Longeye by Steve Miller, Sharon Lee Page A

spasmed, tearing her handful of hair out by the roots. Becca pitched forward, her braid snapping free of its pins, her heels striking Rosamunde's side, and her horse leaped , hitting the street with a clatter, charging Brume's flank. The grey spun, ears back and teeth showing, while Sian raised a hand shrouded in turquoise mist, and cried out in a voice that brooked no argument, "Hold!"
    Rosamunde slammed to a halt, throwing Becca forward, left hand tangled painfully in silky mane, right arm flung 'round a sweating neck while Nancy arced into the air like a stone from a catapult, scream trailing behind her—and cut off abruptly as she was surrounded by a turquoise-barred cage.
    "Wrack and wind!" The bars solidified. Nancy threw herself onto her face, wings trembling.
    "Release her at once!" Becca cried, pushing herself awkwardly up into the saddle, Rosamunde unnaturally still beneath her. "And remove your will from my horse!"
    Sian raised haughty eyebrows. "Do you order me ?" she asked, cold-voiced.
    Becca shook the loose braid behind her shoulder and stiffened her spine. She ought, she knew, be afraid, but what she felt was anger, and a rising warmth. The day glittered at the edges, showing stipples of gold and copper.
    "Do you infringe on my rights?" she snapped, hot to the Fey woman's cold. "My horse, Madam Engenium—and my servant!"
    "The horse, I grant." A sweep of long white fingers and Rosamunde was moving, dancing nervously. Becca consciously adjusted her seat, and leaned forward to pat the proud neck.
    "Gently, my lady," she murmured. "We have an agreement to reach."
    "An agreement to easily reach," Sian snapped, and the bars enclosing Nancy contracted. "Surely neither of us desires one of Altimere's creatures by us on our journey."
    "Nancy is my servant ," Becca said, swallowing against the heat rising in her blood. "I told her that I would accept her service, if she won free of Altimere's influence." She moved a careful hand, startled to see a wisp of golden fog following her fingers. "I believe that she has done as much—as I have, myself."
    Huddled on the bottom of the cage, the little creature nodded vigorously.
    "You see?"
    Sian shook her head. "Altimere's creature is under no geas to be truthful to you—or to me."
    "I believe her," Becca said flatly. "And you harm my servant at your peril, Engenium."
    There was a moment, a long moment, where the air seemed to heat uncomfortably, and sparks of gold, green, blue, and copper glittered like snowflakes in the sunlight. Becca heard a ghostly crashing, as if of waves striking rock, and a rumble as of a storm building . . .
    Brume shook his head, frothy mane slapping the sides of his neck, and executed a sharp dancestep.
    A damp breeze struck Becca sharply on the cheek, teasing the bars of Nancy's cage into mist. The little creature sprang aloft the instant the last wisp of turquoise had drifted away, did a double loop, and came to rest on the pommel of Becca's saddle. She knelt there and kissed Becca's hand. Her lips were cold and hard.
    "You are welcome, Nancy," Becca murmured. "I trust we will have no more unseemly displays. Now, if you please, prepare yourself to ride."
    Nancy leapt up. Following the flicker of color, Becca saw her settle on top of the right-side saddlebag, her hand gripping the leather strap.
    "Very well." She licked her lips, tasting salt, and faced Sian firmly. "We are ready, Engenium."
    "Not quite." Sian bent a stern, sea-colored gaze upon her, and Becca felt a thrill of terror, that she had dared to set her will against this Fey, who was powerful beyond a mere woman's reckoning.
    "If that creature behaves in any way that I find threatening to myself, my land, or my people, I will destroy it, Rebecca Beauvelley—and you will not be able to stay my hand. Do you believe me?"
    Becca bowed her head, awed, and somewhat unsettled in her stomach. Had her time with Altimere made her mad, after all? How had she thought to stand against so