Free The Walls of Byzantium by James Heneage Page B

on its neck and it whinnied in reply.
    By her side rode Damian, looking bored and hungover from the revels of the previous night; Simon Laskaris had not stinted on either the quality or quantity of his wine. Damian had shownhimself even less congenial drunk than when sober. This morning, he had yet to speak.
    Anna refused to be affected by his mood, having resolved, on waking, to make the best of her situation. She’d also decided not to make all of the conversational running, having exhausted so many avenues the evening before.
    Instead she talked to Alexis, who rode at her other side, and considered the countryside around her, so green and buxom in these first weeks of spring. The Vale of Sparta had recovered quickly from the ravages visited on it by the Turks and bounty was everywhere. New fields of wheat and corn were beginning their rise into the gold of harvest and fat oxen pulled blades through the rich soil.
    Soon they met a caravan making its way towards Mistra and Anna remembered that the Spring Fair was to take place later in the week in the open ground before the city. The mules appeared to be laden with small jars of different coloured ointments packed into crates that swayed with the movement of the beasts. The last was ridden by a cheerful fat man who waved at their passing. Anna guessed him to be quack who would proclaim the miracles of his virility potions from a box while the wives of Mistra giggled like virgins. She’d enjoyed the spectacle before.
    She was so lost in her thoughts that it took a moment for her to realise that Damian was finally speaking to her.
    ‘I’m sorry. What did you say?’
    ‘I merely remarked that you ride well.’
    This was the first compliment Damian had paid her and she coloured with pleasure. ‘Thank you,’ she said simply. ‘As do you.’
    Damian nodded. ‘Of course,’ he continued, gesturing atAnna’s palfrey, ‘not to ride such a horse well would be difficult. It’s one of our best.’
    Anna snorted. She looked around her. Behind were four boys of about her age, all big and blond. One had his head thrown back in laughter.
    ‘Are all these horses bred by your family?’
    Damian followed her gaze, turning in his saddle. ‘Yes, and they are all fine, obedient horses, well trained. Except that one.’
    Anna looked in the direction of his pointing figure and saw a magnificent horse of some size, which looked temperamental but seemed to be well controlled. Her gaze rested for a moment on the rider. He was the one that had been laughing. He was fair, blue-eyed and strikingly handsome. For a moment, their eyes met. He smiled.
    ‘That was the horse that nearly killed me,’ Damian was saying with feeling. ‘I’d like to see it dead but my father judges it will fetch a high price one day.’
    ‘Dead?’ said Alexis. ‘But it’s beautiful!’
    Damian reined in his horse. He was staring darkly at Alexis. ‘Laskaris, do you think you’ve come far enough? Might you not be needed in Mistra for something?’
    The river where they were to part was over a mile away.
    Alexis began to reply but stopped when Anna shot him a glance. She looked back at Damian.
    ‘Alexis was to accompany me to the river, lord. However, you’re right. He might find better entertainment in Mistra.’
    Damian scowled and turned his horse. He nodded at Alexis and rode on.
    Brother and sister looked at each other. Anna pressed her lips together. She would not cry. ‘Goodbye, Alexis.’
    ‘Anna, I can continue …’
    ‘No. Just go. I’ll be fine. I’ll see you at the wedding.’
    She moved her horse to stand against his. She leant forward and kissed him on the forehead. He felt a tear on his cheek.
    ‘Goodbye, Alexis.’

    Luke was enjoying the ride. He’d never visited Mistra before, nor the great castle at Geraki where they’d broken their outward journey and were to sleep again that night.
    Most of all, though, he was overjoyed to be riding Eskalon, as he’d named the stallion.
    When