Garia takes her place among the guard recruits to learn how to look after her assigned frayen and there are inevitable consequences... Later, an offer of help comes from a surprising source, and she also learns of another possible arrival on Anmar.

Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This story is copyright (c) 2011-2012 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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I have to face this.

Garia was unhappy, but there was nothing she could do about it. Circumstances were what they were, and life had to go on. She took a deep breath and turned to Jenet.

"Are you sure I'm doing the right thing like this?" she asked. "I shouldn't, you know... just avoid him?"

"Milady," Jenet said, repeating herself once again, "You cannot avoid him for ever, unless you desire to move out of the palace and name somewhere else your home. You both live here, and you will see each other every day, at meals if nowhere else. Best to face what you know must be done, and face it sooner rather than later."

"Yes, I know, Jenet. It's just... I feel so bad about the whole thing." She sighed and her shoulders slumped. "You're right. Let's get it over with."

Garia straightened reluctantly, took a deep breath and headed for the door. Of course, inevitably, he was in the corridor when she opened the door.

"Good morning, Garia," he greeted her. His tone was respectful and a little subdued.

"Good Morning, Your Highness," she said without thinking.

His face shut off and he turned away, clearly upset.

"No! No! I didn't mean that... Keren," she said, dismayed. "I didn't mean it like that. Please don't ignore me. This is just... very awkward. For both of us."

He turned back, his face carefully composed. "I'm sorry, Garia. We're both still very sensitive, aren't we? Perhaps I should go another way down to breakfast."

"Please, don't do that." She took another deep breath, and managed to force a small smile. "We have to learn to adjust to this situation, and we can't do that if we keep avoiding each other. Brother and sister, right? So escort your sister down to the dining room, then."

He nodded. "As you say, Garia. Shall we go, then?" His eyes flicked down at her attire. "I see you're in your riding outfit today. Introducing yourself to the men for the first time?"

They began walking. "Yes. I had planned to do it yesterday, but..."

"...sometimes plans get changed. Yes, it happened to me recently." His face quirked into a brief pained smile. "Unfortunately, I'll be unable to join you this morning to see what happens. Father is calling a meeting concerning those men who were washed up some days ago."

"Oh. Anything I should be interested in?"

"It concerns Yod. If father is agreeable, I'll tell you what I can find out when I next see you."

It felt strange walking into the dining room, although almost nothing had changed, nothing physical at least. The Queen came over to them as soon as they appeared.

"My dear! How are you feeling today? Sufficiently recovered to contemplate outraging the guard, as I see from your attire?"

"I hope not, ma'am." Garia felt calmed enough to give Terys a small smile. "Some of them will already know about me, and the others, well... it will do them good to have their small world broadened, won't it? I feel better today, thank you, ma'am."

Robanar joined them then.

"Garia, dear, I'm pleased to see that you are looking a little better today."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." She curtseyed.

He eyed her costume. "You feel well enough to try your beast in public, then?"

"In theory, Sire." The Queen hasn't told him, then. "If I don't feel up to it, then I can always stop."

"Shall we be seated for breakfast, then? I shall tell you what has been happening since you were indisposed."

Once they had begun eating Robanar explained. "Some days past we received word that some people were washed up on the far shores of Brikant, where the Sirrel first touches our lands. There were five survivors and they were in a bad way, since they had been drifting on the river for some days without food or clean water, or any means of steering to shore. These people were fleeing the war between Yod and Ferenis."

"I see, Sire. Five days? Are those countries so far away, then?"

"Far enough, Garia, but the windings of the river make the journey by boat considerably longer. Two of those rescued were a farmer and his wife, who it appears owned the boat that was used, and the other three were of the militia of Ferenis. It seems, as we foretold, that the invasion of that country by Yod fell apart when the rains came, and many invaders were trapped when the river became impassable. Their army dissolved in the rain, splitting into groups which roamed the countryside in search of food and shelter. In doing so they managed to cut off a detachment of the local militia, who were forced to flee and unable to return to their own side. They were surrounded at a remote farm and escaped on the farmer's boat, hoping to steer to land once past the region of conflict. Unfortunately, the boat was overturned on a sandbank, several militiamen were swept away and all their oars lost. The boat was righted and those who survived set off again as the river became more swollen with the rain and it was impossible to remain. It was only by chance, days later, that they eventually found a drifting plank which enabled them to steer to a friendly shore, though by that time I do not doubt they might have chosen any shore at all."

"It's true," Keren offered. "There are known tales of people caught in the floods who have been swept all the way out to the ocean. Very few have lived to tell their tale. So what's happened to the survivors, father?"

"They are being nursed back to health near to where they were found, and the officer among the militiamen has now traveled here to give us his report. Since one of those countries involved also appears to have an interest in you, my dear, we shall keep you informed of all that we learn this morning."

"Thank you, Sire."

After breakfast Keren accompanied Garia to the training rooms, since he still wanted to do his Tai Chi. The atmosphere between them was uncomfortable, but both were attempting to hide their emotions. When they reached the hall, Captain Merek looked at her costume with a frown.

"You intend to attempt your Tai Chi attired so, milady?"

"It should be possible, captain. This is by way of being an experiment, since in theory one should be able to do it dressed in almost any clothes." A smile. "Not in full armor, though. That might be taking things a little far."

A returned smile. "As you say, milady. Shall we begin?"

After the Tai Chi both Keren and Merek excused themselves, to return to Robanar's parlor and start their meeting. The hall was left in Bleskin's charge, accompanied by Vern, the Quadrant Officer for those training.

"It seems you were right, milady," Bleskin said to her as they stood watching the men cluster into groups. "We have found two who we suspect may have been spies within the latest group of recruits. One was caught wandering the palace by night, and the other asked too many of the wrong kind of questions. Both have been placed in the cells awaiting judgment."

"I was sure you'd find one or two in the intake, captain." She turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "You did realize that those two were meant to be found, didn't you? That your suspicions would now be lowered and the real spies could begin their work?"

Bleskin looked startled. "Milady, you have a truly devious mind. But we are not so easily misled, we will watch these new men closely for a year or so before we consider them truly trustworthy."

"I'm glad to hear it, captain."

"And now, milady, Vern will look after you, I see I must attend a potential problem yonder."

Bleskin walked off and Vern saluted, gesturing her to join him.

"Your beast has been brought from the stables, milady," Vern said as they walked through the groups of men, "those you will be joining are being taught the art of beast husbandry, so I judged that it would be a suitable place for you to begin."

"Thank you, Vern," she told him. Her eyes noted the many glances she was receiving from the men, perhaps sixty in all, who were inspecting her with interest as she passed them. Apart from a fairly select group, no-one had yet seen her dressed for riding. They approached a group of six men, accompanied by as many frayen.

"This is Lady Garia, who will be joining you for a while to learn the art of caring for frayen," he told them. "Milady, this is Wedren who instructs the men this day."

Vern saluted and then walked off. Garia noted that while all the men now wore guard fatigues only Wedren and another had the proper green and blue sashes, the others wore white. Two of the four recruits held the reins of a frayen in each hand, one of them, a big fellow with a protruding gut, kept jerking on the reins as he looked with interest at Garia.

"So," he said with a look of dislike, "we get the little girly who teaches us the dance routines, then. Miss know-it-all come to learn about frayen, then?"

Wedren said, "That's enough of that, Stott. At the moment, she has more right to be here than you do, understand me?"

"Yeah."

"What? I didn't quite catch that."

"Yes, sir," Stott said truculently. He gave the reins in each hand a vicious jerk, and the two beasts perforce had their heads yanked around.

I just had to end up with a trouble-maker, didn't I? Almost anything I do is going to make him worse, not better. Still, I don't like the way he's treating Snep. If he does that much more he'll be needing a healer, and I won't be sorry at all.

"Stott, is it?" she asked mildly. "Why are you yanking the reins like that? There's no need to behave like that if they're not giving you any trouble."

He sneered at her. "What do you know about it, girly? These are vicious beasts, everyone knows that. You got to show them who's the master, haven't you?"

Shit. I hate to do this, but I'm going to have to pull rank to get this cretin to behave, I think.

"That would be, 'As you say, milady'," she warned him. "And one of those frayen you are mishandling is mine, so I'll thank you to hand the reins to me, if you please."

"'One of those is mine'," he mimicked. "I don't think so, milady. These are beasts from the guard stables, not some pet from a pampered noble's yard. Though, now I think of it, this one does have a funny saddle on it." He gave Snep's reins a hard pull, and the animal's eyes bulged out as his head was dragged forward. "You're a girl, anyhow, and girlies don't ride beasts like us men do. You're here to learn how to look after them, that's all, and I'm giving you your first lesson, see?"

Garia started to lose patience. Wedren didn't seem capable of controlling the man, who appeared to be just a blustering bully like some she had already come across. It seemed action was called for, to make this idiot understand the true nature of things. She spun on her heel, facing Wedren.

"Wedren. If I may borrow your knife, please."

He hesitated a clear second before his hands moved towards his belt. He had been in this hall when she had fought Jarwin, and he realized that he trusted her decisions.

"Of course, milady."

He handed her his knife, hilt first, and she moved towards Stott with the blade lowered. Stott looked at her with alarm.

"Here! What do you think you are doing? You can't -"

But he had reins in both hands, and he didn't want to drop either set. He couldn't believe that she would injure him, not in a room full of guardsmen, surely?

Her left hand grabbed his left wrist firmly, and his eyes widened as the knife blade came up, slicing through the leather straps. Snep promptly stepped back away from Stott, and, although the face was nominally expressionless, the look that the beast gave Stott promised pain in the man's future. Garia turned to Wedren and returned the knife, hilt first.

"I'm pleased to see you keep your blade well sharpened, Wedren. You never know when you might need to use it, do you?"

"As you say, milady."

Wedren looked as surprised as the others in the group by the unexpected events. Stott just stood there with a confused expression, looking at the cut-off reins still dangling from his left hand.

"Snep. Come."

The frayen dutifully trotted into the center of the group and stood there, pleased to be with his mistress once more. He nuzzled her hand, and she used a finger to dig a tit-bit out from the folds of her sash to present to him.

"No wonder he was giving you trouble," she said, "this saddle has been put on back to front."

"What?" Stott protested. "How does anyone expect me to know which way round it goes? The fucking thing has the stirrups in the wrong place. Both ends looked the same to me."

Garia bent down to release the girth strap.

"Wedren, if you would help me, please." She gave him a smile of encouragement. "I'm not sure I can quite reach high enough to get the saddle off."

They got the saddle onto the floor and Garia turned it over to show the large arrow branded onto the underside.

"That clear enough for you?" she asked Stott. He merely curled his lip in response.

Between them Garia and Wedren replaced the saddle correctly and tightened the straps. She then pulled down the mounting loop, and with a practiced motion, swung herself into the saddle. This time, her skirt caught on the saddle and stuck under her leg. It took a little shuffling and tugging before it flowed smoothly around as it had previously. The men watched her with mouths open.

"But, but..." Stott gestured with his hand, the one still holding the severed reins. "You can't do that, it's unnatural. Women aren't supposed to ride beasts like that!" He realized that the detached reins were waving in his vision. "And you can't ride without reins, can you, girly? It ain't possible."

She looked down at him with contempt. "Not only are you an utter fool, Stott, you are an utter fucking ignorant fool. I don't need reins to ride my beast. We've trained together enough that he knows what I want him to do, and he does it because he wants to."

With that she turned to face forward, clucked softly and rode away from the group. The six men stared after her, open-mouthed.

I don't need clowns like that around me, she thought, and, I suspect, the guard doesn't either. Where's Bleskin? She looked around, but even from her mounted position the old captain was not to be seen. The Quadrant, Vern, was visible, and she headed off in his direction.

All activity in the room came to a fairly immediate halt. The sight of Garia riding through their midst, and not even using reins, was enough to arrest anyone's attention. Vern became aware of the silence, saw her approaching and came to meet her.

"Milady? I see you are mounted, but why aren't you... The reins, milady! What has happened?"

"There is a problem, Vern, with one of the recruits. He's mistreating the animals, and he won't listen to Wedren or myself. Thinks he knows everything. A man called Stott."

Vern's eyes hardened. "I know the man, milady. Lead on."

With Vern walking beside her they went back to the group.

"Stott," Vern addressed him. "If you can't manage basic courtesy then the Royal Guard is not for you. Do I make myself understood?"

"How was I to know she was going to ride the beasts, Quadrant? Nobody tells us nothing round here. Ain't natural, anyhow."

"It might not have been in the past, but that doesn't mean it won't be in the future." The eyes of everyone listening widened in surprise at the implications in that statement. "You're here to take instruction on how the Royal Guard cares for it's mounts, not to mistreat them the way you've obviously done in the past. You might find you can get more out of them if you handle them properly." He looked up at Garia meaningfully before returning his gaze to Stott. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Yeah," the man said grudgingly. "Women riding ain't natural, though."

"More natural than you think," Garia remarked. The men all looked up at her in surprise. "Just because it isn't done in the Valley doesn't mean that it doesn't happen elsewhere. The Queen often rode in her youth, so she tells me."

The several implications in that statement caused more thoughtful looks among the listeners, who now included several from the groups surrounding them.

"And officers should be addressed as sir, Stott," Vern added severely. "Did you want to become your Quadrants' expert on latrine maintenance?"

Stott lowered his gaze. "No, sir," he responded.

Vern hesitated, then added, "In the case of Milady Garia here, she should be addressed as 'milady', as she has the honorary rank of Quadrant as well. She is a special case, as we have no way of addressing a woman of rank as yet. Do you understand me, Stott?"

"Yes, Sir!"

"What's going on here?" Bleskin had appeared.

"Stott, sir," Vern explained shortly.

"Oh, I see. The rest of you," he raised his voice, "back to work! This isn't a traveling fair." He lowered his voice. "Though I wonder, sometimes."

Garia dismounted, and Bleskin turned to her with a smile. "Trouble again, milady?"

"I wish it weren't so, captain. This man," she indicated Stott, "doesn't seem comfortable around the frayen."

"I know, milady, but all the guard must learn to ride, and to care for their mounts, as you already know." He turned to face Stott. "The only thing that keeps you in the Royal Guard, Stott, is your expertise with the bow. You are not so expert, though, that we would struggle without you. Understand me?"

"Yes, captain."

"Make sure you remember that. And you should understand that by obeying orders promptly and efficiently may save the lives of you and your fellows in a fight, do you understand that?"

"Yes, sir." Stott looked suitably contrite, but Garia wasn't sure how long it would last.

"Good. Wedren, carry on."

Bleskin walked off and she turned to the group to find Stott regarding her thoughtfully.

"You're the one they all talk about, aren't you? I thought it was all jokey-talk to make fun of the new recruits. I can't believe all those tales are right."

"Most of the rumors are just that, Stott, rumors. I don't make them, and I don't know what's being said, so I can't say whether they are true or not. All I can tell you is that I come from a long, long way away, and where I live things are somewhat different than they are around here." She wasn't just speaking to Stott, she was explaining to the rest of the group - and to those in nearby groups who were naturally curious to find out what was going on. "We ride different animals there, bigger than frayen, and I've been riding for about eight years or so, so I do know what I'm doing. What I don't know is how to care for frayen, since they are not the same as the animals I'm used to."

She noticed his posture subtly relax, and she thought she'd won the first round. Someone like this would probably take some educating before he accepted his new reality.

"As you say, milady. It was a bit of a shock, that's all."

"Right." That was probably all the apology he was willing to admit. "So, can we get back to looking after frayen, then?"

The rest of the morning was spent more profitably learning how to look after their animals. Garia found out how to check their legs and feet for injuries and was told of several ailments that could affect them, and how to recognize them. There was a lot less grooming involved, since unlike horses frayen were almost entirely hairless. There were eyelashes, and hairs protecting the insides of their ears, and wads of thick bristles between the pads of their feet, but otherwise their hides were smooth and very hard-wearing.

The end of the session came, and Garia walked through the dispersing men to find Jenet, Merizel and Bursila sitting on a bench beside the door.

"Merry! I didn't expect to find you here this morning. I hope you haven't been bored."

"Of course not! A room full of men, exercising... what more could a young lady want?"

"Ah, forgive me, I'm still not used to thinking in such terms yet. You're right, of course. Did you see me riding up and down?"

"Who could miss that? You looked amazing. Quite natural, perched on Snep. And without reins, too! I've seen you do it in the private practices you've had in here, but you proved you can do it when you need to."

"Don't forget, when the men do it, it means they will be able to fight as well."

"Of course. But seeing you just makes me want to get up on a beast's back even more."

Garia grinned. "They let me do things like that because they know I'm different. How they'll take to you riding is another matter. Remember how... animated the King got?"

"Oh, yes," Merizel said with a twinkle. "But we have the Queen on our side, don't we?"

"We'll have a word with her at lunch, see what she thinks of the idea."

"Ooh, good!" She rubbed her hands together. "I can't wait!"

"You realize you're going to upset all my arrangements, don't you?" Garia said with a smile. "I can't keep track of what I'm doing right now, how will we manage when you're riding as well?"

"Perhaps I'll need my own secretary," Merizel answered with a grin.

"Let's get going," Garia said. "I'd like to get changed. This clothing is okay while I'm mounted, but it is a little bulky walking around like this."

The three women stood to join Garia, but when she turned she saw D'Kenik approach, obviously looking for her.

"D'Kenik. Something wrong?"

"Milady." He saluted. "No, nothing wrong." He looked positively shifty. "I, um, if I might have a word with you. In private?"

She raised an eyebrow. "How private do you want us to be? Can they join us?" Garia indicated Merizel and the two maids.

D'Kenik looked at his feet. "Milady, I would rather it be just between us, but I know that is not possible. If we were to go into the dojo -" all her men now used the term, "- and stood at opposite ends..."

Garia came to a quick decision. D'Kenik obviously had something important on his mind, and lunch would not be too far away. She gestured. "Lead on."

Once established in the empty room he began quietly, "Milady, I have watched you train, and I have watched you recently ride. I know that you have found it difficult to choose a weapon suitable for your size and strength. I have been reminded... no. Not now. Milady, I may have an answer to your quest, but revealing it entails... breaking confidences."

Garia looked at the guardsman with interest. D'Kenik was one of a small number of foreign men of a particular race who she knew had made their home in Palarand. They had come from the far side of Alaesia, and information about them was very sparse. Physically they were pale-skinned, with thick, straight black hair. Their eyes were round and of a uniformly honey color, and they all had prominent noses like Jews or Arabs. D'Kenik himself was a fit specimen in about his late twenties or early thirties, no different than many of the other guardsmen.

"You are sworn to the King," she stated, and he nodded, "but what you are implying is that there are other oaths, which I'm guessing relate to your own people. Is that it?"

That shifty look again. "As you say, milady."

"Then we'll meet, if that can be arranged, in here immediately after lunch. Just you and me and Jenet, will that be acceptable?"

"I must ask for the Prince, as well, milady." He saw the involuntary expression on her face. "Is something wrong?"

"No," she covered, "it's just that I'm not sure what the Prince is doing this afternoon. If he's available, I'll bring him."

"Thank you, milady."

D'Kenik saluted, turned, and made for the door. Garia watched him go with increasing curiosity.

~o~O~o~

Garia felt peculiar walking beside Keren as they made their way to the dojo. She was both relieved that he was beside her, to offer support, and uncomfortable to be beside someone she was not permitted to be closer to. Keren, she knew, felt almost the same way, and both were trying hard to pretend that nothing was different. They reached the Self Defense Training Room and Jenet headed for the bleachers at the far side. D'Kenik stood waiting and saluted as they approached.

"This is all very mysterious, D'Kenik," Keren said. "But, I know that you are a true and loyal servant of the King, and it sounds as though you may have had an idea useful to Lady Garia, so speak on."

"Thank you, Highness. Thank you for coming. First, I must tell you that I betray an oath merely by telling you that such an oath exists, but Milady Garia's presence in Palarand is so unusual that I believe the necessity is justified. Can I ask that you both respect the confidences I am about to tell you? I must explain my reasons to Milady Garia, it is true, but she will need another to help her make use of what I am about to reveal. As you will become the next King of Palarand, Highness, I feel sure that I can trust you with what I am about to say."

Keren looked at Garia, who nodded. Keren replied, "If you so wish, D'Kenik, we won't tell another person."

"Thank you, Highness. And, secondly, I must tell you that my name is actually Taximandil Sorofur'than Kodas D'Kenik an K'kdaril," a smile, "which is why I am just called D'Kenik while in the King's service."

Garia and Keren stared at him.

"The land where I was born," he continued, "on the far side of Alaesia, the Valley folk name K'kjand, but that is just the biggest of the Six Cities. We are quite content for that inaccuracy to continue. Our homes are on the coast, and we have for many centuries been beset by pirates, invaders and slavers who attempt to kill or carry off our people. Naturally, we fight back, and that includes our women, too." Garia's eyes widened as she began to realize what he implied. "The weapons we use at home are different than those used here in the east, but those of us who leave our lands to travel adapt easily to other kinds. Over the thousands of marks which separate here and there, it is not surprising that our ways of fighting are not the same, and that knowledge of each other's methods is almost nothing."

"So," Garia said, "There's a weapon you know of from K'kjand which may be of use to me here? One that a woman would use."

"Aye, milady. It did not occur to me, firstly that you would not be able to find a sword that would fit you, and secondly, that there was an example of a suitable weapon here in the palace."

He turned to Keren. "Highness, it was not till we spent days cleaning out this room that I realized that you had weapons of the Six Cities here. They must be over a hundred years old, since the leather is so brittle it is almost turned to stone. How they came here I cannot imagine, since there are mountains, deserts, forests and marshes between here and where they were made. I said nothing, as my oath requires, but when I realized that Milady Garia was in need of such a weapon, I knew that my conscience would not let me ignore the chance to help."

"You're talking, I presume," Keren asked, "about the war trophies and such we tidied up when we cleared out this room?"

"As you say, Highness. If you would permit?"

Keren nodded, and D'Kenik moved to the back of the room, squeezing himself between the carefully stacked remnants of items that they had deemed worthy of keeping. He reached the pegs at the back of the room and stretched up for a suspended harness. Making his way back to the pair, he examined what he had retrieved.

"I was not wrong, Highness, Milady. This is the harness of a small lady of the Six Cities, or of a large girl-child. See? There are decorations on the leather, though the stones have long since gone. These are typical of the designs a woman would have used, though the style is now somewhat old."

"Then," Keren said, "I can only imagine that the reason it is here is because it was taken from a woman after a battle, since that in itself would be extremely unusual, at least here in the east."

"I agree with you, Highness. It may have been from a woman warrior who ventured to the east, who fought for one of the lands between this country and my own." D'Kenik pursed his lips. "A pity the harness was not cared for over the years. It is almost useless now. However, the harness is not as important as the blades themselves. Though, as you will see, it would be inaccurate to call them blades at all."

He pulled at two D-shaped handles at one end of the harness and two thin swords came reluctantly out of their scabbards. Garia looked at them closely. They were identical, each consisting of a hilt with a D-shaped knuckle guard one side and a curled counter-guard the other, with a thin steel bar forming the 'blade'. She saw that the blade was about as wide as her finger, and about half that as thick. The edges were rounded and the center channeled to form almost a figure-8 cross-section. At the tip one side had been ground away to form a short curved edge which had then been sharpened. Although the blades were a century old, if D'Kenik was right, there was no sign of corrosion on the metal.

"Two blades?" Keren said, surprised. "And you're right, they have no edges. How does one fight with those, then?"

"A new technique, Highness, which I am prepared to teach to Milady Garia." He looked unhappy. "I cannot see how I can prevent the knowledge that I broke an oath, once any of my fellows from the Six Cities sees Milady Garia with these strapped to her back."

Keren's eyes narrowed. "I appreciate your problem, D'Kenik, and I give you my word that we shall work out some way of protecting you."

Garia said, "On my back? Ah, that's an idea. So how..?"

"Like this, milady. Highness, if you would turn away, so that milady can see how the swords fit."

To Garia's surprise, D'Kenik place the swords as an X on Keren's back, holding them with one hand.

"Like this, it will accommodate... a female body shape more easily, and will also allow you to sit your beast without fouling the blades. You draw them by raising your arms up and then out."

Keren demonstrated by lifting his arms up and grabbing the hilts, then drawing the blades as though from scabbards. He turned, nodding.

"I approve of this, D'Kenik. You have done Palarand a great service this day." He frowned. "But we cannot use these trophies, I think. We are going to have to ask Haflin to make us a new pair, do you agree?"

D'Kenik looked downcast. "As you say, Highness. We will need a new harness and sheaths made to fit milady in any case."

"You are worried about spreading the secret, aren't you? Well, consider this. You mentioned that there were thousands of marks between here and your homeland, and I do not doubt you. Now, who is to know exactly where in those thousands of marks you learned of these particular weapons? Perhaps not so far away as the other coast. You must have passed through many societies in your travels, before you arrived here. You need not be so particular what you tell Haflin."

D'Kenik looked at Keren with approval. "You will make Palarand a great King, Highness. I will be careful what I say."

"Very well. Shall we attempt the King's Armorer now, or is there any reason for delay?"

"For my part, Highness, I see no reason for delay. The sooner we begin, the sooner Milady Garia will be able to defend herself." He grinned at her. "Against an opponent with a sword, I mean."

Garia nodded assent, gesturing to the door. "By all means, let's get started. Jenet!"

Haflin was in his workshop supervising a group of journeymen who were turning out brass stirrups. He looked up when he saw them arrive, brushed his hands and saluted.

"Highness, Milady. What can I do for you today?" His eyes had already spotted the harness and swords which D'Kenik held.

"Some privacy, Haflin?"

"As you wish, Highness. Come, under the awning. The rain will cover our voices, if we keep them down. I am already intrigued by what I see in your guardsman's hand."

"D'Kenik, master."

Once separated from the bustle of the workshop Keren explained smoothly, "While we were clearing out the room which Milady Garia now uses for her martial arts D'Kenik here came across some old weapons he thought might be of use to her. He had seen them in use during his journey across Alaesia, and has agreed to teach the art to her. The blades he holds are originals and at least a hundred years old, for that reason we would like at least one new pair to be made. She would probably require a practice set as well. She will also need a suitable harness to wear."

Haflin held out a hand and received the swords from D'Kenik. "Interesting. How would these solve the problem I demonstrated the last time you came, Highness?"

"They mount on the back. D'Kenik, if you please? Garia, we'll show them on your own back this time."

The positioning of the swords was shown, and placement of the harness described, since they could not use the original. A long discussion then took place concerning the length of the blades, the tempering of the steel and how they were used.

"I will make you blades for the Baroness, Highness, with suitable harness, but I would ask something in return."

"I would be surprised if you didn't, Haflin, knowing you."

"I would wish to learn this art as well. Without such knowledge, the manufacture of the blades will not be correct. I must know how they are to be used, to give them the right tempering, flexibility and hardness."

"That might be difficult, Master Haflin," D'Kenik said. "These are designed for use by smaller persons, and primarily for defending themselves. To make a pair to fit your own proportions would be difficult if not impossible."

"I take your point. Nevertheless, I must see them in action. Would this be acceptable?"

"There is no reason why not, Haflin," Keren said. "If you made harness and practice blades first, then D'Kenik can show how they are used and you can then plan for the true blades."

Haflin nodded. "Agreed, Highness. If I may retain these as patterns?"

"As you wish, Haflin."

"Highness," Haflin added slowly, "I am puzzled by your need for privacy. Surely, all will know of these blades once Milady Garia begins wearing them."

D'Kenik looked at the floor and Keren blushed. He said, "Ah. You are right, of course. Let me just say that the origin of these blades is not quite what I explained to you. We are still trying to decide how best to reveal the weapons while still protecting the source of our knowledge."

Haflin looked carefully at D'Kenik but the guardsman refused to meet his gaze. Finally he nodded.

"I understand, Highness. I do know a little about the Six Cities -" D'Kenik looked up at him in alarm, "- and I appreciate the problem." He grinned at the three. "Let me see. I am the King's Armorer, am I not? And I am supposed to be proficient in all means of combat," Here he raised an eyebrow and looked at Garia, "except perhaps unarmed combat, that is. If we four were to go into a room privately to teach Milady Garia the use of these swords, who is to say which of us is the teacher? If there is any complaint, then you may refer them to me." Another grin. "Would that be satisfactory, Highness?"

Keren thought it through. "Excellently done, Armor Master. Are you two satisfied?"

Garia nodded agreement while D'Kenik looked thoroughly relieved.

"Then, Highness, if you will excuse me, I have two unusual swords to make."

They walked back through the palace and D'Kenik took his leave of them. Keren and Garia walked back to their suites.

"What a surprising find!" Garia said. "Those swords must have been forgotten and I'll bet that no-one in the entire palace knows where they came from, and only D'Kenik knows how to use them."

"Almost. D'Kenik isn't the only guardsman we have from..." Six Cities. "...K'kjand. It's likely some of the others know the art."

"...and would know that D'Kenik gave the game away. Haflin may spend his time hammering metal but he's smart, isn't he? This way, everyone will think that he was the one who showed me how to use those swords."

They turned the corner into the domestic corridor to be met by an annoyed Queen.

"Keren? Garia? Why aren't you having your after-lunch nap?" Her eyes narrowed as she took in the situation. "What are you two doing, wandering the palace together? Especially after what happened the other day."

"Mother. The situation is not what you think."

Oh, no. That has to be the most cliched start to an excuse I've ever heard! Now she won't believe anything we say.

Keren continued, "Just before lunch we learned of a possible weapon - a sword - which might suit Garia. It was necessary to discuss the matter with Haflin as soon as we could and that is what we did. We went to the Armory and returned directly here. Why? What did you think we were doing?"

Terys regarded the pair with deep suspicion. Young love could so easily get out of control and lead the participants to attempt any manner of subterfuge to be together. After keeping them apart for a day, here they were sneaking around together, and without her knowledge! Still, their story might be true and it would be easy to verify in any case. She just wished that circumstances were such that they didn't spend quite so much time in each other's company, but of course that was almost impossible these days. How did this situation come to pass?

"Very well. I would ask that the next time you have an unexpected meeting like this, that you informed me beforehand." A deprecating smile. "As a mother, I do still worry about my children, whatever their age. You will both do this for me in future?"

"Of course, mother."

"As you wish, ma'am."

"Then, I assume you were on your way to your suites. I shall not keep you."

~o~O~o~

Since she had already spent time that day with Snep, Garia did not exercise him in the afternoon but instead went to the laboratory and continued Tarvan's electrical education. Master Hurdin was also there, taking an order for a quantity of glass vessels of a certain shape and size, with an added warning that if the experiments succeeded then the demand for such vessels would suddenly increase greatly... Hurdin left, shaking his head.

Evening came, and Garia changed and went down for dinner.

"My dear," Robanar greeted her, "meet Captain Forbarin of the Ferenis militia. Forbarin, this is Lady Garia, Baroness Blackstone, of whom we spoke earlier."

Forbarin gave her an elaborate bow. "Delighted to meet you, milady."

He was a man in his late thirties to early forties, sandy hair, blue eyes. Not too tall or muscular, but Garia realized with a shock that he had probably suffered during his enforced trip down the river. He had lost some weight, that was obvious, and perhaps he was not as old as he looked.

"Thank you, captain. Have you recovered from your ordeal?"

"The physical effects, milady, have mostly been taken care of, but I fear that it will take my men and myself some time to adjust after the horror of our journey. And of course Draybur and his wife Notara, without whom we would certainly have been killed. They both showed an uncommon strength in the face of dire adversity."

"Shall we be seated?" Robanar said. "My dear," he added to Garia, "I would like you to speak with Forbarin later, in my parlor. We should not speak of such matters at table."

"As you desire, Your Majesty."

Terys had separated Keren and Garia, and Garia didn't want to contribute much at the meal, so she listened while Merizel talked to Forbarin across the table. It appeared there were similarities between where Merizel had been brought up and the area of Ferenis where the captain and his men had ended up, so they spoke of such matters, only briefly touching upon what had happened to the militia men.

Afterwards Garia and Keren joined Robanar, Terys, Merek and Forbarin in the parlor. The captain then recounted his tale for his new listeners.

"It sounds like you were lucky to escape with your lives, captain," she told him when he had finished. "When those Yodans came across you, again when the boat hit the sandbank and again when you drifted downriver. If you had not found that plank, you'd have reached the coast and been swept out to sea. In this weather, no-one would have noticed you."

"As you say, milady. But so many of my men were lost in any case, I must bear that misfortune now as long as I live."

"You cannot blame yourself, Forbarin," Robanar said. "Once upon the river, your fate was not your own."

"Aye, Sire. But it was still hard, to see them swept away, and the rest of us still fighting for our lives."

"So, tell Milady Garia what you told us earlier, if you would."

Forbarin turned to Garia. "Milady, I have been told some of your story, and it troubles me greatly."

"How so, captain?"

"It may explain certain... occurrences... we have noticed since the Yodans invaded, milady. The unusual time of year, the disposition of their troops, even their clothing, nothing is as it had been before this summer."

"How so, captain?" she asked again.

"Their clothing, for example, milady. You understand that the armies of each country must perforce choose different colors for their gear, so that each may recognize the other, either as friend or foe?" Garia nodded. "This time, the Yodans wore different gear, in a mixture of brown and green, with scraps of cloth of other shades sewn randomly over their uniforms. We could not understand it at first, but realized that it meant they were harder to see when in the field."

"Camouflage!"

"I do not know that word, milady, but it is apparent that you know what it refers to." Forbarin nodded to himself. "Perhaps this lends weight to the rumors." He looked at her. "I understand that you are not originally from Anmar, though you now speak our tongue like a native born."

"That is true, captain. I come from a country called Kansas, on a world called Earth. I have been here perhaps four months."

He nodded again. "There are rumors in the countries about our own... that a person came to the Valley some months ago, from somewhere else entirely, and that person ended up in Yod. That the changes we see in the behavior of those of Yod is due to knowledge which has been provided by - or extracted from - this person." He paused. "Then we had more rumors that another person had appeared and ended up in Palarand."

"That would be me, all right."

"I should emphasize, milady, that we have no reason to believe that the original rumors were true. If they are true, we do not even know if this other person is a man or a woman. I must say that I was surprised when I first met you, to discover how young you were." He shook his head. "The original rumor may even have grown out of your own appearance. It was ever the need of Yod to be the leader in any new thing that happened in the Valley, as most here will already know."

"I can understand that, captain. When I first came, some thought me a witch, some thought I had flown in on the back of a ptuvil. I am none of those things, I am just someone ordinary who has been caught up in something I don't understand, trying to adapt to a new world." She looked at Robanar. "Sire, have you told him about the incident in the night yet?"

Robanar scowled. "I have not, milady. Perhaps it is relevant, since it is apparent those of Yod wished to lay hands on you, and you had barely been in Palarand a week. Keren? You were with her, perhaps you should tell the tale."

"As you wish, father." Keren explained what had happened that night, starting with the sudden desire of the Resident for an audience. Forbarin was astonished, both by the blatant disregard for hospitality and by the actions Garia had taken to escape. When Keren had finished he nodded thoughtfully.

"So, Sire, it appears that this rumor of Yod is all fabrication, to save face perhaps."

"Perhaps not, captain," Garia disagreed. "I didn't teach the Yodans about camouflage, that I can guarantee. If I didn't do it, then who did?"

Merek spoke for the first time. "It is always possible, milady, as you have told us before, that the development of camouflage occurred naturally. After all, it did so on Earth, did it not?"

Forbarin was puzzled. "Forgive me, Sire, but I do not understand. Why would a maiden like Milady Garia know so much about military matters?"

Keren gave him a wide grin as he replied, "Garia is a warrior born, captain. She has revealed to us two fighting techniques previously unknown to us and even today was being fitted for a sword, such that she may fight while riding."

"And," Robanar added, "On her own world she was not a maiden."

Now Forbarin was plainly astonished, and the meeting went on late as they explained more of Garia's strange past and knowledge to him. At the end he was a very worried man.

"Sire, I really hope that those of Yod do not have one such as Milady Garia here under their control. If what you have told me this evening holds true for the other person, then the Valley is due for the worst war any of us have ever seen, and none of the countries round about will be prepared in the slightest."

"I do not think it will come to that, Captain Forbarin," Robanar told him, "but we do not discount the possibility. That is why we have taken a different approach with Milady Garia. She gives us freely of her knowledge and in return we are guided by her suggestions." He considered. "I will make an offer of assistance to Ferenis if that is what is required. The peace of the Valley is better protected in our hands than the hands of those of Yod."

Forbarin stood and bowed. "You are gracious, Sire, to a country far away from your own. It is news that will hearten all at home - once I eventually return, of course."

"Yes, of course." Robanar frowned. "You would have to travel by road - assuming that you are yet fit enough, Forbarin - and the journey may take you twelve to twenty days, assuming the weather improves and that there has been no storm damage along your way. Shall you and your companions stay longer with us, Forbarin? We see no need for you to hurry home until you are all fit enough."

"You are gracious, Sire. I will accept, we will stay until we are all recovered."

"As soon as the Valley Messenger Service restarts we shall send word of your survival to Ferenis."

"Thank you, Sire."

~o~O~o~

There are more like me!

We-ell, there might be another one, at least.

She shivered under the bed-sheet.

He's in the hands of Yod, though. I'm darn glad I didn't end up there. What must he be going through?

Wait a minute. I'm assuming that it is a he. Supposing he's a she? Either a real one, or a swap-over like what happened to me?

She turned, restless. The rain had temporarily ceased, and the evening was filled with the sound of drips from the tiles into the guttering.

Back up, guy. You're making assumptions again, and you know what happens when you make assumptions, don't you?

You're only inferring that there's someone else here, because of the camouflage. As Merek said, it might be a normal development. Okay, suppose there is someone. That doesn't mean he... or she came from Earth, does it? For all I know this menagerie here on Anmar has been assembled from many different worlds. Any one of which might have developed camouflage, thinking about it.

For all I know this is still all happening inside my head, and the hint of someone else is just to give me a false sense of... what, exactly? A way to get home? Why do I need a way to get home?

She lay there thinking, as the new idea slowly unfolded into her mind.

I'm not sure I want to go home, now. Yeah, it would be great to see Mom and Dad again, and there are friends I could have long conversations with... but I realize that I've become content to be here, now. This is a really interesting place to be, and there's a lot to do, and I guess that now I've started I want to see the job through. I've made real friends now, and I'm doing things I could never in my wildest dreams have thought of doing before I came.

The last few days have finally made me realize... I'm a girl. I've begun to think like a girl, and I find I really don't mind that there are things I can't do any more, because there are more things I can do the way I am. Finding out that I wanted Keren was... painful, but forced me to realize that I have feelings for him which only a girl could have. He doesn't repel me the way a guy would have back home, quite the opposite, in fact.

I still don't quite look at men the way Merizel does, but then she's had more practice than I have. There's going to be a man in my future life, I'm certain of it.

I just wish that it could have been Keren...