Battle Dragon by Steve Turnbull

Author:Steve Turnbull [Turnbull, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781913199029
Publisher: Tau Press Ltd
Published: 2019-04-19T22:00:00+00:00

15

They walked away from the circle. Kantees felt a tug and glanced towards the mountains to see two pairs of wings heading their way.

“They’re back.”

The ziri came in fast, each was carrying some sort of animal Kantees did not recognise. In both cases the horned head lolled on a long neck. The body was scrawny and the legs long.

“What have they got?”

“Fenichasa,” said Jynolee, proud to be able to offer her knowledge. “They live high on the mountain slopes.”

“The ones I’ve seen tend to be fatter,” said Kantees. “These don’t look like they have much meat on them.”

“We don’t eat them,” said the girl. “They live too high up and are very hard to catch.”

Kantees decided she needed to ask the question. “Jynolee, do you want to ride the ziri, like me? With me?”

The girl stopped walking, then, as Kantees turned towards her, she dropped to her knees. “That would be my dream, Lady Kantees.”

“Do you need permission from anyone to accompany me?”

“My father, Lokolo, Lady.” Confusingly Jynolee burst into tears.

Kantees opened her mouth but before she could speak Yenteel put his hand on her arm. “Mistress, if I may have a word?”

She frowned at him.

“In private?”

Jynolee scrambled to her feet and, mopping at her cheeks with her sleeve, she moved twenty paces away to wait.

“What?”

“Bride price.”

“You’re not marrying her.”

“But her father will be expecting it. Either the girl is paid for or she spends her days caring for her parents until they die.”

“You’re saying she’s a slave.”

“As much a slave as you were? No, but the difference is not great.”

“I could just take her,” said Kantees. “You’ve seen her with Looesa.”

“She’s like you, yes.”

“There was no talk of a bride price for Helka.”

“Hagata and Ithamel are the wise women of the town, they are not ruled by men, and Helka has a sister to continue after her mother. I think Ithamel is grateful, Helka would not make a very wise woman for the town. They made it easy for you.”

“This is ridiculous.”

“This is their life.” Yenteel glanced at the girl who looked as if she was still weeping. “Now you have mentioned it she will dream of nothing else. If you don’t think of a solution, you will have made her miserable for the rest of her life. Assuming she doesn’t turn to hate.”

Kantees closed her eyes. Why was everything so complicated?

“How do I solve this?” she said. “I have no money. The only thing I own is the chilafrah, and that is worth more than a hundred towns like this.”

“If it’s all you have, what is the girl worth to you?”

“Losing the chilafrah would not fit with my plans.”

“I thought they were only ideas.”

“Shut up, Yenteel.”

“As you wish, Lady Kantees.” He bowed.

Kantees shook her head and headed up to where Jynolee stood waiting.

“Take me to Hagata.”

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