按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
might not have been much of interest left to find。〃 She flashed her teeth in what he guessed was a smile。 She seemed both more and less human than Jiriki…almost childishly flippant at times； but in other ways far more exotic and alien than her brother。 Many of the traits Simon had observed in Jiriki； the feline grace and dispassion； seemed even more pronounced in his sister。
As Simon rocked back and forth； still not absolutely sure he was awake and sane； Aditu reached inside her white coat…which； with her white breeches； had made her all but indistinguishable against the snow…and removed a package wrapped in shiny cloth。 She handed it to him。 He poked clumsily at the wrappings for some time before he was able to expose what was inside： a loaf of golden…brown bread that seemed oven… fresh； and a handful of fat pink berries。
Simon had to eat his meal in very small bites to avoid making himself ill； even so； each less…than…a…mouthful seemed like time spent in paradise。
〃Where did you find these？〃 he asked through a faceful of berries。
Aditu looked at him for a long time； as if debating some important decision。 When she spoke； it was with what seemed an air of carelessness。 〃You will soon see。 I will take you there…but such a thing has never happened before。〃
Simon did not pursue this cryptic last remark。 Instead； he asked： 〃But where are you taking me？〃
〃To my brother； as he asked me to；〃 Aditu said。 She looked solemn； but a wild light gleamed in her eyes。 〃To the home of our people…Jao e…Tinukai'i。〃
Simon finished chewing and swallowed。 〃I will go anywhere there is a fire。〃
21
Prince of Grass
〃SAY nothing；〃 Hotvig murmured； 〃but look to the redcoat there by the fence。〃
Deornoth followed the Thrithings…man's subtle gesture until his gaze lit on a roan stallion。 The horse regarded Deornoth warily； stepping from side to side as though he might bolt at any moment。
〃Ah； yes。〃 Deornoth nodded his head。 〃He is a proud one。〃 He turned。 〃Did you see this one； my prince？〃
Josua； who was leaning against the gate at the far side of the paddock； waved his hand。 The prince's head was wrapped in linen bandages； and he moved as slowly as if all of his bones were broken； but he had insisted on ing out to assist in claiming the fruits of his wager。 Fikolmij； apoplectic with rage at the idea of watching Josua picking thirteen Thrithings horses from the March…thane's own pens； had sent his randwarder Hotvig in his place。 Instead of mirroring his thane's attitude； Hotvig seemed rather taken with the visitors and with Prince Josua in particular。 On the grasslands a one…handed man did not often kill an opponent half again his size。
〃What's the red's name？〃 Josua asked Fikolmij's horsekeeper； a wiry； ancient man with a tiny wisp of hair on the top of his head。
〃 Vinyafod；〃 this one said shortly； then turned his back。
〃It means 〃Wind…foot〃 。 。 。 Prince Josua。〃 Hotvig pronounced the title awkwardly。 The randwarder went and slipped a rope about the stallion's neck； then led the balking animal to the prince。
Josua smiled as he looked the horse up and down； then boldly reached up and pulled at its lower lip； exposing the teeth。 The stallion shook his head and pulled away； but Josua grabbed the lip again。 After a few nervous head…shakes； the horse at last allowed himself to be examined； the only sign of anxiety his blinking eyes。 〃Well； he is certainly one we shall take east with us；〃 Josua said； 〃…although I doubt that will please Fikolmij。〃
〃It will not；〃 Hotvig said solemnly。 〃If his honor was not held up before all the clans； he would kill you just for ing near these horses This Vinyafod was one that Fikolmij demanded specially as part of Blehmunt's booty when Fikolmij became leader of the clans。〃
Josua nodded solemnly。 〃I don't want the March…thane so angry that he follows and murders us pledge or no pledge。 Deornoth； I give you leave to pick the rest。 I trust your eye better than mine。 We will take Vmyafod； that is certain…as a matter of fact； I think I will claim him for my own。 I am tired of limping from here to there。 But as I said； let us not cull the herd so thoroughly that we force Fikolmij to dishonor himself。 〃
〃I will choose carefully； sire。〃 Deornoth strode across the paddock。 The horsekeeper saw him ing and tried to sidle away； but Deornoth hooked the old man's elbow and began asking questions。 The keeper was hard…pressed to pretend he could not understand。
Josua watched with a faint smile on his face； shifting his balance from one foot to another to spare his aching body Hotvig watched the prince from the corner of his eye for a long time before he spoke。
〃You said you go east； Josua。 Why？〃
The prince looked at him curiously。 〃There are many reasons； some of which I cannot discuss。 But mostly it is because I must find a place to make a stand against mv brother and the evil that he has done。〃
Hotvig nodded his head with exaggerated seriousness。 〃It seems that you have kinsmen who feel as you do。〃
Josua's expression turned to puzzlement。 〃What do you mean？〃
〃There are others of your kind…other stone…dwellers…who have begun to settle east of here。 That is why Fikolmij brought us so far north of our usual grazing areas for this season； to make sure that the newers were not crossing onto our lands。〃 A grin crossed Hotvig's scarred face。 〃There were other reasons for our clan ing here； too。 The March…thane of the Meadow Thrithings tried to steal away some of our randwarders at the last Gathering of Clans； so Fikolmij wanted his people far away from the Meadow Thrithings。 Fikolmij is feared； but not well…loved。 Many wagons have already left the Stallion Clan。
Josua waved impatiently。 The bickering between the Thrithings clans was legendary。 〃What about the stone…dwellers you spoke of？ Who are they？〃
Hotvig shrugged and fingered his braided beard。 〃Who can say？ They came from the west…whole families； some traveling in carts as our people do； some on foot…but they were not our people； not Thrithings…men。 We heard of them from our outriders when we were at the second…to…last Gathering； but they passed through the north of the High Thrithings and were gone。〃
〃How many？〃
Again the Thrithings…man shrugged。 〃Stories say as many as in two or three of our small clans。〃
〃So； perhaps a hundred or two。。。〃 The prince seemed to momentarily escape his pain； for his face brightened as he pondered this news。
〃But that is not all； Prince Josua；〃 Hotvig said earnestly。 〃That was one group。 Other panies have trickled past since then。 I have myself seen two hand's worth or so all counted。 They are poor； though； and they have no horses； so we let them pass out of our lands。〃
〃You did not let my folk pass and we had not a pony between us。〃 Josua's smile was sardonic。
〃That is because Fikolmij knew it was you。 The randwarders had watched your people for several days。〃
Deornoth approached； the grumbling horsekeeper in tow。 〃I have chosen； Highness。 Let me show you。〃 He pointed to a long…legged bay。 〃Since you have picked red Vinyafod for your own； Prince Josua； I have selected this one for m