out.'
'Though we plan on making as little contact with the folk of this region, or any other region outside Vanguard, as possible,' Liam said.
Pony looked at him curiously, and then at his huge companion. 'You would find that the folk of the Timberlands are not so quick to judge based on heritage,' she said.
'Not that,' Andacanavar explained. 'We have heard news of the rosy plague.' 'True words,' Pony said.
'And thus we do not wish to bring it with us back to Vanguard or to Alpinador,' Liam said. 'But enough of my intrusion,' he went on, and Pony realized that the ranger behind her had given him a signal to be gone. He left with another bow, moving gracefully, with a warrior's balanced gait, and Pony turned back to regard the ranger.
They talked easily, like old friends, for more than two hours. Pony did most of the talking, answering Andacanavar's many questions about Elbryan. The ranger wanted every detail of every story, wanted to hear Pony imitate her lover's laugh and describe his wry grin to the dimple. Andacanavar listened to her with obvious amusement, smiling and laughing often.
How quickly the afternoon passed, and Pony realized that she would have to be on her way if she hoped to make Dundalis before dark.
'The signs are telling me that tomorrow will be another fine day,' the ranger said to her. 'Will you come back to this place, then, and speak with me again? '
Pony looked at him, seeming unsure.
'I will tell you more about the elves, and more about that which helped to form your Nightbird into the man you loved,' Andacanavar promised.
'Then I will return,' Pony said with a smile.
That night, in her bed in the small room above Fellowship Way, Pony was visited by dreams of Elbryan more vivid than any she had known since his death. Unlike some of her previous dreams of her husbandreenactments of that final battle mostly, and horrible things-these were pleasant, warm memories that made Pony awaken with a smile.
She was up early, working quickly through her chores at the tavern, then promising Belster she would return by dark and rushing out. She found Andacanavar and his friend at the grove again; and again, the smaller man left them. Untrue to his promise, though, Andacanavar bade Pony again to do the talking, to tell him even more of Nightbird.
And she complied eagerly, pouring out her heart, telling about her separation from Elbryan and all those years apart, when he was with the elves, and she in Palmaris and later in the King's army. She told of their journey to the Barbacan to do battle with the demon dactyl-Andacanavar liked that part most of all! — and of their work against the minions of the demon upon their return south. She told of the journey to St.-MereAbelle to rescue Bradwarden, and then she told the Alpinadoran ranger, in solemn tones, tears streaking her cheeks, of the final battle against Markwart, when Elbryan gave his life to save her and to rid the world of Bestesbulzibar.
When the sun began its swift descent, Pony realized that she had to go.
'Tomorrow?' Andacanavar asked her. 'That you can tell me again of the Touel'alfar? ' Pony asked sarcastically, for the ranger had spent the entire day asking question after question.
'I will,' the ranger promised. 'I will tell you of the many tests a ranger in training must master. A marvelous race are the Touel'alfar. Adaptable and-'
Pony laughed aloud. 'That is not a word I would use to describe them,' she said.
'But they are!' Andacanavar protested. 'Why, they had to concoct an entirely different fighting style for me, to accommodate my size and strength.'
'Different than bi'nelle dasada?' Pony asked, and that set the big man back on his heels.
'What would you know of that? ' he asked.
Pony glanced to the side, to see the ranger's companion returning to the grove.
'I know the sword dance,' Pony whispered. 'I know it well.'
Andacanavar looked at her, his face showing both surprise and concern. 'What would you know of it, then? ' he asked.
'Nightbird-Elbryan-taught it to me,' she explained. 'The sword dance. All of it. We fought together in movements perfectly complementary.'
That raised Andacanavar's bushy eyebrows, and he nodded and said, 'hmm,' repeatedly.
'Lady Dasslerond was not pleased,' Pony admitted, then she laughed. 'Not at all!'
'I say this not in jest, my friend, but I suspect that the lady considered quieting you in the most extreme manner possible,' the ranger replied.
'I doubt you not at all,' Pony replied in all seriousness. 'I suspect that Belli'mar Juraviel intervened on my behalf, and that, because of him, the lady trusts that I will keep well the elven secret.'
'No small faith!' said Andacanavar. 'Are you the new ranger of the Timberlands?' he asked jokingly.
But Pony's face remained serious. 'Belli'mar explained that such a thing would not be possible, that I was too old to be considered for the training,' she said.
'But they let you live and keep well their secret, and that is no small thing!' Andacanavar said with a great laugh, and Pony joined him.
'Then that weapon strapped at your hip is for more than show?' the ranger asked a moment later, a wry look crossing his face. 'Liam fancies himself a bit of a swordsman,' he said. 'You think you might show me? '
Pony considered the challenge for a moment. She thought that she should refuse, remembering her promise to Belli'mar Juraviel to keep the sword dance private and secret. And yet, this was a ranger bidding her on, one who knew the dance, obviously.
'What is it?' Andacanavar's companion asked, seeing the questioning expressions as he walked up to the pair, dropping a wild turkey he had shot beside him.
'Right here?' Pony asked Andacanavar. 'It is crowded with trees.'
'Does not the dance take the entire battlefield into consideration?' the ranger asked.
'What battlefield? ' asked the smaller man.
'Your battlefield,' Andacanavar replied, standing up and brushing the snow from his doeskin breeches. 'Yours and hers. Our new friend has told me some interesting things about her background, and I would like to test her here and now.'
'Then the battlefield is your own,' the other man protested.
Andacanavar gave a laugh. 'My fighting style is too disparate from that which she claims for me to take any measure. Come then, Liam, draw your sword and dirk and let the woman have her way with you.'
The man looked at Pony curiously, to see her brushing the snow off her breeches and then drawing a truly beautiful, slender sword.
He nodded. 'Be gentle,' he said to Pony.
'Never in all my life,' she replied, and she turned sideways, on guard, her left foot back, her right leg before her. She rocked over her knee, finding her balance.
'And if I unintentionally hurt her, will you chop me down, Andacanavar? ' the smaller man asked.
The ranger gave a chuckle-and he meant it, for just from Pony's stance, Andacanavar understood that his companion's fears were not likely to come to fruition.
'I will try not to cut you, and expect the same,' the man said. 'First blood, if it comes to that, first advantage if not.'
Pony didn't bother to answer, just rocked back and forth, feeling her balance, remembering her many training sessions with Elbryan, working the dance naked in the morning light, remembering the many fights she had won beside her lover, their movements too harmonious, too synchronous, for any enemy to stand against them.
She felt bi'nelle dasada flowing through her again, for the first time since that awful day, but instead of bringing back all the bad memories and fears and sense of loss, it felt to Pony as if she were with her lover again. It felt wonderful!
'Are you ready? ' she heard her opponent ask. From his tone, she realized that he must have already asked that question several times.
She smiled and nodded, and Liam came on suddenly, a side slash with the sword, followed by a sudden short dagger thrust.
Pony easily had Defender in line to parry the slash, then angled her sword the other way, abbreviating the
