Dragonfly

Ramil bowed in the saddle. "Lady," he said politely, though he had never seen anyone less

ladylike in his life. He had just been wondering what kind of marriage his father might have had

with this fearsome woman if that alliance had gone ahead. He could see why his father had run

for the desert.

Junis urged her horse forward and gave Ramil a frank inspection. "Not much of Lagan about you,

is there, Prince Ramil? I suppose you get your coloring from your mother?"

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"Indeed, my lady, I look much like she did."

Junis turned back to her brother. "Has he tried to escape?"

"Of course," replied Fergox.

"Good. Any use with the weapons?"

"An accomplished warrior."

"Excellent. I look forward to seeing more of our young guest. And what about the other?"

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"With the priesthood." Fergox gestured to his sister to ride on. They trotted side by side with Ramil just behind, listening to every word.

"Still not broken in yet?"

"Not yet."

"You're being too kind, Fergox. You should just declare her a convert, marry the wench and have

done. Who cares what she really believes once she's your wife?"

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Fergox frowned. "I will not take an infidel as my bride. Flolin would be most displeased."

Junis was unimpressed. "All this fuss over one girl! Take her as a concubine then. That will send the message to the Blue Crescent Islands that their surrender is inevitable."

"That is not the plan, Junis," Fergox said sternly. "Remember, I have worked towards this moment for years and will not throw it away on a hasty gesture. I need a public renunciation of

the goddess from the girl. She must be the one to bring her people to the true faith. Don't

underestimate me, Junis; we are making progress with her."

The Inkar laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. "I don't know, Fergox.

When did you get so . . . so political?"

Fergox smiled at his sister's look of disdain, his anger subsiding. "In my old age, it seems to me that spreading the faith of Holin Warmonger is even more important than conquest."

Junis gave a sceptical snort. "But the god of battle demands blood, not weasel words."

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"And blood he will get--the blood of thousands of new believers shed willingly in his service.

Think how he will reward me--my empire spread across the known world united by worship of

Holin, an impressive legacy to leave my dynasty." Breaking away from the dream, he swung

towards his sister, thumping her on the arm. "But you, you are just as you've always been, Junis.

Admit it, you have always had the soldier's attitude, wishing to run complications through with

your sword if they get in the way."

"Is there any other kind of attitude, brother?" "Not in your lands perhaps.

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Come, let us go somewhere warm. We have plans to discuss and a barrel of good, strong beer to

broach."

The last few days had passed like an evil dream for Tashi. Something had snapped inside her

since Fergox told her about his bribe. Doubting herself, her resistance had become habit rather

than deeply felt. Indeed, she had been sucked dry of any feeling except despair. She could see

no escape from her suffering, not even Ramil's promise to help, as she did not believe he had it

in him to pull off a successful rescue. In any case, she was an outcast, cursed, a fake, not

deserving of help. She had begun to hope that some lucky accident on the practice courts would

put an end to her misery, but so far her trainer had refrained from any action that would

produce serious injury.

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At the end of each session her trainer made her kneel in the sawdust as he asked her to name

the supreme god. Since Fergox's visit, she now replied, "I do not know," before being led away.

And it was true. She no longer knew.

This was happening to her for one of three reasons, she concluded: because the Goddess was

inferior to Holin and powerless to stop him; or she had only ever been a delusion; or, worst of

all, she had abandoned Tashi, in which case she was her Mother no more. The one and only

Goddess, the creator of the universe, had shut out Fergox's false princess, cut Tashi off from her

people. Who now could Tashi serve, cursed creature that she was?

The eve before Midwinter, Tashi saw that there was a newcomer to the practice courts. A

woman with long grey hair was sparring with Fergox, laughing wildly and slashing at his shield

with a curved sword. Their bout was attracting all eyes, even Ramil's; he was leaning over the

barrier watching the battle with a grim smile. Tashi's trainer signalled for her to stay back.

Fergox smashed the blade from his sister's hand. It flew into the air and spiralled into the dust.

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"Do you submit?" he shouted.

"Not likely!" cried Junis, catching him with a blow from her shield so that the ruler of most of the known world fell on his rump. He leapt up and chased his sister round the ring, threatening her

with the flat of the sword. She finally turned and gave a sweeping bow.

"I yield, brother. I am pleased to see you have not gone soft over the past year."

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He bowed in reply. "I would not dare, knowing what you would do if you once got the better of

me."

The Inkar picked up her weapon. As she did so, she noticed the black-robed figure standing with

a priest at the other end of the courts.

"Yours?" she asked her brother.

He nodded. "Yes, the little penitent."

Junis snorted and strode over to Tashi.

"You, girl," she said abruptly, "I hear you are putting the priests to a lot of trouble."

"That is not my intention," Tashi replied, wondering who this terrible-looking woman was.

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"Pitiful answer. Show some backbone, girl. If you intend to resist, at least don't apologize for it.

Here, priest, let me take the girl's lesson."

"But, my lady--" protested the trainer, glancing to the warlord.

Fergox intervened. "It's all right, Training Master, I give my permission." He drew his sister aside.

"I don't want her damaged, understood? I'm still pla

"Pish!" Junis sniffed. "She's not as fragile as she looks. We women never are. Right, girl, it's time you learned to make proper use of a sword." She thrust a heavy blade into Tashi's hands. The girl could barely lift it. "Raise it into the guard position like so." Junis held her own sword out in front of her, its point rock steady.

"I don't want to fight you," Tashi said in a voice little more than a whisper.

This woman's presence seemed to crush her, making her feel small and insignificant.

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"See, I told you." Fergox laughed. "She's as stubborn as a mule. Come, the troops are assembled for us to review them." He strode off, calling for his clothes.

Junis sheathed her sword and waited for him to go. But instead of following, she took Tashi by

the shoulders.

"We've waited on your whims long enough. Come on, girl, fight!" She shook Tashi hard, making her teeth rattle. "Wake up! In Spearthrower's empire, you fight or you die!" She pushed Tashi away and drew her blade again. "Unlike your teachers, I'm not going to miss when I aim at you.

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What will you do now, Blue Crescent Princess? Die like a dog or fight like a hero?"