The visitor was an old man with white curly hair and ebony skin, at least six feet, broad-
shouldered and still strong despite his years. On his right index finger he wore a gold ring shaped
like a running horse.
"Umni Zaradan, you are welcome to my tent," Zeliph said, bowing again.
"But this stranger is not," the man replied, his eyes fixed on Tashi, "even though she brings word of my
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grandson, Ramil ac Burinholt? Why did you not send for me when she first mentioned his
name?"
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"A wild claim, sir," blustered Zeliph. "How can this . . . this pale westerner know anything of him? She probably just heard the rumors and spun her story accordingly."
Tashi returned the gaze of the man who claimed to be Ramil's grandfather.
She had no need to be convinced of his identity because the family likeness was strong. He was
much darker than his daughter's son, but they shared the same brown eyes and stubborn chin.
"Tell us how you know Ramil, child," the man said in a kindly tone, "and let us see if you are a liar as Zeliph claims."
Tashi wrapped the sheet around herself protectively. "I'm betrothed to your grandson, sir."
He raised an eyebrow sceptically.
"I am the Fourth Crown Princess of the Blue Crescent Islands. Ours was a marriage alliance but
it... er .. . went rather off course." Tashi thought that this was probably an understatement. "We were abducted by Fergox
Spearthrower but managed to escape at Midwinter. We were travelling to my home with some
companions but it all went wrong again." She stopped. The hostility in the room was palpable.
She could not continue so painful a subject if they were just going to pour scorn on her,
trampling on her already bruised feelings.
"I believe you are from the Crescent Islands--your hair at least says this is so," Zaradan said coldly. "But if you travelled with my grandson, where is he and why
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do you have his horse and"--he gestured to the shirt-- "what look to be his clothes?"
"Ramil and our friends were taken by slavers on the road near the river," she explained.
Zaradan's eyes narrowed. "But you escaped?"
She nodded, looking down. He had put his finger on the guilt she felt at having survived.
Zeliph sensed that Zaradan's suspicions were roused and hurried to widen the breach between
the tribe and the stranger. "How can a defenseless girl escape when a fighter like Ramil ac
Burinholt gets taken?" Zeliph asked the men. "I do not believe a word of it. More likely she betrayed them, then ran away with his horse."
"No!" Tashi said indignantly, curling her fists. "I do not know how the men of the Horse Followers behave, but I would never sell my friends! Yes, I ran, but only because we were
outnumbered and I had no choice." Tashi turned to Zaradan. "Sir, if you love your grandson,
please believe me when I say that I only left him because I had to. Ramil knew that it was my
duty."
"Oh?" Zaradan asked guardedly, stroking the bridge of his nose. "And what duty was that?"
"I must return to my people in the Islands and ask them to declare war on Fergox." Tashi knew it sounded like a big claim for a young girl to make in this circle, but she continued, "If our fleet does not reach Gerfal in time, then King Lagan will be defeated. Ramil will have no kingdom to
inherit. He would have wanted me to escape, I'm sure of that."
Zaradan arched his fingers together. "I had heard
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that Fergox lost two prisoners at Midwinter--the Dark Prince and the Fair Witch, they are calling
them. I did not realize the prince in question was my grandson. That makes you the witch."
She nodded. "That was the kindest of the terms Fergox's people called me.
But I'm not really a witch, if you are wondering."
Zaradan frowned. "What proof do we have of that but your word?"
"If I were a witch, would I be sitting here with nothing but a borrowed shirt, begging for the
return of a horse I do not even claim to own?"
Had he smiled? Tashi could not be sure for the expression was gone, replaced by a determined
frown.
"Ah, yes, the horse. I fear nothing can be resolved until that is settled."
Zaradan stood up, having reached a decision about her. "It is your right to claim it through trial by combat or trial by ordeal. I'm sure, in fairness to our host, Zeliph would have mentioned this
to you eventually."
Zeliph gave Zaradan an ugly look.
Tashi did not like the sound of either option. "But, sir, as I said, I do not claim Thunder. He
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belongs to Ramil, if anyone."
Zaradan gave her a penetrating look. "So you do not care enough for my grandson to protect his
horse for him?"
She realized he was posing this as a test of her veracity. It went far beyond the question of who
got to ride the blue roan.
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"I would protect anything or anyone that belonged to Ramil with my life," she replied steadily.
"So what is it to be?" Zaradan glanced over at Zeliph, who was reaching for his sword.
Tashi had a sickening recollection of her warrior lessons in Fergox's court. "I am no fighter, sir.
Surely, the Horse Followers do not expect young girls to face seasoned warriors?"
"The ordeal it is then. Are you content, Zeliph?"
"Yes, Umni. But what ordeal do you choose? Fire-walking? Desert endurance? Running the
gauntlet?" Zeliph sounded ready for anything to prove his worth to own the prince's horse.
Zaradan gazed at the ashen face of the girl who claimed to be his
grandson's betrothed.
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"Horsemanship. The one who shows the most skill with the roan shall keep him."
Tashi dropped her chin and shook her head, knowing she'd already lost Thunder.
"I'll go first!" declared Zeliph eagerly.
Thunder was brought from his paddock to the space in front of Zeliph's tent.
The tribe crowded around their headman, calling out encouragement and praise. Tashi stood to
one side, supported by no one. Zeliph leapt on Thunder's back and executed a series of
beautifully judged turns and jumps, concluding his performance by making the stallion rear in
front of Zaradan.
He slid nimbly from the horse's back, exhilarated by his own prowess. Tashi had to admit he
knew how to bring out the best in the stallion.
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"Let's see what the girl can do!" Zeliph mocked. "I'll wager she can't even climb in the saddle."
The men laughed.
Resigned to defeat, Tashi moved forward, remembering how Ramil had always approached his
horses. She stood in front of the great warhorse and waited for Thunder to notice her. The
stallion bumped her gently with his nose, and they stood head to head for a moment.
"I'm sorry, Thunder," she whispered, "I don't want to lose you but I'm just not a very good rider."
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Then don't ride, came a prompting in her head.
It was worth a try. If she didn't get trampled, she might make her point.
"Any man who wants Thunder will have to separate us," she said aloud, and sat down between
the war-horse's front hooves. He bent his neck and nuzzled her hair, standing over her as if she
were his foal.
"This is ridiculous!" snarled Zeliph, striding forward to take the bridle. "I'll show her who is the horse master!"
Protecting his charge, Thunder flicked his head clear, then snapped his teeth at the man's arm.