Soul Riders | Star Stable

Unexpected | Chapter 29

The Soul Riders and Mae rode into Valedale and stopped at Avalon's house. Alex slipped out of the saddle and banged on the front door so hard that it rattled. Avalon opened it slowly and observed the group under his dark hood. 

"Do you wear that thing to sleep?" Alex wondered aloud and snickered. 

Avalon seemed to have not heard or chose to ignore Alex's question and beckoned them all inside. They all dismounted and walked inside to see Rhiannon sprawled out on one of the couches. Her eyes fluttered open as the door closed behind them and she smiled at them all, even at Nicole.

"You did it!" Rhiannon shouted with joy.

Alex nodded, and Linda stepped forward. "We all sustained some injuries and Nicole will need tending to, as for Mae," Linda paused. "Maybe a cup of tea."

Avalon bristled at the meaning of Linda's words.

Mae avoided looking at Rhiannon as she recognized her as the woman she met earlier. 

"I will go to the Moorland riding camp, I'm sure I can work everything out for you and get them to excuse your absence, Mae. They should be lenient, the druids have done a lot for the Moorland family."

"Druids?"

"Lets' have a seat at the dining table," Rhiannon paused and looked at the Soul Riders, "please go home and rest, I will take care of any unfinished business."

They all nodded and left quietly.

Rhiannon helped Nicole lay down on the couch and laid a blanket over her. Rhiannon could feel that Nicole contained no lingering power. She was just a normal girl now. With a dark past.

Rhiannon and Mae sat at the dining table as Avalon set a cup of tea and a cookie in front of Mae. 

"I'm sure there is a lot of things you want to know after tonight's events."

Mae nodded, "I think there is more to you all than what I can see on the surface."

Avalon seated himself at the table and nodded. 

"But something weird happened," Mae lifted her cup of tea between her hands. "When that girl tried to burn me with this huge thing of fire, this pink light appeared in front of me, shielding me from it. Those girls who just left, were still sprawled out on the ground trying to recover and somehow I was shielded. I just don't understand how." Mae looked down at her hands, "maybe I'm going crazy but I feel like I shielded myself. Is it possible that I have powers too?" Mae looked up at Rhiannon for answers but received none from the smile she returned. 

"I'm sure you're just tired from tonight's events, don't worry about it right now. It's not worth stressing yourself out over." Rhiannon spoke softly.

Avalon sat silently, when Rhiannon looked at him she knew his mind was at work. 

"They are really nice girls, somehow when I was with them I felt like I had known them forever," Mae whispered as she lifted the mug of tea to her lips. 

Suddenly Avalon's hand knocked the tea out of Mae's hands before she could drink it. The mug smashed on the floor and Rhiannon looked at him in astonishment. 

"What are you doing?" Rhiannon asked him as if he had lost his mind.

"She could be the fifth," Avalon answered.

Mae looked at him with wary surprise.

"The fifth Soul Rider," Rhiannon whispered in realization.