long range. The arrow sank into the tree above Ulghrum's head, just where he'd wanted it. Ulghrum went to ground, but he did not know where Thru was, only the direction.
While he studied the ground desperately trying to spot Thru, Thru had already moved and was within easy bowshot.
"Set the bow down, very slowly," Thru called when he was ready. "Do it right now or you die."
Ulghrum stiffened, then laid down his bow.
"Keep your hands well up."
"Why are you threatening me, whoever you are? Are you a robber?"
"Why are you following me with a drawn bow, Ulghrum?"
"I'm just out hunting. There are rabbits up here."
"That's why you followed me?"
"I never saw your trail, stranger."
Thru laughed. "Make sure you stay off my trail, Ulghrum."
Thru watched until Ulghrum had retreated, leaving his bow behind. Then he took the bow and pitched it off the ridgeline down into a tangled mass of spine bush.
Thru went home and thought it all through very carefully. He was about to leave the village, and though he would come back, he was shifting away from the place of his birth. When he was gone there would be less opportunity for him to rub Pern the wrong way. Thru was sure that Pern's hate was directed at Thru himself, far more than at the other members of his family. Pern was pursuing lawsuits against two other Warkeen families over their seapond. There was no particular animus against Ware Gillo.
He decided to take no action other than telling his father, just in case Pern tried again with more success, and to be sure that the other families engaged in altercations with Pern could be warned. Ware understood, and agreed with Thru's conclusions.
"Pern hates you, young Thru. You outshine him, and he can't stand that. You will have nothing but trouble from him, that's plain as day. What if his thugs follow you to Dronned?"
"I will be hard to find I would think."
Ware laughed. "I don't think so, my son. Dronned's not that big a place, and when folk are determined they can find you. A little silver spread around always helps wag the tongues."
"But why would he bother when I will be so far away? It's thirty miles to Dronned. I'll be out of his hair and out of his mind. Besides, what's to be done? Should I waylay Pern and beat him senseless? That would only hasten his hate. Should I kill him? That would only make me outlaw. I would prefer to live with the Spirit."
Thru shrugged. "No. It is better I do nothing. Let him feel my contempt until I leave. He may even comfort himself by imagining that I have run away in fear of him. Let him assuage his pride with that thought and thereby end this whole thing."
Ware nodded agreement. His son spoke words of wisdom, but still he was not so sure that Pern Treevi's urge to revenge himself on Thru would end so quietly.
Two days later, Thru set out with a small donkey cart laden with his weaves and two packs stuffed with his possessions, everything from his clothing to his books.
In addition he had a number of samples of waterbush fiber from friends of the Gillos. These were to be shown to Merchant Yadrone in Dronned. Yadrone was a well-known figure in the Dristen Valley villages.
Altogether the little donkey had quite enough to carry as they moved away down the south road, quite a few of Thru's friends coming with him on the first few miles. Pern would not dare make a move against Thru on the trail with so many to witness. Afterward Thru waved them good-bye and went on to spend the night in the village of Sheen. The next day he went on down the coast road toward Dronned, amongst a constant traffic of carts and other travelers and stopped worrying about Pern Treevi's plots and machinations.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
When Thru arrived in Dronned, the grey walls were draped in bright tapestries in preparation for the upcoming midsummer festival. Atop the towers flew all the city's banners, dominated by the arms of the royal family—four black crows on a green flag. Also clearly visible was the long
While he studied the ground desperately trying to spot Thru, Thru had already moved and was within easy bowshot.
"Set the bow down, very slowly," Thru called when he was ready. "Do it right now or you die."
Ulghrum stiffened, then laid down his bow.
"Keep your hands well up."
"Why are you threatening me, whoever you are? Are you a robber?"
"Why are you following me with a drawn bow, Ulghrum?"
"I'm just out hunting. There are rabbits up here."
"That's why you followed me?"
"I never saw your trail, stranger."
Thru laughed. "Make sure you stay off my trail, Ulghrum."
Thru watched until Ulghrum had retreated, leaving his bow behind. Then he took the bow and pitched it off the ridgeline down into a tangled mass of spine bush.
Thru went home and thought it all through very carefully. He was about to leave the village, and though he would come back, he was shifting away from the place of his birth. When he was gone there would be less opportunity for him to rub Pern the wrong way. Thru was sure that Pern's hate was directed at Thru himself, far more than at the other members of his family. Pern was pursuing lawsuits against two other Warkeen families over their seapond. There was no particular animus against Ware Gillo.
He decided to take no action other than telling his father, just in case Pern tried again with more success, and to be sure that the other families engaged in altercations with Pern could be warned. Ware understood, and agreed with Thru's conclusions.
"Pern hates you, young Thru. You outshine him, and he can't stand that. You will have nothing but trouble from him, that's plain as day. What if his thugs follow you to Dronned?"
"I will be hard to find I would think."
Ware laughed. "I don't think so, my son. Dronned's not that big a place, and when folk are determined they can find you. A little silver spread around always helps wag the tongues."
"But why would he bother when I will be so far away? It's thirty miles to Dronned. I'll be out of his hair and out of his mind. Besides, what's to be done? Should I waylay Pern and beat him senseless? That would only hasten his hate. Should I kill him? That would only make me outlaw. I would prefer to live with the Spirit."
Thru shrugged. "No. It is better I do nothing. Let him feel my contempt until I leave. He may even comfort himself by imagining that I have run away in fear of him. Let him assuage his pride with that thought and thereby end this whole thing."
Ware nodded agreement. His son spoke words of wisdom, but still he was not so sure that Pern Treevi's urge to revenge himself on Thru would end so quietly.
Two days later, Thru set out with a small donkey cart laden with his weaves and two packs stuffed with his possessions, everything from his clothing to his books.
In addition he had a number of samples of waterbush fiber from friends of the Gillos. These were to be shown to Merchant Yadrone in Dronned. Yadrone was a well-known figure in the Dristen Valley villages.
Altogether the little donkey had quite enough to carry as they moved away down the south road, quite a few of Thru's friends coming with him on the first few miles. Pern would not dare make a move against Thru on the trail with so many to witness. Afterward Thru waved them good-bye and went on to spend the night in the village of Sheen. The next day he went on down the coast road toward Dronned, amongst a constant traffic of carts and other travelers and stopped worrying about Pern Treevi's plots and machinations.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
When Thru arrived in Dronned, the grey walls were draped in bright tapestries in preparation for the upcoming midsummer festival. Atop the towers flew all the city's banners, dominated by the arms of the royal family—four black crows on a green flag. Also clearly visible was the long
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