Wolf Hunting

by Jane Lindskold

  "Ambassador Sailor," the butler said, "Lady Archer, Sir Jared, and Lady Blysse have requested permission to join you and Counselor Derian. Shall I tell them you will see them when your repast is concluded?"

  "Send them in," Ambassador Sailor said, pushing his plate away. "My appetite is shot. Never happened at sea. Diplomacy is rougher on my gut than any storm. Have dessert brought in and enough plates for my other guests."

  "Very good, sir," the butler said. He paused long enough to gather the used plates before going out, his way of expressing disapproval, or so Derian supposed.

  The other three - or rather four, for Blind Seer was with Firekeeper, even though the butler had not thought to announce him - came in soon after. Even Firekeeper accepted a chair at the table, a sure sign that she was aware of the tension. She seemed confused, frowning slightly as she looked at Elise and Doc, and from this Derian thought that her interview had - for some reason - gone no better than his own.

  "Ambassador Sailor," Elise began after the usual courtesies had been exchanged and dessert served around, "I take it that you are aware that Lady Blysse plans to journey into southern Liglim and possibly beyond."

  "That's what Counselor Derian tells me. He also tells me that she plans to strip my embassy when she goes."

  Elise smiled. "Not quite, but she did ask Sir Jared and me if we would be able to come with her."

  "Strip my embassy," the ambassador repeated.

  "Sir," Elise said, "did it occur to you that this mission is, in its own strange way, a diplomatic one?"

  "What? I thought you folks would be haring off after some wild goal of Lady Blysse's - excuse me, of Lady Blysse's and the jaguar's."

  "I won't deny that the expedition is prompted by their needs," Elise replied smoothly. "However, that does not change the fact that if they go into the southern city-states, as I have been led to believe is almost certain, Lady Blysse is likely to be the first northerner to do so. Tell me, sir, do you really wish Firekeeper to be thought of as a typical representative of Bright Haven?"

  Ambassador Sailor gaped, then he grinned, his more usual good humor resurfacing. "I hadn't thought of it that way. You're right. She would be a very, uh, shall we say 'atypical' representative."

  "And more importantly," Elise said, "although Firekeeper has been a fine ally of our people, she is not really of our people - for all she comes of our stock."

  Ambassador Sailor did not need any explanation. "Again, I admit that you have a point, a good one, Lady Archer. Still, I am reluctant to give up all three of you. You've just proven how valuable you can be - and that you will be more so as you adjust to local customs and language."

  "That's all right," Elise said calmly, looking over at

  Derian with a slight smile. "Sir Jared and I won't be going, but we would like to beg you to consider releasing Counselor Derian to do so."

  Suddenly, Derian understood the odd look on Firekeeper's face. Elise must have told the wolf-woman that she and Doc couldn't go, but quite clearly, she hadn't explained why. His supposition was supported a moment later, for Firekeeper, who had been methodically eating melon while she listened, now put a slice down half-eaten.

  "Will you tell why not now?" she growled, her voice husky. "I try to say why we need you so much. What is more important?"

  Elise answered with two simple words: "Our baby."

  The room was quiet for a moment, then Firekeeper broke the silence with what had to be the first girlish squeal Derian had ever heard from her.

  "Baby?" the wolf-woman said. "Yours? Yours and Doc's?"

  "That's right," Elise said, laughing just a little. "Mine and Doc's. We weren't going to say anything until I started really showing, but then this came up ... We felt we had to explain."

  Doc leaned forward. "We'd appreciate if none of you said anything. The first trimester is the time when a miscarriage is most likely to happen, and with Elise's family history the odds for Elise's carrying to term aren't good."

  Ambassador Sailor looked a trace confused. Derian remembered the man wasn't from Hawk Haven, and so couldn't be expected to know the traits of the various Great Houses. Derian started explaining to save Elise and Doc the need to discuss such an unlucky subject.

  "Elise's mother was a Wellward," Derian explained. "There's a reason Elise is an only child. The family has long been cursed with difficulty in bearing healthy children."

  "Wellward," Ambassador Sailor said. "I remember the name now. Queen Elexa of Hawk Haven was born a Well-ward. Didn't she have three healthy children?"

  "Three," Derian agreed, "and ruined her health doing so. She's younger than King Tedric, but looks older. Elise's parents decided not to take any risks after Elise was born, saving Lady Aurella's health at the cost of security of their line. Elise's 'sister' Deste is actually her first cousin."

  Firekeeper was staring at Doc with gravity at odds with her previous enthusiasm. As soon as Derian stopped speaking, Firekeeper let loose.

  "But, Doc, you will keep Elise safe," Firekeeper said, her voice tight with urgency. "Elise and the baby both. You stayed in New Kelvin to learn the lore. You know how."

  "I'll try," Doc said. "I'll try my very best to keep them safe. The doctor's first order is that Elise does not go riding off into the unknown. His second order is that he stays right with her so if something does go wrong, he can try and fix it."

  Firekeeper nodded. "Yes. Elise not come. Not with a pup ... a baby coming. How soon will it come?"

  Doc hid a trace of embarrassment beneath a manner suddenly very professional. "We, uh, estimate that the baby was conceived on the voyage here, so the moon will turn - we are hoping - seven or eight times before the baby is born. Elise was certainly not pregnant when we left."

  "Not much else to do at sea," Ambassador Sailor said with easy understanding. "Well, congratulations to you both, and congratulations to me for getting to keep two such fine advisors."

  Firekeeper growled, "Advise, yes. No too much work."

  The wolf-woman's mien was threatening, her hand drifting toward the knife she always wore at her waist. Ambassador Sailor was completely taken aback.

  "I, of course, I..."

  His words trailed off and Elise took over.

  "Firekeeper, I promise I will be careful. Doc has talked to a lot of midwives since he began his research, and just about all of them agreed that healthy exercise and something of interest are the best things for a pregnant woman. There's a great deal of difference between working around the embassy here and riding cross-country to an unknown destination."

  Firekeeper nodded acceptance of this, but the glance she shot the ambassador as much as said that if anything happened to Elise's pregnancy, he'd better have good references or be far away when she returned.

  Derian had to admit he was amused, but he did his best to hide it. Being threatened by Firekeeper was not in the least amusing if you were on the receiving end.

  "You said 'keep two,'" Derian said to the ambassador. "That is, when you were offering congratulations to Elise and Doc. Does that mean?"

  Ambassador Sailor turned to Derian with evident relief. "Yes. I'm going to take Lady Archer's advice and release you from service here to accompany the jaguar Truth and Lady Blysse on this expedition. You would be a good first contact from Bright Haven to any of the city-states. You're already multilingual, know something of the customs, and all mat."

  And, Derian thought, seeing the ambassador shoot an almost imperceptible glance over at Firekeeper, I don't tend to threaten people as a first line of diplomacy.

  Aloud he said, "Thank you, sir. If you would detach me as early as tomorrow, I will ride to u-Bishinti and consult with Varjuna and Zira - that is, the iridisdu and one of the kidisdu of the Horse - regarding appropriate mounts for our expedition."

  "By all means," Ambassador Sailor replied. "If you would do me the favor of making yourself available to me or my personal secretary if you have free time before you leave, I would be grateful. You have been
handling so many small details. We need to assure a smooth transition."

  Derian made his nod a slight bow as well. "I won't leave you stranded, Ambassador. I promise."

  Firekeeper looked around the room, her gaze resting with pleased benevolence on Doc and Elise.

  "Many promises, today," she said. "Now let us go keep them."

  DESPITE FIREKEEPER'S IMPATIENT HOPE that they could be on their way quickly, Truth knew that days would pass before everything was ready. A message was sent over to the maimalodalum, asking them to nominate one of their number to accompany the expedition. The maimalodalum were assured that all efforts would be made to keep the candidate hidden - and promised that if the maimalodalu was discovered, it would be represented as a unique creature, not one of a community. Truth thought the maimalodalum would agree to send someone, but she did not use her divination to discover ho was most likely. Despite her attempts to appear nonchalant regarding the risk she was taking, she did not care increase the probability that she would find herself owing into insanity. Moreover, the Voice did start talking to her as soon as she tentatively dipped her muzzle into the waters where omens took shape.

  "I told you it wouldn't work," he said. "Didn't I? Why don't you accept that I mean you no harm?"

  "No harm," Truth hissed, "but maybe no good either."

  "Can we at least agree that in this matter our paths march side by side?" the Voice said in a conciliatory fashion.

  "Jaguars do not march side by side with any."

  "Pick another metaphor, then," the Voice said. "I mean you no harm. Yes, as you suspect, I have reasons for wanting you to find those two people - but since you want to find them, what of it?"

  Truth couldn't find a reason to disagree. "So, where are they?"

  The Voice sounded apologetic. "I don't see things quite you do. I can't give a name or address - at least not now. This may change. What I can tell you is that you won't find them in Liglim. They're from one of the bordering city-states."

  "Which?"

  "I told you. I don't know. Truth, you're probably the first person I've been able to talk with in centuries. Most of the communication I manage I perform through dreams or visions. You meet me, well, call it halfway, though we'd be pushed to say halfway between where and where. I'll be sort of coming with you on this journey, and just as the maimalodalum - a great idea bringing one along - can sense magic, I'll be able to sense other things."

  Truth's tail lashed. "And why is it so important to you that we find these? Are they like Dantarahma and this Melina - gone rabid because of your dreams and vision?"

  The Voice laughed, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Let me keep that to myself for a while. It will keep you interested."

  Truth snarled, but she had to admit the Voice was right. Even if he had told her why he wanted them to find these two, she wouldn't have believed him. Moreover, why he wanted them - or who they were - mattered very little to her. What Truth wanted was the Voice, and she was certain that if she walked this trail far enough, she would find him.

  And then, she promised herself, she would kill him.

  THE DAY FOLLOWING THE MEETING with Ambassador Sailor, Derian insisted that Firekeeper accompany him when he went to u-Bishinti.

  "After all," he said, "you're a great part of the problem. Grey Patience isn't here to be bullied into submission, and I'm not sure that Varjuna would approve of such treatment of his animals."

  Firekeeper shrugged, but she didn't refuse. There wasn't much to do around the embassy. The maimalolum would certainly take some time deciding who Mild be best to send on the expedition - if they agreed all. She might as well go into the countryside with Derian.

  Derian's mount was a splashy bay paint named Prahini, "Rainbow" in Liglimosh. She was a young mare, lacking the steadiness and ready contempt that had permitted Derian's earlier mount, Roanne, to come to some sort of agreement with Firekeeper and Blind Seer. Initially, Firekeeper offered to go overland and meet Derian at u-Bishinti. He refused her offer.

  "I don't doubt that you could get there before us, even beat us there if you put your mind to it" "Feet," Firekeeper teased. "Not mind."

  "Whichever," Derian replied, refusing to be distracted.

  "I want to see how long it takes for Prahini to adjust to our and Blind Seer's company. She was locally born, after all, and the Liglimom do make some effort to accustom their horses to large predators. Thing is, there's only so much that can be done without making the horses vulnerable."

  "Remember how you thought the horses were meant to eaten the first time you saw them?" Blind Seer reminded. "These Wise Beasts, at least those that live on the mainland, do not have an easy time, do they?"

  Firekeeper grinned at him, but she could see Derian's point. All the way down to u-Bishinti, she ran alongside Prahini, keeping where the mare could see her and grow accustomed to her scent. Blind Seer did the same, staying a bit farther out. A year spent running with the wolves had put Firekeeper in excellent condition, and as Derian was not one to tire his horse unduly, the wolf-woman was able to set-into the mile-eating jog that enabled the wolves to over long distances without evident effort. They arrived in u-Bishinti midmorning, dusty and ready for something to drink, but none of them very tired. Immediately upon arrival, they were met by an older man almost as tall as Derian. He was broad-shouldered, with heavy, bowed legs that spoke of much time in the saddle.

  The woman with him also showed the signs of being a rider, but life had altered her figure in other ways. She was broad in the hip, heavy in the breasts, marked in a dozen small ways as a mother.

  "Will Elise look so?" Firekeeper wondered to Blind Seer.

  "I think not," the wolf replied. "This is not a woman to struggle and the while a baby pushes forth. This woman is made for easy bearing. I can see why her mate values her."

  Firekeeper gave the woman another look. This was Zira, a kidisdu of the Horse. The man was Varjuna, the ikidisdu, or One, of this place. It was clear in a hand of small ways that Varjuna did value Zira, but Firekeeper thought it was for more than breeding purposes.

  Zira was not an attractive woman, not even what Firekeeper had heard politely termed "handsome." She was almost ugly, with stained teeth and more breadth to her figure than even childbearing could account for. What transformed her from ugliness into something very like beauty was a contagious vitality.

  Firekeeper had met both Varjuna and Zira a time or two before, for they were among Derian's closest friends among the Liglimom, but she did not know them well. Wolfishly polite, she hung back, letting greetings between friends go uninterrupted, knowing she would not be long forgotten - if for no other reason than she and Blind Seer were unsettling some of the nearby horses.

  "Don't be shy, Lady Blysse," Zira said, motioning for Firekeeper to come join them. Something about the twinkle in her eyes made Firekeeper think the other woman didn't think her in the least shy. "Derian has been telling us of your upcoming expedition. We're going to need your help on the next part."

  Derian had left Prahini in the care of one of the local grooms, and now they walked toward a place that smelled promisingly of food. To Firekeeper's satisfaction, they stopped long enough to wash the dust from their throats and satisfy their appetites with some slow-grilled lamb wrapped in bread.

  The matter of outfitting the expedition was resumed as soon as the last bite was swallowed.

  "How did you manage with the horses on your other journeys?" Varjuna asked.

  "I tell them," Firekeeper said, "I eat them if they trouble me. They believe. Later, when maybe they not believe, there is one or two who not care or not scare so much - Roanne this last."

  She managed this explanation half in Pellish, half in Liglimosh, with Derian providing translation. Derian also translated whenever he thought Firekeeper might be missing some element of the mostly Liglimosh conversation.

  "So can you talk to horses?" Varjuna asked.

  "Not really, not Cousins," Firekeeper said. "To Wise Ho
rses, this would be different."

  "I see," Varjuna said. "So you essentially intimidated the others."

  "Yes. They are very like prey, and they know this."

  "I suppose the same tactic would work..." Varjuna began dubiously.

  "But I hate the idea of sending any of our horses out under such horrible conditions," Zira protested.

  "I do, too, my dear," Varjuna agreed. "However, they adjust in a few days, when they realize that she doesn't really mean it."

  "But what if something happens before then?" Zira protested. "A storm or something else that sets them off? Not only would they be a hazard to themselves, they might well throw their riders. As I understand what Derian was telling us earlier, the horses in Earl Kestrel's expedition had time to get accustomed to Blind Seer's scent."

  "That's right," Derian said. "They probably knew he was out there before we did. He and Firekeeper kept their secret until we had crossed the Iron Mountains."

  "After that," Zira persisted, "Derian's Roanne was always there to provide a balance - an example that... Well, not that there was nothing to be afraid of but..."

  "She provided an example of courage," Derian suggested. "Horse herds are led by the mares, after all. Roanne acted as herd mare, and the rest followed her lead."

  "That's it," Zira said. "However, your group wouldn't have time to get slowly accustomed to the idea of traveling with wolves and jaguars."

  "And Prahini won't make a herd mare," Derian said, "not for a while yet. She has potential, but she's young and flighty at times."

  Firekeeper didn't mention that the horses would have more to put up with than just her, Blind Seer, and Truth. Who knew what type of maimalodalu would join them? There was not a one among those hybrid people who would smell like anything else in nature.

  All this time, they had been walking, looking at the horses. U-Bishinti, or the Stable, was more than a horse facility, it was a living temple to horses.

  The Liglimom had great respect for all animals, wild and domestic, but the only domestic animal used for auguries and divination was the horse. For the Horse, the Liglimom had created a facility that defied Firekeeper's ability to comprehend it for complexity and vastness. She had heard Derian rhapsodize about u-Bishinti repeatedly - most recently, the evening before to Elise and Doc - so she simply took his word that if there was any place to be a horse, u-Bishinti was it.