You watch the youth rub down the runner and smile. The twilight air is freezing, but the two seem perfectly warm, both still sweating from the race earlier. The boy is obviously pleased with himself, and he should be. He finished second after a lousy start and a bad fall. You don't want to disturb him, but you have to. You step closer and he looks up. You get a better look at him.
He is wearing the bright colours of a racing runner rider, bright reds, oranges and yellows. He has medium brown hair that is in desperate need of cutting. Most of it hangs limply down to his shoulders, and the rest is pulled back into a pony-tail. He has long bangs which are constantly in his green eyes. He stands about 5'7" but his is very thin. His smile lights up his face as he offers you a hand in greeting.
The two of you shake hands and you prepare to give him his message, but he starts talking first. "Name's Zenar. I don't think I've met you before."
"No, I'm just here for the day. I came to see the race. You did pretty good."
Zenar smiles and pushes his bangs temporarily out of his eyes. "Windchaser is an amazing runner. She could have taken first if I hadn't messed her up."
"You did your best." You reply, remembering the race. Windchaser had started bad. She'd tripped at the block, putting her at least 10 lengths behind the pack when she finally got her feet under her. Amazingly, Windchaser fought her way to the front and was first at the 3/4 mark. After that, a bad jump had knocked Zenar from the saddle. It looked like the youth had been knocked unconscious, but miraculously he got back on the runner and they finished second. Not a bad race at all.
Zenar smile fades slightly. "I shouldn't have fallen. I should have known Windchaser better, I should have seen she was going to have problems with the jump." He sighs and the runner nudges him with her nose. Zenar laughs. "Obviously, Windchaser forgives me though.
You remember your message and deliver it, even though you know Zenar probably doesn't want to hear it. "Lord Holder Vallis wants to talk to you."
In that moment the boys face pales. Windchaser belongs to Lord Holder Vallis, he's probably mad that the horse only finished second. You offer to walk Zenar to the kitchen, where the Lord Holder will meet him. The two of you head off in silence, Zenar slightly limping from his fall.
When you get to the kitchen it takes you a second to get used to the light. The kitchens are deserted, everyone either in bed, or out celebrating after the race. At a table in the corner sits Vallis, waiting.
Zenar gulps and moves to sit with the Lord Holder. You sit down next to the head cook, Media, who is more than happy to entertain you with stories of past races. You can hear bits of the conversation between Vallis and Zenar.
"How many times have I told you boy!?!? You can't push the runner like that. You were ahead by 2 lenghts! You didn't need that extra speed!!" Vallis exclaims, knocking over his drink.
Zenar flinches under the Lord Holder's gaze, but keeps his head up. "I thought Windchaser could handle it. If you just let me work with her more, I know she could move twice as fast."
Vallis sighs. "She doesn't need to go twice as fast. If you'd just ride like I tell you, you'd win. Instead you go, trying to kill my runner..."
Zenar interupts. "I would never hurt Windchaser, but she's not reaching her full potential. If I just..."
Lord Holder Vallis turns red and glares even harder at the youth. "If you just, if you just, who's runner is she anyways? I know what I'm doing. I've raced runner, and won, since before you were born. Get out of my sight! GET OUT!!" Vallis throws his cup at Zenar, who ducks and disappears out the door.
You see him heading off towards the stable and decide to follow. You call out to him, but he ignores you. You call out again and grab his arm and fling him around. He glares at you.
"Where do you think you're going?" You demand.
He glares at you. "I don't know. Just leave me alone."
He breaks away from you and jumps onto a runner. You back off and he charges through the stable doors. You can see his silhouette racing along the track. He completes the track in record time, he's obviously good with the runner's and you know he helps out with the other animals as well. You begin to think. He obviously likes speed and he's a good rider. He arrives back at the stable door and dismounts.
He sighs.
"What are you planning on doing now?" You ask.
"I dunno." He kicks at the dirt. "I want to race."
You give him a half-smile. "On a runner?"
He gives you an odd look.
"I come from Baeris Kshau's Healing Den. Baeris breeds special kind of dragon, a stunt kind, you might want to try impressing." You explain.
He gives you an odd look, obviously considering your offer. He glances back towards the stables and shrugs. "Why not?"