Tammi
*Parma looked the man up and down, intrigued. If it was a scam, she couldn't think of how. A free meal at a fancy inn would do wonders for settling her stomach sloshing with salt and sea rations. Could she win the race? Maybe, but this horseman had an air of confidence that gave her pause. She glares at his outstretched hand. What's a few questions if she loses? "Okay, sir Almann, I'm up for the challenge. For clarity's sake, we shake hands, and whoever makes it to the gates with their horse first wins?"
Marvin
_Almann shakes her hand. It's a good thing he had enhancement magic to use that would bolster his horse's running speed._

"Deal."

_Almann takes a copper coin and flips it far about their heads._

"We'll go when the coin hits the ground."
Tammi
*Parma smirked as she gripped the man's hand, tightening her core before twisting her upper body and yanking her hand in towards her body in an attempt to throw him off balance, maybe knock him off the horse completely if she was lucky enough. After doing so, she would attempt to shake his grip, fasten her hands on the reigns of her roucey, make sure Almann was out of the way of her roucey's hooves, and kick the horse into a gallop towards the city gates. Dishonorable? Most definitely. Cheating? Well, he agreed that the race started after the handshake, didn't he? No matter, she'd offer to pay for that meal either way, but the horseman had such confidence! She was curious how he'd react to such a move, and if he could recover.* "Won't be enough for your horse to outpace mine, Mister Almann," *She calls out,* "You'll have to beat me as well!"
Marvin
_Almann wouldn't fall for such petty tricks. He was once a rider of his Khan, being yanked off his horse wouldn't be something easily done. His legs would grip the sides of the horse, easily keeping his balance at the underhanded attempt of a cheeky start. He grins wildly and casts Denwen's Blessing on his horse as he kicks the horse into a full gallop down the road. Indeed, his steppe horse was slower than many others, but the enhancement given to it should give him an edge._

_His horse would be able to maintain the top speed for a good amount of time. A good advantage of having a Selnarian steppe horse..._

_Almann thought of possible ways to startle her horse. He was a magic user after all. He didn't want to hurt the beast, just startle it long enough for him to catch up quicker. When he got in range perhaps he'd launch a Bronze Lance or breath fire in front of the beast, to get it to stop. Either way, he still had to make up ground._

```Horse top speed increase from 8 m/s -13 m/s for the cost of 15 mana.```
Tammi
*Parma glanced over her shoulder, gritting her teeth as her opponent started to gain on her. She could ride a horse fine enough, her mother taught her that much, but it was clear Almann was out of her league, riding with enough poise to rival a professional jouster from Rakmurse. As ineffective as her opening move was, it was clear to her how necessary it was to bridge that gap. What else could she do right now, magic? What if her aim was off and it hit Almann, his horse, or a bystander. She hadn't practiced slinging fireballs from Alitrac's back. No, she has the lead, all she needs to do is keep it. Glancing again over her shoulder to gather Almann's position, she leaned her reigns to the side, having her horse position in front of her opponents' so as to stop him from passing her. Alitrac maintained a steady speed, but it was clear the horse was no sprinter. The distance between the two grew smaller, and it remained unclear to Parma if Alitrac's gait would be enough to reach the gates first.*
Marvin
_Almann lets go of the reigns of his horse. In the steppe they were able to ride on the back of their horses in combat without reaching for reigns. They had to, it's how they fought. Almann would guide the horse with pressure from either heel to signal it to remain running and attempt to go around. She was a well trained beast and intelligent too. Another good trait of the steppe breed. In the meantime, he slowly makes his way to a crouched stance to keep his center of mass low. No longer sitting in the saddle, Almann unsheathes his sword. The sword begins to glow after a few seconds, shifting it's form in his hands. He makes sure to keep himself steady and on his heels throughout this process, who knows what this woman is going to throw at him..._