lucky man to catch. A fight broke out between two bare-armed guardsmen vying for the prize,
resulting in one losing his front teeth and being stretchered out. The victor drank his health from
the tankard to the cheers of the onlookers. Fergox roared with laughter and applauded.
Junis tugged his sleeve once he was seated. "Why did you bring her?" She jerked her head at
Tashi who was now sitting on the floor being examined by two friendly dogs.
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"What's it to you, sister? I like her, that's all you need to know." He heaped his plate with red meats. "She's got those lazy priests of mine earning their keep for once. Besides, I want her to
know what she's missing with her obstinacy. She could be here like our young prince, a guest of
honor at high table, not sitting with the animals at my feet."
Ramil's cheeks flushed. He hoped Tashi had not heard. She had her face buried in the silky coat
of a red setter. He thought her choice of company was better than his, snuffles from that snout
far more appealing than kisses from the Inkar.
The entertainers entered with the Midwinter cake. They scattered among the tables, performing
to those who called them over. Ramil was not surprised to see some familiar faces. The acrobats
from Orboyd's circus flip-flopped down the central aisle; Minka perched on
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the benches telling fortunes to fresh-faced soldiers and hopeful girls; Gordoc arm-wrestled with
all challengers and bent iron bars on demand, making short work of the thickest metal.
Ramil used the distraction provided by the circus folk to leave his place and crouch down beside
Tashi.
"Midwinter cheer, Princess," he said softly.
She looked up to return the wish but found she couldn't. Instead, she shook her head.
He shifted one of the dogs to sit down. "At home, we celebrate with a hunt in the forest,
followed by storytelling and songs in the hall. I tell my good jokes and everyone laughs. My
father tells his bad jokes and everyone still laughs.
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Privilege of being king, I suppose."
He saw a smile flicker on her lips, then fade. Encouraged, he continued.
"My sister gets really excited about the presents. Did you meet her? She's like me but well
behaved. Anyway, this year she was getting a pony from Father and me. I hope he remembers
to give it to her--I chose it myself." He frowned for a moment, wondering what kind of
Midwinter they would be having in Falburg palace. "The best part comes at midnight when we
put out all the lights and fires all over the palace as a sign that the old year has died.
The king snuffs out the last one--it's very dramatic as we all wait in darkness.
Then I get to light the first candle of the new year. The flame is passed from person to person,
put to every hearth in the palace, so we all share that one light and hope." He paused, finding his throat strangely constricted. He'd 152
been trying to cheer her up, but succeeded in making himself acutely homesick.
Tashi stroked the setter. "In the Blue Crescent Islands we have a special ritual for New Year's
day," she said, picking up his theme. "We release pigeons at dawn to take messages to all the noble houses around the islands. When I was still at home, before I was a princess, I used to love
it when our bird arrived. You couldn't start the feast and the music until it came and we all got
very hungry waiting. Kai's a long way from Rama so we were always the last to eat."
Ramil smiled. "And what was the message?"
"It's always a special poem, a mada. It must have four lines and four-eight syllables. We hold a
competition each winter and the best one is chosen for the New Year. It's usually in praise of the
Mother." Tashi's brief pleasure at the memory soured on the mention of the Goddess. "I don't 156
know what they'll do this time. It's the role of the Fourth Crown Princess to select the winner.
See, I got all the vital jobs." She combed her fingers through the setter's ears, picking out a burr and throwing it aside. "I don't suppose they're missing me; they'll just rewrite a few rituals and carry on. They'll probably start looking for a new candidate to take my place when they hear
how I've betrayed them."
Ramil didn't like this new tone in her voice. "You haven't betrayed them, Tashi. You've been
strong. You're resisting Fergox the only way you can."
"But I can't defend the Goddess anymore--I'm not
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worthy. I wanted that woman to kill me yesterday, did you know that? I'm a joke--just a goat girl
made into a princess by a warlord. It doesn't matter what happens to me now. I couldn't go back
to being the Fourth Crown Princess even if I do get out of here, not now that I know what I am."
She stared down at the filth on the floor below the bruised rushes. "You'll stand a much better
chance if you escape alone. You should go soon--go without me."
"No." Ramil covered her hand with his and gripped it. "I'm leaving tonight if I can, but you are coming with me."
She shook her head. "Do not throw away your one chance. I'm not worth it.
The Mother has turned her face from me--I'll only bring you bad fortune."
"Don't say that: it's not true! Look, if you stay, Fergox will use you to overthrow your own
government. Surely you can't let that happen? You'll eventually be forced to become his fifth
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wife. Do you really want that?"
"Of course I don't. But as I seem to be cursed, maybe I'll bring a curse upon him." She sighed.
"Ram, can't you see it doesn't matter anymore what I do, but you, you're still needed at home.
You go. If my people are still there, tell them the truth. Let them rejoice that Fergox took me
away before I could do any more damage to my country."
"No, I refuse that mission, Princess. See, you are still ordering me around like a ruler--it's in you, it's what you are meant to be, no matter what others are telling
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you. I've given my word that I'll only escape with you by my side. So forget about yourself for a
moment: if you care anything about me, about the fate of my country and yours, you are coming
with me or I don't go."
"But, Ram--"
"You've got my little horse stil ?"
She nodded.
"I believe that in the Islands it is understood that when you accepted it, you took responsibility for my soul. I'm holding you to that, Tashi."
"You've been talking to my little penitent for a long while, Prince Ramil,"
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called Fergox, throwing a bone to the dogs. "What are you discussing?"
"Midwinter customs, my lord," replied Ramil, letting go of her hand.
"And is it the custom in Gerfal for a prince to sit with the dogs?" Fergox filled his plate with more meat.
"No, sir," replied Ramil, rising from the floor. "It is our custom to have songs, stories, and dancing."
"Dancing!" Junis shoved back her chair with a scrape. "There's an idea for a cold winter's evening. Come, little Prince, teach me some Gerfalian dances."
Without waiting for an answer, she hooked Ramil by the elbow and marched him into the center
of the room, snapping her fingers at the minstrels. "Play!"
she barked, gripping Ramil in a bearlike hug.
Fergox chuckled and patted his knee. "Join me, Tashi. This will be most amusing. My sister has
taken a liking to the Prince, poor lad. He'll soon wish they were back