With their weapons and clan coverings removed, the two Summa warriors dove from the bank into the deep pond water as though they were no more than warriors-to-be, laughing loudly as they each attempted to be the swifter. I watched no longer than to see their heads emerge dripping from the cool, blue-green depths, and then did I turn my attention to the forests we had emerged from. The place we had chosen would suit as a camping place as well, for there was too great a drop between the bank and the water for children of the wild to find the location a favorite one for drinking from. Our kand had stretched their necks to reach the water, finding themselves just able to do so, a thing those with shorter necks would not be able to accomplish. I smiled faintly at the shouts of joy voiced by the Summa which came to me as my eyes moved idly across the forest greens and browns, until I caught sight of abrupt movement. A lone figure emerged from the direction we, ourselves, had ridden from, clearly a male, clearly one I had never before come across.
The male was mounted upon a gray kan, an unassuming mount for an unassuming rider. Tall was the male, and fairly broad of shoulder, yet was he as gray of hair as his kan, with many wrinkles creasing the tanned leather of his face. Little fat marred the leanness of his frame, yet was there a hint of effort in his movements when he drew rein before me and slowly dismounted. The body cloth upon him seemed clean, yet was it far faded from whatever its color had originally been to a colorless shade of light mud. No more than a dagger hung from the belt cinching the body cloth, and also was the male barefoot; to one side of the city-male leather seat of his kan an unstrung bow was tied, bringing to me an unvoiced sense of scorn. To ride unarmed and unprepared through the forests was to purposely seek the eternal Realm of Mida or the endless dark, yet what other would be expected to ride so than a male?
“Good fey to you, child,” said the male as he halted perhaps two paces before me, his voice deep and gentle and filled with an attempt to soothe one he apparently believed feared him. His dark eyes rested upon me with mildness, a mildness which did much to increase the annoyance I felt. I stroked the hilt of my sword with the open palm of my left hand, and met his gaze with other than mildness.
“For one who wears no weapon, you give insult easily, male,” said I, my tone as soft as my gaze was not. “Were I the child you named me, surely would you have already been sent to Mida’s chains.”
“Indeed,” said the male, amusement coming to him with his startlement, his dark eyes seemingly taking in my sword for the first time. “Indeed do you speak truly, wench, and indeed did I mean no insult. From the number of kalod I have lived, all seem as children to me, however you are clearly no child. Your anger would bring me great sorrow, therefore would I have your assurance that I am forgiven.”
The smile he sent was strong all through him, as though amusement held him tightly. I had no understanding of what thing brought him such amusement, nor did I care.
“My anger would bring you a great deal more than sorrow,” said I, voicing a soft sound of scorn. “For what reason have you halted here, male?”
“For the reason that I am weary,” said he, now apparently delighted as well as amused. “I am completely a stranger to these parts, I have traveled far, and have had no company save my own for too long a time. As a cure for the weariness of solitude and travel, I have halted to ask the favor of being allowed to rest a short while in the midst of three lovely wenches. And I assure you that I am entirely alone.”
The male’s final words brought my eyes to him again, for I had been sending my gaze about the forest behind him, seeking those who were perhaps attempting approach the while the male before me engaged me in converse. An unexplained approval accompanied the continued amusement so clear in the dark-gaze touching me, yet my annoyance continued undiminished as well.
“Whether or not you are accompanied remains to be seen,” said I, feeling little friendliness and belief, and showing less. “Your wish, however, is impossible to grant, for there are none about here save three Midanna warriors. Best would be if you sought your wenches elsewhere.”
The gray of his brows rose in a questioning manner, although there seemed little puzzlement in the depth of his eyes. His gaze traveled quickly up and down the length of me.
“So young, and yet so sure and uncompromising,” he murmured, as though he stood alone. “One should know from no more than the look of her, and yet—” His words ceased as he recalled where he stood, and the smile he then sent was of a sudden filled with a deal of the weariness he had earlier spoken of.
“Forgive me, lady,” said he, and this time did the words sound as though they were meant to be heard and heeded. “Frankness is a quality held too lightly by my people, one which causes my tongue to trip strangely. I ask the favor of being allowed to rest here the while, in company with you and your companions. I shall attempt to cause as little difficulty as possible, and certainly shall not bring you harm. Should this be counter to your wishes, I shall go immediately.”
The dark eyes continued to rest upon me, yet without amusement or condescension. At last had the male seen that I had little patience for his sort and had thrown himself upon my mercy, all unknowing that mercy was a cruelty most often practiced by males alone. I had no desire for strangers skulking about and disturbing the pleasure of the forests, yet was there an interruption before I might voice these thoughts.
“Jalav, you have added another!” came the voice of Dotil, amusement heavy in her tone as she halted beside me. Her body and hair dripped freely to the ground by cause of her recent emergence from the pond, and laughter danced spritely in her light eyes. “I do not recall this one,” said she, examining the stranger with her gaze. “Was he among those at the caves?”
“This male is not Sigurri,” said I, prepared to cast a baleful look upon the Summa. “Nor might he be considered one who is ‘added.’ We shall have enough of males in our midst, therefore . . . .”
“Jalav, what occurs here?” asked Wedin, coming dripping to my other side to add her stare to Dotil’s. “From whence comes this male, and whom does he follow?”
“I would follow any—or none,” said the stranger, his eyes moving between the two Summa, delight touching him again. “Command me and I am yours, lovely Midanna warriors, or merely leave me unwanted and ignored. Should I be permitted to remain, the choice would be entirely yours.”
“We have no need of the presence of another male,” I rasped, disliking the manner in which Dotil chuckled and Wedin allowed her eyes to rove about the stranger. “To allow ourselves to be burdened with one such as this would be the height of folly, therefore . . . .”
“Perhaps his presence would be an unburdening,” said Wedin, her eyes continuing to examine the male. “Chaldrin is yours and will use the Hitta when you have no desire for him, and also is the red-haired male yours to use. The presence of one for Dotil and myself would relieve us of the need to share the others, and would be looked upon as a gesture of true sisterhood by us. How say you, war leader?”
At that time did her eyes come to me, and Dotil’s as well, both prepared to abide by my decision. The Summa would not disobey the commands of a war leader, yet had they put forward a request which held importance for them. I truly disliked the thought of allowing the odd, gray-haired male to remain, however the dislike was not reasonable whereas the request I had from the Summa was. I looked again upon the male, his return gaze steady enough yet filled with some odd discomfort, and after a moment nodded once with decision.