matter how far it has gotten?'
'I so pledge, by the Names and the Powers,' the priest nodded-almost eagerly.
'Then I will champion this lady.'
About half the spectators cheered and rushed forward. Three older women edged past Tarma to bear the fainting woman back into the keep. The rest, except for the priest, moved off slowly and reluctantly, casting thoughtful and measuring looks back at Tarma. Some of them seemed friendly-most did not.
'What-'
'Was that all about?' That was as far as Tarma got before the priest interposed himself between the partners.
'Your pardon, mage-lady, but you may not speak with the champion from this moment forward-any message you may have must pass through me-'
'Oh, no, not yet, priest.' Tarma urged Hellsbane forward and passed his outstretched hand. 'I told you I know your laws-and the ban starts at sundown-Greeneyes, pay attention, I have to talk fast. You're going to have to figure out just who the real culprit is-the best I can possibly do is buy you time. This business is combat to the death for the cham-
pion-I can choose just to defeat my challengers, but they have to kill me. And the longer you take, the more likely that is-'
'Tarma, you're better than anybody here-'
'But not better than any twenty-or thirty.' Tarma smiled crookedly. 'The rules of the game, she'enedra, are that I keep fighting until nobody is willing to challenge me. Sooner or later they'll wear me out and I'll go down.'
'What?'
'Shush, I knew what I was getting into. You're as good at your craft as I am at mine-I've just given you a bit of incentive. Take Warrl-' The tall, lupine creature jumped to the ground from behind Tarma where he'd been clinging to the special pad with his retractile claws. '-he might well be of some use. Do your best, veshta'cha; there're two lives depending on you-'
The priest interposed himself again. 'Sunset, champion,' he said firmly, putting his hand on her reins.
Tarma bowed her head, and allowed him to lead her and her horse away, Kethry staring dumbfounded after them.
'All right, let's take this from the very beginning.' Kethry was in the Lady Myria's bower-a soft and colorful little corner of an otherwise drab fortress. There were no windows-no drafts stirred the bright tapestries on the walls, or caused the flames of the beeswax candles to flicker. The walls were thick stone covered with plaster- warm by winter, cool by summer. The furnishings were of light yellow wood, padded with plump feather cushions. In one corner stood a cradle, watched over broodingly by the lady herself. The air was pleasantly scented with herbs and flowers. Kethry wondered how so pampered a creature could have gotten herself into such a pass.
'It was two days ago. I came here to lie down in the afternoon. I-was tired; I tire easily since Syrtin was born. I fell asleep.'
Close up, the Lady proved to be several years Kethry's junior; scarcely past her mid-teens. Her dark hair was lank and without luster, her skin pale. Kethry frowned at that, and wove a tiny spell with a gesture and two whispered words while Myria was speaking. The creature of the ethereal plane who'd agreed to serve as their scout was still with her-it would have taken a far wilder ride than they had made to lose it. The answer to her question came quickly as a thin voice breathed whispered words into her ear.
Kethry grimaced angrily. 'Lady's eyes, child, I shouldn't wonder that you tire-you're still torn up from the birthing! What kind of a miserable excuse for a Healer have you got here, anyway?'
'We have no Healer, lady.' One of the three older women who had borne Myria back into the keep rose from her seat behind Kethry and stood between them, challenge written in her stance. She had a kind, but careworn face; her gray-and-buff gown was of good stuff, but old-fashioned in cut. Kethry guessed that she must be Myria's companion-an older relative, perhaps. 'The Healer died before my dove came to childbed and her lord did not see fit to replace him. We had no use for a Healer, or so he claimed, since he kept no great number of men-at-arms, and birthing was a perfectly normal procedure and surely didn't require the expensive services of a Healer.'
'Now, Katran-'
'It is no more than the truth! He cared more for his horses than for you! He replaced the farrier quickly enough when he left!'
'His horses were of more use to him-' the girl said bitterly, then bit her lip. 'There, you see, that is what brought me to this pass-one too many careless remarks let fall among the wrong ears.'
