contact, Nightbird included. But in this rare case, the elves had taken two humans in at the same time, and that knowledge of proximity, of possibility, made the girl's heart long all the more for human companionship.
Even more than that, Brynn repeatedly told Juraviel that she could help care for the child, and promised with all her heart that she would do a good job; and Juraviel understood the truth of her claim even better than she. Both Brynn and the child would greatly benefit, he knew.
'If I pass your test the way you intended?' Brynn asked, her smile ever hopeful. 'If I sneak up on the deer and slap it hard on the rump instead of letting it know me as a friend? '
Belli'mar Juraviel took a long, deep breath, changing his focus from the girl's beaming face to the image of rot within the valley, the disease that had come from the actions of Touel'alfar who bent the rules-even as Juraviel had done by transforming duty to friendship with n'Touel'alfar, by Dasslerond in bringing both Juraviel and the humans back to the valley, thus opening the way for Bestesbulzibar; by Nightbird for teaching Pony bi'nelle dasada, the most secretive elven fighting technique. So many of their guiding principles had been temporarily abandoned, and Juraviel had to admit the truth: had the true elven tenets been followed, though the human world might be a darker place, Andur'Blough Inninness would remain healthy and the threat that valuable elven secrets would soon be in the hands of humans would be nonexistent. He pictured the rot and reminded himself of all of that, and so his words came out more sternly than poor Brynn could ever have expected.
'The child is not your concern,' he declared flatly. 'I doubt that the babe even remains within Caer'alfar, and if he does, then Brynn Dharielle would do well to stay far away from him, on pain of great punishment.'
'But I-'
'No buts,' Juraviel interrupted. 'This is not a matter for discussion. You are in training here-you would do well to remind yourself of that. And to remind yourself of the plight of your people, of the death of your parents. Find your heart, Brynn Dharielle, and your focus, for all our sakes.'
The girl appeared confused, which Juraviel understood, given his sudden mood shift and the barrage of overwhelming responsibilities he had just placed upon her. She stared at him for a few moments, blinking her eyes, then wiping her sleeve across one. Then she turned and sprinted away.
Juraviel nodded. He had done his proper duty to the Touel'alfar.
He was still looking down the path she had run when he saw another figure step into view, moving his way.
'The memory still pains her,' Lady Dasslerond remarked, glancing back at the trail where Brynn had disappeared. 'Thus it still inspires her. That is a good thing.'
Juraviel nodded, but he was staring at Dasslerond and not at the trail, wondering how much of his last conversation the lady had heard and wondering how much she had been paying attention to him and Brynn, in more quiet ways, over the last days. Juraviel understood that his position with Dasslerond was somewhat tentative these days. When he thought about it-again, forcing himself to stay fully within the Touel'alfar view of the world and tenets of behavior-he really couldn't blame her.
He told her, then, of Brynn Dharielle's remarkable achievement that morning with the deer. Not even Andacanavar had been so close to a deer at this young age; and, in this test at least, Andacanavar of Alpinador had previously held the benchmark. 'Her fighting progresses,' Juraviel finished, 'but her understanding of the natural world is truly amazing-more akin to the Touel'alfar than to the humans.' He knew as soon as he finished, as soon as he heard the words and then saw Lady Dasslerond's scowl, that his choice of phrasing hadn't been particularly diplomatic. 'She is human,' Lady Dasslerond was quick to remind him, 'n'Touel'alfar. Never forget that.'
Belli'mar Juraviel lowered his gaze submissively.
'But she is also To-gai-ru,' the lady went on. 'And as such, she is a horsewoman, first and foremost. Her people are as close to the land as any humans in all the world, even more so than the Alpinadorans. Before we took her to Caer'alfar, before her clan was overrun by fanatical Behrenese soldiers, her parents murdered, and her village burned to the ground, she was already an accomplished rider, though she had not yet seen her ninth winter. If her legs were longer and stronger, as they will become, our Brynn could outride the finest Allheart knights.'
An image of the budding ranger upon Symphony flashed in Juraviel's mind, but he let it go quickly, too pained to imagine anyone but Nightbird atop the magnificent stallion. He closed his eyes and saw again Symphony pulling the caisson bearing Nightbird's body to the north.
'What will her years with us do to diminish that riding ability?' Lady Dasslerond asked.
Juraviel looked into his lady's eyes, at first wondering if she was being sarcastic, but then understanding the sincerity of her question. What indeed? The Touel'alfar could ride horses, and ride them well, but their riding style- often using their wings for balance-was not adaptable to humans. Also, the Touel'alfar preferred to use their legs and their wings rather than ride, for they could travel great distances, and swiftly, on their own. Given that, there were no fine riding horses in Andur'Blough Inninness, certainly none 'broken' in the manner that any human would be able to ride.
'We cannot take that away from her,' Lady Dasslerond went on. 'Above all else, Brynn will need to perfect her riding skills to the very highest level if she is to return to her people with any manner of stature.'
It was true enough, Juraviel knew. The To-gai-ru valued their pinto ponies above their children and measured themselves mostly based on how well they could ride one of those tough and strong beasts. Any To-gai-ru aspiring to a position of leadership would have to outride his or her competitors.
'Many of her lessons must soon center around riding,' Lady Dasslerond explained. 'Perhaps you and she can find a way to adapt the To-gai-ru riding style with bi'nelle dasada.'
'We can catch a horse this day,' Juraviel replied, and he chuckled, imagining Brynn Dharielle walking right up to one of the wild horses in Andur'Blough Inninness and coaxing it back to Caer'alfar. 'And begin the training process, on horse first and then with Brynn.'
Lady Dasslerond was shaking her head before he finished. 'There are no horses in Andur'Blough Inninness suitable for the girl,' she explained. 'This will be her greatest challenge, her chance to bring our gifts to her to their pinnacle, and as such, we must give her the proper tools.'
Juraviel narrowed his gaze, hardly believing what his lady was saying. 'You wish me to go to To-gai?' he asked doubtfully.
'That is not possible,' Lady Dasslerond was quick to answer. 'No, my eyes look in a different direction, to call in the favor of a friend.'
'Bradwarden,' Juraviel stated, finally catching on, but then his expression turned to one of doubt. 'Are you thinking that Brynn Dharielle should ride Symphony? '
Lady Dasslerond rocked back at the notion, apparently caught off guard but also apparently intrigued.
'She could not begin to handle that one,' Juraviel said. The thought of anyone other than Elbryan or Jilseponie riding Symphony didn't sit well with the elf. 'She is not nearly large enough to control the horse,' he went on. 'Her legs would not reach around Symphony's considerable girth, and never would Symphony even feel the press of her skinny limbs.'
'Tuntun rode him,' Lady Dasslerond reminded him; for indeed, Tuntun had ridden Symphony all the way to the Barbacan in pursuit of Avelyn's party. 'She was no larger than Brynn.'
'But she was stronger,' said Juraviel, 'with muscles honed by years and years of training.'
'You do not wish to see Symphony given to Brynn,' Lady Dasslerond noted slyly.
'I do not believe that Symphony can be given to anyone,' Juraviel answered. 'By Nightbird's own description to me-supported by BradwardenSymphony chose him as much as he chose the horse.'
'And if Symphony accepted her? '
Juraviel didn't reply, just stood there staring at the lady.
'You do not believe her worthy of Nightbird's mount,' Dasslerond went on, easily gaining the upper hand now, 'as Tuntun did not believe Nightbird worthy of Mather's sword.'
'Nightbird taught her differently.'
'As Brynn will teach you,' Lady Dasslerond said. 'Go out this week, Belli'mar Juraviel. Find Bradwarden, the centaur, and discover his feelings on this matter. You will enjoy the visit with your old friend, I believe, and with Roger Lockless, who is rumored to be in Dundalis with the centaur.'
Juraviel didn't begin to disagree.
'Return with a horse for Brynn Dharielle,' the lady instructed, 'Remember that she will carry on the responsibilities of a ranger, as did Nightbird, and that her road will be no less fraught with danger. And remember, Belli'mar Juraviel, that much of the power Brynn Dharielle will find will come as a result of her horsemanship.
