The Crystals of Mida

3 Bellinard—and encounters with city ways

The new light brought the tears of Mida to us early, although the sky was clear when we halted for our first meal. The Hosta do not eat upon first arising, for it is not wise to stay overlong at a campsite. Far better to pass one meal each fey, than to pass the balance of one’s life. Belly down were the male captives tied across their kand, and little sound came from them. Briefly had I awakened in the darkness when they had been brought to our camp, and then again when the sthuvad drug had been forced upon them. The new light had shown them surly and well used, their coverings hanging as cut, from their bound arms. They snarled when prodded toward their kand, yet the feel of leather striking their backs silenced their snarls. We rode through the dripping forests, my warriors, at least, pleased with the feel of Mida’s tears upon their bodies, until we came to the edge. Before us lay gently swelling hills, brightening as the skies touched them with new gold. There, at the edge of the woods we halted to take our meal, the males being removed from their kand so that they, too, might be fed. They were placed upon the still damp ground, surrounded by warriors, but I had to approach them when they made a disturbance upon being offered food.

Fayan stood in charge of them, an excellent warrior nearly of a size with me. She had heavy golden hair and dark eyes, keen battle delight, and a well-made figure, but little patience had she for males. She frowned at their refusal, then gestured me to her.

“What may be done with these, Jalav?” she asked in annoyance. “If they continue to refuse to feed, they will be of little use even with the sthuvad drug!”

“We do not refuse!” protested the leader of the males in anger. “We are not animals that we may be given uncooked meat! You have seen fit to bind us helplessly; now you may also feed us properly!”

“We give you only what we, ourselves, feed upon,” I informed him, taking a strip of the meat from a warrior who held it. I approached the male and crouched near him, took a bite of the meat to chew, then proffered the meat for him to taste of. He frowned at the bloody meat.

“What manner of women are you?” he demanded. “You wear almost no clothing, you treat hunters with contempt, you bear weapons like men, have no fear of the forests, and eat raw and bloody meat! Never before have I seen your like!”

“We are warriors of the Hosta of the Midanna,” I informed him, then I tasted of the meat again. “You have never heard tell of the Midanna?”

“But the Midanna are the stuff of fools’ tales!” he scoffed, glancing for support at the other males bound near him, who nodded. “They are unreal save in the minds of frightened old men! Many kalod ago, a city to the east fell of its own neglect, and it was then said that it had been taken by Midanna. What foolishness! A city cannot be taken by mere women....”

His discourse broke off at sight of my smile, then he paled somewhat as he glanced about at my warriors. The other males stirred and muttered, yet no distinct words came from them. Their leader returned his gaze to me and looked worried.

“Not Bellinard!” he rasped his anger in part desperation. “You cannot be thinking of taking Bellinard!”

“We merely mean to visit Bellinard,” I assured him, then stood straight once more. “I am pleased to learn that Midanna will not be known there. We shall in that event, have little difficulty in entering its gates.” His anger was for himself, then, realizing how much he had told me. It is truly said that one word is but the first of many. “We shall not build fires merely to feed males,” I continued. “You may feed as we do, or go hungry. How would you have it?”

In silence he measured me with his eyes, then he smiled very slightly and leaned at ease in his bonds. “If wenches may eat uncooked meat,” he said lazily, “hunters may do no less. We have done so before this, and shall undoubtedly do so again. That other, I believe, called you Jalav. Bring the meat to me, Jalav, that I may satisfy my hunger.”

His smile lengthened and became grin. I, too, grinned at the jest, for he spoke of a hunger other than of the belly; indeed I, too, had the desire, but unfortunately had not the time.

“Those charged with your care shall see to you, hunter,” I said, returning the meat to the warrior from whom I had taken it. “Should you prove to be less troublesome the balance of this fey, I shall perhaps have you brought to me when camp is made.”

A flash of anger appeared in his eyes as I turned away, and that pleased me. City males must be taught that we were not slavewomen. Fayan grinned and nodded to me, saying without words that the male would be brought to my sleeping leather after dark. I left the area of the captives to take my own meal, sitting upon the grass so that I might watch my warriors at play. Some few of them cast spears at trees, each trying to out-throw the others. A knot of eight tilted at each other from gando-back, coming as close as possible without drawing blood. Should blood be drawn, points would be lost by that warrior clumsy enough to miss her mark. Some warriors played at daggers, others loosened their swordarms, and some lay upon the grass, watching others expend energy. The string of kand were kept well away from our gandod, and seemed a shade less nervous than before. The warriors seeing to them also seemed less annoyed with them, as though a fondness of sorts had grown. Truthfully, should one discount the needs of battle, kand have greater attraction than gandod. Their gentle grace allows a warrior to think when upon them, rather than be ever alert for a turn of temper. Had the needs of Midanna not been with us, the kan would have been a superior mount.

When the meal was done, we continued on our way. Many eyes-ahead did I send off, to be sure that none noted our passage across those clear, open hills. There were dwellings, though few in number, and we had to avoid them. Those in the dwellings tended land and kept herds of small animals. I, myself, saw one of these from a distance, and saw also the male and his slavewoman who dwelt within. It seemed strange that they had left their city for the openness, for all know that the city-bred feel discomfort beneath the naked skies of Mida. I thought briefly about it, then went my way once more, wondering at the age at which understanding may come. It is surely a very great age, one which I had little hope of seeing.

Mida smiled upon her warriors, for a good-sized stand of trees was reached at dusk. We spread among the trees to make our camp. After having seen to my gando, I walked about to inspect guard posts. Despite the presence of males, all was as it should have been, therefore I took my meal in solitude before returning to my sleeping leather. The smell of the forest was pleasant in the darkness, yet the chill air reminded me, that we trod foreign ground. Beyond the Dennin river the air was sweet and warm, fit for the lungs of warriors of the Midanna.

“You were long in returning,” a voice spoke from near to my sleeping leather. His arms were yet bound behind him, though his ankles had been freed, and a length of leather circled his broad neck, then ran to a tree. He leaned his back against the tree, his mind and body entirely free of the sthuvad drug. I smiled, realizing that Fayan had been impressed with his ability, for had she thought the drug necessary to my pleasure, he would have had it.

“Indeed the duties of a war leader are demanding,” I said, removing my sword and seating myself upon my sleeping leather, then reaching for my pipe and sack. “The position is a great responsibility, yet one which I accept gladly. Not all may so serve Mida.”

He watched in silence as I struck a spark from my firemaker and lit my pipe. When the pipe had been puffed to life, and the firemaker replaced with the sack, he observed softly, “You are exceedingly strange women. Have you really no fear of the darkness, Jalav? Do you never wish for the safety of a home, and a man to guard it and you?”

My laughter was gentle, not intending to give insult. “Why must males always ask the same of us?” I inquired, seeing his shadowy face before the tree. “Can you conceive only of slavewomen, unable to live without a male to serve? The Midanna serve only Mida, glorying in her service till we are called to her side. Such are our ways, and such they will ever be.”

“I had thought the Midanna a myth,” he said, sliding with difficulty away from the tree and closer to my sleeping leather. “From what I have seen, the stories told are pale and feeble in comparison with the reality. The girls who saw to our feeding and other needs spoke highly of Jalav, who is war leader. They obey Jalav without question. Tell them to unbind my men, Jalav, and to cease feeding them that brew of Sigurr’s devising. I shall stand hostage for their continued presence and lack of disturbance.”

He sat close beside me, almost to the end of the leather about his neck, and as I puffed upon my pipe, his lips gently touched my shoulder. I felt his warm breath, too, upon my shoulder, and I smiled into the darkness. “The warriors of the Hosta obey me without question,” I said, “for I shall never be so foolish as to endanger them. Our camp has no need of males who are free to bedevil us.”

“They shall not interfere with your purpose,” he murmured in my ear, then kissed my neck. “I would have my arms about you, Jalav, and draw you to my lap and warmth. Order my men released, so that we may touch without thought of other things. Quickly, war leader, I cannot long contain my desire.”

“Mida teaches patience to her hunters, hunter,” I said, puffing the last of my pipe. “Your desire need not be long contained, and I shall give little thought to your males. My attention shall be solely for you.”

“You will not have them released?” he asked, and a coldness had entered his tone as he moved farther from me. “My word on the matter means nothing to you?”

“Here, only the word of the war leader prevails.” I shrugged, and then emptied my pipe upon the ground. When the ashes were well doused, the pipe was returned to its place with the sack and firemaker.

The male sat straight in his bonds, in angry silence. When I turned from replacing my pipe, he said, “It would be pleasant, Jalav, to see you bound before me. Perhaps it may sometime come to pass.”

I heard his cold words, and nodded my head. “All things are possible, should they be Mida’s will,” I said, then stretched out flat upon my sleeping leather. “I find that I am weary, and have little stomach for warming the cold from a stone. You may sleep unmolested.”

I turned upon my side on my leather, presenting my back to him, angered that his much-spoken-of desire had been for the release of his males, rather than for me. Males must ever be devious, wanting one thing as they ask for another. Even Fideran, who had been so anxious to please me, had at first attempted to involve himself in matters which only Hosta might concern themselves with, and had used his presence in my sleeping leather to indulge his curiosity until I told him that another question from him would result in his being beaten. I do not care to be questioned, nor do I care to be used.

The male sat where he had been silently, but the darkness was filled with sound and not from the children of the wild. My warriors had divided the other males among them, and I heard the small noises of their pleasure. My blood burned from the touches of the male behind me, and the sounds did not cool the burning. However, I would ache rather than touch the male in return. I was war leader, not to be manipulated by males.

In but a few reckid, I heard from behind me, “Jalav, do you sleep?” I made as if I had not heard the soft words, and did not stir. Then, slightly louder, came, “Jalav, I had not thought I was brought here to sleep unmolested. Do you not know that captives must be much used by their captors? It is tradition.” Again I did not stir, though a smile came unbidden to my lips. I heard a sound, as though a body slid upon the dirt, then the male cursed softly. “This Sigurr’s strand about my neck will not let me reach you!” he said angrily. Then his lower body and legs touched me, for although his head must stay at the end of the leather, he was able to move the rest of him. “Jalav,” he murmured, rubbing his coarse leg along my smoother skin, “should I be left unmolested, I shall inform everyone at large that the Midanna do not know the ways of holding captives. Do you wish the Midanna laughed at through your lack of doing?”

The feel of his skin upon me was more than I could bear. Abruptly, I sat, removed my dagger from its leg bands, buried its point in the dirt far out of the male’s possible reach, and then turned back to him. The touch of my belly upon his filled him with fire, and his lips reached up for mine as his legs thrashed wildly about. I took him and used him, crushing my breasts to his chest, grasping his flesh with demanding fingers. Well used was he by this Midanna, and his own pleasure was no small thing. He panted and gasped, urging me on, yet there was no need for urging. Once, deep in his pleasure, he cried out, “By Sigurr’s fetid breath, I must have my arms free about her! I shall have my arms about her!” Then he struggled to free himself, to no avail. When my every need had been satisfied, I returned to my sleeping leather and grasped my dagger in preparation for sleep. The male said nothing, but his leg was near mine as the clouds of sleep covered me.

At last we stood within sight of Bellinard, our host behind the swell of a hill, seeing yet unseen. The massive gates of Bellinard stood opened, and many were those who streamed within its walls. Most came on foot, carrying small bundles; some upon kand, as well as perched atop strange, wheeled contrivances which were drawn by kand. There were many kinds of wheeled things, some roofed over, some not, and. all were allowed within the gates of Bellinard. Those gates remained opened throughout the presence of Mida’s light, but were closed fast when darkness descended. We had watched Bellinard a full fey, and now were prepared to enter.

I went to where our kand were held, along with the captives. We had come upon some caves when yet a number of hind from Bellinard, and there would the balance of my warriors remain with the captives till I and the others returned. My gando danced uneasily, having disliked the sight of Bellinard, and I was glad that I had no need of taking it within those walls. I, too, had disliked my first view of a city, and had no wish to add to any difficulties which might arise.

As I passed the captives, I saw that the eyes of the leader of the males were upon me. He looked angry, for I had not again had him brought to my sleeping leather, leaving him instead for the use of my warriors. I had used another of the males who had thereafter been puffed up with importance, almost battling his leader, but my warriors did not wish to see them damage themselves. They had been parted and separated. I did not concern myself with such small matters, and did not heed the leader’s request that he be allowed to speak with me. I simply used the second, and left the first for my warriors.

Now, as I passed him, he struggled to his feet and called, “Jalav, you must take me with you to Bellinard! You do not know the ways of a city, and must be advised! Jalav, heed my words!”

My warriors shoved him back to the ground, for I had no wish to hear him. I did not trust him. He had but to send a superior force against us, hoping to surprise us before we might end his captured band. He would not succeed, yet he would try. I would be fool indeed were I to allow him his freedom.

Beside the kand waited those warriors who would accompany me. Red-haired, blue-eyed Larid, an excellent warrior and often my second, was amused by the male’s outburst. She grinned in his direction, as did brown-haired, brown-eyed Binat, who also found amusement with males. Fayan, however, frowned at his actions, thinking, no doubt, that a taste of the punishment leather would do well for him. Annoyance filled her large, brown eyes and it was well for the males that she rode with me.

The last of our party was Comir, a warrior barely into her womanhood, but avid to join us. Her soft brown hair was like Kilin’s. She had been with me at the Crystal’s Tower, and had seen what had been done to my warriors. Her need for vengeance was like mine, for one of the warriors who had been slain was close sister to her, as the same warrior had borne them both. Angrily had she demanded the right to ride with me, and I had seen her need and had allowed it. She stood now holding the leads of the kand, smiling slightly toward the males.

As I slid from the back of my gando, black-haired Gimin approached and stopped before me. Gimin had hopes of becoming war leader in her turn, although she had not as yet seen fit to challenge me. If a thing is to be done, it should not be left too long undone, and sooner would I have her challenge than leave her desires to fester within her. I had named her leader in my absence, thinking a taste of leadership would sway her one way or the other. When I returned, I would know how sound my thinking had been.

“It is time to depart, Gimin,” I said, banding her the lead of my gando. “We shall see what we may see, and return as soon as possible. Should a hand of feyd pass without our return, you are then to continue on to Ranistard and enter it as I have described. Allow no warrior to follow us to Bellinard, for you shall need every sword when you reach Ranistard. The Crystal must be recovered.”

“I hear, Jalav,” she said, her gray eyes searching my face. “You think to give me your place without my having to do battle for it, yet this may not be. A war leader who has not earned her position has little to find pride in. Upon your return, the matter will be settled between us.”

“As you say, Gimin,” I smiled, and placed my hand upon her shoulder. “When I return, the matter will be determined. May Mida guard you in this strange land.”

“And you, Jalav,” she said, smiling in return and also placing her hand upon my shoulder. “Be alert, war leader, for it is impossible to challenge one who sits beside Mida.”

“Should there be a way, Gimin,” I laughed, “I don’t doubt that you will find it. Take the others to the caves as soon as we have gone.”

She nodded her agreement, then watched as I joined the others at the kand. I jumped upon the back of the kan I had chosen, and my four warriors, too, were mounted quickly. We raised our hands in farewell, and my warriors who remained drew their blades to salute us. We rode off then, urging the kand to a decent speed, and thought no more about our sisters.

As we carried neither spear nor shield, the kand had little difficulty bearing us toward the gates of Bellinard. The kan I had chosen was a light gray in color, sleekly muscled beneath its soft hide, prideful of its long mane and tail. It, being male, was larger than the other kand, and the farther it went from the presence of gandod, the more it attempted to pull from my hand. As its head went forward for the third time, I wound my free hand in its mane, then hauled back sharply as my knees jabbed tightly in its sides. A sound of surprised pain came from the beast, and thereafter it made no further attempts to set a pace of its own. When one has ridden gandod, kand pose no insurmountable difficulties.

In less than a hin, we were nearly to the gates of Bellinard. With the strengthening of the light, more and more city folk had joined the throng at the gates, till they stretched well away from their destination. We slowed our kand as we passed them, and each of those we passed looked upon us strangely. There were many males, and many slavewomen as well, and some attempted to speak, yet all, in the end, kept silent. Larid and Binat examined many of the males, grins wide upon their faces, although few seriously attracted them. The males were small for the most part, work-wearied and lacking in vigor, and a warrior may find little pleasure from such a male. Their slavewomen seemed soured by their lot in life, and not a smile showed upon any of their faces. Truthfully, it is not difficult to understand such a souring. Even slavewomen should be allowed a male possessing vigor.

As we rode up to the wide-standing gates, we saw the reason for the delay, which had not been apparent from a distance. Armed males stood at the gates, searching the belongings of those who would enter. To the right, a male afoot and his slavewoman waited as their bundle was gone through, and to the left was a large, covered, wheeled conveyance searched by three of the armed males. I guided my kan to the space between these two sets, and as I made to enter the gates, one of the armed males quickly moved to take hold of the guiding leather of my kan and stopped it.

“Hold!” he cried, his broad face creased with a wide smile as he inspected me. “Bellinard may not be entered even by one as tempting as you, girl, save she be given permission by gate guards. Perhaps you seek to smuggle items past us, eh?”

“How would she smuggle, Dominar?” laughed another, coming toward the first. “She and her kan are almost equally bare!”

The other armed males joined in the laughter, and all approached my warriors and me. These males wore the same short covering of all city males topped with a contrivance of leather and metal, designed, I fancied, to protect from arrow and sword thrust. The metal was reinforced at those points where a warrior’s sword would be most likely to concentrate. The leather and metal rose high to guard the males’ throats as well, leaving their heads entirely bare. What sense was there, I wondered, in guarding throat and body, when the head is left completely unprotected?

“Do not scold the girl for her manner of dress,” laughed the one called Dominar. “Should the decision be left to me, I would see all females dressed so. And perhaps she smuggles beneath that strip of cloth at her hips. I feel it my duty to investigate the place personally.”

Amid guffaws from the others, the male left the head of my kan and approached me more closely, his hand outstretched to touch my clan covering. I waited till he was well within range, then quickly raised my leg and kicked him in his unprotected face. The blow sent him flying backward, his arms swinging wildly in a vain attempt to remain upright. He sprawled in the dirt upon his back, the breath knocked from his body, and the remaining armed males laughed as though they would burst. I found little amusement in such foolishness, and could not understand the glee of the others.

“We wish to enter the city of Bellinard,” I announced above the raucous laughter. “Must we do battle first?”

Another of the armed males, controlling, somewhat, his mirth, approached me and stopped with his fists upon his hips, a clear distance from the swing of my leg. He, too, inspected me briefly, then turned to my warriors.

“Do any of you carry anything to be declared to the High Seat of Bellinard, so that the High Seat may subtract his rightful proportion?” he asked. I had not the faintest idea what he meant; I only knew we carried nothing of concern to any in Bellinard.

“We have nothing of interest to you,” I answered “and would now be on our way.”

“That, pretty child, is a lie.” He laughed. “But not a lie for which you might be detained. You have much we would find interesting, but you may, in spite of that, enter. Perhaps we shall meet again when I am no longer on duty.”

His gaze was hot, and he was not unattractive, but I had important matters to attend to. I therefore took no note of him and kicked my kan into motion, guiding it past the male who was only now regaining his feet. My warriors and I rode past them all, farther into the city of Bellinard.

I had much difficulty at first in comprehending what I saw. Never before had I been in the midst of so many hurrying males and slavewomen. The ways of Bellinard were broader than the road to Islat, but were clogged with bodies both human and animal, all seemingly going in every direction. I stared with dismay upon the confused motion, and my warriors, too, seemed struck by the masses, as we gazed about in disbelief.

I soon felt a terrible sense of imprisonment and wanted to turn back to the land of the Hosta. The dwellings to either side of the ways were not as lofty as trees of the forest, but they stood one close upon another, to hover massively and threateningly above our heads. Strips of cloth hung from some of the windows in these dwellings, and many of them were open in the lower part of their fronts, with broad steps leading to their interiors. Males and slavewomen came and went from these dwellings, for what purpose only Mida would know. I swallowed down the fear a war leader should never feel, and slowly led my warriors to the flow of the throng.

We rode along, going we knew not where, no pleasure in our hearts. The noise which surrounded us was deafening, and even the sound of my kan’s hooves upon the stones of the way was inaudible. Lengths of wood had been placed above the entrances of many of the dwellings, and strange slashes appeared upon them. Some also possessed drawings, somewhat like the carving of a life sign, yet even the drawings made little sense to me. For what conceivable purpose would one mark her dwelling with the drawing of a male beside a kan, or a slavewoman holding a tall, thin pot filled with liquid, or even a heavy, horned beast beside a small, feathered one? In the midst of these things I felt weakened, and was sickened by the numerous smells that assaulted me, so mingled that I could not tell one from the other. A glance at my warriors showed that they, too, were pale with the attack upon their senses. Much, indeed, would I have given for a single breath of pure, forest air, or even for the scent I had disliked in the dwelling of Maranu. There was no hope for that, though, and we merely rode on, miserable in our duty.

Those about us stared at us without recognition. We were unknown to the city folk of Bellinard, and I had some difficulty deciding whether that was just as well. Granted, we were not called upon to bloody our swords and thereby bring unwelcome attention, but it was necessary to kick and cuff many males from us, as though they thought us something we were not. Many, too, were the slavewomen who looked as if they thought us responsible for their state of slavehood. I understood almost nothing of what I saw, heard and smelled, nor was I anxious to extend my investigations to touch and taste. A city is a vile place; I would have been much happier to have learned nothing of it.

The crowds seemed to be going in all directions but were in reality moving only in one major direction. This I discovered when we were at last carried toward a wide, open space, surrounded by small, tentlike dwellings in many colors, where grass and a tree or two might be seen. My heart leapt, and I urged my kan toward the place, brushing past male and female alike in my haste. My warriors came behind me, and we were able to leave the crush of bodies as soon as we passed the line of small tents. I rode to a thin, scraggly tree, then dismounted to draw a breath of almost fresh air. My warriors also dismounted, and we stood and looked at one another.

“Jalav, I shall not fail you,” said Fayan weakly, a much wilted look to her. “I ask but a moment before we must reenter that Mida-forsaken city.”

The others nodded their agreement, only I saw what they did not see. “We have not left the city,” I said. “Look you there, beyond that unbelievable dwelling in the distance, past these open fields. Is that not the wall of the city, proving that we are yet within?”

They turned to where I had pointed, and the slump of their shoulders confirmed my statement. We had not, as they had thought, left the city, but were still well within its bounds.

“Is that truly a dwelling?” asked Larid, raising her hand to shade her eyes as she peered into the distance. “Never had I thought so large a thing might be!”

“How may one know?” I asked in turn, also studying the vast structure. It contained many windows, a wide, easily seen entrance above loftily piled steps, and it appeared that armed males stood before the entrance. I could conceive of no rationale for so large a dwelling, yet how may a warrior know the thinking of those of the cities?

We tied our kand to the tree, then sat upon the grass in an attempt to restore ourselves. Many were the city folk who entered the open area, some moving toward one or another of the differently colored tents, some adding their own tents to the ring already begun. Those who moved about the tents often emerged from them with items in their hands, pelts, and cloth, and food, and tall, thin, strangely made pots. One slavewoman emerged with a male, both laughing gaily. They paused to examine her bright armlet, then the woman took the male’s arm and walked off with him. Had the woman won an honor of sorts, that the male looked so proudly upon her?

Those who did not pause at the tents made their way to areas bounded by leather strung between wooden posts. Many stood before each of these areas, and therefore it was difficult to make out what went on beyond the leather. Males were in the areas, yet the backs of other males and their slavewomen hid what was done there. Curiosity moved me to my feet again, and I summoned my warriors.

“Comir, you are to remain here with the kand,” I said, “Binat shall remain with you, while Larid and Fayan accompany me. We should not be long.”

Fayan and Larid rose to their feet with smiles as Comir and Binat nodded unhappily. “We hear, Jalav,” said Comir, her green eyes clear, “yet next it shall be my place and Binat’s to accompany you.”

“Perhaps,” I said and smiled at her. “All shall be known in Mida’s time.”

Larid, Fayan, and I left them then, and made our way toward the closest of the areas surrounded by onlookers. Soon our path was crossed by a small male, thin and poorly muscled. His short cropped hair seemed never to have been washed nor combed, and badly soiled and stained was his covering. He rocked upon his feet, as though attempting to stand in the midst of an earth tremor, and gazed upon each of my warriors, and myself with large, rounded eyes. He then drew himself up to his full height, then bowed low before us.

“Ladies,” said he in a slurred and shaky voice, “I would offer my personal welcome to Bellinard’s fair, and ask that you show me the location of your pavilion. I shall patronize it most gladly, foregoing even the taste of another brew for such delights as yourselves.” Again he peered at us, expelled air noisily, then pointed with an unsteady finger. “I trust that those blades are not worn in the presence of customers? They would be somewhat constricting, I fear.”

Larid, Fayan and I exchanged glances, but the male’s words meant nothing to any of us. Larid grinned.

“He is taken with daru sickness,” she said. “His words have no meaning for us. It is not worth considering.”

Fayan and I agreed with this, and she brushed the male from our path as we continued on. The male sputtered and screeched behind us, but we paid him no notice.

We reached the throng about the area we intended to see, and made our way forward to the leather boundary. Those who stood before us we moved to the side, and many turned angrily, intending, perhaps, to protest, yet their protests were quickly swallowed at sight of us, for few even wore daggers, not to speak of swords. These city males were poor indeed, yet their slavewomen clung to them, as though we intended such women harm. Where is the warrior, I wonder, who would have the stomach to harm so low a creature as a slavewoman?

The open space of the area, we saw at last, contained males of a different sort. Large and well-made, some even had hair of a decent length. They wore the coverings of all city males, although they held spears within their grasp, and stood about in groups of two and three, relaxed and speaking with each other, and gazing toward those who stood at a place marked in the grass by a wide length of bright cloth. Those at the cloth aimed their spears for a target board in easy distance from the cloth, and all did indeed reach the board, yet some of the casts were so poor, that had the board been a living enemy, surely it would have remained a living enemy. My warriors laughed at these attempts, and I, too, smiled at the clumsiness; none of the males within the area shared our amusement. One turned at the sound of our laughter, frowned toward us, and then approached. He was as large as the others, with shorn hair of a reddish tinge, and he carried his spear.

“What do you girls do here, laughing at warriors and hunters?” he demanded quite angrily, glaring from one to the other of us. “Have you never been taught proper behavior? You have obviously not been taught manner of dress.”

“What else is one to do in the presence of lack of ability?” I asked rather mildly, wondering at his anger. “Is the one lacking ability to be encouraged falsely, and thereby sent to a quick and useless death? One may cast badly at a board in safety, but not at the hadat, lenga, or falth.”

“You speak as though you have some knowledge of such,” the male mused as he leaned upon the shaft of his spear, all anger gone out of him. “Are your men hunters that you know these things so well?”

“We are the hunters!” returned Fayan with heat. “Males are only good for the sleeping leather!”

“Indeed,” murmured the male, looking upon Fayan with annoyance. “Perhaps, then, you three—hunters—would care to enter our competition? The prize for first throw is a well-filled purse—and first throw is thus far mine.”

My warriors looked toward me, and the male regarded me as well. That they played at spear casting was clear, yet I didn’t know the meaning of a “well-filled purse.” I considered the matter briefly and then I shrugged.

“There is no reason for refusal,” I said, at which Larid and Fayan grinned, “but we have not brought our spears with us...

“Spears will be provided,” the male answered in satisfaction, then he stepped to one side. “Enter the field now, and I shall see to the arrangements.”

Fayan, Larid and I stepped over the strung leather, and followed the male to the line of cloth. Those others standing about with spears followed as well, and soon we were before three males, of greater age than the others. All shorthaired were these males, and they looked at my warriors and me with distaste.

“What foolishness is this, Nidisar?” one of the males demanded. “For what reason do you bring pavilion-shes to our field?”

“They are not pavilion-shes, Arbitrator,” the male addressed as Nidisar replied with a laugh. “These are mighty hunters you see before you, and they think little of our ability. I have therefore invited their participation in our competition, and they have graciously agreed to grant us an exhibition of their skill.”

“Many here are in need of such exhibition,” Fayan commented, looking about her. “To see the thing done properly precedes one’s doing it so oneself.”

The male who had been called Arbitrator had been about to speak in further anger, but he halted upon hearing Fayan’s words. He gazed at Fayan thoughtfully as the other males muttered behind and about us, then he nodded his head.

“Very well,” he said. “The competition is open to all hunters and warriors. They shall be allowed their throws. Nidisar, accompany them to the line.”

He called Nidisar, who was well pleased, waved a hand toward the cloth and then walked there. My warriors and I followed, stopping, as did he, just before the cloth. Many stood about us with spears, and all those many smiled as well. A short distance before us was the target board, to which Nidisar pointed.

“See you there, upon the target,” said he, indicating the board which was much marked by the points of spears. “Do you see the stroke of black at the center of the ring? The stroke indicates my throw, which none have as yet equaled or bettered. You must throw toward that stroke, and attempt to approach it.”

We glanced at the stroke and nodded, and then were handed spears. The length of the spear, just short of three paces, was like those of the Midanna, yet the shaft was slightly thinner. It gave the spear a pleasant lightness as I weighed it in my hand, feeling for its balance, and Larid and Fayan too were pleased.

“Should the line be crossed in your throw, you will be disqualified,” said Nidisar, indicating the cloth. “Which of you will throw first?”

“Laird shall cast first,” I said, “and then Fayan. My turn will be last.”

“As you wish.” Nidisar grinned, then stepped farther to the side. “It will at least be pleasant watching each of you throw. You may proceed.

Under his eyes and those of the other males, Larid stepped back from the cloth. She smiled slightly as she glanced again at the board, brought her arm back, ran three small, quick steps, then threw. Straight to the board the spear flew, but she had misjudged her aim. It struck, not upon the stroke, but just above it and a shade to the left. A babble of noise broke from the watching males, and Larid reddened with shame for so poor a cast. Nidisar stared at the spear where it hung quivering in the board, none of the amusement he must have felt showing upon his face, and Fayan tightened her grip upon the spear she held.

“The turn is now mine,” said Fayan stiffly, also stepping back from the cloth. “One must remember the lesser weight of the shaft.”

She, too, ran briefly toward the cloth and threw, yet her cast, too, was off the mark, though by very little. Her spear stood out from the board a scant two fingers from the stroke. Again the watching males commented noisily, and Nidisar turned from the board to look at Larid and Fayan with unwarranted disbelief. My warriors already felt shame for their casts, and didn’t need to be further shamed.

Slowly I walked from the line with my own spear, calling upon Mida to guide my arm. All was silence about me, from the watching throng as well as from the males close by. Clearly I saw the stroke, felt its place within my mind, ran three short steps, then threw. The spear flew straight and true, and the stroke could be seen cleanly divided in twain. My warriors smiled with pleasure and raised their voices in appreciation—unheard above the roar that came from the throats of those about us. Nidisar laughed as though there were cause for amusement, and the Arbitrator approached me with a smile.

“Truly may you shes claim the name of hunter,” said he, in plain approval. “You, girl,” said he to me. “How are you called?”

“I am Jalav,” I said, refraining from naming my clan of the Midanna. These males had no need of such knowledge.

“Well, then, young Jalav,” he said, “it is my pleasure to inform you that your throw has equaled that of Nidisar. When each competitor has completed his throw, you and Nidisar and any other who also equals you, shall throw again for the purse. I ask you now to stand aside so that the throws may be completed.” His arm gestured toward where Nidisar stood. Nidisar grinned as we approached him, and he bowed with exaggerated deference.

“My apologies, hunters,” said Nidisar with amusement. “I had thought that you spoke with as little truth as you threw, yet I have been proven wrong. Do you dwell distant from Bellinard?”

“Distant indeed,” said I, turning to watch the throws of those at the cloth. “We have never before entered the gates of Bellinard.”

“Then you must allow me to show you my city,” he said. “I shall be adequately funded to do so when I have won the purse.”

I turned my head to study him, and it was as I had expected. He spoke with complete assurance, as though first throw were his alone. I was annoyed that he took what would be my throw as his own.

Not many more were there to throw, yet those who did gave to Larid and Fayan a lessening of shame. No closer than a male’s hand did any come to our marks, and most fared poorer still. I had thought about returning to Binat and Comir. However by remaining we attracted less attention than would have come to us through refusal. Once, I turned to look at those who stood beyond the stretched leather, and was surprised at their number. Had I known what a simple throw would bring, I would not have entered the match.

At last, there were none left to try their arms, and Nidisar and I were called again to the cloth. A new board had been placed where the old had stood, and the Arbitrator came and stood before us, his arms folded across his chest

“The final throws are yours,” he said, looking to Nidisar and myself. “You are each to throw at your own stroke, and the purse shall go to that one coming closest to the mark. You may begin.”

Nidisar gestured toward the board. “You may throw first;” said he, a grin large upon his very male face. “I shall merely enjoy the sight as I await my turn.”

He gazed upon me in amusement as he leaned upon his spear. Fayan, who stood to one side with Larid, was angered by his appraisal of me, and angered, too, by the light laughter of those males who stood close enough to have heard Nidisar’s words. I was annoyed as well, yet did I put my annoyance from me, for I saw the reasoning behind Nidisar’s actions. He sought to brew anger within me, so that my arm would throw far off the mark, but I was not to be gulled in such a manner. I took the spear which had been handed me, walked from the cloth, turned, ran, and threw. A great cheer arose then, for my spear had reached the stroke precisely.

I turned again to Nidisar. “The throw is now yours,” I said, showing as much amusement as had he. “The stroke is there before you, and may, as you have seen, be easily reached. I suggest you stand a bit more to your right.”

Nidisar frowned at my words, then moved to his right. He did so in anger, amid the laughter of the males, all believing that he obeyed my word, while in truth, moving so had been unavoidable. Fayan and Larid laughed as well, which angered him further, yet had he control of his anger. He stalked from the cloth, turned, ran, and cast, and his spear, too, hung aquiver from the center of the stroke.

The watchers roared, their feet stamping out their approval, their voices raised high in acclaim. Nidisar turned from the board to grin at me, no trace of anger remaining. “In truth, the stroke is indeed easily reached,” said he above the clamor. “Shall we cease attempts to befuddle one another, and merely give our attention to the target?”

I smiled at his attempt at reconciliation, and then nodded. “It would, perhaps, be best,” I said. “It would not do for either of us to take the place of the stroke.”

He then laughed at my words, nodding, too, in amused agreement. Friendly play sometimes turns to blood feud, and Bellinard was not the place for that. I had not come there with intentions of spilling blood.

The spears were returned to us by other males, and again, in turn did we cast. We each cast three times further. the board being removed to a greater distance each time, yet each time was the stroke struck squarely. The watchers had grown silent again, and a communal sigh arose each time the mark was reached. When Nidisar had, for the fourth time, matched my throw, the male Arbitrator stepped before us and held his hands up, signaling a halt to the play.

“I see that this might conceivably be continued through the darkness without other result,” he said, and he took a small sack of leather from another of the older males who had done no more than watch others throw. “We, the arbitrators of this competition, have therefore decided that the purse is to be divided between Nidisar and Jalav, share and share alike. You are both mighty wielders of the spear, and we salute you!”

The watching masses cheered at this final word, and Nidisar turned to me. “I am minded to accept the decision,” said he, speaking so that none other would hear. “We are well matched, Jalav, and further contest would in truth be futile. How say you?”

“It is but play,” I said with a shrug, wishing an end to the matter. “There is little need for continuation.”

“Well spoken.” He nodded, and grinned at me. “I shall tell them.” He turned again to the three elder males. “Jalav and I have agreed to abide by the decision without recourse to higher review,” he said. “She and I shall share first throw.”

The three elder males smiled to the accompaniment of further cheering, then the Arbitrator brought the small leather sack to me. “The coins are of an even amount,” he said, weighing the sack in his palm. “Do you wish them divided here?”

I did not understand his words, and was about to ask his meaning, when Nidisar stepped closer and took the sack. “Jalav and I shall see to the division,” he said, grinning. “I have promised to show her and the others our city, and shall begin with the fair. I bid you a good day, Arbitrator.”

Nidisar then took my arm and hurried me to where Larid and Fayan waited. When we reached my warriors, I found Larid pleased by the outcome, but not so Fayan. She scowled about her, then faced Nidisar.

“You males always cease before a thing is clearly done,” she said, folding her arms below her life sign. “Had you continued, Jalav would have surely prevailed.”

Nidisar looked annoyed. “You would do well to recall, girl,” he said, “that it was Jalav’s throw, and not your own, which equaled mine. See to your tone when you speak to me, else I shall take great pleasure in teaching you that I am a male who need not cease even when a thing is done!”

Fayan growled low and put hand to sword, but that was no place to avenge injured pride. “Fayan!” I said sharply. “He is unarmed, and only a male! Would you take his words as those from a warrior?”

“I do not care for his manner,” Fayan said coldly, but took her hand from her sword. “Let us return to the others, Jalav, and see what we may see as quickly as possible. I would be gone from this place as soon as may be.”

“We shall indeed see what there is,” I said. “Nidisar here has said that he will show us about his city. Thus may we know where we go.”

Fayan did not argue with my decision. She stayed well away from Nidisar as we made our way toward Binat and Comir, and Larid was well amused by the heated glances exchanged between warrior and male. I, too, felt amused, although I hoped that Fayan’s sword would remain sheathed. I had come to be slightly fond of the male, and did not wish to see him slain.

Binat and Comir listened with interest as Larid related the happenings. After having inspected these other warriors of mine, Nidisar turned to our kand and gestured me closer.

“This is truly a fine beast,” he said, stroking the kan’s side. “Do your people breed these in your homeland?”

“We merely traded for these,” I informed him, seeing that the light had already passed its highest point. “The time passes swiftly, and we have seen little. I would have you show us the city now.”

“Ah, but first you must see the fair,” said he, giving to the kan a final, appreciative slap. “And first at the fair must we see a pavilion which provides food. The competition has left a void in me, which this purse may help to fill.”

He patted the sack of leather which he had hung from his belt, and still his meaning escaped me. Perhaps the sack contained that which might be traded for food and drink. A great desire had I to ask of it, yet I thought that might be unwise, and therefore I merely shrugged.

“I, too, would enjoy a meal,” I said. “I shall fetch the others.”

I gathered my warriors, and we, leading our kand, followed Nidisar across the sickly, yellowish grass to the ring of brightly colored tents. Males and their slavewomen continued to move about in and around them in great numbers, and some of these males paused to speak words of praise to Nidisar and myself. Nidisar accepted all praise as though it were due him, and led the way, after many halts, to a tent striped in many shades of red. The front of the tent was open and in its interior we could see long platforms of the sort Maranu had had, yet these platforms stood upon legs rather than upon the ground, and beside them, one to each side, stood another shorter, narrower platform upon which certain of the males and slavewomen sat. To the right stood truly large pots, stirred by slavewomen, and through a small opening in the tent beyond the pots, we could see a large fire, over which roasted an entire nilno. The nilno was tended by a young male, and a short, older male of rounded proportions stood near to the pots in the tent, speaking with other males, and accepting from them something he placed in a large, leather sack at his waist. I did not know what the stirred pots contained, but did not like the odor, and a glance at my warriors showed that they, too, disliked the aroma and the appearance of the tent.

“You may tie your kand there,” said Nidisar, indicating a log which lay before the tent. Then he led the way directly into the tent and toward the pots. The rounded male turned from others, and gave to Nidisar a wide smile.

“May I serve you, master?” said he with a sweep of his arm. “Sednet soup, perhaps, or a steaming bowl of lellin stew?”

“One of each, proprietor,” responded Nidisar jovially, “and a flagon of renth as well, to wet my throat.” Then Nidisar turned to me with a grin. “And what would you have, Jalav? If you wish, you may also feed those others lightly from your share of the purse.”

“I shall have no more than a bit of yonder nilno,” I said, knowing my nose wrinkled from the odors arising from the pots. “My warriors, too, will have the nilno.”

The rounded male of the pots frowned as he inspected me, and drew himself the straighter. “The nilno has not yet been completely roasted,” he said in stiff anger. “Should the female so dislike my other offerings, master, she and her trollops may simply go hungry!”

“What means ‘trollops’?” I demanded, disliking his tone, his manner, and his “offerings.” My hand did not touch my sword, yet was it not far away.

“Females!” Nidisar interposed hastily, a hand upon my arm. “It merely means females, Jalav! As the nilno is not yet done, allow me to recommend the lellin stew. Its manner of preparation here is quite tasty.”

“I shall have none of it,” I said, my eyes hard upon the rounded male. “You may cut for us a hand of portions of the nilno, male, else we shall cut whatever pleases us.”

Abruptly, Fayan stood beside me, her dagger in her hand. The short, rounded male paled.

“I—I ask your pardon,” said this frightened male. “I would gladly serve the ladies nilno, but it has been upon the fire for less than a hin! It won’t be fit to eat for sometime!”

“Bring the portions,” I directed, annoyed. “We have little time to be wasted here.”

The male then scurried quickly toward the opening beyond which lay the nilno. One of the slavewomen, fear upon her face, gave to Nidisar two wooden pots of whatever the larger pots contained. Nidisar accepted the pots with a pleasant smile, then stepped the closer to me.

“You must not treat people so, Jalav,” he hissed. “It is scandalous for a woman to act so, and we do not wish to have the Guard called down upon us! Curb your temper, girl, else you shall be shown only the dungeons of the High Seat!”

“A warrior may not be spoken to in such a manner,” I said, also annoyed. “Yonder cringing male had best learn manners, as it seems it is not his wish to don sword.”

Nidisar made a sound of vexation, as the rounded male returned with a small square of wood which was piled high with nilno. This square of wood he nervously handed to me, then turned to Nidisar. Nidisar put his fingers in the small sack at his waist, bringing forth a flat, five-sided, silverish piece of metal. This the rounded male took without comment, placing it within his own sack, and returning to Nidisar several other pieces of metal, also the same shape, yet of a reddish tint. Nidisar put these in the sack in place of the one he had given to the rounded male, and I knew I had been mistaken in my original suppositions. The sack did not contain something to be traded for items one wished, for who would take metal of that sort for items of worth? And not a word of bargaining had been spoken between them. No, the exchange of metal had other meaning that I did not understand.

“Let us sit and eat,” said Nidisar, taking up once more the pot he had placed upon the platform. “I believe that board in the farther corner would serve us best.”

With a movement of his head he indicated the place, and led us there. Again I followed, bearing the nilno. Nidisar approached a platform which stood close to the cloth side of the tent, and placed upon the platform the pots he had been given. The platform stood well away from others which were in use, and seemed to please Nidisar. He perched himself upon the shorter and narrower of the platforms, then began feeding with a smooth bit of wood which was widened and carved a bit at one end.

I disliked the look of the platforms and did not care to attempt their use, therefore I took my nilno, still bloody and nearly raw, and passed the rest to my warriors. Then they followed me to crouch down by the tent side, the cloth at our backs. Nidisar paused in his feeding, his eyes wide and disbelieving, shook his head, as though unclear upon some matter, then returned to his provender.

When the nilno was gone, Binat fetched a water skin which had been tied to her kan, and we all drank from it, while Nidisar stood and drank from his pot till it was emptied. Then he approached us with good humor well restored.

“An excellent meal,” said he in satisfaction, patting his hard, flat middle. “A shame you did not see fit to partake of it. How much of the nilno was edible?”

“All of it,” I said in surprise. “Did you think otherwise?”

His grin disappeared, and again he stared in disbelief. “But the nilno was raw!” he insisted with a small headshake. “I, myself, saw that! What manner of women are you, that you may eat nilno raw?”

“Hungry women,” I said with a smile of amusement. Males must ever have their provender well cooked, else it seems not natural to them. “We would now see what there is to be seen of your city.”

Nidisar frowned. “Your manner is that of one used to command, Jalav,” he said, and then he folded his arms across his chest. “I do not care to be commanded by a wench, not even though she be one who throws a spear with a man’s skill, and eats her nilno as it stands. Should you wish me to guide you, girl, you may ask my aid politely.”

Again Nidisar seemed angered, yet could I see naught which would anger him. Was I not a war leader? “I had not thought my words impolite.” I shrugged, bothered that his aid would not be forthcoming, yet not overly so. “That Nidisar finds them so is unfortunate. We shall see the city ourselves.”

I turned from him then, and led my warriors to our kand. We began walking toward the gap between the tents, which was not far distant.

“Hold!” called a voice, and I turned to see Nidisar hurrying to reach us. He had stood within the tent as we had left. “Jalav, I have changed my mind,” he said as he reached me. “In truth, your words were not as impolite as I had at first thought, and I now recall that the offer to guide you was originally mine.” Then he grinned at me. “Also, I believe I would miss the way you shrug. I have never seen a shrug quite as attractive as yours. ”

“He is pure sthuvad,” said Fayan in disgust. “I believe he would service all of the Hosta just as he is.”

“What is the meaning of ‘sthuvad’?” demanded Nidisar angrily. “Should it be what I believe, there shall be a female among you who is made to regret her words!”

“It merely means male,” said I, showing to Fayan my annoyance.

“I somehow feel the word has other meaning,” Nidisar said. “Yet I shall accept your meaning for the time. Come. There is one other thing I would stop for at the fair, then we may explore the city.”

Nidisar once more led off, and took us past the point where folk entered from the city. We passed many tents, some open, some closed, and finally came to one which was gold and white. Although others of the tents reeked of spoiled vegetables and meat, the dye of cloth, oils and spices, and metal covered in some manner, the gold and white tent gave forth no such odor. Closed it was all about itself, and few entered it.

“I shall be but a moment,” Nidisar informed me, then disappeared within. When Nidisar again appeared, upon his left arm he wore a golden wristlet set with bright stones, and he seemed quite pleased with the acquisition. He rubbed the wristlet against his covering, then held it for me to see.

“I have long wished for one such as this,” said he, deep pleasure in his tone. “Is it not worth whatever price might be asked?”

“It is quite attractive,” said I, wondering at the use of such a thing. Thin was the metal, too thin to turn even the blade of a dagger, and its high shine would betray a warrior’s position in all save full darkness. Perhaps, I thought, it might be used to blind an enemy, so that one’s swordpoint might reach them more easily.

“I have also gotten something for you,” he said, and reached within his covering to withdraw a small, thin comb, seemingly of the same metal from which his wristlet was made. “It will look well against that deep-black mane of yours.”

I looked more closely at the comb, and then smiled. “Nidisar had best keep the comb for his own mane,” I said. “The comb I use each new light is thrice the thickness of that, made of good, strong wood, and still occasionally breaks. One like that would break upon first use.”

“No, no, Jalav,” he laughed, “you misunderstand. This comb is not to be used, it is to be worn. Have you never worn a comb in your hair?”

“Never,” I said noting the passage of the light. “Have you now completed whatever you must do? Time moves away before us.”

“Can nothing distract you from your purpose?” Nidisar asked, annoyed and dismayed. “I would have you see the proper use of a comb such as this, and it will take but a moment. Come with me.”

He then gave to Larid the lead of my kan, and took my arm to propel me toward the large, garish tent that stood to the left of the gold and white one. A number of males had entered that tent, but few had left it, and its interior could not be seen for it had not been opened to sight. I was not sure that I wished to enter it, yet Nidisar urged me within before I was able to voice my doubts, and then I could only stare about me.

The area we stood in measured perhaps ten paces by ten, and was lit softly by many colored small boxes which were open at their tops, so that the heat of the candle flames within might escape. The walls of the tent were hung with orange and pink silk, and soft lenga pelts, shamefully dyed orange and pink lined the floor from wall to wall. Large, tightly stuffed squares of cloth, of a black that stood out sharply against the orange and pink, lay here and there upon the pelts, for what purpose, I knew not. A small, round, black platform stood in the center of the floor, and above that, hanging from the roof, was a strip of silk with rounded bits of metal upon it. Nidisar strode to the hanging bit of silk and shook it, whereupon was produced a number of tiny, tinkling sounds.

We waited but a moment, and then appeared from behind the silk, a slavewoman whose like I had not before seen. She had not my height, yet was tall and slenderly built, and she moved as though she slid on oil, so effortless did it seem. Her body was covered with silks like those of the tent walls, but all of her could be easily seen through them. Beneath the silks, where Midanna displayed their clan colors, this woman wore small, golden-linked chains, arranged, so it seemed, in a manner which would allow a male who used her to guide her movements as he pleased. Should she attempt to deny such a male, the position of the chains would give her much discomfort, if not true pain. She wore nothing upon her feet, and her dark hair was piled high about her head, held here and there with small bits of metal. This slavewoman was fair of face, and she smiled upon seeing Nidisar, and moved slowly toward him. As she approached, a strange odor came with her, an odor at once sweet and heavy, the like of which I had never before encountered. The odor was not at all like that of the eating tent yet it, too, offended my senses.

“My dear Nidisar,” said she, stopping before the male and placing her hand lightly upon his arm. “Have you returned to us so soon? It is ever our pleasure to serve you.”

“I have come for another purpose entirely, Melai,” laughed Nidisar, his hand moving behind her in a familiar way. “I merely wish you to show Jalav the proper use of a hair comb such as those you wear. Your pavilion was near, else I would not have disturbed you.”

“It is no disturbance.” The slavewoman studied me closely, and a puzzled look came to her eyes. “Though young, she is quite a woman, Nidisar,” the slavewoman said in apparent approval. “I congratulate you on your fortune, yet I fail to understand the reason for the weapons she wears. Surely she has no intentions of attempting their use?”

“Jalav is quite well-versed in the use of weapons,” Nidisar made answer, more in annoyance, I thought, than in approval. “I would now see her learn the use of other adornments. Therefore have I purchased this comb for her.”

He again produced the comb, which the woman Melai took from his hands. “It is indeed lovely,” said she, moving her fingers upon it. “You, too, are fortunate, Jalav. Come closer, child, and remove the leather from your hair.”

I studied her as she had studied me, and knew a moment of curiosity—“Do you have—‘frills’?” I asked, gesturing toward her tent and her silks. “And do you wear—‘scents’?”

At first she seemed rather startled by the questions, then laughed gently. “Indeed. I have both frills and scents. Why do you ask?”

“I merely confirm the foolishness of males.” I laughed, resting my hand upon my sword hilt. “I shall not remove the leather from my hair, nor do I wish to waste further time with useless frills. Do you come now, Nidisar, or do we continue without your guidance?”

Nidisar appeared angered; however, when the slavewoman shrugged and returned his comb, he replaced it within his covering without comment. I turned then and led the way from the tent, amused that Nidisar would be so foolish as to think me sister to slavewomen.

We returned to my warriors, who gazed longingly upon those at play with bow and shaft, and then left the area of tents, once more returning to the city ways. Nidisar chose ways which were narrow and badly kept, the dwellings to either side seeming about to crumble in upon us. He spoke, as we walked, of the street of cobblers, and the street of coopers, and the street of smiths, and many more such, equally meaningless, yet he seemed to know his way. We trod upon thrown refuse, skirted ugly, evil-smelling puddles, threw aside males who were badly taken with daru sickness, and still we continued to follow, for we were to learn the ways of a city.

Much time had sped when at least we came upon a broader, cleaner way. No refuse was there upon it, and males who rode or walked upon it showed no signs of sickness. Many of the males wore the leather and metal coverings of those who had been at the gates, and all gazed upon my warriors and myself with curiosity. Presently it was possible to see the unbelievably large dwelling which we had seen from the open space.

“The Palace of the High Seat,” said Nidisar, gesturing toward the immense dwelling. “A formidable sight, is it not?”

“Is that a gate I see to its right?” I asked.

“It is indeed a gate.” Nidisar came to me where I had stopped in the way beside my kan. “You have now seen all of my city, save the street of hunters, wherein I dwell. That I have left for last, as it is best. Come there now, Jalav, and I shall procure for you your first taste of renth—the memory of which you shall surely take back with you to your own land.”

He stood very near to me, there in the broad way, and his eyes told what he felt. He was not unattractive, and I would not have refused him my sleeping leather, yet was there that second gate to consider.

“I would move a bit closer,” said I, looking into his eyes. “To see more of yon dwelling. Your street may be seen at another time.”

Angry, but controlled, he nodded curtly. “Very well!” he said, his voice tight. “The Palace first!”

Again he led off, anger quickening his pace, yet was I not of a mind to match him.

At last we stood before the entrance to the immense dwelling. Two hands of leather and metal clad males stood before it, atop the pile of steps, for the entrance itself stood opened. The dwelling was of a smooth, pinkish stone, which contained many windows, from side to side and up and down. Through the opened entrance, one could see many-colored cloth upon the floor, many people hurrying to and fro upon the cloth, and little else. No desire did I feel to enter such a place, and turned instead to regard the gate which lay to the right of the dwelling.

The second gate was nearly of a size with the first, but was less used. It did not stand open as had the other gate, but allowed only the entrance or departure of mounted leather-and-metal clad males. These males, I had noted, unlike those at the first gate, all wore head coverings of leather and metal. Those who stood before the dwellings, those who stood by the gate, those who rode from the city, all wore head coverings, yet those who had been at the other gate had not. I knew not the true reason for such a thing; perhaps those at the first gate scorned the males and slavewomen there, not caring to provide full protection. Males who looked down upon protection in the face of those they considered harmless were fools indeed. One may consider the hadat harmless till the very moment of its attack. Perhaps the Hosta would be fortunate enough to encounter fools of that sort in Ranistard.

I looked again at the gate and turned to my warriors. “It would be best if we left this city now,” I said. “Darkness will soon be with us, and I do not wish the gates closed while I remain within them.”

“Nor I ” agreed Fayan fervently, and the others also concurred. We made to mount our kand, but Nidisar’s hand was suddenly upon my arm. Had I expected him to be filled with anger I should have been mistaken, for his face showed a good deal of amusement.

“Alas, Jalav.” He grinned. “This gate is solely for the use of members of the Guard, and you would not be allowed through it. The other gate, I fear, is much too distant for you to reach before the fall of full darkness. You must remain within the city till the new light, therefore you now have the time to visit the street of hunters. Would you care to have me guide you?”

Fayan made a sound of disgust. “The sthuvad lies!” she snapped. “He seeks to prison us here for his own purposes! Do not heed him, Jalav!”

“I shall learn the truth of the matter,” I said as Nidisar scowled upon Fayan. “Larid, Binat. Ride to yon gate and say we would ride through, then return here with their answer.”

“We hear, Jalav,” replied Larid then she and Binat guided their mounts toward the gate. Nidisar stood silently with folded arms, watching, as my warriors spoke briefly with those at the gate, then turned and rode back to us.

“It is as he claimed,” said Binat in annoyance, drawing rein before me. “We may not use this gate, nor do we have time enough to reach the other.”

“The males would not allow us through the gate,” added Larid, tossing her red hair, “yet were they eager to offer accommodations till the new light. May we not loosen our blades, Jalav, and test the ability of these males who think themselves so well protected from us?”

“Aye, Jalav!” Fayan urged, coming to place her hand upon my shoulder. “Let us try these males with swords! Less than two hands of them stand before the gate!”

“Have you lost your wits?” demanded Nidisar of Larid and Fayan, his amusement gone, and a strange sort of anger filling him. “These are Guardsmen you speak of trying! Do you wish to see your lifeblood spilled before the gates?”

“Perhaps it might be done,” I murmured, taking no note of Nidisar, who was, after all, merely male. I looked to where the other males stood, gauging the distance between them and those at the gate, estimating the time it would take for them to reach the gate, should they come to the aid of their fellow males. The main difficulties, as I saw them, were two. I knew not how long it would be before the protection of the males might be broached, and the gate we wanted to use did not stand open. Even should we best the males soon enough that their brothers had not time to aid them, we would still have to open the gates, which could occupy us much too long.

“Jalav, do not be foolish!” Nidisar growled, his hand hard upon my arm. “I had thought you wiser than these others, despite your tender age! Can you not see the guardhouses, to either side of the gate? Within sit more Guardsmen, fully prepared to aid those at the gate if necessary. But consider—you wear not even clothing, not to speak of armor! I demand you come away from here at once!”

It was true, with other males so close at hand, our numbers would prove far too few for other than a gesture, though had not the Crystal of Mida yet to be recovered, the gesture would have been worthwhile, to be told and retold over the kalod in the tents of the Hosta. Regretfully, I turned from the gate.

“It is Mida’s will that we await the new light,” I informed my warriors. “Our swords will be needed elsewhere at another time.”

They then glanced upon one another with disappointment and were reminded that Ranistard, and not Bellinard, was the goal of our blades. They nodded in obedience to my word, and again Nidisar was pleased.

“You do well to heed me, Jalav,” he said, his hand now soft upon my arm. “Come, I shall show you to the street of hunters.”

“May we not pass the darkness in the place of the tents, Jalav?” asked Fayan, the innocence of her expression matched by the softness of her tone. She would not argue with Nidisar in disobedience to my will, yet she was determined to see him receive no pleasure from our presence.

Somewhat fond was I of Nidisar, but Fayan was my warrior.

“It is a thing to consider.” I nodded most soberly, inwardly amused at Nidisar’s wrath. He gazed upon Fayan with great anger, and she returned his gaze quite calmly, knowing I would not interfere should Nidisar be so foolish as to attack her.

“The fairgrounds may not be used past the time the torches are extinguished!” Nidisar snapped. “Should you attempt it, the Guard would be called! I go now to the street of hunters! You may follow or not as you wish!”

He then strode angrily away, his back straight and his head high, easily the picture of an offended male. My warriors and I laughed at his actions, so childlike are males in their need. He strove to show that he had no desire for us, yet had we ridden away, his misery would have been great. Nidisar led us from way to way, at last pausing before a dwelling which bore above it the picture of a male with bow in hand, being given a tall, narrow pot by a slavewoman. Nidisar stood before the entrance to this dwelling, and we stopped nearby and dismounted.

“You may tie your kand at the post,” he said, gesturing toward a raised post standing beside the steps which led to the entrance. “The renth here is of excellent quality, and served well, too. I believe you might find a good deal of interest here.”

His face showed renewed amusement, nor was he impatient as we tied our kand and slowly trod the steps before the entrance. Darkness had already come to the city ways, yet were torches lit upon the dwellings so that one might see one’s step. Within the dwelling Nidisar had entered were torches also, illuminating a room perhaps twenty-five paces by twenty. A heavy cloth of many shades of brown and green covered the wood of the floor, and six to eight hands of males lay about on it, also leaning upon large, stuffed squares, the like of which I had seen in the tent of the slavewoman of frills and scents. The walls of the dwelling bore no silks, being properly covered, instead, with many weapons, and the males upon the cloth had, each beside him, a low, round platform bearing either a square of wood, a round, wooden pot, or a tall, oddly shaped pot. Some of the platforms bore more than one of these things, yet all bore the tall, oddly shaped pot. Many of the males called greeting to Nidisar, and raised hands to him in welcome. They looked, too, with interest upon my warriors and me.

“Nidisar!” called one, who lay with a hand of others to the left of the room. “Is that not she who matched your throws at spears in the competition? Bring her and the others to us! We shall be pleased to assist you in entertaining them!”

“An excellent thought!” Nidisar laughed, then made his way toward the males. “I have promised them a taste of renth before they leave with the new light, for never have they tasted renth.”

These words the other males greeted with loud laughter. Larid, Binat, and Comir examined them with interest, for most of the males were acceptable by Hosta standards, and Fayan, too, seemed to find them passable.

“Perhaps some time might be profitably passed here,” Fayan murmured, a small smile upon her lips. “I merely regret that we have not had the opportunity to hunt, for hunger has returned to me.”

“To me, as well,” I agreed with a nod. “But we must wait till we are no longer within this city. Not all places have the nilno which was to be found earlier beside that tent. Those of the cities are Mida-forsaken indeed; to feed so poorly.”

We approached Nidisar where he stood. He turned to us with a large grin, and gestured toward the seated males. “These are brother hunters,” he said, “all anxious to make your acquaintance. Brothers, allow me to present Jalav, Larid, Binat, Comir, and Fayan, also wishing to be known at large as hunters.”

“They may join my hunting parties whenever they wish,” said one, a large male with hair nearly as red as Larid’s. “I wager their presence would turn the darkness of the woods a good deal warmer than is usual.”

The other males laughed again in agreement, and my warriors and I smiled in remembrance of the warmth brought to the woods by the hunters the Hosta still held. Perhaps they, too, were brothers to these who sat before us.

“Let us take our ease before the renth is brought,” said Nidisar, seating himself upon the brown and green cloth. Of much assistance had Nidisar been to us that fey, and within his chosen dwelling would it be rude to give insult. Therefore I reluctantly seated myself, cross-legged, beside him, and my warriors, too, took their places. The cloth was warm and almost smooth to sit upon, though there was something of a scratchiness to it which caused annoyance. Much do I prefer the feel of leather beneath me.

As Nidisar rubbed his hands together in pleasant anticipation, a slight sound caused me to turn my head to the right, and I saw, approaching us, a slavewoman. Comely was she to a large degree, wearing only a short, thin draping of sheer cloth about her. The sound which had taken my attention came from a band of leather about her right ankle, to which rounded bits of metal were attached, and the tiny, tinkling sound would perhaps have been louder had not the males been making their noises. As the woman neared, I saw that she wore about her throat a narrow band of metal, which must have been hidden behind by her brown hair, which was loose and reached midway down her back. She hurried to us with small, light steps and, though she seemed startled when she looked upon my warriors and myself, she stopped before Nidisar and fell to her knees without hesitation.

“The house welcomes you, master,” she said, her head low. “What may this one be privileged to bring you?”

“My companions and I, six in all, wish renth,” responded Nidisar, his eyes upon the slavewoman, a small sly smile upon his face. “But before you fetch it, I would have you tell my companions the name of this house.”

Nidisar had motioned to me, and the slavewoman turned somewhat in my direction. “The house is called, ‘The Hunter and Slave Girl,’ Mistress,” said the woman, her eyes still lowered. Nidisar’s eyes, however, were fixed upon me, and his smile had become one of anticipation. I glanced about, and saw that the eyes of the other males, too, were upon me, yet could I fathom no reason for that.

“Why do you thus look upon me?” I asked of Nidisar, my left hand comfortably upon my sword hilt. “Did you think I would know the name?”

“Does the name cause you to feel naught, girl?” Nidisar demanded with a snort of amusement. “Do you not realize that all females within these walls be slave?”

“I do not take your meaning,” I said. “Are not all city females slaves? Wherein lies the difference?”

“I believe he thinks us sisters to one such as she!” Fayan exclaimed, then threw her head back and laughed heartily. My other warriors laughed as well, and I, too, was amused, for the confusion upon the faces of Nidisar and the other males was comical indeed. At last I understood that I was to feel much upset, caused by the presence of a female who had been named slave. It was clear that these males knew nothing of the ways of Midanna.

The slavewoman had not raised her eyes, yet there was a light red color to her cheeks, as though mention of her state gave her discomfort. Had I not known that those of the cities had no souls, I would have told her that it needed but the opened throat of he who owned her to make her free. However, I spoke not such words, for one without a soul lacks also the stomach with which to accept them.

“You may now fetch the renth,” said Nidisar to the slavewoman, a bit of annoyance in his tone. The slavewoman rose quickly to her feet and sped away, and Nidisar moved more closely to me. “I would have the truth, Jalav,” said he, taking my hand between both of his so that he might toy with it. “How can you think yourself different from that slave? Are you not both female?”

“Certainly,” I agreed, pleased at the feel of his shoulder against mine. “We are both female, and all males are male, but is there no difference between males as well? Some are scrawny and small, all life and heart gone out of them, and some are tall and strong, fit for a warrior to look upon. Why, then, would you think me the same as that slave? Do you believe she would cast a spear as well as I have done?”

“No.” He smiled, and touched my cheek. “Yet would I be pleased to see you and those others clad as the slave was, kneeling at my feet. In that, I can see no difference between females, save that some would make more pleasing slaves than others.”

“Little pleasure would you receive from Jalav as slave.” I laughed, amused by his innocence. “You would live in fear of closing your eyes in sleep, lest Jalav find her way free and to your sleeping form. Think you your life would not then be forfeit?”

He sighed. “In truth, I know it would be,” he murmured, “yet perhaps, for a certain female, a man might feel the price a not unreasonable one. It is something to be thought upon.”

His words, too, were something to be thought upon, yet was I unable to find meaning within them, for quickly was the renth brought. Three slavewomen, clad as was the first, carried to each of us a small, round platform, upon each of which was placed by a fourth slave, a tall, oddly shaped pot. I took the odd pot from the platform beside me, and tasted of the contents within, finding it a near match to unbrewed daru. Thinner was it than daru, and sweeter, yet it was not unwelcome after so long a time with nothing to drink but water.

When I lowered the pot, again I found Nidisar’s eyes upon me. “What think you of the renth?” asked he with a smile.

“It is adequate,” I allowed, and finished what there was in the pot. “It would sit best, however, beside a portion of nilno. A pity there is none to be had.”

“Of course there is nilno.” He laughed and emptied his own pot. “I should have thought to offer it sooner. I shall have some as well, and we may have our flagons refilled while we await it.”

He again called the slave to him, ordered the pots refilled, then requested six portions of nilno. The slave hurried off to see to the nilno, and we had again drained our pots by her return.

When we had finished with the good-sized portions of nilno, much renth had also been finished. The males with whom we sat had moved themselves about, so that some of them were beside and about each of my warriors. My warriors were pleased to have full stomachs and a pot of neardaru, and laughed lightly with the males, thinking, I was sure, about which of them they would take. The large, red-haired hunter who had spoken earlier sat beside Fayan, his eyes hungrily taking her in. She, too, seemed pleased with his form, and I felt he would not find her dagger at his throat, should he put his hands upon her. Nidisar still sat beside me, matching me pot for pot of the renth, yet he was quieter than he had been, and his eyes strayed often from me to rest upon Fayan. He, however, would have had little chance with her, for she disliked him; and had not looked upon him even once.

Who first spoke of it, I knew not, yet suddenly, amid much laughter, were my warriors and I challenged to a game of throwing daggers. Comir stepped up first, although she was very young and not well used to the taste of daru and the like. She peered unsteadily at the board upon the wall, brought her arm back slowly for the throw, and dropped the dagger behind her without knowing it. We all of us roared with laughter as she scratched her head and searched about her for where the dagger might. have flown. Solicitously a hunter retrieved the dagger for her, and she took it with a smile, then fell forward against him, taken herself by the renth. The hunter laughed and lifted her in his arms, then carried her away from the rest of us. No move did I make to stop him, for the lesson would be a useful one for Comir. When she awakened with the new light, her head ringing with the remains of renth, her body having been used by a male without her consent, she would thereafter take heed of what she drank, and would not soon again place herself in so foolish and vulnerable a position.

Binat was next, and her throw was straight and true to the center of the board. The hunter who took her place had had a bit too much of the renth, which caused his dagger to strike the wall rather than the board, and again all laughed.

I awaited my turn, expecting Fayan to throw next, yet when I looked about, she was nowhere to be seen. The tall, red-haired hunter with whom she had been now stood beside Binat, and I surmised with a shrug that she had found another who interested her more. I threw my dagger the short distance to the center of the board, then was unexpectedly touched upon the shoulder. I turned and saw standing there the male who had been at the gate upon our arrival and who had spoken of seeking me later.

“An excellent throw,” he said, a smile upon his lips. Dark of hair and eye was he, strong of face, and unashamed of the hair he wore bound in leather.

“At such a distance, how might one miss?” I asked, returning his smile. “Also, the board does not attempt to evade the throw.”

“Quite true.” He laughed, and his hand moved to caress my back. “Might I offer you a flagon of renth? I am Pileth, Captain of the Guard of the High Seat.”

“I am Jalav,” I said, “and I would be pleased to accept renth.”

Pileth grinned and walked with me to where my small, round platform sat. Six other males of the Guard had he brought with him, and these males placed themselves at a distance from our position. It was then that I noted the absence of Nidisar, and felt much relieved. This Pileth held considerable attraction for me, and had Nidisar remained, I would have had the difficulty of the hunter’s bewailing his rejection.

A pot was brought Pileth, and he and I shared renth with few words. Once, when a slavewoman came to renew the renth, a male not far distant from us put his hand upon the slavewoman, causing her to gasp and spill the renth upon my arm. Pileth became angered, and the slavewoman fell to the floor in terrible fear and trembling, as though the fault had been hers. Annoyed by the interruption, I rose to my feet and carried my pot of renth to the male who had touched the slavewoman, and emptied the pot upon his head. He rose up sputtering, in great anger, but the sight of my own anger and my hand upon sword hilt stayed his words and actions. He returned silently to his place upon the cloth, and I returned to Pileth, who laughed softly where he lay. The slavewoman quickly replaced my spilled renth with a small smile, then took herself off, and Pileth insisted upon removing the renth from my arm with his tongue. The action heated my blood above the level it had already attained, yet when I reached for him, he stayed my hand and rose to his feet, urging me up with him.

Pileth led me toward a wide doorway to the rear of the room. The doorway was one that had seen much use since my arrival, it being the one from whence the slavewomen came, and also the one through which many of the males had passed, only to return at a later time, seeming much satisfied. Pileth led me to and I saw that we were preceded by a male who had a slavewoman in tow by the hair. The slavewoman whimpered, yet made no attempt to escape the grasp of the male, and then had little chance of doing so. The male thrust her through one of the many small doorways inside, and then pulled the door shut behind him. Most of the small doorways were also closed, but some few still stood open. Pileth chose the first of these that he reached, and drew me past him to the narrow space beyond, then pulled shut the door and slid a bar into place. Barely two paces wide by three long was the space, and it had naught save a lenga pelt upon the floor, and a single candle within a box upon the far wall. As Pileth began removing his leather and metal covering and swordbelt, I, too, removed my swordbelt and put it aside. Quickly, then, were the male’s hands upon me, giving me pleasure as Fideran had so often done. It is truly said that a warrior loses half the pleasure to be had when she must use a male who is bound. As we took ourselves down to the caress of the lenga pelt, I heard the sob of a woman not far off. The sob had not been one of pleasure, and as Pileth’s lips sought me, I surmised that the slavewoman had now been taught the foolishness of not at least attempting escape. Therefore, I thought only of the pleasure of Pileth.