Read Online Lightnings Daughter by Mary H. Herbert - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Mary H. Herbert
Ads: Link
at the twin peaks, wishing the Hunnuli would return, wondering if she would ever see their like again.
Nara nickered to her softly. When Valorian brought the clans over that pass and built this wheel to celebrate their journey, they had over two hundred Hunnuli in their midst. Now our herd has barely thirty. Our numbers are dwindling rapidly, Gabria. Without magic and magic-wielders to give us purpose, our mares and stallions do not always mate. Our breed wil disappear.
Eurus snorted in agreement.
"May the gods forbid that ever happening!" Gabria said vehemently. She vaulted onto Nara's back.
"Let's go home."
The two Hunnuli fel in side by side and made their way down the mountain at a more careful pace.
By late afternoon they had reached the foothil s and turned south toward Khulinin Treld.
*****
Two days later Gabria and the Hunnuli arrived at the Khulinin camp, just as the horns were blowing to send the evening outriders off on their duties. She rode Nara past Marakor, the tall summit that guarded the entrance to the val ey, and waved to the startled outriders standing guard nearby.
She smiled to herself as one of the guardians galloped toward camp to warn Lord Athlone. Nara trotted placidly along the path to the treld, Eurus close by her side. By the time the two Hunnuli reached the training fields by the camp, Gabria could see activity at the chieftain's hall. A moment later a horseman came galloping down the hill to meet her. It was Athlone.
Even from a distance Gabria could see his anger. His body was rigid on the horse, and his face was dark with fury. He reined his stallion to a halt in front of Nara.
"In the name of al the gods,” he shouted, his eyes on Gabria. "Where have you been?"
Before the startled woman could answer, Eurus came around behind Nara and snorted at the chieftain.
Athlone stared at the second Hunnuli, his anger retreating a little before his surprise and curiosity.
"Who is that?"
I am Eurus, brother of Boreas, the young Hunnuli replied.
By this time the members of the hearthguard and the other warriors had caught up with their lord.
They gathered close by him, their faces interested but wary. Other clan members clustered around, staring and pointing at Gabria and the two Hunnuli.
Casually, Gabria glanced at the clanspeople to gauge their welcome. She was relieved to see they showed no oven hostility, only curiosity. The priestess of Amara stood at the back of the crowd, a wise smile on her face as she nodded a welcome. Athlone seemed to be the only one disturbed by her return. This time, however, she was not troubled by his reaction. The chief was a volatile man, and Gabria sensed his anger was fed mostly by concern.
Instead of rising to meet his rage, she merely asked, "How did you know I was gone?"
Athlone tore his eyes away from Eurus. "Piers went to find you five days ago. He told me you had left. There was no sign of where you were going, when---or even if---you would return."
She smiled. "You should have known that I would return."
Athlone nodded once, sharply, unwil ing to give up his anger that easily. "Where did you go?"
"Heretic!" someone suddenly shouted from the edge of the crowd. Thalar shouldered his way through the people and planted himself in front of Nara. "Be warned. Your exile is over, but this clan wil not tolerate your evil magic!"
Nara snorted menacingly, but the furious priest ignored her and shook his fist at the young woman.
"Your presence curses us, Sorceress, and your foul heresies bring our doom. Leave us in peace!"
"Thalar!" the chieftain said sharply.
Nara, however, had had enough. Her head snaked forward, and she snapped at the priest, her teeth coming dangerously close to his head. The crowd gasped as Thalar stumbled backward, his eyes wide with shock.
"That wil be enough," Athlone demanded.
Thalar started to say something, but the Hunnuli mare flattened her ears, and he stepped hastily back. Glaring ferociously, the priest withdrew
Nara nickered to her softly. When Valorian brought the clans over that pass and built this wheel to celebrate their journey, they had over two hundred Hunnuli in their midst. Now our herd has barely thirty. Our numbers are dwindling rapidly, Gabria. Without magic and magic-wielders to give us purpose, our mares and stallions do not always mate. Our breed wil disappear.
Eurus snorted in agreement.
"May the gods forbid that ever happening!" Gabria said vehemently. She vaulted onto Nara's back.
"Let's go home."
The two Hunnuli fel in side by side and made their way down the mountain at a more careful pace.
By late afternoon they had reached the foothil s and turned south toward Khulinin Treld.
*****
Two days later Gabria and the Hunnuli arrived at the Khulinin camp, just as the horns were blowing to send the evening outriders off on their duties. She rode Nara past Marakor, the tall summit that guarded the entrance to the val ey, and waved to the startled outriders standing guard nearby.
She smiled to herself as one of the guardians galloped toward camp to warn Lord Athlone. Nara trotted placidly along the path to the treld, Eurus close by her side. By the time the two Hunnuli reached the training fields by the camp, Gabria could see activity at the chieftain's hall. A moment later a horseman came galloping down the hill to meet her. It was Athlone.
Even from a distance Gabria could see his anger. His body was rigid on the horse, and his face was dark with fury. He reined his stallion to a halt in front of Nara.
"In the name of al the gods,” he shouted, his eyes on Gabria. "Where have you been?"
Before the startled woman could answer, Eurus came around behind Nara and snorted at the chieftain.
Athlone stared at the second Hunnuli, his anger retreating a little before his surprise and curiosity.
"Who is that?"
I am Eurus, brother of Boreas, the young Hunnuli replied.
By this time the members of the hearthguard and the other warriors had caught up with their lord.
They gathered close by him, their faces interested but wary. Other clan members clustered around, staring and pointing at Gabria and the two Hunnuli.
Casually, Gabria glanced at the clanspeople to gauge their welcome. She was relieved to see they showed no oven hostility, only curiosity. The priestess of Amara stood at the back of the crowd, a wise smile on her face as she nodded a welcome. Athlone seemed to be the only one disturbed by her return. This time, however, she was not troubled by his reaction. The chief was a volatile man, and Gabria sensed his anger was fed mostly by concern.
Instead of rising to meet his rage, she merely asked, "How did you know I was gone?"
Athlone tore his eyes away from Eurus. "Piers went to find you five days ago. He told me you had left. There was no sign of where you were going, when---or even if---you would return."
She smiled. "You should have known that I would return."
Athlone nodded once, sharply, unwil ing to give up his anger that easily. "Where did you go?"
"Heretic!" someone suddenly shouted from the edge of the crowd. Thalar shouldered his way through the people and planted himself in front of Nara. "Be warned. Your exile is over, but this clan wil not tolerate your evil magic!"
Nara snorted menacingly, but the furious priest ignored her and shook his fist at the young woman.
"Your presence curses us, Sorceress, and your foul heresies bring our doom. Leave us in peace!"
"Thalar!" the chieftain said sharply.
Nara, however, had had enough. Her head snaked forward, and she snapped at the priest, her teeth coming dangerously close to his head. The crowd gasped as Thalar stumbled backward, his eyes wide with shock.
"That wil be enough," Athlone demanded.
Thalar started to say something, but the Hunnuli mare flattened her ears, and he stepped hastily back. Glaring ferociously, the priest withdrew
Similar Books
