground before the last turn. The horse in front of them, a large dappled grey started to falter and fell back behind Ruppan and Bleri, who moved the mare up to take the grey’s vacant spot. As they came around the turn Bleri urged the mare on a little more, who snorted in surprise as the whip hit her flanks and then took off, taking the horse in second place out almost immediately. Bleri continued to move her out and as they came into the homestretch he moved her to the outside a little so that they wouldn’t be stuck behind the leader. The other jockey looked over and whipped his horse, trying to get him to sprint faster and match Ruppan’s speed. After a moment he did pick up the pace and the two horses were racing abreast, only a nose lengths difference which would decide who won. The other horse moved up and Ruppan fell back to his withers but quickly regained herself and sprinted forward, even with the other horse again. The finish line was in sight and Bleri began to whip frantically, knowing the mare was tiring but also knowing that she could win if she wanted it. Her breath came fast as she moved up a little more, about a head’s length in front of the other horse. Bleri continued to whip her but stopped when he knew he wasn’t getting anything else out of her. Four lengths from the finish line the other horse moves up again, taking the lead. Bleri tried to urge Ruppan on but the mare didn’t respond. Bleri sighed and let the mare fall back to the other horses’ withers. They were going to have to settle for second. Boland ran out towards Ruppan and Bleri as they trotted from the track. “That was great!” Boland excliamed as he helped Bleri from the saddle and took Ruppan’s reins. Bleri smiled and said, “I would have liked first but we can work on that right?” Boland nodded and rubbed Ruppan’s head affectionately. “Of course we’ll work on that! We were so close! A little more work on longer distance sprinting and we should have it down.” Bleri nodded and asked, “The marks mean nothing to me, but how much was the purse?” Boland shrugged and said, “I don’t know. Let’s go find out shall we?” He led the tired mare behind him as he walked over to the registration booth to see how much they won. Later that night Boland walked Ruppan back to the barn and untacked her, clipping her to the cross ties and going into the tack room to find some ice so he could cool her legs down so they wouldn’t swell up. When he returned there was a young man standing by Ruppan, scratching her jaw. “Can I help you?” Boland asked as he walked in. The man turned around and smiled saying, “I heard about your near win. I wasn’t here to see it but damn, I wish I could have been. I’m K’ran, a dragoner from Caer Brynmor.” Boland raised an eyebrow and bent down next to Ruppan, wrapping the ice around her cannons. “Alright…” Boland said as he moved to the next leg. K’ran laughed slightly and said, “I’m here on search. There’s a clutch on the dunes that’s in need of bonders and Murneth, my bondmate, thinks that you would make a good bonder.” Boland laughed and smacked Ruppan lightly as she kicked out when he touched her girth area. “That’s funny. Who sent you here to tell me this?” K’ran half-smiled and said, “I’m serious. My blue thinks you’ll make a good bonder if you’re willing to stand for purple Saiayth’s clutch.” Boland finished wrapping the ice around the other two legs and then looked up. “For real? You think I would make a good bonder?” K’ran laughed and nodded his head. “I’m glad you finally believe me. If you want, we can go after you finish taking care of this horse.” Boland frowned in thought and said, “Well this is my horse and I’d like to keep her racing training going. Would that be possible at the Caer?” K’ran shook his head slowly and said, “No I’m sorry. You’d have to leave her here with someone. Is there someone here that care be trusted to take care of her?” Boland barely even hesitated before saying, “Yes there is, my jockey Bleri would be able to. He should still be by the mounting area. Could you go and get him go me? He’ll be in the silks with the blue and gold stripes.” K’ran nodded and then walked from the barn. Boland was taking the ice wraps off when K’ran returned with a confused looking Bleri. “What is going on?” He asked. “You are leaving? What about Ruppan’s training?” Boland smiled and said, “Yes I’m sorry Bleri you know how much I’d love to stay. However, K’ran here and his blue have just searched me for a clutch so it’s my duty to go and try to bond. I’d like to leave Ruppan with you though.” Bleri stepped back in surprise and asked, “You are leaving your mare in my care? You’re leaving Ruppan with me?” Boland smiled, knowing that Bleri didn’t think he heard him right. “Yes Bleri. I’m leaving her with you. I won’t have time to take care of her at the Caer and I’d like to see her race again so I’m going to leave her with you so that’s possible.” Bleri smiled and patted the mare’s neck. “I will miss you Boland. I wish you good luck at the Caer.” Boland smiled and patted Bleri on the back. “Don’t you think I’ll be back to visit Bleri?” The jockey smiled and said, “Of course, how silly of me. Do you, umm, want to finish up with her?” Boland shook his head and said, “No, I want you to, and beat her up if she starts giving you problems.” Bleri nodded and waved as Boland and K’ran walked from the barn, followed by Veran, who was flying lazily behind them.