heels dug into his mare’s flanks.
“Gods!” cried Gudon, his face breaking into a wide grin. “It’s Makon!”
The one called Makon waited until he was only a few paces from the group, neatly reined in his horse and leaped from the saddle. To the surprise of the newcomers, he landed on the back of Gudon’s horse. Thin, wiry arms wrapped themselves around Gudon’s waist.
“Gudon! My brother! You have come back to us at last!”
Gudon half-twisted in the saddle and hugged back, giving his brother huge slaps on his back. “I told you I would, karak!”
They fell off the mare and landed in a heap on the ground. The Chetts around them laughed, including Korigan. Lynan and his friends looked on bemused, not sure what to make of it all.
Gudon and Makon stood up, still holding on to each other, their faces split by the widest smiles Lynan had ever seen worn by a Chett.
“This is my younger brother!” Gudon declared loudly.
“We would never have guessed,” Kumul said dryly.
“My queen, what have you been feeding him? He is too tall to be from my family.”
And indeed, now that they were standing, Lynan could see that Makon had at least a hand’s span on Gudon.
“Your life in the east has shrunk you,” Makon said. He waved at the strangers. “And who are these friends you have brought home with you?”
Gudon went to Jenrosa and placed his hand on her shoulder. “This is Jenrosa Alucar, famed magicker from the Theurgia of Stars in Kendra!”
The crowd cheered before Jenrosa could tell them she was only a student and not famous at all.
Gudon went to Ager next. “Ager Parmer, one of the most renowned warriors in Grenda Lear! His injuries come from the Slaver War, where he fought nobly under Elynd Chisal!”
More cheering, and Ager actually blushed. The children that had been staring at him curiously huddled closer, some reaching out to touch him.
Gudon moved to Kumul. “And this is a warrior whose renown is known even to us. The right-hand man of the General who ended the slavers’ attacks on the Chetts. Kumul Alarn, Captain of the Red Shields!”
Lynan thought his ears would burst with the calls and ululations that followed Gudon’s announcement. Even the outriders now dismounted to gather around. All eyes were on Kumul, and Lynan could hear the awe in their voices. “It is him! It is the General’s giant! It is Kumul!”
Lynan was watching Kumul’s reaction. His pale skin flushed deep red; even the gray roots of his close-cropped hair seemed to gain color. Dazed by the adulation, he could say or do nothing. Gudon waited until the cries started to die before moving to Lynan. As he moved to place his hand on Lynan’s shoulder, he stopped and stepped back. Lynan looked around and saw Korigan come to stand next to him. The crowd fell silent then, and waited for their queen to speak. She reached across and removed Lynan’s hat. He squinted hard in the sudden rush of light. When he managed to open them wide enough to see what was going on, he was met by the staring eyes of every Chett around them. One small girl dared to touch Lynan’s pale white hand, but quickly withdrew. Lynan smiled down at her, but she was obviously too frightened to smile back.
“This is Lynan Rosetheme, son of Queen Usharna and General Elynd Chisal. He is a prince of the realm of Grenda Lear. He is a holder of one of the Keys of Power.
“He is the white wolf, and he is come back to us!”
For a moment nothing happened, and then, without a word between them, the crowd as one bowed low as if they were a stand of wheat struck by a single scythe. Even Korigan was bowing. Lynan blinked, his eyes watering from the harsh sun.
After a moment Korigan stood erect, and the other Chetts followed her example. She replaced his hat and held him gently by the arm. “For as long as you wish it, this clan is your family and your home.”
“The white wolf?” Lynan asked Gudon. They were sitting together on a crest overlooking the
“Gods!” cried Gudon, his face breaking into a wide grin. “It’s Makon!”
The one called Makon waited until he was only a few paces from the group, neatly reined in his horse and leaped from the saddle. To the surprise of the newcomers, he landed on the back of Gudon’s horse. Thin, wiry arms wrapped themselves around Gudon’s waist.
“Gudon! My brother! You have come back to us at last!”
Gudon half-twisted in the saddle and hugged back, giving his brother huge slaps on his back. “I told you I would, karak!”
They fell off the mare and landed in a heap on the ground. The Chetts around them laughed, including Korigan. Lynan and his friends looked on bemused, not sure what to make of it all.
Gudon and Makon stood up, still holding on to each other, their faces split by the widest smiles Lynan had ever seen worn by a Chett.
“This is my younger brother!” Gudon declared loudly.
“We would never have guessed,” Kumul said dryly.
“My queen, what have you been feeding him? He is too tall to be from my family.”
And indeed, now that they were standing, Lynan could see that Makon had at least a hand’s span on Gudon.
“Your life in the east has shrunk you,” Makon said. He waved at the strangers. “And who are these friends you have brought home with you?”
Gudon went to Jenrosa and placed his hand on her shoulder. “This is Jenrosa Alucar, famed magicker from the Theurgia of Stars in Kendra!”
The crowd cheered before Jenrosa could tell them she was only a student and not famous at all.
Gudon went to Ager next. “Ager Parmer, one of the most renowned warriors in Grenda Lear! His injuries come from the Slaver War, where he fought nobly under Elynd Chisal!”
More cheering, and Ager actually blushed. The children that had been staring at him curiously huddled closer, some reaching out to touch him.
Gudon moved to Kumul. “And this is a warrior whose renown is known even to us. The right-hand man of the General who ended the slavers’ attacks on the Chetts. Kumul Alarn, Captain of the Red Shields!”
Lynan thought his ears would burst with the calls and ululations that followed Gudon’s announcement. Even the outriders now dismounted to gather around. All eyes were on Kumul, and Lynan could hear the awe in their voices. “It is him! It is the General’s giant! It is Kumul!”
Lynan was watching Kumul’s reaction. His pale skin flushed deep red; even the gray roots of his close-cropped hair seemed to gain color. Dazed by the adulation, he could say or do nothing. Gudon waited until the cries started to die before moving to Lynan. As he moved to place his hand on Lynan’s shoulder, he stopped and stepped back. Lynan looked around and saw Korigan come to stand next to him. The crowd fell silent then, and waited for their queen to speak. She reached across and removed Lynan’s hat. He squinted hard in the sudden rush of light. When he managed to open them wide enough to see what was going on, he was met by the staring eyes of every Chett around them. One small girl dared to touch Lynan’s pale white hand, but quickly withdrew. Lynan smiled down at her, but she was obviously too frightened to smile back.
“This is Lynan Rosetheme, son of Queen Usharna and General Elynd Chisal. He is a prince of the realm of Grenda Lear. He is a holder of one of the Keys of Power.
“He is the white wolf, and he is come back to us!”
For a moment nothing happened, and then, without a word between them, the crowd as one bowed low as if they were a stand of wheat struck by a single scythe. Even Korigan was bowing. Lynan blinked, his eyes watering from the harsh sun.
After a moment Korigan stood erect, and the other Chetts followed her example. She replaced his hat and held him gently by the arm. “For as long as you wish it, this clan is your family and your home.”
“The white wolf?” Lynan asked Gudon. They were sitting together on a crest overlooking the
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