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She clamped that hold tighter and wrenched him away from the settlement. He
struggled against her, his flying erratic, until he left the valley behind,
then began to calm as she petted and soothed him. Finally he calmed enough to
let her withdraw without fear of losing him. With a slight shiver she left him
and opened her eyes.
Shadith was scowling. When are you going to let me try him? How can I know if
I can unless you do?
Give him a rest, Shadi. I ran him hard.
The girl pouted. You re always putting me off. Worse than Harskari when she
goes maternal.
Aleytys snorted. You say that after last night? Try acting your real age, not
your body s age and I ll try not interfering.
Last night. Shadith fluttered her fingers, airily dismissing last night.
That s all over. I m in solid now.
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Why take a chance?
Why not? Shadith moved restlessly on the saddle pad. You can catch me easy
enough if I start wobbling. Come on, I ve got to try some time. It s no big
deal.
Big deal? Aleytys grinned, firmed her mouth into sobriety. That body of
yours has overactive glands.
Hunh. Well?
Aleytys shook her head. I knew you wouldn t wait. She closed her eyes, swept
a probe around them as far as she could, used the hawk s eyes for a double
check. Nothing moving, nothing threatening, not yet anyway. She glanced at
Shadith; the eager reckless young face was not at all reassuring. She sighed.
Listen, Shadi.
Well? The word was like a stone flung at her. Shadith had no patience left.
We don t have time for playing ...
Shadith made a small spitting sound, like an angry cat.
No, Aleytys said, impatience making her louder than she liked. No. Stop
fussing and listen. I need your help. I got chased from the settlement before
I had time to search the mountains. We need to find a way round, Shadi, you
know that. While you re trying out your flying, keep well away from the valley
floor, find us a way. Can you do that?
Shadith s eyes sparked with enthusiasm. Sure.
Go ahead. But take it easy. You know what I mean.
Yes, mama. Of course, mama. I m not a fool.
Aleytys smiled. Remember, ancient sage, you re in a young body and it s
affecting you. You re acting fourteen, not the fourteen thousand you claim.
Cool the mix or you re asking for trouble.
You didn t dig at Swartheld like this. Shadith squeezed her face into an
exaggerated pout, then she giggled. All right, mama. All right. I ll be
good.
Hah. I ll believe that when I see it.
Shadith grinned, then wriggled about, settling herself onto the saddle pad,
her feet into the stirrups. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
Aleytys watched over the entry. In moments she felt immaterial tendrils
extruding tentatively from Shadith. It was very strange seeing this happen
from the outside. The tendrils moved more swiftly, more surely; then the hawk
gave a series of short sharp cries, lost the wind a moment, caught it again
and began turning tighter circles. He had accepted Aleytys passively enough,
but this seemed both joy and pain for him; he almost recognized the touch,
though the mind behind that touch had changed enough residue of the last owner
left to disturb him.
She smiled at Shadith s brimming pleasure and excitement as she mounted the
hawk s brain and eased within until she was looking through the bird s eyes.
She watched the girl a moment longer, then relaxed, satisfied, and left her on
her own.
Aleytys lifted her head to the morning breeze, pulled off the turban and let
the air play along her face and neck, enjoying the fugitive coolness; it was
early but already there was more than a hint of the heat to come. Dust and
pollen lay in a golden haze about the hocks of the gyori, kicked up by their
hooves as they paced along the thick-strewn road between deepening swells that
were reaching for the stature of hills. The two of them were yet a day s ride
from the mountains, but already she could feel them drawing her. She pulled
the gyr to a slower walk, the other gyr slowing with him, pace for pace; she
was reluctant to reach those mountains, as if they were a kind of trap, as if
they meant a commitment to something she was not willing to face though she
had to wonder about the outcome of the tug between what she wanted and what
something deep and primitive demanded of her. Mountains. They marked a change.
Once past them, this light-hearted journey would turn to serious labor.
Brooding over these discomforts, Aleytys forgot about Shadith until a nip from
Harskari recalled her. She swung round and stared at the girl.
Shadith was riding easily but her face had gone dull and empty, her eyes had a
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glaze that grayed their rich chocolate. Aleytys reached out to her . The girl
had an attenuated feel that startled a curse out of her. Shadith, she
called, her voice sharp with anxiety. That s enough. Get back.
Shadith ignored her. Or didn t hear her.
Aleytys reined her gyr closer until she was riding knee to knee with Shadith.
She set the flat of her hand against the clean curve of the girl s cheek,
poured a jolt of energy into her and called again, Shadith!
A look of strain twisted the young face, then the dark eyes were open,
blinking. Shadith drew a deep breath, held it while she rubbed her face, then
exploded it out. Wild trip, she said on the tail of the breath. Her voice
was hoarse with a tremble in it.
I wouldn t try that again. Not for a while. Aleytys nudged her gyr until she
rode at a comfortable distance. Did you find a way?
Hard to be sure. Shadith frowned. In a skimmer I know how to find my way
about; funny, though, to have to walk over ground I ve flown over, it gives a
different perspective somehow even if nothing else changes. I ve found a way,
I think, if the gyori can walk it, on the north side of the valley. You re
right, we ll have to cross over the bridge, leave the road behind. I d like to
take the hawk into the mountains again once night comes, see how the way looks
by starlight. It s too exposed for daylight crossing but maybe when they re
all asleep ... She shrugged.
They rode on through the golden morning. The heat rose with the day and the
dust and muted the invisible noises of insects and small rodents as if the
soft pungent touches of the lazy wind sucked away the energy from them.
6
I m tired, Shadith said suddenly. And hungry.
You and the hawk. Aleytys pointed. The bird plummeted into the dust and heat
haze, high now as the sun was swinging low. He rose again with something limp
and furry in his talons and flew down to the dark line of trees hugging the
river.
You think it s him working on me?
Or you on him. Aleytys rubbed her nose. Mmmh. It s a bit early.
Hah. I told you. You re in no hurry.
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