Katala put her hand upon Pug’s cheek, and he realized they were wet with tears, “I was so frightened for you,” he said.
“And I for you. I thought you’d be killed the way you came crashing into the Thün.” Then she was weeping. She came slowly into his arms. “I don’t know what I would do if you were killed.” Pug gripped her with all his strength. They sat that way for a few minutes, until Katala regained her composure. Gently pulling away from Pug, she said, “The estate is a shambles. Septiem will have a thousand things for us to do.” She began to stand, and Pug gripped her hand.
Rising before her he said, “I didn’t know, before I mean. I love you, Katala.”
She smiled at him, touching his cheek. “And I you, Pug.”
Their moment of discovery was interrupted by the appearance of the Lord of the Shinzawai and his younger son. Looking around, he surveyed the damage to his house as Kasumi rode around the corner, splattered in blood.
Kasumi saluted his father and said, “They have fled, I have ordered men dispatched to the northern watch forts. They must have overwhelmed one of the garrisons to have broken through.”
The Lord of the Shinzawai nodded he understood and turned to enter his house, calling for his First Adviser and his other senior servants to report the damage to him.
Katala whispered to Pug, “We’ll talk later,” and answered the hoarse shouts of the hadonra, Septiem. Pug joined Laurie, who had ridden up to Kasumi’s side.
The minstrel looked at the dead creatures on the ground and said, “What are they?”
Kasumi said, “Thün. They’re nomadic creatures of the northern tundra. We have forts along the foothills of the mountains separating our estates from their lands, at every pass. Once they roamed these ranges until we drove them north. Occasionally they seek to return to the warmer lands of the south.” He pointed to a talisman tied in the fur of one of the creatures. “This was a Blood Raid. They are all young males, unproved in their bands, without mates. They failed in the summer rites of combat and were banished from the herd by the stronger males. They had to come south, killing at least one Tsurani before they would be allowed to return to their band. Each would have to return with a Tsurani head, or not come back. It is their custom. Those who escaped will be hunted down, for they will not cross back to their home range.”
Laurie shook his head. “Does this happen often?”
“Every year,” said Hokanu with a wry smile. “Usually the watch forts turn them back, but it must have been a large herd this year. Many must have already returned to the north with heads taken from our men at the forts.”
Kasumi said, “They must have killed two patrols, as well.” He shook his head. “We’ve lost between sixty and a hundred men.”
Hokanu seemed to reflect his older brother’s unhappiness at the setback. “I will personally lead a patrol to see to the damage.”
Kasumi gave him permission, and he left Kasumi turned toward Laurie. “The horses?” Laurie pointed to where the stallion Pug had ridden stood watch over a small herd.
Suddenly Pug spoke up. “Kasumi, I do wish to ask your father permission to marry Katala.”
Kasumi’s eyes narrowed. “Listen well, Pug. I tried to instruct you, but you did not seem to catch my meaning. You are not of a subtle people. Now I will put it plainly. You may ask, but it will be refused.”
Pug began to object, but Kasumi cut him off. “I have said, you are impatient people. There are reasons. More I cannot say, but there are reasons, Pug.”
Anger flared in Pug’s eyes, and Kasumi said, in the King’s Tongue, “Say a word in anger within earshot of any soldier of this house, especially my brother, and you are a dead slave.”
Stiffly Pug said, “Your will, master.”
Witnessing the bitterness of Pug’s expression, Kasumi softly repeated, “There are reasons, Pug.” For a moment he was trying to be other than a Tsurani master, a friend trying to ease pain. He locked gaze with Pug, then a veil dropped over Kasumi’s eyes, and once more they were slave and master.
Pug lowered his eyes as was expected of a slave, and Kasumi said, “See to the horses.” He strode away, leaving Pug alone.