Chapter 19: A Horse as Red as the Setting Sun

“Ugh... I am so tired...”

With exhaustion written all over her face, Mia shambled out of the stable. Before she could leave, a horse clopped over to her. It was her good old training partner.

“Ah... Kuolan...”

It neighed. The sound lacked its usual energy. In fact, the horse seemed a tad wilted in spirit.

“My... Did you come because you’re worried about your boss? Well, aren’t you the thoughtful underling? I’m sort of impressed.”

She stroked Kuolan’s neck with a gentle smile.

“Mmm hm hm, relax. Your boss is fine. Both mother and child are safe and sound.”

Mia fundamentally had no regard for those who behaved obsequiously around her. The previous timeline had taught her just how easily that kind of servile ingratiation would change to cold indifference the minute she lost her position and power. There was no weight to it. No consistency. She refused to acknowledge any value in something so ethereal. What if, for example, the person they abandoned ended up bouncing back and regaining power? It was easy to see how they’d be viewed in an even worse light than people who’d been enemies from the beginning.

Mia had no interest in nor need for such capricious behavior. This world, after all, was one in which it was possible to miraculously rewind time after dying. Such conditional bootlicking was hardly sufficient. She needed real loyalty.

Of course, she understood the desire to put tongue to boot before a figure of overwhelming authority. She understood it very well. Heck, she frequently engaged in salivary polishing of footwear herself. And because she did so, she had a deep appreciation for commitment. While she scorned half-hearted sycophants who turned on a dime, she considered those whose lips remained steadfastly on powerful derrieres to be like-minded comrades. To that end...

“Even though your boss has been weakened by giving birth, you’re still coming to see her like usual. Maintaining a deferential attitude despite her vulnerability... Quite the admirable display, if I do say so myself. You know, I think I’ve been a little too hard on you, Kuolan.”

She felt a deep connection with the horse and saw in it a kindred soul. Given this newfound sympathy...

“Just so you know, Kuolan, my friends and I were in there the whole time helping your dear boss give birth. You can go ask her about it directly later, but it was a really close call. The baby almost didn’t make it. Thanks to some quick thinking from my friend though, we managed to save the little one’s life.”

...She decided to squeeze as much ingratiation out of the event as possible, pointing out to Kuolan that not only was she in the good graces of its boss, she’d done a big favor for the one who was next in line to the equine throne. She’d already curried favor with the next generation of horse leaders!

“So,” she said as Kuolan regarded her with its big, beady horse eyes, “I’d appreciate some help during the Horsemanship Tournament, if you know what I mean.”

With the knowing smile of bribe-accepting politicians, she patted the horse on the neck. Kuolan, for its part, kept staring meekly at her, its long face unchanged. Whether or not it understood her was anyone’s guess. Just then, its ears twitched before it lifted its head and looked around.

“Hm? What’s the matter?” Mia said with a puzzled frown.

Smart though Kuolan might be, it was still a horse, so no verbal response was forthcoming. Her answer came instead in the form of steady clopping sounds followed by a salutation.

“Well, if it isn’t Your Highness. Greetings.”

She turned toward the brisk voice.

“My, Ruby. Greetings.”

Ruby Etoile Redmoon leapt off her horse and walked over before lowering herself into a formal bow.

“Are you going to the riding grounds?” asked Mia. “Also, that’s...a pretty impressive horse you got there...”

She studied Ruby’s steed. It looked terribly fast. Smooth arcs of protruding muscle ran down its burly hind legs, hinting at the force with which it could kick at the ground. Its torso was imposing as well. Lean but firm, it bore Ruby without the slightest hint of strain. Its most striking characteristic, however, was something else.

“I never knew horses could have hair so red.”

Every strand seemed to be ablaze with the vermillion light of the evening sun. The fluttering of its lustrous mane resembled the shimmering heat hazes of summer, as though its body burned hot enough to distort the surrounding air. It stood with the air of a monarch.

“Appreciate the compliment, Your Highness. It’s an honor. This horse is a special one, even for us. The fastest and finest of all the moonhares.” Ruby ran her hand through its crimson mane. “It’s the one and only Skyred Hare, said to be able to keep pace with the moon and dash at the very edge of nightfall, red skies in pursuit but never catching up.”

“Skyred Hare...”

The horse looked at Mia, intelligence radiating from its eyes, and let out a short whinny as if in acknowledgment of its name.

My, there’s almost an elegance to its features. If horses had nobility, this one would be among their number.

Then she shifted her gaze toward her own steed.

...Somehow, I can’t see Kuolan putting up much of a fight. This horse is out of its league, she thought with a sigh.

Just then, she noticed a curious gesture from Skyred Hare. Whereas it had been behaving gently around Mia and treating her with respect, when it glanced at Kuolan...it snorted! Realization dawned on Mia through pure reflexive instinct.

Ah, this horse is definitely a jerk!

“Now then, I must excuse myself,” said Ruby as she mounted again. “See you at the tournament. I look forward to our event.”

True to their names, they became a whirl of red as they galloped off toward the riding grounds, leaving Mia and Kuolan to watch their shrinking forms through the cloud of dust in their wake. Having just witnessed Skyred Hare’s speed, Mia became sure of her fate.

Well, that’s it. I’ve lost. Practicing more, getting used to riding Kuolan...none of that even matters. They’re on another level.

She regarded her horse, who seemed neither angry nor sullen. It simply watched with perfect placidity as Skyred Hare disappeared into the distance.

Ah, so you’ve realized it too. That’s right. You don’t stand a chance. Neither of us do...

She let out a disheartened sigh, feeling her spirits sink. The tournament was only three days away.