Part 8 (2/2)
Tarli glared in frustration at the lance he could barely hold. Suddenly, he took the reins in his mouth. Holding the lance crosswise, like a balance pole, he smashed it against the saddle pommel. The lance broke in two.
The watchers gasped. Tarli threw down the lance point, tied the broken reins hastily around the b.u.t.t, and whirled the stick over his head by the leather thong. The stick whirred like a living thing. Tarli's mount swung crazily.
Saliak dove toward him.
Saliak aimed the lance straight for Tarli's unguarded chest.
Tarli leaned away, brought the whirling lance end down on Saliak's lance, breaking it. The pieces bounced over Saliak's s.h.i.+eld, struck him in the forehead.
Stunned, Saliak dropped his reins. Tarli s.h.i.+fted hissmall body to the center of the saddle, whirled the lance b.u.t.t faster.
The mounts, both out of control, swung past each other.
Tarli got in four more good hits before Saliak fell off into the arms of his spotters.
Tarli slid off his mount easily, catching the footrest and lowering himself to the ground to shorten his fall. He ran to where Saliak sat, dazedly rubbing his eyes.
Tarli bent down and patted the bigger boy. ”Don't cry.”
Moran had seen one man look at another as Saliak did at Tarli. It was in a seaside tavern in Tarsis. The ensuing fight involved marlinespikes, and the memory made Moran queasy still.
Saliak staggered to his feet, turned away. Tarli shrugged and went to join the others, but they edged over to Saliak. Even the tall, thin one and the fat one, possibly fearing their cla.s.smates, shunned Tarli.
Moran looked impa.s.sively at them all. ”Drill is over until we can repair the mounts.” The other boys looked more relieved than disappointed. ”Go to your barracks.”
Tarli stayed behind to pick up the thonged stick he had made. He looked up and noticed the knight standing over him.
”I've made an enemy,” the boy said.
Moran nodded. ”Only one?”
A grin flickered across Tarli's tired face. ”Saliak is the best-liked boy in Xak Tsaroth. Maybe in the world. His father hosts his own festival in autumn. His father and grandfather were both knights.”
For just a moment, Tarli sagged. ”I wonder what that feels like, to have a father so important that everyone respects you before you even do anything.”
He left the courtyard, swinging the stick on the thong.
Moran stared after him, aching inside.
THEY WALKED THROUGH THE MARKET BY.
EVENING, LORAINE TUGGING ON HIS HAND. THEY.
LOOKED MORE LIKE FATHER AND DAUGHTER THAN.
LOVERS. FROM TIME TO TIME, A BREEZE WOULD.
SWEEP THE MARKETPLACE, AND SHE WOULD.
CAREFULLY, ALMOST PRIMLY, PAT HER BEAUTIFUL.
HAIR IN PLACE OVER HER EARS. MORAN LOVED.
WATCHING HER.
HE ENJOYED TELLING HER ABOUT THE MARKET'S.
VARIOUS WARES. ”THAT GADGET, THAT'S.
GNOMEWARE FROM MOUNT NEVERMIND... IT'S.
PROBABLY ILLEGAL TO SELL IT, AND IT'S CERTAINLY.
DANGEROUS. THAT AXE, THE DWARVES USE THOSE.
UP NORTH TO CUT FIREWOOD. THE BLADES'LL.
LAST A DWARFS LIFETIME, LET ALONE OURS. THAT.
HAMMOCK, THAT'S MADE BY NET WEAVERS FROM.
Tarsis. TALISIN AND I WENT THERE ONCE, WHEN I WAS YOUNG....” HE STOPPED.
LORAINE REACHED UP AND TOUCHED HIS ARM.
”YOU MISS HIM ALL THE TIME.”.
”WHEN I WAS YOUNG, HE WAS EVERYTHING TO.
ME. HE TOOK ME EVERYWHERE, AND PEOPLE WERE.
GOOD TO ME JUST BECAUSE I WAS WITH HIM. ILEARNED ALL I KNOW OF THE WORLD FROM HIM.”.
”HE WAS LIKE A FATHER TO YOU. EVERYONE.
NEEDS SOMEONE LIKE THAT.” SHE REGARDED HIM.
CRITICALLY. ”YOU'D MAKE A WONDERFUL.
FATHER.”.
HE LOOKED DOWN AT HER NERVOUSLY. ”WHAT.
MAKES YOU SAY THAT?”.
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