145
He bowed in reply. "I would not dare, knowing what you would do if you once got the better of
me."
The Inkar picked up her weapon. As she did so, she noticed the black-robed figure standing with
a priest at the other end of the courts.
"Yours?" she asked her brother.
He nodded. "Yes, the little penitent."
Junis snorted and strode over to Tashi.
"You, girl," she said abruptly, "I hear you are putting the priests to a lot of trouble."
"That is not my intention," Tashi replied, wondering who this terrible-looking woman was.
149
"Pitiful answer. Show some backbone, girl. If you intend to resist, at least don't apologize for it.
Here, priest, let me take the girl's lesson."
"But, my lady--" protested the trainer, glancing to the warlord.
Fergox intervened. "It's all right, Training Master, I give my permission." He drew his sister aside.
"I don't want her damaged, understood? I'm still planning to wed her."
"Pish!" Junis sniffed. "She's not as fragile as she looks. We women never are. Right, girl, it's time you learned to make proper use of a sword." She thrust a heavy blade into Tashi's hands. The girl could barely lift it. "Raise it into the guard position like so." Junis held her own sword out in front of her, its point rock steady.
"I don't want to fight you," Tashi said in a voice little more than a whisper.
This woman's presence seemed to crush her, making her feel small and insignificant.
146
"See, I told you." Fergox laughed. "She's as stubborn as a mule. Come, the troops are assembled for us to review them." He strode off, calling for his clothes.
Junis sheathed her sword and waited for him to go. But instead of following, she took Tashi by
the shoulders.
"We've waited on your whims long enough. Come on, girl, fight!" She shook Tashi hard, making her teeth rattle. "Wake up! In Spearthrower's empire, you fight or you die!" She pushed Tashi away and drew her blade again. "Unlike your teachers, I'm not going to miss when I aim at you.
150
What will you do now, Blue Crescent Princess? Die like a dog or fight like a hero?"
Junis raised her sword, her expression merciless. Closing her eyes, Tashi gripped the hilt of her
own blade, determined not to flinch from the blow. She heard Junis grunt as she swung--she
heard the whistle of air--but then a pair of arms clasped her from behind and lifted her sword to
block the
downstroke. The blades clashed together, the Inkar's fierce swipe skidding off to the ground.
"Perhaps your ladyship would prefer to do battle with someone who wants to pit his strength
against hers," Ramil said, pushing Tashi gently behind him.
He levered the blade from her frozen fingers and then tested its weight by twirling it in the air.
Junis glanced at the pale-faced girl who had fallen back to take shelter behind the barrier and
then at the dark-skinned boy who was grinning roguishly at her.
"Hah! You're right! It would be much better sport to
147
see what Lagan's boy is made of." She swung at him but Ramil was ready for her, meeting her
stroke with a high defense. Circling round, she probed his guard with a flurry of quick passes. He
defended them swiftly and efficiently.
"I see the Gerfalian sword trainers have not neglected their prince," Junis noted with approval, stepping back.
151
"I have much still to learn, my lady," Ramil replied, taking the chance to go on the attack. His opponent was strong and crafty and a match for his height; he would have to use his superior
agility to outwit her if he wanted to win the bout. He dealt her a complex pattern of thrusts and
cuts that kept her backing away, but then a momentary doubt crossed his mind, giving her the
advantage again. Would it be better to lose to ingratiate himself with the old she-warrior? Or
maybe she'd like him better if he won? That certainly suited his mood. He returned to attack,
wielding his sword with fluid skill that would have made his old teachers proud. Junis was forced
onto the back foot and finally disarmed with a twist of Ramil's blade.
"Do you submit to me, and thus to our Father God?" Ramil asked as was the custom on these
courts.
Panting, Junis replied, "I submit. And, by Holin, well fought, young Prince!
You would give my brother a hard time--there's a match I'd like to see."
Ramil bowed. "I would not presume to challenge him, my lady."
Junis lifted her tangled locks off her neck to cool
148
down, catching sight of Tashi watching nervously from the sidelines. She pointed her blade at
Prince Ramil. "There, girl, that's real fighting! As for you, pale-faced witch from the western
islands, you disgust me. I do not know why my brother wastes his time on you. Take her away.
Come, Prince, let's go drink to Midwinter cheer."
The high point of the Midwinter holiday was the feast in the banqueting hall.
152
Entering the packed chamber, Ramil saw that the walls had been decked with greenery, the
floor covered with fresh rushes, a huge meal prepared by the castle kitchens. Everyone was busy
with the celebrations: this night, Ramil decided, would offer the best hope of escape.
"Young Prince!" called the Inkar from the top table. She was dressed rather incongruously in a rose-pink gown with plunging neckline showing her wrinkled throat and battle-scarred chest.
"Sit by me." She patted the seat beside her. Ramil made his way through the crowds and took
his place.
"Midwinter greetings, my lady," he said.
"Fie upon you!" Junis roared with laughter. "Are they so meek in Gerfal that men and women merely exchange words at Midwinter? In my lands, we are not so bashful." She leant forward
and kissed him heartily on the mouth, then slapped him on the back. "See, that's how we do it."
Ramil repressed the urge to wipe his mouth on the
149
back of his sleeve, It had been like being kissed by a camel.
"I ... er ... I am honored." He dragged the words up from somewhere.
"So you should be. I don't make a habit of kissing men. Only a favored few."
He wasn't reassured by this but attempted to change the subject. "More wine, your ladyship?"
He took a gulp of his own glass to remove the taste left in his mouth.
153
"Why not? Where in Wrath's name has my brother got to?"
Her query was answered by the appearance of Fergox at the doors to the chamber. The room
fell silent as he moved between the tables to take his place. To Ramil's surprise, Tashi followed
him like his shadow, head down.
Junis groaned. "He's got that poxy milksop in tow. What do you think, Prince Ramil? Has she
bewitched Fergox? I've never known him to make so much fuss about a girl before. Usually weds
them and has them nursing his little warriors before the year's out. But this one--no, he even
cares what's in her head, not just what she looks like. He wants a real conversion from her."
Fergox took his chair and pointed to a spot two paces behind him for his prisoner to stand. He
held up his arms.
"Welcome to our feast. Everyone is invited to share the food on my table tonight: friend and foe, master
150
and servant, faithful and heretic, for one night we make no distinction.
Midwinter cheer to you all!" He drained his gold tankard and threw it into the crowd for any