Warriors Of Latan

They lay with Crystal draped across Blade's chest like a warm blanket. He ran a finger down her spine and played with her buttocks and the crease between them. «So tell me, Woman Who Asks More Than A Man Can Give, what news from the village? I've spent all my waking time either practicing archery or nor.»

«There is a hiba-gan coming, or so we hear from the north.» Something in Crystal's voice made Blade leave off caressing her.

«A what?»

«More likely a who. A hiba-gan, a Holy Wanderer. It does not come often. It is to be hoped it will pass through our village. Yet it is unlawful to send to it and ask.»

«That doesn't tell me much,» said Blade cautiously.

«There is not much to tell about this hiba-gan or any other,» said Crystal. «They go where they will, sometimes bringing messages, sometimes only watching in silence. It is said that the message of the gods, which sends them wandering, changes their faces and skins, so they must cloak themselves from human eyes.»

«They go about in disguise?»

«Oh yes. One ca

«I was not. I was thinking that this is perhaps not a good time for someone we are not sure about to learn the secrets of the Uchendi. Such as this.» He slapped the bow.

«Hiba-gans do not heed matters of war,» said Crystal. «And it is almost as unlawful to lie to one as it is to uncloak it. You would be cast out from the Uchendi if you did either, and your archery would be declared forbidden-«

Blade held up a hand. «Wait, wait, Crystal. I am not going to lie to the hiba-gan, nor uncloak it. Have I shown so little respect for the laws of the Uchendi or been so stupid that you would think that?» Seeing her shake her head slowly, he went on. «Nor do I ask anyone else to do these unlawful things. I merely ask that you not mention my archery to the hiba-gan, any more than you would to Winter Owl.»

«And if the Holy Wanderer asks-then perhaps the hiba-gan is not what it seems, is perhaps trying to learn our secrets… «

Very sharp, thought Blade. Good thing she's on my side. «Yes. Who knows? The hiba-gans might really be Idol Makers in disguise, come back to watch how the tribes are living. We do not know what the Idol Makers would think of me or my archery. «

Crystal looked unsure if she should laugh or not. Finally she compromised with a thin smile. «That could be so,» she said.

Blade gave up hope of the Uchendi being more willing than the Rutari to talk about the Idol, and decided he really shouldn't be surprised. It was probably a touchy subject for them.

Also, for all he knew, the Idol Makers might have been just a band of explorers passing through, with a technology that was advanced enough to look like magic to these tribesmen.

But I bloody well am going to find out for sure, before I leave this Dimension!

Chapter 18

The first of three periods of the Great Game of nor between the White Trees and the Black Rocks was nearly over. The score was five to three in favor of the White Trees, which meant Winter Owl was losing.

Blade scored three of his team's five goals. He'd scored two by simply hitting the hole from a distance so much greater than usual that none of the Black Rocks were watching him. They only realized he'd scored when the ball sailed into the hole, and all the people with bets on the White Trees cheered.

The people with bets on the Black Rocks groaned, and some of them shook their fists at Blade. Winter Owl himself didn't make a sound or a gesture-he would be the stoic Uchendi warrior to the end, even if an enemy was cutting him open with a dull knife. Sometimes, though, Blade saw him grimace when he didn't think anyone was looking at him.

Friend of Lions had predicted correctly; the Guardian had forbidden the nor players to use their sticks on each other. He hadn't forbidden punches, kicks, or trying to ride the other side down. The two masses of riders repeatedly crashed together, turning the game into something like a barroom brawl.

The White Trees advanced down the field again, with Friend of Lions shrieking war cries as if he were attacking a deadly enemy. He waved his stick like a cavalry sword, then lowered it as the two masses of riders pounded toward each other. Blade stayed out of this scrimmage. He was riding a large, strong ezinti, but it still had a job carrying him fast enough to keep him in the game at all. He wasn't sure if he wanted the Black Rocks to lose this game. He was damned sure he didn't want them to lose it through anything they could blame on him. That would give him a whole team of enemies, not to mention all the people who'd lose their bets.

The period came to an end before the teams got untangled. Blade could have easily scored another goal-the Black Rocks seemed to have forgotten completely that they had a hole to defend. However, he'd been in reach of the ball only a couple of times. It wouldn't be hard to convince his teammates he hadn't even seen it.

As he rode back to the White Trees end of the field, Blade sca

River Over Stones was also stationed in the same place he'd been when the game started-ten feet to the right of the hiba-gan. His hands were crossed reverently on his stomach, and his eyes never left the shrouded figure. Since the hiba-gan came to the village two days ago, River had appointed himself its escort and protector. Since yesterday, it seemed that the hiba-gan had accepted this.

Being such an escort to a Holy Wanderer was a great honor and a sacred task. Many said that it was a sign the Spirits had forgiven River Over Stones for his opposition to Blade. So far no one was saying that it proved he might have been right about Blade after all.

On the other hand, no one said River Over Stones might be forcing himself on the hiba-gan to try and win back some of the honor he'd lost through opposing Blade. Hiba-gans were too much revered, and it was said their Voices were so powerful that deception was impossible. As for anyone even hinting that the hiba-gan might not be what it seemed, and that River Over Stones might be plotting with it-well, Blade didn't expect anyone to want to be burned at the stake for heresy. He didn't much care for the idea himself.

One thing about the hiba-gan had changed since the begi

Blade took several deep breaths and made his mind as blank as he could. He didn't use all his mental control; that would surely be detected by someone in the crowd and word sent to the Guardian. Blade wasn't sure what he was allowed to do by way of using the Voice, and he certainly didn't want to attract attention now.

With a blank mind he looked quickly back at the sack. No doubt about it. The bulge was in a different part of the sackas if what was inside the bag had moved.

The sun was hot, but for a moment Blade felt cold. His mental control very nearly deserted him. Whatever was in the sack was alive. He'd never heard of a hiba-gan carrying a live animal in a sack with it. Why was the hiba-gan doing something unknown on its visit to the Uchendi, just after Blade came to them and right before the war with the Rutari…?