Chapter 3, No Audience Here

“…As the guards led the disgraced chancellor away, the twins looked at each other and smiled. And then they embraced, unreservedly and wholeheartedly. The courtiers cheered to see that because it meant that the twins were reconciled at last. Each had learned to appreciate the other’s abilities and each understood that they could trust each other. So at the shrine to their parents, they pledged to share the throne. They had a long and happy reign, with peace and prosperity for all their citizens.”

Yar cleared his throat. “I finished the story just as dawn was breaking. The ghost smiled and saluted me as he vanished. I knew I could sleep securely. Which I did, until mid afternoon, by which time the ground had dried out. I left the place and continued my journey. Oh, look, we’ve reached the town!”

Seltheen had been so absorbed in the story that she had almost forgotten to watch their surroundings. Now she wondered how come a story that Yar had just told in less than an hour could have lasted all night previuously. Add another mystery to the others surrounding the man. A young boy was sitting on a fence that now ran alongside the road. Yar threw off his coat, stood up, and began to juggle three rods, (or was it four?) while reciting something in chuudib. The boy jumped down and ran. “Aha!” exclaimed Yar. “Now the word will spread. Soon we will do our first show for these good people.” A minute later the air was full of stones and cries of “vrraayend! vrraayend! rringerl!”

Seltheen called for Inshaa. The wiry rinker warhorse plunged through the shower of missiles and drew up beside the wagon. She jumped into the saddle. “What’s going on?” she demanded. “What’s that they’re saying?” Yar had pulled on his coat again, along with a brightly painted helmet that looked like an eagle’s head. “I seem to have miscalculated our distance from the Rinks: he said. “Apparently your people have been this far in force. What our welcoming committee is saying is `savages’ and `rinkers’. I’m afraid we’ll have to go deeper into chuudib territory before we can find people who aren’t threatened the mere sight of a rinker face.”

Seltheen charged toward the source of the stones. Inshaa neatly hopped the fence. Then the rinker’s long chopping spear smacked into a line of attackers. Two fell bleeding, the others scattered. She quickly returned to the wagon. “What do we do now?” “Move fast and hope they don’t have any trained troops.” No troops opposed them. They sped down the road as fast as the mules could trot. Seltheen sent two arrows back to discourage pursuit.