The Gandalara Cycle II by Randall Garrett & Vicki Ann Heydron

Author:Randall Garrett & Vicki Ann Heydron
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Publisher: Bantam Books
Published: 2011-12-07T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Thymas was right about one thing: I was trying to read Thymas through the actions of his sha'um. When Ronar stopped before Dharak's house and crouched to let me mount, I was half surprised and more than pleased.

Ronar was slightly smaller than Keeshah, but broad and sturdy. I eased my leg over the cat's hindquarters, tucked my knees into the angle formed by Thymas's, and used pressure against Ronar's flanks to ease the weight of my body on his pelvis.

Tarani and Dharak had walked out with me, but Shola had disappeared. She came out the front door of the house now, carrying leather pouches strapped together with rope. The Sharith called them travel packs; privately, I thought of them as saddlebags. She handed them to Thymas, who arranged the ropes across his thighs, laughing.

"This much food would see us all the way back to Eddarta," he said, then caught his mother in a warm hug. It took her a moment to react, and then she hugged him back. When she stepped away from him, her face was glowing, and she flashed me a look of thanks that transferred some of the glow.

Dharak stepped up to us and put one hand on Thymas's shoulder, one on mine. "The Sharith wish you a safe and profitable trip," he said. "You will both be sorely missed."

I squeezed Dharak's arm. "Five days—six at the most," I promised.

Thymas grabbed Dharak's shoulder and said: "Father, when I get back . . ."

"We will do as the Captain suggests, son," Dharak said softly. "You and I will talk to each other."

We let Dharak go, and Tarani stepped up to take his place. Tarani and I had spoken our farewells during the night. Now she put her hands on my shoulders and kissed my cheek lightly, then repeated the gesture with Thymas—who brought his hands up as if to hold her, then lowered them without touching her.

Tarani moved around Ronar, tracing ridges of skin and patchy fur. "He is well healed," she said, and stroked the cat's jaw. "Care for them well, Ronar," she said, and stepped back.

At Thymas's silent command, Ronar stood up. Thymas and I rocked with the surging motion, and then readjusted our positions for our own comfort and the cat's. I felt a little embarrassed that I had not even considered Ronar's recent injuries, especially since the earliest of them had been inflicted by Keeshah's claws and teeth. But the sha'um moved easily—if carefully—as he started for Thagorn's gate at a walk. Thymas and I waved at the group in front of the Lieutenant's house, then turned our faces forward.

Thagorn was busy, as usual. Repair crews worked at the wall of one of the barracks buildings that lined one side of the main avenue. Guards walked the upper level of the wall. From behind us, across the river, we could hear the noise of children playing and the barked commands of the cubs drilling their sha'um and themselves. People moved around, going to and from lunch, to and from duty stations.

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