Oathblood

the annual trek to the Plains, which would at least get the children away from the village for the all-important summer growing season. The Liha'ir-den found the little ones' pranks amusing, sometimes even hilarious, and were not at all taken aback by them.

They'd howl with laughter at sheep with pre-dyed wool. And it wouldn't matter what mad color the pranksters painted the woolies, there's not a color in the rainbow that my people don't like.

:feh. I know,: said a voice in her head. :You'd think that after a few centuries they'd have developed a little taste.:

Tarma disdained to reply to Warrl's jibe; she had more important things to concentrate on. Jadrie had begun guiding her mare through more complicated moves than simply trotting in a circle, and she wanted to pay close attention to the behavior of both horse and rider.

But there were no problems, none at all. The filly moved well and willingly, head and ears up, tail flagged, and although Jadrie still wore her look of intense concentration, it was overlaid with an expression of intense joy. Tarma knew exactly how she felt; she'd felt that way herself when she'd tamed Kessira. Probably every Shin'a'in child felt that way after taming a horse for the first time -- it was a little like magic, and altogether thrilling to have something that large accept you and work with you on its own terms.

Finally Jadrie brought her horse to a neat halt, a few paces away from Tarma, and looked expectantly at her teacher. Tarma gave her a grin of approval, and the smile Jadrie flashed back at her lit up her face.

'Good job, kitten,' Tarma approved. 'Now, go cement your friendship with a little sweet-feed. You've worked her enough for today, and tomorrow, if the weather's good, we'll move outside.'

Jadrie nodded, her tail of blonde hair bobbing with enthusiasm, and slid down off the filly's back with great care to avoid startling her. With a hand on the horse's shoulder, she led her new prize off to the stable, where the filly's good behavior would be rewarded by something the grass-fed beast had never yet tasted -- a sweet treat of treacled grain. Then she'd be rubbed down with a soft cloth, although she hadn't been worked up enough to break a sweat -- it was the contact that mattered. Jadrie had groomed enough beasts by now to know all the 'good spots,' and she'd be sure to scratch every one.

'And what do you two think?' she asked the other two spectators, who had remained respectfully silent until now.

Tiny, ice-blonde Jodi, formerly one of Tarma's scouts in the Sunhawks, clasped her hand to her forehead woefully. 'Eh now, lady, ye'll be purtin' me an' Beaker out of business here if ye keep trainin' up more horse-talkers!' She imitated Kyra's back-county accent perfectly, Tarma noted with amusement.

Her business partner and mate Beaker, also a former Sunhawk, nodded glumly. He would have been utterly forgettable except for his impressive jut of a nose -- and the fact that one of his special messenger-birds, a creature about the size of a crow, with a black body and green head, sat on his shoulder. Tarma laughed at both of their long faces. She'd taught both of them the Shin'a'in ways with horses when they'd come to her asking if she needed instructors at her new school. She hadn't, not yet anyway, but she'd asked them if they had any interest in another trade.

'No fear of that,' Tarma replied. 'That girl can't wait to get out on the Plains. If her mother would let her, she'd be fostered out at Liha'irden this moment.' She was pleased, though, with the implied compliment. 'What brings you two out here again, anyway?'

'The usual,' Beaker told her laconically. 'Still looking for someplace to settle down. Trouble is, nobody in this part of the world needs horsetalkers all year 'round. We're getting a bit long in the tooth for the road life.' He looked at her hopefully. 'Don't suppose you've heard of anything?'

'Not yet, but -- why don't you stick around for a fortnight or so?' she told them. 'Maybe something will come up.'

'I'd as soon sleep in one of your beds as the floor of an inn,' Beaker replied with gratitude. 'Thanks.'

'No worries,' Tarma told him, 'You've stayed here often enough; put your mares up, get your gear and find a room, and I'll see you at dinner. Keth'll be glad to see you.'

As the two Sunhawks (former Sunhawks, she reminded herself) disappeared through the stable door to get their gear, Tarma turned to leave through the outer door. 'Coming, Furface?' she asked over her shoulder, as Warrl's great bulk uncoiled from behind the fence.

:I wouldn't miss this for the world,: Warrl replied smugly.

Tarma cast him a look of suspicion. Just what did he know about the visitor?

But the kyree wasn't talking, so the only way for her to find out what was going on was to get up to the manor.

She found Jadrek and Kethry in the solar, entertaining an ordinary-looking fellow with brown hair, a neatly- trimmed brown beard, and a charming, open face. But it was his clothing that immediately explained the reason for Warrl's amusement. He was dressed in scarlet from his collar to his boots, and there was only one thing that could mean.