Sedikhan 01 - The Golden Barbarian by Johansen Iris

Author:Johansen, Iris [Johansen, Iris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780553296044
Publisher: Bantam
Published: 1990-01-02T05:00:00+00:00

“Is he here?” Tess burst onto the terrace, her gaze searching the shadows beneath the pepper tree. “Did he come back?”

“An hour ago.” Viane’s delighted smile lit her face as she hurried out of the aviary. “It’s the third time, Tess.”

“And you fed him the grain?”

Viane nodded. “As soon as he perched beside Roxanne.”

“Only an hour?” Tess frowned. “He didn’t make very good time. I released him from Yusef’s roof over two hours ago. He must have been meandering.”

Viane laughed. “What difference does it make? I think it’s magical that he found his way home at all.”

“It’s instinct, not magic.” Tess shrugged. “But perhaps feeding the grain will help make him more eager. The Count said that was the secret of training them.” Another frown wrinkled her brow. “But I’m beginning to believe pigeons are very stupid. Yusef’s house is only an hour’s walk away. I almost made it on foot before he got here.”

“On foot?” Viane’s eyes widened. “You walked through the town? You know that is not fitting. I would never have—”

“I was quite safe.” Tess mentally cursed her unruly tongue. She hadn’t meant to let Viane know that she hadn’t ridden Pavda through the town. Viane was anxious enough that Tess moved about without Galen’s permission, and now she would fret. “The first time I rode Pavda to Yusef’s house, the jouncing seemed to upset Alexander. It took a terribly long time to quiet him before I felt I could release him.”

Viane shook her head. “Well, as long as you took the groom—”

“I think Alexander’s ready for a longer test,” Tess broke in quickly.

“What did you have in mind?” Viane asked warily. “Yusef’s house is almost at the city gates.”

“Then it’s clear we must go beyond the city gates,” Tess said lightly.

“No! It’s forbidden for the women of the household to go beyond the gates.”

“Galen often took me for rides outside the city.”

Viane frowned. “You know he wouldn’t permit you to go without him, even accompanied by a groom. We must be satisfied with Yusef’s house until Galen returns. Then perhaps we can persuade him—”

“Persuade?” Tess made a face. “It’s another word for plead, and leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.”

“Galen has been very lenient with you. No other woman is permitted such freedom,” Viane said soberly. “You must understand it’s not usual for women to ride abroad with their men, much less alone. I’m sure Galen has been criticized for indulging you so.”

“He doesn’t appear to mind.”

“He’s accustomed to fighting battles,” Viane said. “Since my father died, he has tried to bring to Zalandan all that is good of the West. Many do not like to be driven from the old ways.”

“Like Kalim.”

“And me.”

“You?”

Viane nodded. “In that way Kalim and I are alike. I find the old ways have grace and reason.”

“It’s reasonable to be imprisoned in this chamber as you’ve penned in your birds?”

“Their pen is beautiful, and they will never know hunger.”

“Or freedom.”

Viane’s eyes were suddenly twinkling. “Alexander knows freedom whenever you loose him on the wind.

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