nodded to him. "Where are we going?.
Page 50 Chalker, Jack L - The River of the Dancing Gods 60 THE RIVER OF DANCING GODS "It was decided that your best potential would be realized by Huspeth in the Glen Dinig," Poquah replied, explaining nothing. "As you know, we were expecting only the man.
Huspeth, however, is willing, and is better equipped than we.
Can you ride a horse?.
"Yes, I've ridden horses. At least I can manage. Why? Is this Glen Whatsis far?.
"Not far," he said. "But too far to walk. Come with me.
We should make haste to get you there before dark." With that he turned and walked out of the room and down the hall. She followed, hurrying to catch up.
They went back down, across the drawbridge, and through the outer ring. Just at the start of the road, two beautiful horses, one coal black and the other snow white, waited, being held by an elf groom.
She approached the horses excitedly. "How perfect they are! But—no saddles, huh?" It was true. The horses were fitted only with bridles and a smooth blanket tied about their midsections.
"Saddles are a luxury. It is best you leam horsemanship without them. Then a saddle will be a convenience, not a necessity..
She looked dubious. "Well, okay, but I hope I can hold on..
With the Imir's aid, she boosted herself up on the white horse, grabbed the reins, and tried to get as comfortable as she could. It felt a little strange being up, and she felt some muscles being stretched in unaccustomed places.
The Imir mounted the black horse effortlessly and looked over at her. "Shall we ride?.
She nodded. "Take it easy, though, at thestart, will you.
I'm a little wobbly..
"Slow and easy," Poquah assured her. Giving his mount a light nudge with his foot, he started off. Her horse, apparently very well trained, followed the black one at a slow, comfortable pace.
Page 51 Chalker, Jack L - The River of the Dancing Gods Riding down the slope from the castle was fairly easy, although they were following no trail. Still, Marge's horse swayed and twisted with the land, and it took her several minutes and a few near spills to get anything approaching steadiness without saddle or stirrups.
61 JACK L. CHALKER "Who is this Huspeth?" she called to Poquah when they closed ranks.
"She is a witch who lives in the Glen Dinig," the Imir told her. "She is very old and very wise and very powerful. She is a great one, but she never leaves her forest glades these days..
"Is she a friend of Ruddygore's?.
"Hardly. Huspeth has little use for people in general and for sorcerers in particular. She is greatly feared by many, liked by none..
"Thanks a lot," Marge said sourly. "And I'm being handed over to her? Is it safe?.
"Nothing in life is safe," the Imir responded philosophically.
"However, she has her own reasons for wanting this task, which was asked of her but could not be forced upon her. She will do it, not because of the Master, nor for any cause, although bur enemy is also her enemy, but because she chooses to do it. We did not expect her to accept, but we chanced to ask..
They went on as the sun sank lower in the fields; with this description of her prospective tutor. Marge's high spirits sank a bit lower, as well.
After more than an hour's ride, out of sight of the castle but just barely, they came over a rise and Poquah stopped.
Below, the plain gave way to thick forest, a distinct grove perhaps two miles square between the rolling hills and the River of Dancing Gods.
The Imir pointed. "The Glen Dinig," he told her. "Please dismount." With that he jumped from his horse with a cat's balance and turned to her. She found it difficult to move her numbing legs, which throbbed with pain from the unaccustomed ride, but she managed with his help to get one leg over the other and sort of slide down to the ground. Relief shot through her legs, although she staggered a bit
Page 50 Chalker, Jack L - The River of the Dancing Gods 60 THE RIVER OF DANCING GODS "It was decided that your best potential would be realized by Huspeth in the Glen Dinig," Poquah replied, explaining nothing. "As you know, we were expecting only the man.
Huspeth, however, is willing, and is better equipped than we.
Can you ride a horse?.
"Yes, I've ridden horses. At least I can manage. Why? Is this Glen Whatsis far?.
"Not far," he said. "But too far to walk. Come with me.
We should make haste to get you there before dark." With that he turned and walked out of the room and down the hall. She followed, hurrying to catch up.
They went back down, across the drawbridge, and through the outer ring. Just at the start of the road, two beautiful horses, one coal black and the other snow white, waited, being held by an elf groom.
She approached the horses excitedly. "How perfect they are! But—no saddles, huh?" It was true. The horses were fitted only with bridles and a smooth blanket tied about their midsections.
"Saddles are a luxury. It is best you leam horsemanship without them. Then a saddle will be a convenience, not a necessity..
She looked dubious. "Well, okay, but I hope I can hold on..
With the Imir's aid, she boosted herself up on the white horse, grabbed the reins, and tried to get as comfortable as she could. It felt a little strange being up, and she felt some muscles being stretched in unaccustomed places.
The Imir mounted the black horse effortlessly and looked over at her. "Shall we ride?.
She nodded. "Take it easy, though, at thestart, will you.
I'm a little wobbly..
"Slow and easy," Poquah assured her. Giving his mount a light nudge with his foot, he started off. Her horse, apparently very well trained, followed the black one at a slow, comfortable pace.
Page 51 Chalker, Jack L - The River of the Dancing Gods Riding down the slope from the castle was fairly easy, although they were following no trail. Still, Marge's horse swayed and twisted with the land, and it took her several minutes and a few near spills to get anything approaching steadiness without saddle or stirrups.
61 JACK L. CHALKER "Who is this Huspeth?" she called to Poquah when they closed ranks.
"She is a witch who lives in the Glen Dinig," the Imir told her. "She is very old and very wise and very powerful. She is a great one, but she never leaves her forest glades these days..
"Is she a friend of Ruddygore's?.
"Hardly. Huspeth has little use for people in general and for sorcerers in particular. She is greatly feared by many, liked by none..
"Thanks a lot," Marge said sourly. "And I'm being handed over to her? Is it safe?.
"Nothing in life is safe," the Imir responded philosophically.
"However, she has her own reasons for wanting this task, which was asked of her but could not be forced upon her. She will do it, not because of the Master, nor for any cause, although bur enemy is also her enemy, but because she chooses to do it. We did not expect her to accept, but we chanced to ask..
They went on as the sun sank lower in the fields; with this description of her prospective tutor. Marge's high spirits sank a bit lower, as well.
After more than an hour's ride, out of sight of the castle but just barely, they came over a rise and Poquah stopped.
Below, the plain gave way to thick forest, a distinct grove perhaps two miles square between the rolling hills and the River of Dancing Gods.
The Imir pointed. "The Glen Dinig," he told her. "Please dismount." With that he jumped from his horse with a cat's balance and turned to her. She found it difficult to move her numbing legs, which throbbed with pain from the unaccustomed ride, but she managed with his help to get one leg over the other and sort of slide down to the ground. Relief shot through her legs, although she staggered a bit
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