The Woman Who Rides Like a Man by Tamora Pierce

Author:Tamora Pierce [Pierce, Tamora]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Young Adult, Adventure
ISBN: 9780689878589
Goodreads: 13830
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: 1986-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“I knew what you were, for most of that time.”

“You should marry a princess who’ll bring you power and gold,” she went on.

“That’s your duty. And you should marry a virgin.”

“You were a virgin when we first made love.”

“No one else knows that!” she cried, frustrated. Remembering the tent’s thin walls, she lowered her voice. “They’ll say I was in bed with a whole regiment, behind your back.”

“Do you think your friends will permit that kind of talk? You have more friends at Court than you know. As to my marrying someone who will bring me power—what of you? You’re a woman knight and a Bazhir shaman. I could marry the daughter of a Bazhir chief, and not gain as much stature as I will if I marry you. Besides,”

he went on, his voice suddenly hard, “I’m tired of worrying about such things. I want what I want, not just what’s good for Tortall. I’ve spent my entire life watching what I say and do, for fear of upsetting the merchants, or the Gallans, or the priests, or anyone. They should worry about upsetting me—not the other way around!”

“Is that why you’re asking me to marry you?” she whispered. “Because you want to prove to everyone you don’t care?”

For a long moment he didn’t reply. When he spoke, his voice was very low. “I thought you loved me, Alanna.”

“I do!” she whispered fiercely. “I do! But—” What he had said—the resentment in his voice—worried her. And how could she explain that it was wonderful not to have to trouble herself over Court plots and plotters? Not to have to watch how she acted or what she said, apart from not offending her new tribe? For the first time she could be fully and completely Alanna; she was still learning just who “Alanna” was.

“Marry me, sweet one,” he whispered. “I love you. I want you for my wife.”

It was too much, all at once. “Let me think about it,” she begged. “I do love you, Jon. I just need time.”

“All right.” His voice sounded amused. As they went to sleep, Alanna wondered, Just what is so

As usual, she rose with the dawn. Jon continued to sleep. She dressed quietly and went into the temple portion of her tent. Myles was already there, looking as fresh as he ever did in the morning. Alanna hugged her old friend tightly, and together they walked out into the sunlight. She showed him the village, even taking him up to the hill where she had faced the hillmen with her apprentices, and where Ishak had met his doom. She said nothing about Jonathan’s proposal, half-hoping that if no one mentioned it, Jon might reconsider.

“Why did you come?” she asked as they climbed down the hill.

“I thought it might be better for Jonathan if someone bore him company.”

“You’re always so sensible.” Alanna grinned. She waved to Mari, who was opening the sides of her tent to the morning air. “Mari Fahrar,” she explained to Myles.

“She’s the best weaver in the tribe.

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