“Ox do asJin’Sai say,” he answered.
Seizing on the opportunity to badger the warrior yet again, Rafe walked over and put one arm around Ox. He winked at Tristan, then good-naturedly jostled the massive Ox as best he could.
“We’ll do fine, won’t we, Ox?” he chided.
Ox looked at the ground and growled something unintelligible. Sighing, Tristan looked at Gunther.
“Please lead on,” he said.
After nodding back, Gunther started wending a path through the crowd. As Tristan made his way among the highlanders, he saw fewer disparaging looks this time. He took that as a hopeful sign. The highlanders didn’t have to like him, but he needed their respect. That was especially true of the horsemen.
Finally Gunther and his group found their way to the crowd’s farthest edge. A long green field stretched before them. The highlander horsemen were going through their paces.
Gunther called for chairs, and soon some were brought. Tristan recognized them as the same red upholstered ones the elders had used the night he had exposed Arwydd. When the chairs were arranged in a line before the crowd, Tristan and his group took seats. Abbey sat on his left; the one to his right lay empty.
The late Royal Guard cavalry members had been wonderful riders, but even their talents paled before those of the highlanders. While the Royal Guardsmen had learned their disciplined horsemanship on parade grounds, the highlander riders had developed their skills on rough-and-tumble fields and plains, relying on them not only for their defense, but also to produce much of their food. That’s what makes them better in some ways, he realized. They do it because they must, to stay alive on a day-to-day basis.
Some highlander horsemen held swords; others carried bows. Recognizing the prince, they stopped their maneuvers and gathered their horses together. After talking for a moment, the colorful riders started lining up across the field.
Rafe sat on Abbey’s left. Leaning toward her, he smiled.
“It seems that we are in for a show,” he said. Still unconvinced, Abbey said nothing.
A series of targets had been set up midfield. They included straw men and various types of fruit impaled onto poles set into the ground. One by one, the riders carrying bows started galloping toward the straw men.
Yelping wildly, the first one expertly swung out of his saddle, sliding down alongside his horse’s right flank. Gripping his reins between his teeth he hung sideways, nearly touching the ground as his horse thundered forward. Tristan was horseman enough to know that this trick was difficult without simultaneously trying to shoot an arrow. He had seen the highlander riders perform before, but he couldn’t believe that one could hit his target from that position.
Charging hard, the highlander guided his horse toward one of the straw men. With only his left leg over his saddle to hold him in place, he notched an arrow onto the bowstring. Then he pulled the string back and held it there for a moment before releasing it.
Tristan held his breath as he watched the colorful arrow arc through the air. The rider quickly reclaimed his saddle like he had been born in it, then charged his horse to one side. As Tristan watched, the arrow buried itself squarely in the red heart that had been painted onto the straw man.
The crowd cheered and applauded loudly. Tristan found himself on his feet, raising his fists and shouting in admiration. As the cheering died down he reclaimed his chair and cast Abbey a knowing look.
“Well done for a ragtag group of thieves, wouldn’t you say?” he asked.
Scowling, Abbey crossed her arms. “It will take more than that to convince me,” she answered.
Tristan smiled. “Then prepare to be convinced,” he said.
One after another the highlander bowmen each performed the same feat. Not one missed the mark. Then it came the swordsmen’s turns. Shouting vigorously, they started charging toward the impaled fruit pieces.
Like the first riders, they took their reins in their teeth. Tristan watched in rapt fascination as most of them produced not just one sword, but two. Waving their swords in circles, one by one they charged toward the targets.
Rather than approaching one of the targets on either end, the first rider drove for the line’s center. Raising each sword high, he cleanly severed two fruit pieces at once, one on each side. As the others followed suit, the same amazing feat was accomplished over and over again.
Their practice done for the day, the riders turned their horses toward the spectators. In a show of respect, they formed battle lines before Tristan’s chair. As their lathered mounts whinnied and pawed the ground, the horsemen stared calmly at him, waiting for some type of acknowledgment.
Tristan knew that a respectful gesture was called for. Turning to his left, he beckoned everyone to stand. When he bowed, they did as well. The crowd cheered again.
As the riders walked their horses away, Tristan and his group reclaimed their seats. Gunther clapped his hands. Soon some serving girls brought wine, and trays laden with sweetmeats. Not standing on ceremony this time, Tristan helped himself. When Abbey and Ox did not, he gave them stern looks. Finally they relented and joined in.
“Now do you see why I want them with us?” Tristan whispered to Abbey.
Abbey scowled. “All right!” she whispered back. “I’ll admit that they’re excellent riders. But are they more than just a carnival act? Can they fight?”
“Yes,” Tristan answered. “They are among the fiercest I have ever seen.”
Despite viewing the recent demonstration, Abbey shook her head again. “But they’rehighlanders, Tristan!” she protested. Turning to her left, she saw that Gunther was trying to have some semblance of a conversation with Ox. She was sure that the warrior’s conversational skills were not taxing Gunther’s acumen. She turned back to look at the prince.
“If we don’t watch them like hawks, they’ll steal us blind!” she added. “When Wigg and Faegan hear about this, they’ll be positively livid!”
Tristan took another sip of wine. “I know,” he answered. “That’s why you’re going to help me convince them.”
“Why should I?” she asked. “Wigg will believe I’ve gone crazy.”
“Because this arrangement is good for everyone,” Tristan answered. “We get these fighters to help us. In return, the highlanders get a homeland and they promise to give up their thieving ways. I’m not naive enough to believe that all will be converted. But if some are, so much the better.”
Abbey snorted, laughing. “All right, all right,” she finally agreed. “I’ll talk to Wigg for you. But don’t you dare blame me if it doesn’t work!”
Smiling, Tristan lightly clanged his silver wine goblet against hers. “You’ve got a deal,” he said.
Just then Tristan sensed a presence on his other side. He turned to see that Yasmin had slipped into the empty chair on his right. She was dressed beautifully, and her exotic perfume reminded him of recent events that he would rather Abbey didn’t know about. He smiled at her.
“Good afternoon, Jin’Sai, ” she said. She turned her eyes to his bandaged forearm. “How is your wound?”
“It’s healing nicely,” he answered, “thanks to you.”
Leaning forward, Yasmin looked at Abbey. “And who is this lovely lady?” she asked.
For the first time since arriving in the camp, Abbey smiled knowingly. Tristan let go a little sigh of defeat. With a single glance from Yasmin, Abbey understands, he realized. How is it that women always know? Sometimes their unendowed powers of perception rival Wigg’s and Faegan’s magic.
Tristan gestured toward the herbmistress. “Abbey of the House of Lindstrom, I’d like to present Yasmin,” he said simply. “Yasmin is the highlander healer I mentioned.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Abbey said.
“And you,” Yasmin answered.
The three of them chatted for a time; then Abbey placed her lips near Tristan’s ear.
“So that’s the highlander healer who helped you, eh?” she asked. She gave him a coy smile. “From the looks of her, I’d say that their men might gladly be wounded! I’m sure Balthazar was right about her healing touch…”
Saying nothing, Tristan sighed and pushed his tongue hard against the inside of one cheek. He decided that it was time to go-for more than one reason. Standing, he gathered everyone’s attention.
“Rafe and Ox, you stay here and collect the horsemen,” he ordered. “Escort them to the palace as soon as you can. Have them take tents among the Minions and see to any other needs they might have.”
