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‘Was that a joke?’ Onua’s voice was stern, but her eyes laughed. Her last two assistants had possessed no sense of humour.
Daine gave her a quick smile and climbed into the pen, a clay bottle and swabs in one hand. Onua watched, amazed, as the strawberry gelding trotted up to the girl. If someone had said that morning she’d see one of her charges willingly submit to an ear cleaning, she would have laughed herself sick.
I shouldn’t do it. She’s a baby. There’re all those rumours – no smoke without fire. Still, my magic will keep us safe at night, and she can handle a bow. ‘Daine!’ she called.
The girl had finished the gelding’s ears. She came over. ‘Yes?’
‘I’ll tell you right now – I’ve heard a lot of weird stories lately, about monsters in the wild, attacking travellers. Things out of legend, so folk say. I haven’t seen any myself, but that doesn’t mean I won’t. Are you sure you want to hire on?’
Daine shrugged. ‘I hear tales. I need work, mum. If I see monsters, I see monsters. My family was killed and my home burned by human ones.’
‘All right, then – here’s the job,’ said the K’mir. ‘You, me, and my dog take the herd south, like I said. I have the Gift, and I can shield our camp at night. It’s two coppers a day, two silver nobles as a bonus at the end. I pay all expenses, and we share chores. No drinking, no drugs. If you leave me on the trail, you’ll wish you died as a child.’ Daine giggled. ‘At the end of the road – we’ll see. We’re bound for the capital of Tortall—’
The girl’s face lit up. ‘Where a lady knight is the King’s Champion, right? And they let girls in the army? That Tortall?’
‘You heard the stories too,’ the K’mir murmured. ‘Well, they don’t let girls in the regular army, mind – just the Queen’s Riders. Why – have you a fancy to be a soldier?’
Daine shook her head. ‘Not me. But if they take girls for that, maybe they’ll let a girl be an ostler, or work around the camp, or some such.’ Her eyes were filled with painful hope.
‘As it happens, they do let girls work as ostlers – or at least, they let me. I’m in charge of the horses for the Riders.’
‘Oh, glory,’ the girl whispered. ‘I’ll do whatever you want, if you’ll take me on—’
Onua put a hand on Daine’s shoulders, touched by her eagerness. ‘We’ll see. If we don’t get on, I’ll make sure you have some kind of work. I won’t leave you stranded. Sound fair?’
Daine nodded vigorously. ‘Yes, Mistress Onua.’
Onua offered a callused hand. ‘Then shake on it. And stop calling me “Mistress”. My name’s Onua.’
Daine returned the woman’s firm grip. ‘Onua Chamtong, of the K’miri Raadeh,’ she said. ‘I remember.’
Onua smiled. ‘Very good. Now, will your Cloud mix in with the others?’
‘No reason not to.’ Daine removed packs and saddle from Cloud’s back.
‘Stow your things with mine.’ Onua pointed to a canvas-covered mound in one corner. ‘They’ll be safe – these ponies are better than guard dogs.’
Daine ushered Cloud into the pen and stored her packs with Onua’s. She finished in time to stop Cloud from biting the yellow stallion, and then from kicking a blood bay mare. ‘You behave,’ she ordered her pony. ‘I mean it.’
Cloud flicked an ear back, and lifted a hind foot experimentally. Daine leaned down and whispered in her ear. The mare snorted, then stood on all fours, looking as innocent as a summer sky.
‘What did you tell her?’ Onua asked, letting the girl out of the pen.
‘I said I’d sell her to the man that makes dumplings down the way.’
Onua chuckled. ‘That’s the threat my mother used on me. Look – I want you to meet my dog, Tahoi.’ She put her fingers to her lips and whistled two short notes. A large form surged over the rear wall of the pen and wound through the ponies, ducking hooves and teeth with the ease of long practice. Coming over the fence in another easy jump, he sat panting at Onua’s feet. He was as tall as his owner’s hip, and covered with curling grey fur.
‘He’s near big enough to be a pony himself.’ Daine offered her open palm. The dog rumbled in displeasure, and warily sniffed her fingers.
‘Tahoi means “ox” in K’mir. Careful – he’s a one-woman dog—’ Onua shut up. Tahoi’s plumed tail had begun to wave. The wary guardian of her stock turned into an eager-to-please pup that licked Daine’s hand, then stood to sniff her face. ‘He’s supposed to be a guard dog,’ Onua continued, frowning. ‘Not a pet. Not a dog who believes every human’s his friend.’
‘Don’t blame him.’ Daine looked up at Onua apologetically. Her fingers scratched Tahoi in a place he couldn’t reach, while his tail thudded in the dust on the ground. ‘Animals just take to me, is all.’
‘Hmph. Can you spare her, Majesty?’ the woman said to Tahoi. ‘I’d like to get some grub, saving your presence. And your new friend is coming with me. Guard!’ She steered Daine away from the pen.
At one of the cook tents littering the fairgrounds, Onua ordered a rich meal for them both. When it was over, they explored. After a while Daine’s eyes hurt from staring so much. Coming from a poor mountain village, she couldn’t believe the variety they found at every turn.
‘How are you fixed for gear?’ her new employer asked. She was eyeing a pair of boots in a leatherworker’s stall.
‘I’m fine,’ Daine assured her. Meeting the K’mir’s warning look, she insisted, ‘Really. It was too wet’ – she swallowed, trying to speak as if it were someone else’s farm that was attacked – ’too wet for our place to burn much, so I saved a lot. Clothes, boots, my sleeping gear. I really don’t need anything.’ Seeing the woman’s grey-green eyes remained suspicious, she raised a hand. ‘Swear by the Goddess.’
‘All right, then. Just remember, it’s my responsibility to keep you decently clothed and outfitted. I don’t want people saying I’m a skinflint.’
Daine thought of the huge meal she had consumed. ‘Just point them out to me, and I’ll set them straight.’
Onua chuckled. ‘Good enough.’
On their return, the K’mir raised a sleeping platform outside the pen. ‘We’d best turn in,’ she advised. ‘We leave an hour before dawn.’
Daine laid the bedrolls out, wriggled into hers, and took off everything but her shift under the sheltering blankets. ‘Onua?’
The woman was nearly asleep already. ‘Yeah?’
‘Thanks.’
They had a cold breakfast: fruit, cheese, and bread. Onua said little as they ate and packed. She split a pile of lead reins with Daine, indicating she was to connect half of the ponies into a string, while she did the same with the others. They worked quickly as the fair came to life and the air filled with breakfast smells. When the ponies were ready, Onua placed their packs on the first animal in each string.
‘Aren’t you going to put her on a lead?’ Onua pointed to Cloud, who stood free of the others, wearing only a halter and a cross expression. The mare snorted and shook her head.
‘She’ll be fine,’ Daine assured the K’mir. ‘She’s as good as a guard dog, that way.’
‘You know best,’ Onua said, dubious. ‘Let’s move ’em out.’
The K’mir led them away from the fairgrounds and the traffic coming in. They had reached open road when she called for a mid-morning break. Digging apples out of her pocket, she gave Daine one. ‘You eat this,’ she ordered. ‘I’ve more in a basket for the ponies. I should’ve warned you, by the way – I’m a real bear in the morning. It’s no good talking to me – I’ll only bite your head off. You didn’t take it personally, did you?’
Daine had begun to wonder if the K’mir regretted hiring her. She smiled her relief. ‘It’s all right. Ma always says’ – her lips tightened – ’Ma always said there was no living with me until lunchtime.’
‘You miss her,’ Onua said gently.
Daine twisted the stem off her apple. ‘Her, Grandda, our farm—’ Her face was grim. ‘They took my life, those bandits. I saved things, like clothes and food, but all my family was gone except Cloud. They wouldn’t even have left her, except she was with me and we weren’t there.’ She got to her feet. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—’
‘To speak of it?’ asked the K’mir. Daine nodded. ‘You have to, just to bleed off the poison from the memory.’ The girl shrugged. ‘Well, it doesn’t have to be today.’ She peered at the sun. ‘We’ll be at Coolspring by noon – a village, good-sized. Let’s pass that before we stop again.’
If Onua and Daine were now well awake, so were their charges. They fussed at every turn. Luckily, many who passed them were traders who knew mountain ponies: they kept a respectful distance. Only Cloud, who seemed to realize she would go into a string the moment she misbehaved, walked meekly beside Daine. The only time she offered violence to a bystander was when he, or she, was too interested in how well the strings were tied together.
Daine worked on the ponies one by one, talking, pleading, cajoling. Repeatedly she explained why she wanted them to follow Onua, without making a fuss. One after another the ponies listened as she appealed to their better natures. Some people would have said these creatures had no better nature, but – as Daine told Onua – she had found most animals listened, if things were properly set out for them.
Onua had explained things to ponies and horses for twenty-eight years without the success this thirteen-year-old was having. How does she do it? the K’mir wondered, fascinated. They’re ponies, by all the gods. They’re wonderfully clever animals, but they don’t think, not the way people do.
Past the village of Coolspring lay a rest stop, one of the springs that gave the town its name, sheltered by elms. Picketing the animals, the two women sat down to share a meal of bread and cheese.
‘Tell me if you get tired,’ the K’mir ordered. ‘I can go for hours, once I get moving.’
‘I’m fine,’ Daine said. It was the truth. It was good to be in fresh air, headed away from the city. ‘It’s easier than it was coming all the way here. The roads were muddy, you know – with the spring floods.’
‘Ever been to Cría before?’
Daine shook her head. ‘Never saw a village bigger than Snowsdale, till yesterday.’ She sighed. ‘How can folk live like that, all mashed together?’
Onua shrugged. ‘City people. They’re different, is all. They look down their noses if you didn’t grow up penned in.’ Getting to her feet, she stretched. ‘Unless something goes wrong, we’ll make Wishing Hollow by dark – we’ll camp there. We’re making wonderful time, thanks to you.’
Daine looked at her, baffled. ‘Me?’
‘This is the fastest I’ve got clear of the fair in six years of trade. That’s your doing. You must have the Gift – though I never heard of it being put to such a use.’
Daine laughed. ‘Oh, please! I’ve a knack with animals, but no Gift. Ma—’ She stopped, then made herself go on. ‘She tried to teach me, but I never learned. I can’t even start a fire, and Gifted babies manage that. She was so disappointed. Wanted me to follow her path, I s’pose.’
Onua touched the girl’s hair. ‘Your mother will be proud no matter what path you take, Daine. I don’t know you well, but anyone can see that.’
Daine smiled at her. ‘Thanks.’
They sat quietly for a few moments, until Onua remembered something. ‘I saw you draw that bow of yours, but I don’t know what kind of shot you are.’
Daine shrugged. ‘I’m good.’
‘Mind giving me a demonstration?’
Daine got up and took her longbow from her pack. ‘Name your target.’ The wood was warm from the sun and bent willingly for the string. She drew it a couple of times back to her ear, loosening her muscles.
Looking around, Onua spotted a fence that would serve. It lay well within the range of such a powerful bow, but it wasn’t so close that Daine would feel insulted. Walking out to it, she fixed her handkerchief to a post with her belt knife and returned. ‘How about three arrows?’
‘Fair enough.’ Daine had already fitted one arrow to the string, and her quiver was on her back. Carefully she set her feet, and gently she brought the string back as she focused on her target. The arrow, when she loosed, flew straight and true. Two more followed it.
Onua gasped. All three arrows clustered neatly at the centre of her handkerchief. Their heads were buried so deeply she had to cut them loose.
‘I take it this is something else you have a “knack” for,’ she said when Daine came to help.
‘Grandda thought so.’ The girl shrugged. ‘It worked out for the best. His bones got to hurting him so bad he couldn’t even string a bow, so I brought in all our game.’
The yellow stallion screamed a challenge to a passing draught horse and reared, pawing the air. ‘Odd’s bobs!’ Daine yelled, exasperated. ‘Can’t a person take her eye off you for a moment without you acting up?’ She ran to the stallion’s head and dragged him back down to all fours, holding him until the draught horse walked calmly past.
Onua came up to them, smiling. ‘Time to get back to work.’
Well before dark, Onua led them out of sight of the road and into a grassy hollow sheltered by trees. It was plain other travellers stopped here: the fire pit was lined with stones, and a lean-to kept stacks of firewood dry.
‘Toss you to give the ponies a going-over,’ Onua suggested. ‘For ticks, stones, whatever. Winner gets to dig the latrine trench and catch fish.’
Daine considered. ‘I druther check the ponies.’
Onua grinned. ‘Wonderful – I feel like a bit of fishing just now.’
Smiling, Daine went to work. It made no sense to give the ponies a thorough grooming while they were on the road, but she got rid of the worst tangles and checked the animals’ hooves. The strawberry’s ear mites had to be treated again, and Cloud and Tahoi had picked up ticks in forays off the road.
The girl was finished when Onua returned with two fat trout. ‘Think this’ll feed us?’ the K’mir asked, holding them up.
‘More than. I’m so tired I couldn’t eat but a mouthful.’ Daine saw that Onua’s hair was wet and her face pink from scrubbing. ‘It’s safe to wash?’
‘If you make it fast.’
‘It’s too cold to be slow.’ She hesitated. ‘Need my help with supper?’
Onua waved her away. ‘Tahoi’ll keep watch for you.’
The water was very cold. Daine scrubbed quickly and jumped out, feeling deep respect for Onua’s courage. Supper – fish and a pot of spiced white cereal grains Onua called ‘rice’ – was hot and filling. They ate without talking, but the silence was a comfortable one.
After the meal, Daine washed up. The fire was banked; their beds lay on the ground, ready for slumber, when she finished. She got into hers with a sigh. It was warm, and the heavy pad underneath eased the day’s aches. As she watched, Onua got several pouches out and tied them to her belt.
‘I told you I had the Gift, right? Well, I’m going to place the wards now. Last call for the latrine.’
Daine yawned. ‘I’m set, thanks.’ She watched as Onua drew a circle around the camp, ponies and all, first in salt, then in water. Soft chanting came from the woman as she walked the circle a third time, calling on magic powers to guard its contents. Red fire spilled from her hand to follow the circle and complete it.
‘Ma did that,’ Daine commented sleepily when Onua finished. ‘She wasn’t very good with it, though.’ It was easier to speak of her mother when she was so tired. ‘Maybe she’d be alive now if she’d’a been better.’
‘Or not,’ Onua said, sliding between her blankets. ‘There’s always somebody with stronger magic. Lots of raiders have their own witch or mage. That’s why every Rider group has at least one member with the Gift.’
‘Tell me about the Riders. I only know they take girls. Aren’t they like the regular soldiers?’
‘Not exactly. The fancy name is “irregulars”. Tortall has a bad time with bandits, and the army’s too big and too slow. Bandits hit and run. To fight ’em you need to move the same way. The queen, Thayet, she started the Riders seven years back. The groups run six or eight Riders each, male and female, mounted on ponies. Right now there are six groups, posted all over Tortall. They live off the land, protecting the small villages from raiders.’
‘Who runs it?’
‘Queen Thayet is commander in chief. Her guard, Buri, handles day-to-day affairs, so she has the title “Commander”. A black man, Sarge, comes just under them. The King’s Champion you heard of, Alanna, she helps out.’ Onua looked over and saw that the girl was fast asleep. Smiling, she pulled up her covers and closed her own eyes.
The badger crawled in with Daine soon after that. Although he was big, he didn’t wake her: she was used to nighttime visitors. Without waking, she caressed the animal’s head. He sighed gratefully and slept too, his muzzle pressed into her palm.
She did notice him when she woke later and was careful as she sat up.
‘I tell ye, I saw ’em. Two strings of ponies—gold on the hoof down in Tortall.’ The speaker’s voice was rough and country bred.
Reaching for the crossbow beside her, Daine saw that Onua and Tahoi were also awake. The dog’s hackles were up, his teeth bared in a snarl, but he made no sound. Seeing her, the K’mir put a finger to her lips. Daine nodded, easing the bow onto her lap. Inside her bed her guest shifted nervously, quieting only when she rested a hand on his head.
‘If ye saw ’em, then where’d they go?’ Leaves rustled as men prowled the hollow around their campsite.
‘I’m no witch, to guess such things! It’s like they vanished off the face of the world.’
‘Shut up. They prob’ly found a farm, or kept movin’. Let’s get back t’ the rest.’ The new voice held authority; the others grumbled, but obeyed.
They had been gone some minutes before Daine relaxed enough to put down her weapon. Tahoi licked Onua’s face, his tail wagging.
