She stared up at him coldly. 'I never believed. Perhaps your father did--he never said. And by the time the likeness became obvious, so had something else.'
He knew he shouldn't, but he asked. 'What?'
'That the alternative was unthinkable. And it was too late for me to have a third son.'
He turned to go, and she laughed. He stopped in surprise.
'And the trouble Aurolron saw has not come to Vindax!' she said shrilly. 'It is coming to you! I know him--he will demand his birthright. Train your birds, King Jarkadon! Sharpen your arrows! Prepare to defend your throne!'
Chapter 15
'Who has seen the wind?'
PALM trees and rice paddies and sugarcane...The hot countryside unfolded gently below Shadow's bare toes. Prepared for the heat at Pharmol, he was wearing only shorts and a loose shirt, and he sat at ease in his sling and mused on what a strange way this was to fly. Now he could not command--he must humbly ask. NailBiter had considered carefully and then consented, but his comb had changed color at once at the question, because he was still a very young eagle and not yet accustomed to being free to choose. And he enjoyed carrying his friend Shadow around and feeling important.
Shadow had changed color also. He was not as dark as Potro, but thirty or forty days in Allaban had browned him, except for the frost scars on his face. He thought he might even be putting on some fat for the first time in his life. That would not worry NailBiter. As Karaman had explained, eagles were not built to be ridden; girths constricted their lungs, and the weight distribution was all wrong. By choice and by instinct the birds carried their kills in their beaks or talons, and they found a human passenger in a sling a much lighter load than a rider on a saddle.
Soon it would again be time for the ordeal of facing Vindax and telling him how much better he was looking. The prince would not be deceived.
Off to the right was IceFire, with the tiny form of Karaman sitting below her beak. It was a great honor to carry him. Potro was just ahead, sitting on his mount's foot as usual, without a sling, but he had promised not to change feet in midair on this trip.
Now the house and outbuildings of Pharmol were coming up ahead, set in a rare array of open water: paddies and canals and even a reservoir which also served as a swimming pool. One reason Vindax had been brought there was to exercise in that pool. Potro's mount was sweeping in low over it, IceFire following, NailBiter soaring in high circles, waiting until the little perching wall was clear.
There was a distant roar from Karaman--Potro had dismounted in midair, vanishing in a cloud of spray as the bird soared away. After a heart-stopping moment he reappeared, paddling to shore. The young idiot could easily have broken his back, and his grandfather would have words for him when they met, but Shadow doubted that they would make much impression on Potro.
NailBiter spread his primaries and landed gently at IceFire's side on the worn stone wall of the perching. Then he bent his head, and Shadow's feet touched down also. Shadow stepped aside, smiling at Karaman, and as fast as he could he made the carefully rehearsed gestures which meant 'thank you':
NailBiter's comb flickered almost too quickly to follow, but Shadow caught the meaning: 'chick signals.' Baby talk--the bird was poking fun at him. Shadow laughed and raised his hand. The huge fierce eye met his, then the great head was lowered and he reached up to stroke the comb. Then he saw what was coming and braced himself.
Darkness and hot, rank breath...Shadow froze as the enormous beak enclosed his face and a black, slobbery tongue ran over his hair--NailBiter was stroking his human friend's comb. The experience, though nauseating, was oddly touching, but he was glad when it stopped.
He rubbed the bird's comb then, wiped his own sticky hair with an arm, and trotted down the steps to join Karaman. He was surprised at the expression on the wrinkled old face.
'What's wrong?'
'It's dangerous,' Karaman muttered. 'He means well, but you don't taste right. That can trigger a nasty reflex. I've warned him before not to do that--but you can't argue with an eagle.'
The sun was gentle, padded by atmosphere, but the wind in their faces was a furnace breath, lip-cracking and harsh, drying sweat before it could even appear. They walked slowly together over to the buildings of Pharmol. The farm was an untidy scattering of unroofed sheds and fenced vegetable patches, clumps of fruit trees and junk piles. Chickens paced stiff-legged, studying the ground, but there was no larger livestock in sight.
Suddenly Shadow realized that he was alone with Karaman, and that was a rarity. 'May I ask you a question?'
'Always. But you won't necessarily get an answer.'
'About Schagarn,' Shadow said. 'Why did you agree to such a truce? You had won the battle of Allaban. Why not press on to conquer all of Rantorra?'
'Ah!' Karaman said, strolling head down, studying the ground like a chicken. 'Well, you are not the first to ask. Some think that Aurolron outfoxed me.'
'I didn't say--'
'No, that's all right. You should know. Quite simply, my young friend, I had no choice. I had no army left.'
'No army?' Shadow repeated blankly.
The silver mane nodded. 'The eagles had had enough. Fighting is horrible to them--bird against bird. They are not cowards, but war is not part of their thinking--and remember, they have much longer life spans to risk than we do. They drove the monarchy out of Allaban for us, and so freed their captive cousins in the aeries, but the cost was too high for them. They don't count very well, but they could see the bodies. There were many more dead birds than dead men.'
Shadow had learned as much as he could about that ancient war, but he had never thought to consider it from the eagles' viewpoint. A skyman with a bow, against birds armed only with their talons--were he a trooper in such a battle, how would he fare? How many eagles would he be able to shoot before they got him? That would depend on how badly outnumbered he was and how well he was able to control his own mount.
And when the man was eventually killed or crippled, then his mount was helpless and died also, falling blind from the sky.
'I hadn't thought of it from their side,' he admitted. 'How do they feel now?'
'Still the same,' Karaman said. 'You are a new generation, but they are the same birds. Does your Vindax dream of returning to Ramo at the head of an army of wild eagles? I should have thought you would have known better by this time.'
Shadow felt himself blush; though Karaman did not appear to notice. Yes, he had been thinking along those lines, and so was Vindax.
'How about one on one?' he asked. 'Man-on-bird against man-and-bird?'
Karaman glanced at him cryptically and then dropped his gaze to the path once more. 'The republic has very few troopers, and it has no pigeon-hunting aristocrats any more. Work it out.'
Shadow visualized. 'I would have an advantage in a sling,' he said, 'because my bird is more maneuverable, but I couldn't direct him with my hands full, and a sling sways around, so I suppose my archery would be no better. But if he gets me, then my bird escapes.'
