Warrior Woman by Marion Zimmer Bradley & Elisabeth Waters

Author:Marion Zimmer Bradley & Elisabeth Waters
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Marion Zimmer Bradley Literary Works Trust
Published: 2009-04-09T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

Early the next morning we find Reri in the common room before us, and while we breakfast on boiled eggs and fresh-cut melons from the bazaar, Beizun ventures, “You are seeking women for fighters, as also are we. Why should we not travel together?”

“Agreed,” Reri says. “For I had intended to go to Gyre and to Rhadamuth, where there are traditions of fighting women. You seek women to fight for glory in the arena; I, to fight for gold in the recapture of a city. I cannot see why any woman—or for that matter, any man—should choose the arena unless the alternative is death or worse; if fighting is your chosen avocation, why not do so for a better reward than you would find in the arena?”

“I agree with you, if one has a choice,” Beizun says. “Zadieyek was given none. I thought the arena better than any other alternative offered to me.”

“Perhaps if I were offered that choice, I should choose the same,” says Reri amiably. “Believe me, my friends, I meant no slight to you or your choice.”

“I am happy to hear it,” Beizun says with a menacing gesture, “since we did not go into the city and are still in possession of our weapons.”

It is agreed that we shall travel together at least as far as Rhadamuth, Beizun’s home city, which lies at the far end of the great desert.

Remembering the nightmare of captivity, thirst and rape, my heart sinks at the thought of crossing the desert, even in the company of these two brave women, one of whom is my friend and lover.

Reri is familiar with the desert; under her tutelage we make some purchases in the great bazaar: cloth water-bags of coarse canvas which will keep our stores of water cool by evaporation, special fodder for our beasts, a tent of a lightweight material to keep us cool in the hot desert nights. She is introduced to our two remaining bodyguards; they stare curiously at her, having never before, I suppose, met a woman, even a woman fighter, who affected the wearing of men’s clothing. For herself Reri equips herself with sword and fighting-staff. There is no lack of good weapons outside the city.

At last all is ready, and we load our purchases and ride along that rocky trail which leads to the great desert. Under the brick archway which shelters the entryway to the bazaar, we sit on our riding-beasts, looking at this barren land devoid of all vegetation or any mark of the habitation of mankind. Bare and hopeless as it seems to me, with a trail, barely marked in the loose sand, winding away into the distance of a barren horizon, Beizun welcomes it; this is her home country, and she sniffs at the hot and scentless air as if it held rare perfume, shakes the reins of her riding-beast, and takes her place at the head of our caravan as we ride out.

The riding is hot and wearying, and although I have been warned to be sparing with the water, my mouth quickly becomes painfully dry.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.