Path of the Stray by Kim Falconer

Author:Kim Falconer [Kim Falconer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780730492719
Publisher: Voyager

‘I’ll be gone a week,’ Celia told Shem. She wrapped herself around him as she spoke.

Ruby picked up a bridle and headed for the red mare’s box stall.

‘Not that one,’ Celia said without turning around.

‘Which then?’ There were three other horses there but Ruby had hoped to ride her favourite.

‘Don’t you remember? We’re taking grunnies.’ Celia pointed to one in a tie stall.

Ruby turned towards the beast. It looked like a giant mound of brown rope lying in the straw. It stopped chewing cud and lifted its head. It scratched its back with a long twisting horn. ‘Why can’t I take Red?’

‘The grunnies are more sure-footed on the slopes. It’s icy this time of year.’

‘It’s not even equinox.’

‘It’s icy just the same.’

‘Tell her the other reason,’ Shem said. ‘The real reason.’

Ruby waited.

‘The horses aren’t exactly ours by fair purchase,’ Shem said when Celia didn’t reply.

‘You stole them?’

Celia grabbed a halter and went to the nearest grunnie. She tapped his shoulder with her toe until he heaved himself up. ‘Not exactly. They belonged to riders from Morzone.’

Ruby frowned. ‘What happened to the riders?’

‘They went the way of your lover,’ she said. ‘Nasty business.’

Ruby gasped.

‘Oh don’t look so surprised. They’d come to burn us out of our dens. All’s fair in love and…’

‘We’re at war then?’

‘It seems so.’

‘Well it’s hardly fair when you have such an advantage.’ Ruby tapped her grunnie on the shoulder but he didn’t budge. ‘Couldn’t you have enlightened them? Told them we aren’t bloodthirsty beasts out to steal their children or kill their stock?’

‘Unfortunately, they weren’t open to dialogue. And remember, Ruby, some of us—Daos and his clan—are out for blood. Gaeleans can’t tell one from the other in wolf form and as far as I know, Corsanon is aware of our shape-shifting abilities. Stories are being whispered and they are turning us into myths.’

‘Myths? What kind of myths?’

‘They think we’re akin to werewolves—yellow-eyed, shape-shifting demons.’

‘That’s ridiculous, Celia.’

‘Don’t underestimate the power of storytelling. They see it because they believe it.’

Ruby tapped harder until she finally gave the grunnie a kick. It begrudgingly got up, still chewing cud. ‘But you said Treeon was trading with you.’

‘They are, tentatively. They want to protect their lands and stock and are willing to consider an alliance. But believe me, Ruby, you’ll not fit into temple life if you reveal your Lupin side. They aren’t ready for it. You have to keep that part of yourself occult.’

‘This is as bad as Earth,’ Ruby said.

Celia frowned at her. ‘Is it? Perhaps you’d like to go back then?’

Ruby shook her head. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be unappreciative. It just feels like I’ve been repressed all my life.’

Celia saddled her grunnie. ‘That’s because you have. We all have. Seems we brought that belief with us.’

Ruby played with the ropey strands of hair hanging from her mount’s shoulder to his cloven hoof. ‘Where did they come from?’ She patted the animal’s thick neck. ‘Did you get them by fair trade at least?’

‘Most were rescued from the wild, or from Daos’ savaging.

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