Chap. 369 The Blue Dragon Slalom Race

Chap. 369 The Blue Dragon Slalom Race.

A blue dragon flew with slow, measured beats around the pinnacles. A large placard with the number 3 was on each side of the dragon’s harness. The rider wore a pinny with the same number.

“What’s he doing?” K’ndar asked, standing next to P’jar as the man waited in line to place a bet.

Without even looking up, P’jar said, “Who?”

“Blue dragon with a lot of Thread score, number 3. He’s going around the pinnacles.”

Without even looking up, P’jar said, “Three? That’s Garth. He’s warming up.”

It does look like pole bending, K’ndar thought. And doing a warm up is not a bad idea. Now that I’m committed to racing Raventh, I’ll do the same.

Two other blue dragons joined Garth and slowly did the slalom. Siskin was fascinated, seeing so many blue dragons in the air. He chittered, sending images of the dragons flying the slalom course. Then he sent images of Francie’s fire lizards running the same type of slalom at her Gather lizard show.

He laughed. “Yes, it’s the same race, Sis. But Sisi cheated, she was supposed to round each pylon.” *

Siskin wheeked. K’ndar reached up and stroked the blue’s head. Siskin arched his neck in pleasure.

It was very funny Raventh said.

It was, I am still laughing.

“Hey, cobber,” said the man behind P’jar, “You, with the fire lizard? You betting?”

K’ndar stepped further to the side of the line. “No, sir. I’m no good at betting.”

P’jar laughed. “My arse, you aren’t. You DID win seventeen marks,” he boasted.

Ears pricked up everywhere.

“Seventeen marks? On today’s green races? I didn’t see you in line.”

“No, sir,” K’ndar said, wishing P’jar hadn’t called attention to him, “It was at Ruatha’s horse races, last year.”

P’jar stepped away with his chit. “You better win,” he said to it, softly. He tucked it into his pouch.

“Next!” the punter called.

“Not the Stakes?” said the man as he stepped up to the punter’s stand.

“No, sir, the three K.”

“Ah, I were there, you know? I ‘member that one, it were a big upset. Weren’t it, it were a little filly what won it?”

“Yes, she,” K’ndar began, but the man turned to the punter. “Two marks on blue number Two to win,” he said.

“Cut the chitchat, yob,” said the man behind him, “flag’s about to go up and I want to get my bet in.”

“Got seven minutes yet to post time” the punter grumbled, glaring at K’ndar. “Move on, stranger. You’re holding up progress.”

“I’m not in line,” K’ndar protested.

Siskin caught the man’s animosity and hissed.

“Move off, then,” the punter said, but refrained from a pejorative when he caught P’jar’s stink eye.

“He’s my guest, punter. Pipe down,” P’jar rumbled.

The punter looked up and up at P’jar and wisely kept his tongue.

“Sorry, sir,” K’ndar said. Sheesh, these westerners could be testy.

“Let’s get to a good spot where we can watch the slalom,” P’jar said. He steered the way to a low plateau not far from where the dragons were waiting for the next race. It was already covered with people, sitting and standing, kids running around and people discussing the merits of their choice. Many had baskets of food. It’s like a family get together, he thought.

“Hey, dragonrider, hey, there, sir? You who won all that money at Ruatha?” they heard behind them.

Several people heard and surreptitiously eavesdropped.

K’ndar turned to see the man from the punter’s line had followed them. “Yes, sir?”

“Who do you like in the horse races this afternoon?” the man asked.

“Um, I’m not from here, I haven’t any idea who’s racing today.”

P’jar grinned. “We’ll have a look at them later on,” he said, conversationally.

“Well, then, iffen you don’t mind, I’ll catch up with you this afternoon. I didn’t bet on that filly but I wish I had.”

“Fine with me, I’m not much of a bettor. Not much in my pouch, you know?” K’ndar said, irritated.

“Humph,” the man frowned. “Oh, I sees it. You just don’t want to tip your hand.”

“No sir, I mean it. I’ve not been here half an hour. I’ve not had a look at the horses yet.”

“Right, and there’s only one moon in t’sky. No matter. I’ll watch and bet against you iffen you’re not kind enough to give me a tip.”

“It’s not that, it’s,” K’ndar began to protest, but P’jar held up a hand.

“Tips aren’t free, you know that,” P’jar snapped.

“Humph,” the man said, stalking off, “T’aint worth it. Flippin’ easterner.”

“Hey, I’m from here,” P’jar snapped, but the man ignored him.

“Sheesh,” K’ndar said, “I’ve not been here twenty minutes and already I’ve pissed off half a dozen people.”

P’jar looked apologetic. “Sorry, mate. I should have kept my mouth shut.”

“Yes, you should have,” K’ndar said, nettled.

“But, I do hope you give me a tip, after you’ve looked at the horses?”

“P’jar, I told you. It was beginner’s luck.”

P’jar grinned, half in jest. “Right, and there’s only one moon in t’sky,” he said, mimicking the man seeking information.

The flag on the first pinnacle went up.

“Punters closed! Punters closed! Blues, line up and hover in two minutes!” the race caller yelled. K’ndar saw he had binoculars. I wish I’d brought mine, he thought.

A crowd of people hurried towards their spot, ultimately surrounding K’ndar and P’jar.

I don’t like crowds, he thought, nervously. He tried to move to the back of the plateau, but it was filled to the edge.

They heard the whuffwhuff of seven blue dragons, hovering overhead. Two gold dragons hovered, serving to keep them in line. The wait seemed interminable, then suddenly, without a sound, the blue dragons bolted forward.

“They’re off!” the race caller yelled, his binocular to his eyes. The blues flew straight towards the flagged pinnacle.

“They got off to a good start. It’s all seven tightly bunched as they approach Flag Pinnacle, with One half a neck in front, Three on his outside and Six on the inside. Seven is behind him, ahead of Five and Four who are wingtip to wingtip. Two is two lengths behind them.”

The sun shone on the group of blue dragons, their riders pinnys flapping in their wind. So many blues grouped together reminded him of when they’d fly Thread. But then, I never had a real chance to sight see, he thought. Thread took up all my attention.

Oh, if only I’d brought my nocs, K’ndar thought. The crowd around him were calling out their favorites. He saw the mass of blue dragons tip on their left wingtips to make the pinnacle turn.

“They’re at the first turn round the flag. One has lengthened his lead by a length, Three right behind him. Six is on his shoulder and they’ve straightened up and are approaching pinnacle two. Look at them go! Five has pulled up to Seven’s right flank, he’s behind by a tail tip. Four is gaining, and Two is last,” the caller cried.

The crowd bellowed numbers and encouragement.

“Come on, two! Come on, two!” K’ndar recognized the voice amidst the noise.

“Look at them, P’jar, I’ve never seen blues go so fast, they’re like greens. Wow!”

The dragons maintained the same places for the next two pinnacles. At the last pinnacle they turned tightly to run the course backward. The group dropped a left wing almost vertical to make the turn, their riders so close to the stone column it gave him chills.

“It’s still One in front, Three is behind him by a wing. Six is losing air, Four, oh, no, Four has brushed that last pinnacle! He’s dropping, he’s pulling up, he’ll be okay, folks, and what the! There’s a fire lizard! A blue fire lizard has joined the race, he’s just behind Two, he’s passing them as if they were standing still! There he goes, he’s mid pack!”

People were shouting and laughing. K’ndar could just barely see a blue dart pass One and then take the lead. He reached up to his shoulder.

It was empty.

“It’s One still in front by a head, Three is coming up and the fire lizard has lengthened his lead! They’re coming to Flag pinnacle, dropping that right wing, and it’s One still in front as he rounds Flag Pinnacle for the home stretch. Three is right there with him, digging in. Here comes Seven! He’s passing Five and Six, Two is falling further back. Seven is pouring it on, he’s going to catch them! But the fire lizard has them all beat! Seven is coming on, he’s right on One’s shoulder, Three is falling back. Seven and One are nose and nose and now Seven is pulling ahead! He’s leaving One behind, opening a half length lead! Three is surging but he’s not going to make it, here they come, Seven is ahead by half a neck and the fire lizard is ahead by three lengths!”

The golds roared as Seven thundered overhead, his rider whooping in victory. One and Three followed, side by side. Six and Five came in singly and Two dallied in, obviously exhausted.

Four was on the ground, one wing drooping but unbroken. His rider was off and a team of healers were galloping out to meet them.

“Seven wins! One and Three are dead heated. Six and Five were behind them and Two is just about walking, I think. That’s your race, my friends!” the caller cried.

The crowd was cheering or yelling in anger, people headed for the punters payouts, many were chattering about the ‘fire lizard, fire lizard.”

K’ndar’s jaw was on his chest. His blood ran cold.

P’jar looked at him, his eyes big as saucers.

“K’ndar. That was, was that your fire lizard?”

“Uh huh”, was all he could manage, his shock having blown his thoughts to slivers. Siskin landed on his shoulder, panting and cheeeeeeking in utter glory. He flooded K’ndars mind with overwhelming joy.

Raventh was speechless with laughter.

“Whose fire lizard was that!” people were yelling.

They all could see Who.

He panicked. “I have to go, they’ll kill me,” K’ndar gasped. He turned to run, but was confronted by a crowd of people.

They were laughing. The kids were so excited they were hopping. I want one I want one I want one, one yelled.

“That was FUN!” “Your fire lizard, did you train him?” “I shoulda bet on the lizard, Two still can’t find the finish line.”

P’jar was laughing so hard he could barely stand.

“I’m going to be hanged and you’re laughing?” K’ndar yelled, shaking.

“No, no, it’s okay, you’re not in trouble, Seven won! And so did I! Five to one odds!!! I win!”

*Chap. 152, “The Gatha at Ruatha-Lizard show” posted October 24 2021