of the contestants’ feet as they circled one another was all that could be heard. Their bodies gleamed with grease in the sunlight.
Both were stocky men, Traan a little heavier than Gilth, but there was not much difference. This would be a fight of skill rather than strength.
With a lightning movement Traan lunged, Gilth dodged to one side but Traan had expected it. His boot caught Gilth in the stomach as he fell past him into the dust. With a deft flip Traan was back on his feet before it could be counted as a fall. Gilth doubled over but did not fall. He dropped to a fighting crouch, chest heaving, and faced Traan. It was an old trick. Gilth should have seen it coming. Menish could see by the humiliated look on the man’s face that he was thinking the same thing.
Suddenly Gilth was on the offensive. He scooped up a handful of dust and flung it at Traan’s face. A second later they were locked together, arms fighting for a hold on each other’s greased bodies. Gilth managed to grasp Traan’s pony tail and jerked it down. Traan’s chin went up and Gilth’s forehead butted his throat with a vicious thud. Traan toppled backwards and crashed onto the ground. The yak horns blew.
Gilth stood back while Traan stood up again. There were few rules in a wrestling duel. No weapons were allowed and the first one to fall three times lost. For a fall to count the victim had to be allowed to regain his feet.
Traan was annoyed at Gilth’s ploy, there was a smouldering fury in his eyes. That was a bad sign for him, thought Menish. To win a duel like this one required not anger but a cool head. Traan charged Gilth like a bull and Gilth nimbly leapt aside. But not quickly enough. Traan was not as enraged as he appeared to be. His fist slammed into Gilth’s shoulder. Gilth tumbled into the ropes and dropped to the ground. He was up in an instant but not before the yak horns had blown.
Once again the two men were locked together. Traan grasped at Gilth’s leg, trying to lift it and throw him. Gilth’s arm slipped from his grasp at the wrong moment and Gilth hammered his fist into Traan’s chest, sending him sprawling backwards into the dust. The yak horns sounded.
Breathing heavily the two men faced each other again. Menish was enjoying this fight. There was none of the taunting and jeering between the two opponents that only distracted everyone from the matter in hand.
Traan had to be very careful now. One more fall and he would lose the fight. Menish saw the tenseness in his stance. Dust clung to the grease on his body. He stood, waiting for Gilth’s next move.
When it came it was faster than anyone expected. Gilth lashed out with a kick, an awkward move. Traan made to grab at his foot and missed. Gilth followed through with a double fist that crashed into Traan’s side, knocking him down for the third time. Once more the yak horns blew.
There was a cheer from those who had placed bets on Gilth. Traan picked himself up and dusted himself off with a scowl. It was always hard to lose.
That ended the formal part of the day. The gamblers would spend a good deal of the afternoon settling their debts and discussing the fight. As he watched Menish return through the gateway Azkun felt Yarol tap him on the shoulder.
“Master Azkun, the King wishes to speak with you in his rooms. Come with me.” Azkun followed him into the palace with Tenari still clinging to his arm. Her touch now made him shiver but she was too persistent to push away.
The fight had been interesting. Althak had told him there was little chance of either man hurting more than his dignity. Azkun had seen it simply as a display of skill. Yarol gathered Althak and Drinagish from the crowd before he led them up two flights of stairs and into a chamber where Menish and Adhara waited. Grath and Hrangil were not far behind them.
The chamber was like the main hall but smaller. Tapestries showing horsemen hunting covered most of the stone walls and weapons hung on the rest. There were other things too, Relanese vases with bright designs on them and embroidered cushions. The floor was small enough to cover with rugs and furs rather than straw as in the main hall. A narrow hearth lay fireless along one wall, and in the centre of the room lay a low table. On the table lay a bottle of ambroth and some drinking horns, but it was too soon after the midday meal for anyone to need refreshment. There were two other doors leading out of the room.
Menish motioned them to sit on the cushions that surrounded the table. “Did you enjoy the fight?”
“Not bad, I'd placed my bets on Traan, though,” said Drinagish.
“Mine were on Gilth,” Grath said smugly. “Fifteen cows.”
“I thought Gilth would probably win,” said Menish, “but, of course, I can't wager on a case I've judged.
“I called you together before you, Drinagish and Grath, go to count these cows of Marayhir’s to discuss the expedition to Gashan. I hope there's no ill will about those cows, Grath?”
Grath shrugged. “He can have them. They really were not worth it. I wouldn't have made the second raid if I'd taken a good look at the first lot.”
“Good. I took you at your word. I don't like Marayhir, but I'd rather he had his cows back and left me alone. I didn't make it clear last night but Vorish has requested the expedition north to satisfy himself that the Gashan rumours are true. If they are he will send us aid to fight them, several of you already know this. Vorish also hopes the expedition will find out what happened to the Duzral Eye and, perhaps, fetch it back.
“Hrangil, Azkun and Althak have volunteered to go. There are two others who should be part of the expedition. Grath, will you go? Before you answer let me say that this journey will be hazardous. You go of your own choice or not at all. I make no demand on you.”
Grath only grinned. “I'll go. I was hoping you'd ask me. Besides, I'll not be outdone by a Vorthenki.” He gave Althak a friendly punch on the shoulder.
“You've my thanks. We'll talk of rewards for you all when you return. There's one other who should go.” Here it comes, thought Menish.
“Who?” asked Adhara, a note of suspicion in her voice.
“Tenari, of course,” said Drinagish. “Azkun won't leave her behind.”
“I'd forgotten Tenari,” said Menish. “I was thinking of another. I, myself, will go with you to Gashan.” He had said it, now he waited for the objections.
“You will not!” shouted Adhara, rising to her feet. She glowered at Menish. “How can you possibly go to Gashan? That leg of yours has been giving you hell, you said so last night. You're not in a fit state to travel north with winter coming on. Besides, what need is there? You have Hrangil to recognise the Eye.”
Menish watched her carefully. There was force in her words but in her eyes there was pleading.
“I'm going. I want to see Gashan. That's reason enough. But it seems prudent that two of us who can recognise the Eye should go.”
“Vorish forbade it,” said Althak.
“Vorish isn't here!” said Menish, suddenly angry because he had hoped they had forgotten. “Vorish is happy to send you off on a dangerous journey while he waits in safety. I'm not!”
“So that's the real reason,” said Adhara. “Then I, too, will go with you.”
“No, you will not.”
“And how will you stop me? We both go or neither.”
“When will you learn to take orders from your King?”
“When will you learn to take orders from your Emperor?”
“By Aton, I said you are to stay and I've a good reason. Drinagish is not ready to be regent while I am away. Oh, you're learning quickly, Drinagish, and I'm pleased with you. But you would not yet be able to handle Marayhir alone. You need Adhara’s authority behind you, guiding you.”
“So you'd leave me behind because of Anthor?”
“Why else?” He dared her to suggest it was because he was afraid for her safety to this company. But she made no answer. Menish knew he had not heard the last of this.
“What about Vorish?” asked Yarol. “If he's forbidden you to go-”
“As I said, Vorish is not here. His wishes in this matter are being carried out as well as we can. We're making the journey for him, he can't have everything his own way. Now, can we leave tomorrow?”
“I do not wish Tenari to come with us,” said Azkun.
“You don't? Why not?”
Tenari sat beside him but, unlike her reaction to being left behind at Atonir, she gave no indication that she had heard.
