Free Voices by Ursula K. Le Guin

stays indoors in the house, like a virtuous woman. And your servant the lion trainer emerges from the wagon and comes with you to the Palace."
    He was obstinately shaking his head.
    "Orrec, I travelled as a man with you for two months all over Asudar! What on earth makes it impossible now?"
    "You'll be recognised. They saw you, Gry. They saw you as a woman."
    "All unbelievers look alike. And the Alds don't see women, anyhow."
    "They see women with lions who frighten their horses!"
    "Orrec, I am coming with you."
    He was so distressed that she went to him and held him, pleading and reassuring. "You know nobody in Asudar ever saw I was a woman except that old witch at the oasis, and she laughed about it. Remember? They won't know, they won't see, they can't see. I will not let you go alone. I can't. You can't. You need Shetar. And Shetar needs me. Let me go dress now—there's plenty of time. I won't ride, you ride and we'll walk with you, there'll be plenty of time. Won't there, Memer? How far is it to the Palace?"
    "Four street crossings and three bridges."
    "See? I'll be back in no time. Don't let him go without me!" she said to me and Gudit and Sosta and perhaps to the horse, and she ran off to the back of the house, Shetar loping along with her.
    Orrec walked to the gateway of the court and stood there straight and stiff, his back turned to us all. I felt sorry for him.
    "Stands to reason," Gudit said. "Murderous snakes they are in that Palace what they call it. Our Council House it was. Get over there, you!" The tall red horse looked at him with mild reproach and moved politely to the left.
    "What a beauty you are," I said to the horse, for he was. I patted his neck. "Brandy?"
    "Branty," Orrec said, coming back to us with an air of dignified defeat that you could see went right to Sosta's heart.
    "Ohhh," she said to Orrec, and then trying to cover it up, "oh, can I, can I get you a..." but she couldn't think of anything to get him.
    "He's a good old fellow," Orrec said, taking up Branty's reins. He made as if to mount, but Gudit said, "Hold on, wait a minute, have to look to the cinch here," getting between him and the horse and throwing the stirrup up over the saddle.
    Orrec gave up, and stood as patiently as the horse.
    "Have you had him a long time?" I asked, trying to make conversation and feeling as foolish as Sosta.
    "He's well over twenty. Time he had a rest from travelling. And Star as well." He smiled a little sadly. "We left the Uplands together—Branty and me, Star and Gry. And Coaly. Our dog. A good dog. Gry trained her."
    That got Gudit started off on the followhounds that used to live at Galvamand and he was still talking about them when Gry reappeared. She wore breeches
and a rough tunic. Men in Ansul wear their hair long, tied back, so she had merely combed out her braid and put on a worn black velvet cap. She had somehow darkened or roughened her chin. She had become a fellow of twenty-five or so, quick-eyed, shy, and sullen. "So, are we ready?" she said, and her soft, burry voice had changed, too, becoming hoarse.
    Sosta was staring at her, rapt. "Who are you?" she asked.
    Gry rolled her eyes and said, "Chy the lion tamer. So, Orrec?"
    He gazed at her, shrugged, laughed a little, and swung up onto the horse. "Come on, then!" he said and set right off, not looking back. She and the lion followed behind him. She looked back at me as they passed through the gate, and winked.
    "But where did he come from?" Sosta asked.
    "Merciful Ennu go with them, that nest of murderous rats and snakes they're going to," Gudit said hollowly, shuffling into the stable.
    I went in to look after the gods and the ancestors and find out what Ista needed from the market.

6
    Gudit told me that a messenger had come that morning from the Council House, which the Alds called the Palace of the Gand, to say Orrec Caspro was to wait upon the Gand before midday. Not saying please or why or anything, of course. So they went, and so we