again?"
Trying to look insulted, Aiden turned in the saddle. "I have not! Not this time. I went as a legitimate trader to sell some of Linna's rugs and hear the latest news."
"In Chadarian clothes?"
Aiden snorted irritably. "You know those Chadarian merchants won't give a clansman a fair deal."
Valorian stifled a grunt of annoyance. It did no good to talk to Aiden about his actions, because he never listened. He was stubborn, willful, and too intelligent for his own good.
One of his greatest pleasures was going to the Chadarian capital, Actigorium, in disguise to gather news and to barter, trade, or steal anything he could get from the Chadarians or the Tarns. It was dangerous work, for if the Tarnish soldiers ever caught him in any suspicious activity, they would whip him to death and hang his body on the main wal of the city.
The problem was that Aiden was very good at his work. He spoke fluent Chadarian, could dissemble with the best, and was skilled at disguises. He was also very successful. He had saved the family several times from surprise visits from Tyrannis's tax collectors and had brought back many items from the city market that the clanspeople couldn't make themselves.
Valorian couldn't understand Aiden's attraction to the city. He himself hated the crowds of people, the narrow streets, and the constant noise, yet he couldn't help but respect his brother's daring. .
"What are the goats for?" Valorian asked, deciding to change the subject.
"Linna wants them. They're supposed to have very soft, long wool when they grow up. She wants to try the wool in her weaving.”
Even through the disgust in his voice at having to haul goats, Valorian could hear the pride in Aiden's voice. Linna, his betrothed, was the finest weaver in the Clan.
Aiden half-turned in his saddle and said, "I also heard that Sergius may pay us a visit in a few days. It seems we're behind on our tribute to General Tyrranis."
Valorian stifled a groan. The last thing he wanted to do now was argue with Sergius Valentius over taxes the family couldn't pay.
They rode on quietly for a while, deeper and deeper into the hills. Gradually the valley narrowed as the surrounding hills rose high above them. Relieved to be almost home, Valorian savored the familiar landscape as never before. Usually" he merely tolerated the rocky confines of the valley. It was cold and damp in the winter, it had too many trees and not enough meadows for the horses, the ground was mostly stone, and the high hil s made him uncomfortable. On the other hand, it afforded an excel ent shelter from the winter winds, and so far it had protected them well from the Tarns.
It wouldn't be long, though, before the family moved on.
After the last of the spring crop of stock animals was born, the family would celebrate the Birthright, the festival of thanksgiving to Amara, then they would pack their tents, gather the herds, and move higher into the mountains to the summer pastures.
Their move could be sooner than he imagined, Valorian surmised, for spring had advanced far into the hills while he was gone. The snow had vanished from the valley during the long days of rain, and the warm sun had brought out a thick carpet of green grasses, herbs, and vines. Wildflowers in delicate colors of white, blue, and pink popped out in every sunny patch of earth.
Not far ahead, Valorian could see where the creek took a sharp turn to the right around a rocky promontory. Behind it, the val ey widened into an oval--shaped meadow that was fairly flat and grassy.
There, Valorian knew, were the tents of the extended family group that cal ed him their nominal leader.
He was so pleased by the prospect of being almost home, he missed Aiden's look of suspicion at the promontory as they passed.
"Ranulf is supposed to be on guard duty," Aiden snapped, startling Valorian out of his reverie. "If he's asleep again, I'll slit his gut."
Valorian shot a look at the place on the high point where a guard
Trying to look insulted, Aiden turned in the saddle. "I have not! Not this time. I went as a legitimate trader to sell some of Linna's rugs and hear the latest news."
"In Chadarian clothes?"
Aiden snorted irritably. "You know those Chadarian merchants won't give a clansman a fair deal."
Valorian stifled a grunt of annoyance. It did no good to talk to Aiden about his actions, because he never listened. He was stubborn, willful, and too intelligent for his own good.
One of his greatest pleasures was going to the Chadarian capital, Actigorium, in disguise to gather news and to barter, trade, or steal anything he could get from the Chadarians or the Tarns. It was dangerous work, for if the Tarnish soldiers ever caught him in any suspicious activity, they would whip him to death and hang his body on the main wal of the city.
The problem was that Aiden was very good at his work. He spoke fluent Chadarian, could dissemble with the best, and was skilled at disguises. He was also very successful. He had saved the family several times from surprise visits from Tyrannis's tax collectors and had brought back many items from the city market that the clanspeople couldn't make themselves.
Valorian couldn't understand Aiden's attraction to the city. He himself hated the crowds of people, the narrow streets, and the constant noise, yet he couldn't help but respect his brother's daring. .
"What are the goats for?" Valorian asked, deciding to change the subject.
"Linna wants them. They're supposed to have very soft, long wool when they grow up. She wants to try the wool in her weaving.”
Even through the disgust in his voice at having to haul goats, Valorian could hear the pride in Aiden's voice. Linna, his betrothed, was the finest weaver in the Clan.
Aiden half-turned in his saddle and said, "I also heard that Sergius may pay us a visit in a few days. It seems we're behind on our tribute to General Tyrranis."
Valorian stifled a groan. The last thing he wanted to do now was argue with Sergius Valentius over taxes the family couldn't pay.
They rode on quietly for a while, deeper and deeper into the hills. Gradually the valley narrowed as the surrounding hills rose high above them. Relieved to be almost home, Valorian savored the familiar landscape as never before. Usually" he merely tolerated the rocky confines of the valley. It was cold and damp in the winter, it had too many trees and not enough meadows for the horses, the ground was mostly stone, and the high hil s made him uncomfortable. On the other hand, it afforded an excel ent shelter from the winter winds, and so far it had protected them well from the Tarns.
It wouldn't be long, though, before the family moved on.
After the last of the spring crop of stock animals was born, the family would celebrate the Birthright, the festival of thanksgiving to Amara, then they would pack their tents, gather the herds, and move higher into the mountains to the summer pastures.
Their move could be sooner than he imagined, Valorian surmised, for spring had advanced far into the hills while he was gone. The snow had vanished from the valley during the long days of rain, and the warm sun had brought out a thick carpet of green grasses, herbs, and vines. Wildflowers in delicate colors of white, blue, and pink popped out in every sunny patch of earth.
Not far ahead, Valorian could see where the creek took a sharp turn to the right around a rocky promontory. Behind it, the val ey widened into an oval--shaped meadow that was fairly flat and grassy.
There, Valorian knew, were the tents of the extended family group that cal ed him their nominal leader.
He was so pleased by the prospect of being almost home, he missed Aiden's look of suspicion at the promontory as they passed.
"Ranulf is supposed to be on guard duty," Aiden snapped, startling Valorian out of his reverie. "If he's asleep again, I'll slit his gut."
Valorian shot a look at the place on the high point where a guard
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