Dakini's Hope

Chapter 19

I sit patiently astride Gypsy's back and watch as Chase tries again, for the fifth time, to successfully mount Wildheart from the ground. It's both hilariously painful and painfully hilarious to watch. It's clear that he's definitely not ridden in however many years. Finally, he manages to swing his leg over and get his foot in the stirrup and manages to stay sitting upright instead of sliding off like he has for the past 10 minutes.

"Ready?" I ask, urging Gypsy into a walk by squeezing my legs.

"Yeah, totally." Chase replies, rubbing his heel against Wildheart's side; urging her into a walk too.

We go around the school a few times, practising changing gaits and sitting into them by playing a small game of follow the leader. I'll admit, Chase's a surprisingly fast learner for someone who looks like he barely pays any attention in class. After a sixth circuit, I come to a halt and he stops Wildheart near enough right next to me.

"All right. You've mastered that pretty quickly." I say as I take my feet out of the stirrups and hoist the stirrups up on the saddle. I jump to the ground and head over to where the bows and quivers are kept. I pull out two of each and head back to him; handing him one of each before strapping my own around my chest and easily pull myself back up onto Gypsy's saddle.

"Now let's see if you can ride without the reins.." I challenge, taking my bow and an arrow from the quiver while urging Gypsy into a walk around the school with my legs.

"Without the reins?" He asks, sounding disbelieving. "I can try - but you gotta promise not to laugh if I fall off."

"Can't make that promise, sorry." I reply, raising my voice as I urge Gypsy into a canter and start to ride around the school while I wait for him. "Come on, hotshot. Let's see what you can do."

"Hotshot, huh?" He asks, his tone becoming a little bit teasing. "Thanks."

Wildheart suddenly decides she's had enough of standing still and breaks into a trot after me as Gypsy passes her for a second time. Chase lets out a yelp of alarm and starts to lean back, but he gets his balance back and somehow figures out how to stay balanced without my help. Looks like I might have a natural on my hands.

I teach him how to speed up and slow down without the reins as well as how to turn the horses without them. Once Chase has these skills mastered, I set him the challenge of shooting a target while keeping Wildheart at a walk. It takes him a few tries, but he eventually gets a bullseye.

"How do you make this look so easy?" He questions, coming to a halt next to me from where I'm watching.

"I'm practically the female version of Hawkeye." I reply, leaning back onto Gypsy's rear, bringing up my feet onto the saddle and putting my hands behind my head; mimicking Chase's pose from earlier today. "Not to brag or anything." I add hastily.

"Oh really?" A challenging tone comes into his tone as he circles me astride Wildheart's back. "Prove it."

I sit up properly and stare back at him through the blindfold, one of my eyebrows raised above the rim of the material in question. "What did you have in mind?" I reply, taking on the challenge in his tone.

Chase rides around the indoor school and points out every target that there is possible to shoot, then comes back to a halt beside me and Gypsy. "I bet that you can't hit every target in here without a saddle and reins on Gypsy - especially not with that on." He points at my scarf with a finger and then prods me in the bridge of my nose.

I look around the indoor arena with a knowing smile. I've done that before countless times; but I'm not about to let him know that. Chase starts flapping his elbows by his sides and makes chicken noises; teasing me about being too chicken to take his challenge. I link my fingers together and stretch my arms forward, roll my shoulders back and then jump down from Gypsy's back.