Chapter 55: Hate.
"Blurgh ..." Lee vomited for the forth time on the way to the stables, but now only the stomach acid came out.
He found it hilarious that every New Year party he attended in Sunwell he had to vomit as if he was an old drunkard. Of course, that was only a form of self ridicule to lessen the splitting headache and the burning feeling from his right side where Ian's kick landed.
It was clear it broke few of Lee's ribs, but now he had more urgent matters to think of.
While the guests were still arriving, the jockeys, under Prides's supervision, were saddling their horses for the race. Lee's task, on the other hand, was to make sure Zeus and Hera were properly prepared as they were the presents Minister Orpen intended to gift Victoria and Edward. Besides that, he somehow had to feed the ginkgo extract to the horse Cai was going to bet on.
Unfortunately, by now it was clear he had bitten off more than he could chew.
The two white steeds met Lee nickering and pocking his chest. This time the show of affection only caused Lee pain, but he gathered his last bits of willpower and, while complaining out loud about his own stupidity, put on exquisite saddles, that were specifically crafted as a part of the gift.
Then he took both bridles and went out for a walk, he in the middle and the horses at each side. Of course, the intent was to somehow get to the other guys who were about to race, and for the first time that day Lady Luck smiled at him.
When Lee got to the racecourse, Prides was holding a lengthy lecture, and all jockeys were attentively listening, although judging from what Lee heard, nothing new was said. But it didn't matter. Most of the spectator seats were already full, thus everything that happened was witnessed by hundreds pairs of eyes.
For a brief moment Lee let go of his two white friends and walked over to the eight horses that were about to race.