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"My wife and her sisters were only too pleased to help." Professor Norling beamed.
Nerul passed Tashi a cup of hot kava. "I have given thought overnight to your travels and have
some suggestions to make. The first is that you should take one of my people with you as a
guide, at least for the part of the road that lies through Kandar. Melletin has volunteered. He
says he owes you for the lesson you taught him on your first meeting."
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Tashi furrowed her brow. "What lesson was that?"
Melletin grinned and touched his forehead. "To wear a helmet when attacking strangers."
Nerul smiled. "And if you would also accept the company of Yelena here, you will find she is
most surprisingly accomplished in all matters regarding fighting."
Tashi remembered seeing the woman dump a much larger man in the dust so had no trouble
believing him.
"I would be grateful to have the female companionship."
"And finally, our good professor has an errand in the Holtish capital, Tigral. If you would not
mind including him in your party, it would save me sending another fighter away with him."
"Of course I would be delighted to have his company too, but would that not make our party
suspiciously large?" asked Tashi.
Professor Norling shook his head. "I have thought of that, my dear. Melletin and Yelena will
travel as man
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and wife, and will join us as chance acquaintances met on the road. That means it will be
possible for them to travel ahead and check what lies before us where necessary. As for myself, I
will be travelling on the invitation of the Horse Follower mercenary here to study medicine
among his people." His eyes took on a distant longing. "Actually, that's something I've always wanted to do. It is a shame there is no time."
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"No, Tadex," Nerul said with a fond look at the old man, "I need you to contact the network in Tigral. We have to know what steps Fergox is taking to protect his supply chain." He turned back
to Tashi. "I thought this best because Fergox is still looking for you and knows that three are
travelling together. Like this the pattern is confused. You can rearrange your party, arriving in
different combinations at the settlements along the way, confusing any reports that might be
sent back to him."
"I've also had my best students forge you some papers," Professor Norling added. "Passports and other supporting documents, that's if we meet a soldier able to read. Shocking lack of
education throughout the Empire these days!" He subsided into a mutter of complaint.
"You seem to have thought of everything," said Tashi. "I am very grateful."
"Though I would wish to help you in any case, Your Highness," Nerul explained, "you are also an investment for us. If you can bring your country into this war now before it is too late for the
East, then we
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might be able to turn the tide against Fergox and begin to reclaim our lands from him."
"I'll drink to that, Your Grace," Tashi replied, raising her cup to his.
The horses were saddled and ready for them outside the tent. Thunder was looking eager for
the adventure and in excellent condition, well groomed and fed. The Inkar's warhorse, named
Snowy by Gordoc, seemed more resigned, perhaps because he anticipated many weary miles
carrying more weight than all the other mounts. Melletin's horse was a chestnut gelding, several
hands smaller than the warhorses but matching them in fighting spirit. The mare Tashi had
ridden was also waiting, as well as three more sturdy beasts, one loaded with the extra bags.
From the cases of scientific instruments peeping out from among the food supplies, Tashi
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guessed that Professor Norling did not understand the concept of travelling light.
After the scene the night before, Tashi had not been expecting to escape without exchanging a
few words with Merl, so she was prepared when he arrived at her side to help her mount.
"I apologize for my behavior yesterday," he said in a low voice. "I have suffered a sleepless night in bitter repentance."
"Then I forgive you, sir," Tashi replied, assuming her most regal air.
"I was serious when I said that I wanted you by my
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side always. If our destiny allows us to meet again, I hope you will give me the opportunity to
prove my sincerity."
Will he not take "no" for an answer? she wondered, secretly irritated by his persistence.
"Sir, 1 wish you and your brother all good fortune in your struggle, but do not look to such a
time. I pray that you find your happiness here with someone else. 1 can offer you no hope."
"Then I will wait without hope, because I must."
With a final farewell to Nerul, the party headed out on the paths winding across the Fens. Tashi
nudged her horse in line behind Melletin, trying not to think too much about what lay ahead,
nor worry about the suitor she had left behind. Her inexperience as a rider helped as she spent
so much time concentrating on her mare, Flake, that she forgot to fret. For some miles, they
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rode in silence through the freezing mist, each absorbed in his or her own thoughts. The cold
was penetrating. Tashi had to keep flexing her fingers to stop them from turning to ice. Finally,
Melletin signalled a halt in a clump of willows.
"This is a good spot--the last shelter before we reach the main north-south road."
Immediately, Ramil was at Tashi's stirrup to help her dismount but then walked back to tend to
his own mount. Tashi chewed her lip, wondering how they could break this awkwardness
between them. Before she could think of anything, Yelena came up to her and touched her
discreetly on the shoulder.
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"Your Highness, there's a place where you and I can go if you would like a private bush."
"Thank you." Tashi followed the Brigardian woman off the path and into the rushes. "But you must call me Tashi, Yelena," she called to the warrior's straight back.
The woman turned and grinned. Her front tooth was chipped, giving her a roguish look, and her
blue eyes sparkled with mischief. "That's good. I was worried you were going to be all stuck-up
and formal with me."
"No, that's only for the men," Tashi admitted, jumping over a streamlet.
Yelena yelped with laughter.
"I never feel more foreign than when trying to understand them," Tashi confessed.
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"Join the rest of us, sister. They are strange creatures. No wonder your people put their women
in charge. I've often thought things would've been different if men like Fergox had been kept in
their place."
"Ah yes, but then you'd have women like the Inkar running things. She is formidable."
"True. I had forgot her." Yelena showed Tashi a clear place on the bank to wash. "But you speak as if you've seen her."
"I have. And Ramil even danced with her."
"You are joking?"
Yelena found the idea of this so hilarious that she roared with laughter and had trouble
standing. She still had not calmed down when they returned to the men, causing the others to
exchange quizzical looks.
"What's so funny, Yelena?" asked Melletin.
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She shook her head, with not enough breath to string two words together.
"Women!" Ramil muttered to Gordoc, though his eyes were on Tashi who was caressing Flake