The Yoke of Shen by John Cleve

Author:John Cleve [Cleve, John]
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Outside they were greeted by Selye, four Hinuri torch bearers, and six women. They were dressed in little more than their natural attributes accented by strands of sparkling gemstones draped from neck, shoulder, arm, and hip. They bore golden platters laden with fruits, breads, and roasted meat.

"Friend Selye," Songan called to Hinun's advisor, "has your leader deigned to meet with us?"

"Alas, my two newfound friends, I must apologize for a small deception I was forced to employ this afternoon,"

Selye said with an embarrassed bow of his head. "There is no Selye, but only Hinun. I hope that I may in part make recompense for that deception by asking you to join me in a humble repast here by the fountains in the cool of Esharista's evening."

"Selye" waved a violet-robed arm toward the nearest of the bubbling fountains.

Val's jaw dropped several sems in surprise. "You're Hinun?"

"Selye and Hinun the Caretaker of Shen are one and the same," he said, reaching out to take Val's hand and lead her

toward the finely woven carpets the Hinuri spread on the ground.

"Such disbelief on the face of beauty! Your captain shows no surprise. We share an understanding of the need for caution when one is faced with an unknown situation."

Hinun smiled pleasantly, his gaze shifting to Songan and then back to Val. He waited for them to seat themselves.

"Why the identity of Selye the advisor?" Songan said

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as he seated himself on a thick carpet the color of blue-berry wine.

Val did likewise so that she faced her captain from a paler blue rug. Somehow her coverall had got itself open halfway to the waist. She glanced down to make sure.

"For the same reason that you two sit so that you guard each other's back, my friends," the Caretaker of Shen said, waving the gemstone-attired women to place the platter before his guests. "The dyre-wolves were no accident this afternoon. They had been sent to kill me."

Hinun lowered himself to the carpet and selected a fruit of orange and crimson from a platter. Balancing it in one palm, he looked back to Songan.

"There are those on Shen who wish to see me dead, my friend. To see the position of Caretaker destroyed and plunge this peaceful world into chaos." Hinun spoke in the gravest of tones. "I regret my earlier caution, but after the dyre-wolves and what they did to my men, I was not prepared to trust even strangers who had so obviously come to Shen from the stars. Too, you are both of . . . intimidating height.''

He glanced at Valustriana, looking unintimidated. While she and Songan helped themselves to the small feast served in their honor, Hinun explained that he had ridden into the forest for a personal investigation of reports of bestial raids on surrounding farmers, flocks, and herds.

"The reports were obviously well-grounded!" Valustriana said.

Hinun nodded without smiling. "Indeed! The wolves were quite real, and I am certain the pack is responsible for the numerous attacks." Hinun dropped the fruit back onto the platter.

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