He took a step closer. “No.” Behind him, the sun slipped over the rim of the world, leaving us in the gathering dusk.
My throat went dry. How had I managed to end up all alone with him up here, without even Hami’s inadequate protection? The man had something deeply unsettling about him, not threatening exactly, but dangerous.
He studied me with those intense, unreadable eyes. “Don’t look at me like that,” he said suddenly and reached out to brush back a strand of my hair. “I would never hurt you.”
Somehow I could not tear my gaze from his. “I know,” I whispered.
That moment a shout sounded from the tower behind us. Lord Rhys whirled round to look out over the view. His brows drew down when the sentry in the tower blew a signal on his horn. “Right on time,” he muttered.
Far away in the distance, a long line of pack horses had come into view, following the road leading to the Eyrie. They seemed to be accompanied by riders, but it was too far away to make out the details in the fading light.
“More of your men?” I asked.
“No.” He held out a hand. “But I need to get back to make sure of the arrangements.”
I ignored the hand and motioned for him to go first. “What arrangements?”
He sighed and led the way across the rocks. “It’s the Khotai, come to trade.”
“Those butchers!” I stopped abruptly. “How can you trade with them? They do nothing but raid and pillage.” As the people living on Sikhand’s eastern border could attest to. We had not yet found a way to counter their lightning raids into our territory, leaving burnt homes behind and amassing rich pickings in stolen property and slaves.
“I don’t like them either,” Lord Rhys snapped, “but they make the best bows anywhere, so I need them. This is their last delivery.”
Silently we clambered across the rocks in the twilight. The workmen had all packed up and left, leaving only Wynn waiting with the horses. But when we reached the grassy field of the courtyard, Lord Rhys paused a moment out of earshot of the boy.
“Arisha, one more thing.” He hesitated. “I got a message today from one of my informants.”
Why should that concern me? “What informants?” I asked.
He sighed. “How do you think we get such good maps of your prince’s encampment? It’s no secret that we have a number of spies there.”
“I see!” It made sense, of course, and was hardly surprising. With so many Aneiry slaves in Prince Bahram’s camp, it would be easy to slip in a few spies. I still didn’t like the idea, though. “What has that got to do with me?” I asked, bristling.
“The message confirmed a suspicion I’ve had for a while.”
I swallowed hard. He could only mean one thing. “What suspicion?”
“That you’re a Wood mage.”
“Oh!”
He nodded slowly. “Actually, I suspected as much ever since we met that patrol on the road. You sent them on their way, didn’t you?”
“What if I did?”
He seemed to take that as a confirmation. “I thought as much, but I wanted to wait.”
“What for?”
“To see if you would tell me yourself.”
The sky stretched above us like a perfect bowl of turquoise with a few wisps of gold where high clouds still caught the sun. It seemed to enclose us in a space of our own. “Why should I?” I asked.
There was a long pause from Lord Rhys. “Why indeed,” he finally answered. His words seemed to reproach me for my lack of trust.
He had no claim on me, I told myself. And no reason to make me feel guilty! “I won’t help you in your wars with my magic,” I told him flatly.
“Do you take me for a fool?” he exclaimed. “I might as well try to harness an eagle to pull a cart.” He started walking again and kicked a stone out of his way. “Why are you so loyal to your prince? You ran away!”
“Why do you insist that I choose sides?” I called after him.
He spun round. “Because they’re in the wrong!”
“Does that justify killing them? What choice does a simple soldier posted to the north have?”
Lord Rhys closed the distance between us and glared down at me. “That song yesterday was meant for me, wasn’t it?”
“Yes…” I stuttered, “…no…can’t you see…”
He grabbed me by the shoulders. “You and your poems and songs. You won’t lead me astray from my purpose that easily!”
Tears pricked my eyes. His purpose might well get him killed – and countless others with him. “I can see that!” I shouted at him. “You’re far too stubborn!”
His grip tightened. “What hold does that prince have on you that you fight his cause so hard?”
I would have liked to kick him where it hurt for misunderstanding my motives so completely. Stupid, bull-headed male! “None! I’ve told you.”
“If not him,” he said with narrowed eyes, “perhaps his Master of Elephants? My informant wrote that the man showed much interest in you.”
It was enough! “Oh, leave me alone!” I snarled at him and twisted out of his grip.
I stomped away to where Wynn waited with the horses.
THIRTEEN
The Khotai were still on my mind when I gave Hami his wash the next morning. I had by now acquired an eager crowd of children wanting to help, so I put Wynn in charge of them. He sent them running off to fetch water, and soon Hami had a veritable army scrubbing his thick grey hide. The elephant basked in the attention and playfully sprayed them with water, which was greeted with loud shrieks.
We brushed him until he shone with health, and he rumbled contentedly when I carefully cleaned between his toenails and oiled them. His leg seemed a lot better, so as thanks I had him give rides around the tree to the children. Hami behaved perfectly, but I expected nothing else, for he had always been extraordinarily good natured for a tusker. He came from a long line of domesticated elephants, bred in Wood temples for centuries, and was used to humans from his birth. In fact his mother had been my own mother’s favourite mount and she had ridden her on the day of the accident.
I pushed that painful thought away and turned to Kestrel. “Do you think I could take him for a walk in the village? The exercise would do Hami good.”
But Kestrel shook his head. “I’m sorry, but the Eagle gave orders not to let the elephant off the chain without his express permission.”
“Well, can’t you ask him?” I hadn’t seen the man all morning, but surely he had to be up by now?
Kestrel looked apologetic. “I’m sorry, my lady, but that’s not possible.”
“Why not?”
He spread his hands. “The Eagle has taken Lord Pellyn and Lady Owena riding.”
A stab of annoyance ran through me. Typical, when once I wanted him, he wasn’t anywhere to be seen. It would serve the man right to end up with that silly goose for a wife!
“Perhaps in the afternoon?” Kestrel suggested.
However, the noon meal passed without the party returning, and from Cerwen I learnt that they had taken provisions with them. At that point I decided that I had done enough waiting around and slipped out to have a look at the village on my own. Duach, whom I’d found moping outside Lord Rhys’s study, accompanied me as a nominal guard. To my surprise people on the street nodded at me and a few even exchanged a few words with me. The news seemed to have got around that I had saved their lord from drowning and most were friendly enough.
At the gates, I hesitated briefly, but just took a deep breath and walked past the guards, Duach at my heels. My back crawled and I expected them to call out and come running after me any moment, but nothing happened. It seemed my status as a guest held true, as long as I didn’t take Hami along.
Where was the Khotai encampment, I wondered? And what did Lord Rhys exchange for their bows? They had the reputation of taking, not trading.
An enquiry from a boy carrying a pail of water elicited the information that the Khotai were camped away f
rom the rest of the tents. “Behind that birch grove,” he said, pointing to the other side of the field. “But we’re not supposed to go there.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know.” The boy shrugged and continued on his way.
How curious, did they have something to hide? When I reached the trees, I found that Lord Rhys had posted a guard there. However, he was thoroughly bored and I simply breezed past saying I had business with the Khotai. Beyond the trees the ground sloped gently towards a stream, where half a dozen round tents were arranged in a circle next to a large paddock. I had never seen any of the steppe people other than Owl, only heard of them, and looked down at their camp with curiosity.
They sat outside their tents or huddled around the fire pit in the centre, repairing gear and chatting with each other. Some of them had bows slung over their backs. The moment I appeared on the incline above them, their heads swung my way, like a pack of hounds taking up a scent, but just as quickly they turned back to their tasks again.
I had only meant to have a quick look, but the horses in the paddock caught my attention. Some of them stood hardly higher than ponies, lean and with shaggy coats, but a lot of them had the clean limbs and fine heads of the Aneiry bred horses. Surely they wouldn’t trade those to the Khotai? I remembered Taren showing off his war mares and couldn’t imagine him giving them to these butchers.
Poor things! I circled round to the side of the paddock away from the camp and clicked my tongue softly while extending a thin thread of awareness towards them. The horses came ambling over eagerly and crowded around me, nudging me for caresses and snuffling my hands with their warm, grass scented breath. Duach pressed against my legs as I patted their coats. Good horses all, though not nearly as fine as Gwynt or the other war mares I had seen. On a closer look I spotted a few faults of confirmation, a back slightly too long, a narrow chest or low hocks. And all of them were geldings, which seemed curious.
Duach gave a bark of warning and I looked up. One of the Khotai came strolling over. He had their typical high cheekbones, further emphasised by a shaven head gleaming with oil, and wore some kind of pelt slung round his stocky body. On his bare arms glinted golden arm rings.
He smiled at me. “You like our horses?”
Instinctively I nudged one of the horses to move between us. “They’re fine animals.”
He spat on the ground. “They are culls, but the best we can get.” A moment later he seemed to recall himself and gave me another smile. “Never mind. Tell me, would you like to have a look around?”
Duach by my side growled at the man’s ingratiating voice, a sound that vibrated deep in his chest. I put a hand on his back to steady him and felt better myself. “Thank you, but–”
“Have you ever been inside a yurt?” he interrupted me. “I could show you round. We have brought bracelets and necklaces to trade and I have just the thing for a pretty girl like you.”
I would actually have liked to see the inside of one of their tents, but not with this unsavoury character. “That’s very kind of you,” I replied, “perhaps another time.”
He slapped the horse standing between us on the rump, sending it skittering away, but I had already ducked behind another one. He frowned. “You’re not from here, I think?” he asked.
I took a step back. “No.” His hands were large and calloused, and looked enormously strong.
“Ah, a Sikhandi?”
“Yes.”
His eyes glittered. “The Sikhandi are famous for their beautiful women.”
A couple more Khotai had come up, a speculative look in their eyes that I didn’t like at all. Duach’s fur stood up as he continued growling, but he seemed scant protection. Oh, for Hami’s presence at my back!
“I’ve been to Sikhand,” the Khotai said, letting his voice trail off suggestively. His men grinned.
I ducked behind yet another horse, sending it a mental command to stay still, which caused it to snort uneasily. Soon I’d run out of horses to hide behind! The Khotai watched my efforts at evading him with obvious amusement, almost as if he enjoyed a chase. With a jerk of his bald head, he sent his two followers to circle round me. What did he think he was doing! Surely he couldn’t think to kidnap me, a Sikhandi mage? He must be mad! I frowned as I gathered the horses in a loose net of awareness. Would the guard up at the road hear me if I called? But even if he did, what could he do?
I fixed the Khotai with a firm gaze. “I need to return to the Eyrie now, for my friend Lady Cerwen will miss me.”
He laughed. “Oh come on, nobody will miss you. What is one little slave girl more or less?”
Slave girl? I gaped at him. “How dare you!”
He looked me up and down dismissively, and I realised that I hadn’t changed my stained clothes after washing Hami.
“I bet you’re not even a lady’s maid,” he said, stepping closer and flexing his fingers. “We’ll be doing you a favour by taking you with us. You’ll have pretty clothes and won’t have to work hard.” He added something in his own language to his men that had them chuckling. I could guess what kind of work he had in mind for me!
“I’m warning you,” I began, firming my hold on the horses’ minds and grabbing one in readiness to jump on. “You’re very much mistaken!” Duach’s growl rose to a new crescendo.
Suddenly the dog swivelled round his head and gave a bark. A moment later the sound of hooves rang out and a group of Aneiry came cantering out of the trees and down the hill. Rhys! My knees went momentarily weak.
The Khotai cursed and I used his distraction to slip between the horses towards the side of the paddock. One of the men tried to grab me, but jumped back when Duach lunged at him with bared teeth. I sent the other horses milling around in confusion behind me, obstructing the Khotai further, and ducked under the railings.
At once Rhys and his men surrounded me in a protective circle. He jumped off Gwynt and took me by the shoulders. “Arisha, what are you doing here?” he hissed. However, he gave me no chance for an answer but pushed me towards his horse. “Get up!” I started to put my foot in the stirrup, but he simply seized me and threw me up in the saddle.
As I made a grab for the reins, he spun round to face the Khotai, who came pushing through his men. “Greetings, Chidukhul of Black Boar clan,” Rhys said. “Were you inspecting your new horses? Are you pleased with them?”
Chidukhul regarded Gwynt covetously. “Pleased enough,” he answered with a frown. “They still need proper training.” His gaze wandered up to me. “She’s yours?”
“Yes.” The tone of Rhys’s voice didn’t invite further questions.
And what did he mean by that? At another time I might have given him a piece of my mind, but at the moment I rather liked having him between myself and the Khotai.
“We’ve been enjoying your hospitality,” the man said, “but there’s one thing lacking…” He took off one of his arm rings. “Here, what about a trade?” Chidukhul gave a wide grin. “This for the girl.”
Rhys hit him, quick as a striking snake. Before my mind had even caught up with the man’s words, the Khotai went sprawling to the ground. It happened so fast, Chidukhul’s men were caught by surprise. They exclaimed in anger and gathered round their leader. The man scrambled up, blood trickling from his nose, but checked when he saw that Rhys’s men had drawn their swords. Owl sent her horse round towards the Khotai’s back, an arrow nocked to her bow.
For a moment we were poised on the edge of violence, then another Khotai came trotting up on one of their horses. At Rhys’s sign, his men let him through: an elderly man, dressed identically to the other Khotai, but with even more arm rings.
He took in the scene with a single glance. “What happened?”
Rhys nodded at him. “Lord Burkhan. I just had a little disagreement with your son about how to treat a lady.”
“Lady?” Chidukhul wiped his bloody mouth. “She is no–”
“I would consider carefully what you say,” Rhys in
terrupted him. To my surprise a hiss of anger had come from his men, and they gripped their swords hard. Rhys by contrast stood completely relaxed, but no less dangerous.
The elderly man seemed to realise as much, for he barked a command in their own language at his son, which made him shut his mouth. “An unfortunate misunderstanding, I’m sure,” he said.
Rhys gave him a measuring look. “As you say, Lord Burkhan. Tell me, when do you plan to strike camp?”
“We need another day to rest the horses and–”
“Tomorrow then.” Rhys gave an edged smile. “May you have a good journey.” In a fluid movement he clambered up behind me and slipped an arm round my waist to pluck the reins from my hands. “Farewell.”
A whistle brought Duach to our side, he pivoted Gwynt smartly and we cantered away, leaving the Khotai behind us in a cloud of dust. But once we’d crested the hill and passed the trees, Rhys slowed Gwynt down. “Owl!” he called.
When the woman warrior rode up beside us, he jerked his chin in the direction of the Khotai camp. “I want you to set up a guard. Make sure nobody enters or leaves that place without my permission. Report to me afterwards.”
She gave a sharp nod and peeled away, motioning to some of the men to follow her. Of the guard I had passed earlier on, there was no trace. Had he been dismissed? At a sign from Rhys, Gwynt picked up the pace again and we didn’t slow down until we’d passed the gate into the village. I was wedged firmly against him, with his arms around my waist, and felt rather conspicuous as we rode through the streets.
However, Rhys didn’t pay the curious looks the least attention. When we entered the courtyard behind the house, grooms came running to attend to the horses and he swung down. A moment later I found myself plucked from the saddle and taken by the elbow. “In my study,” he snapped.
I got no chance to greet Hami, who trumpeted in confusion, since Rhys simply hustled me into the house. He dragged me along the corridor, past startled servants, pulled open the door to the study and pushed me through. Poor Duach following us nearly had his tail caught in the door when Rhys slammed it shut behind him. I jumped.
Elephant Thief Page 13