“I have come for another purpose entirely, Melai,” laughed Nidisar, his hand moving behind her in a familiar way. “I merely wish you to show Jalav the proper use of a hair comb such as those you wear. Your pavilion was near, else I would not have disturbed you.”
“It is no disturbance.” The slavewoman studied me closely, and a puzzled look came to her eyes. “Though young, she is quite a woman, Nidisar,” the slavewoman said in apparent approval. “I congratulate you on your fortune, yet I fail to understand the reason for the weapons she wears. Surely she has no intentions of attempting their use?”
“Jalav is quite well-versed in the use of weapons,” Nidisar made answer, more in annoyance, I thought, than in approval. “I would now see her learn the use of other adornments. Therefore have I purchased this comb for her.”
He again produced the comb, which the woman Melai took from his hands. “It is indeed lovely,” said she, moving her fingers upon it. “You, too, are fortunate, Jalav. Come closer, child, and remove the leather from your hair.”
I studied her as she had studied me, and knew a moment of curiosity—“Do you have—‘frills’?” I asked, gesturing toward her tent and her silks. “And do you wear—‘scents’?”
At first she seemed rather startled by the questions, then laughed gently. “Indeed. I have both frills and scents. Why do you ask?”
“I merely confirm the foolishness of males.” I laughed, resting my hand upon my sword hilt. “I shall not remove the leather from my hair, nor do I wish to waste further time with useless frills. Do you come now, Nidisar, or do we continue without your guidance?”
Nidisar appeared angered; however, when the slavewoman shrugged and returned his comb, he replaced it within his covering without comment. I turned then and led the way from the tent, amused that Nidisar would be so foolish as to think me sister to slavewomen.
We returned to my warriors, who gazed longingly upon those at play with bow and shaft, and then left the area of tents, once more returning to the city ways. Nidisar chose ways which were narrow and badly kept, the dwellings to either side seeming about to crumble in upon us. He spoke, as we walked, of the street of cobblers, and the street of coopers, and the street of smiths, and many more such, equally meaningless, yet he seemed to know his way. We trod upon thrown refuse, skirted ugly, evil-smelling puddles, threw aside males who were badly taken with daru sickness, and still we continued to follow, for we were to learn the ways of a city.
Much time had sped when at least we came upon a broader, cleaner way. No refuse was there upon it, and males who rode or walked upon it showed no signs of sickness. Many of the males wore the leather and metal coverings of those who had been at the gates, and all gazed upon my warriors and myself with curiosity. Presently it was possible to see the unbelievably large dwelling which we had seen from the open space.
“The Palace of the High Seat,” said Nidisar, gesturing toward the immense dwelling. “A formidable sight, is it not?”
“Is that a gate I see to its right?” I asked.
“It is indeed a gate.” Nidisar came to me where I had stopped in the way beside my kan. “You have now seen all of my city, save the street of hunters, wherein I dwell. That I have left for last, as it is best. Come there now, Jalav, and I shall procure for you your first taste of renth—the memory of which you shall surely take back with you to your own land.”
He stood very near to me, there in the broad way, and his eyes told what he felt. He was not unattractive, and I would not have refused him my sleeping leather, yet was there that second gate to consider.
“I would move a bit closer,” said I, looking into his eyes. “To see more of yon dwelling. Your street may be seen at another time.”
Angry, but controlled, he nodded curtly. “Very well!” he said, his voice tight. “The Palace first!”
Again he led off, anger quickening his pace, yet was I not of a mind to match him.
At last we stood before the entrance to the immense dwelling. Two hands of leather and metal clad males stood before it, atop the pile of steps, for the entrance itself stood opened. The dwelling was of a smooth, pinkish stone, which contained many windows, from side to side and up and down. Through the opened entrance, one could see many-colored cloth upon the floor, many people hurrying to and fro upon the cloth, and little else. No desire did I feel to enter such a place, and turned instead to regard the gate which lay to the right of the dwelling.
The second gate was nearly of a size with the first, but was less used. It did not stand open as had the other gate, but allowed only the entrance or departure of mounted leather-and-metal clad males. These males, I had noted, unlike those at the first gate, all wore head coverings of leather and metal. Those who stood before the dwellings, those who stood by the gate, those who rode from the city, all wore head coverings, yet those who had been at the other gate had not. I knew not the true reason for such a thing; perhaps those at the first gate scorned the males and slavewomen there, not caring to provide full protection. Males who looked down upon protection in the face of those they considered harmless were fools indeed. One may consider the hadat harmless till the very moment of its attack. Perhaps the Hosta would be fortunate enough to encounter fools of that sort in Ranistard.
I looked again at the gate and turned to my warriors. “It would be best if we left this city now,” I said. “Darkness will soon be with us, and I do not wish the gates closed while I remain within them.”
“Nor I ” agreed Fayan fervently, and the others also concurred. We made to mount our kand, but Nidisar’s hand was suddenly upon my arm. Had I expected him to be filled with anger I should have been mistaken, for his face showed a good deal of amusement.
“Alas, Jalav.” He grinned. “This gate is solely for the use of members of the Guard, and you would not be allowed through it. The other gate, I fear, is much too distant for you to reach before the fall of full darkness. You must remain within the city till the new light, therefore you now have the time to visit the street of hunters. Would you care to have me guide you?”
Fayan made a sound of disgust. “The sthuvad lies!” she snapped. “He seeks to prison us here for his own purposes! Do not heed him, Jalav!”
“I shall learn the truth of the matter,” I said as Nidisar scowled upon Fayan. “Larid, Binat. Ride to yon gate and say we would ride through, then return here with their answer.”
“We hear, Jalav,” replied Larid then she and Binat guided their mounts toward the gate. Nidisar stood silently with folded arms, watching, as my warriors spoke briefly with those at the gate, then turned and rode back to us.
“It is as he claimed,” said Binat in annoyance, drawing rein before me. “We may not use this gate, nor do we have time enough to reach the other.”
“The males would not allow us through the gate,” added Larid, tossing her red hair, “yet were they eager to offer accommodations till the new light. May we not loosen our blades, Jalav, and test the ability of these males who think themselves so well protected from us?”
“Aye, Jalav!” Fayan urged, coming to place her hand upon my shoulder. “Let us try these males with swords! Less than two hands of them stand before the gate!”
“Have you lost your wits?” demanded Nidisar of Larid and Fayan, his amusement gone, and a strange sort of anger filling him. “These are Guardsmen you speak of trying! Do you wish to see your lifeblood spilled before the gates?”
“Perhaps it might be done,” I murmured, taking no note of Nidisar, who was, after all, merely male. I looked to where the other males stood, gauging the distance between them and those at the gate, estimating the time it would take for them to reach the gate, should they come to the aid of their fellow males. The main difficulties, as I saw them, were two. I knew not how long it would be before the protection of the males might be broached, and the gate we wanted to use did not stand open. Even should we best the males soon enough that their brothers had not time to aid them, we would still have to open the gates, which could occupy us much too long.