would be half-buried in snow. Esta would insist on dragging him out and do her very best to see they froze to death doing things normally reserved for children. Iah forced the thoughts aside and focused on the tasks at hand. Carefully he held out a hand, quelling the relief that sprang up when Sol gently took it and guided him toward the waiting horse.
He would miss horse-riding, for there was no way he could ever do it solo. That was another pang to be shoved aside for later, however; there was no time for such things at present. Sol helped him up, steadying him until Iah felt comfortably settled, then mounted behind him. He spoke rapidly in Krian to Mella, though most of the words were lost on Iah. To his left he heard Dal mount his own horse and seconds later they were off.
"What is the view?" As Sol began to talk in slow, careful Krian, Iah felt himself relax despite the frustration that tried to rise when he was forced to ask Sol to repeat things. Sol was patient, however, and bit by bit Iah began to understand what was being described.
Snow—with the promise of more from the clouds above; trees—the sort that were green in winter; smoke in the distance from villages and towns; and little more than a shadow—the city where the Krian emperor lived in spring and summer. The land was rolling, up and down and very seldom flat.
"We travel due north for a bit then we turn and go west. That will take us past the Summer Palace and on toward the Winter Palace, where we will meet up with the king and his court. If we attempted to go to the Summer Palace, we would find ourselves very alone." Sol laughed.
Iah smiled despite himself. "How do you move so easily?" he asked in halting Krian. Iah had been studying during the three days before they had finally left the cottage. He had another fourteen to get a solid grasp of it. "In this country, I mean."
"Many years of study," Sol replied. "I studied the languages for years before I become a soldier, and one cannot study a language without learning about the culture. I know enough about a lot that I can get by in many a situation. The skill was enough to make me a Brother of the Seven Star," he spoke levelly, but there was bitterness beneath the calm that Iah could not miss.
"People trust you easily, don't they?"
Sol was silent for a moment, obviously startled. "Yes. I suppose so. Certainly you did not protest as I thought you would."
"I have little choice," Iah said, but he knew that wasn't all of it. Sol inspired trust, even when a man didn't want to give it. Iah was already doing it himself, no matter how hard he tried to catch himself. He wondered what would become of his homeland if Sol proved ultimately to be only a loyal Salharan.
After another silence, Sol resumed speaking in Illussor. It made Iah dizzy, how smoothly he switched between three such different languages. Clearly he'd been blessed with a sharp ear and clever tongue. It was little wonder his magical ability was said to be impressive. " As we're merely minor nobility from the country, having weapons is not expected of us. Not all Krians can be soldiers, after all. That is fortunate for us, as all my skill cannot duplicate the Krian style of fighting. However, on that note, a lack of general knowledge will give us away just as quickly. Even the poorest peasant knows the difference between a long sword, a short sword, a dagger, and so on.
" First and foremost, you should always make note of someone's weapon the first time you meet him. Obviously you will not be able to say much, but you can ask what manner of sword a man bears and the sword's name. Compliment the name—say it's pretty, strong, anything of that sort. "
" All right. " Iah said slowly. He was considered skilled with the short swords that were the only style of sword Illussor used. Like Salhara, they relied more on magic, and when many a battle could be won by a brief tricking of the mind, who needed weapons? They were tools. A man did not
He would miss horse-riding, for there was no way he could ever do it solo. That was another pang to be shoved aside for later, however; there was no time for such things at present. Sol helped him up, steadying him until Iah felt comfortably settled, then mounted behind him. He spoke rapidly in Krian to Mella, though most of the words were lost on Iah. To his left he heard Dal mount his own horse and seconds later they were off.
"What is the view?" As Sol began to talk in slow, careful Krian, Iah felt himself relax despite the frustration that tried to rise when he was forced to ask Sol to repeat things. Sol was patient, however, and bit by bit Iah began to understand what was being described.
Snow—with the promise of more from the clouds above; trees—the sort that were green in winter; smoke in the distance from villages and towns; and little more than a shadow—the city where the Krian emperor lived in spring and summer. The land was rolling, up and down and very seldom flat.
"We travel due north for a bit then we turn and go west. That will take us past the Summer Palace and on toward the Winter Palace, where we will meet up with the king and his court. If we attempted to go to the Summer Palace, we would find ourselves very alone." Sol laughed.
Iah smiled despite himself. "How do you move so easily?" he asked in halting Krian. Iah had been studying during the three days before they had finally left the cottage. He had another fourteen to get a solid grasp of it. "In this country, I mean."
"Many years of study," Sol replied. "I studied the languages for years before I become a soldier, and one cannot study a language without learning about the culture. I know enough about a lot that I can get by in many a situation. The skill was enough to make me a Brother of the Seven Star," he spoke levelly, but there was bitterness beneath the calm that Iah could not miss.
"People trust you easily, don't they?"
Sol was silent for a moment, obviously startled. "Yes. I suppose so. Certainly you did not protest as I thought you would."
"I have little choice," Iah said, but he knew that wasn't all of it. Sol inspired trust, even when a man didn't want to give it. Iah was already doing it himself, no matter how hard he tried to catch himself. He wondered what would become of his homeland if Sol proved ultimately to be only a loyal Salharan.
After another silence, Sol resumed speaking in Illussor. It made Iah dizzy, how smoothly he switched between three such different languages. Clearly he'd been blessed with a sharp ear and clever tongue. It was little wonder his magical ability was said to be impressive. " As we're merely minor nobility from the country, having weapons is not expected of us. Not all Krians can be soldiers, after all. That is fortunate for us, as all my skill cannot duplicate the Krian style of fighting. However, on that note, a lack of general knowledge will give us away just as quickly. Even the poorest peasant knows the difference between a long sword, a short sword, a dagger, and so on.
" First and foremost, you should always make note of someone's weapon the first time you meet him. Obviously you will not be able to say much, but you can ask what manner of sword a man bears and the sword's name. Compliment the name—say it's pretty, strong, anything of that sort. "
" All right. " Iah said slowly. He was considered skilled with the short swords that were the only style of sword Illussor used. Like Salhara, they relied more on magic, and when many a battle could be won by a brief tricking of the mind, who needed weapons? They were tools. A man did not