“When one is surrounded by those who may be blood enemies, one takes certain precautions,” said I, the patient explanation drawing a dark-eyed glare from beneath the net. “What is barred may be unbarred, and clearly seen guards standing a post become no more than targets for those who attack. Far better to keep those guards well out of sight, and use what may be coveted to draw enemies out from behind dissembling obedience and friendliness. Before riding to Sigurr’s city, I offered prowess standing to any warriors who were able to take a guarded point from those who guarded it. Any warrior caught unawares by her sisters loses a great deal of standing, therefore would I venture to believe that they remain alert. Have you concluded your inspection of this chamber?”
“Yes, I have concluded my inspection of this chamber,” replied Galiose with jaw clenched tight, fingers curled to claws in the netting, skin darkened in response to the sounds of muffled chuckling to be heard from those who had remained outside the chamber. “Perhaps you would be so kind as to order me released.”
“Sooner would I indulge in the kindness of city males, and keep what was captured as it is,” I said, nevertheless gesturing to my warriors to remove the netting. “A pity males have not the capacity for honor possessed by warriors.”
I turned away then to leave the male to be freed by those who had netted him, and returned to the others who awaited an end to foolishness. Mehrayn and S’Heernoh grinned openly, Ceralt, Lialt and Telion attempted to swallow down their amusement, and no others stood about with them. Two were gone from our set, then, and earnestly did I wish that those two had been accompanied by the rest.
“Your security arrangements seem well thought out, wench,” said Mehrayn as I came to a halt before them, reluctantly awaiting the release of the last of them. “I find them no less than what might be expected from one such as you.”
“Indeed are your safeguards impressive,” said Ceralt with a glance for Mehrayn, yet otherwise taking note of none save this warrior. “It gives a man a good deal of pleasure, to see a woman with so great an amount of talent as well as beauty.”
“And skill,” said Mehrayn, refraining from a glance toward the other, expending much effort in maintaining an air of pleasantness. “Talent, beauty and an unmatched skill, things one finds but rarely in a wench.”
“And grace,” said Ceralt, his smile strained yet attempting great warmth, his gaze remaining upon me. “The grace of a woman who stands far above all others, and who is . . .”
“Who is the image of a superb child of the wild,” said Mehrayn warmly. “All grace and suppleness, and filled with...”
“There was little need for so humiliating an incident, girl,” said Galiose in a growl as he came up to my left, apparently seeing naught of the manner in which I had closed my eyes. Soon would Ceralt and Mehrayn be at one another again, and I had no wish to watch. My patience was also wearing thin, and even as I rubbed at the weariness in my eyes, the voice of S’Heernoh came between the two at the brink of challenge.
“Forgive me, Prince, Lord High Rider, yet must I speak,” said the gray-haired Walker, the smoothness of his tone offering no more than apology. “Should it be the intention of either of you to find approval in the eyes of the lady war leader, such constant bickering will not accomplish the aim. Surely the wench look upon a man who is the master of his emotions with more favor, will she not? Few find interest in uncontrolled boys—would you wish a woman who desired such a one?”
My eyes had opened to see the manner in which the two had looked with little friendliness upon the Walker who stood between them, then they glared at each other. It seemed that they wished to argue more, yet had S’Heernoh’s words given them pause.
“Is there not truth in what I say, Blessed One?” S’Heernoh continued to Galiose, disallowing the second male the pursuit of his previous anger. “Is the wench not more likely to look with favor upon those who court her interest, than upon those who are constantly at each other’s throats? And also would she not find more interest in men when not in the midst of being berated?”
Galiose, who had seemed rather intent upon voicing his grievances, also paused, looking first upon S’Heernoh, then upon Ceralt and Mehrayn, and lastly upon me. Clearly the male was not pleased, yet did it appear that he was again trapped in the coils of a net.
“Most certainly would a wench prefer the courting of gentlemen to the roistering of brigands,” said he after making a sound in his throat, his glance to S’Heernoh much like that bestowed upon the Walker by Mehrayn and Ceralt. “A man incapable of properly paying court is a man who deserves to forfeit what he seeks. Let us now continue with the inspection, and those who wish to leave us may do so.”
With a hand to my arm Galiose then led me through the others, who gave ground with rather peculiar expressions upon them. Perhaps Ceralt and Mehrayn had garnered as little from what had been said as I, yet their faces showed more determined frustration than bewilderment. S’Heernoh, as ever, seemed more amused, and Telion and Lialt strove to appear uncaring despite the deep interest shining in their eyes. The Harra and Hulna warriors we left continued chuckling their amusement, a thing which failed to lighten my humor; I had hoped Galiose would grow angry enough to stop his charade, yet were we now to “continue.”
Galiose held silent for a short distance, as though he considered some matter in his thoughts, and then was there the sound of a noise in his throat once again.
“So your wenches are encouraged to constantly test the alertness of each other,” he said, his glance to me in some manner disturbed. “Slackness after victory then becomes impossible, as does the loss of battle-keenness. Those who know an attack will surely come cannot be surprised.”
“Surprise remains possible even then but requires quicker response,” I replied, at last understanding that the male strove to appear unimpressed. “Surely the same is done among your males.”
“Ah, most certainly, most certainly,” agreed the male, once again finding great interest in the corridors about us, attempting to conceal the fact that he spoke a falsehood. Likely victory brought a slovenliness to city males who found it, as though none would then attempt to take that victory from them, and these were the ones Galiose would see in the place of my Midanna.
“I understand that the gardens of this place are quite lovely,” said another voice, and then was Ceralt again between Galiose and myself to the left, his light eyes looking down upon me. “Perhaps you will be kind enough to show them to me when this inspection is done.”
“I, too, would find great interest in such a stroll,” said Mehrayn from my right, a smile accompanying his gaze. “Second, of course, to the one whose original suggestion it was.”
“And I, of course, would have no more objection to a second stroll than another objects to the first,” said Ceralt, also smiling. “The wishes and desires of the woman of my heart are foremost in my thoughts.”
“As is the pleasure of that woman foremost in mine,” said Mehrayn, the utterance which was so filled with warmth an apparent agreement with that of Ceralt. “Harmony is what she wishes, therefore is harmony what she will receive.”