Free Exile's Children by Angus Wells

the stream and skirted the edge of the Tachyn lodges. Bakaan said, “It is likely wiser she not attend. I hear that Vachyr and Chakthi spent the better part of this day skulking in Chakthi’s lodge.” He turned to study Rannach’s face. “You’ve made an enemy there, my brother.”
    â€œThose two,” Rannach said loftily, “are beneath my contempt.”
    â€œEven so.” Bakaan’s homely face grew serious. “A vicious dog is best watched, lest it creep up and bite you.”
    â€œOr slain,” Zhy muttered.
    â€œIs this why you escort me?” Rannach looked from one to the other, frowning. “Did my father ask this of you?”
    They looked a moment shamefaced. Zhy shook his head; Hadustan laughed nervously. Bakaan said, “No, not Racharran.”
    There was something hesitant about his answer and Rannach demanded: “Who, then?”
    Bakaan licked his lips and said, “It was your mother.”
    Rannach snorted. Hadustan said, “She’d not see her son harmed. And we know how fragile you are; so when she asked us, how could we refuse?”
    â€œYour mother,” said Zhy, “is very persuasive.”
    â€œAnd most careful of her son’s health,” said Bakaan. “Now, my own would never show such care for me. Why, did I walk in your boots, I think she’d send me into the Tachyn camp with her blessing.”
    Rannach swung up hand in mock attack. Bakaan aped terror as Zhy laughed and Hadustan said, “We told her a warrior so mighty as you knows no fear, that Vachyr will likely hide behind lodge flap at your passing. But you know what mothers are.”
    â€œAnd fathers,” Rannach said, then shook his head resignedly and laughed. “So you
are
my bodyguard.”
    â€œYour devoted followers,” said Hadustan.
    â€œA guard of honor,” said Zhy.
    â€œThat you come to the Council as a new groom should,” said Bakaan, and flipped a finger against a brooch hard enough that Rannach winced. “Looking splendid.”
    Rannach said, “Gifts from Arrhyna’s parents,” and let his irritation fade away.
    They came to the camp’s center and eased through the outer throng to the fire circle. The talking was begun, Colun standing as he told his story, his people in a group amongst the senior warriors. Rannach saw his father seated beside Morrhyn, Yazte and Kahteney on one side of them, Tahdase and Isten on the other; then Juh and Hazhe, Chakthi and Hadduth. There was silence as the Grannach spoke, and for a while after he was done, still silence. It was as though his words imposed a weight on the night the Council found hard to bear.
    Then Juh spoke. “This is alarming news,” he said. Rannach wondered if the ancient dace wrinkled in concern or doubt.
    â€œIt is a matter hard of believing,” said Tahdase. “That a horde breaches the Maker’s wards?” He turned swiftly as Colun grunted. “It is no that I name our Grannach friend a liar, but this is unprecedented.”
    Chakthi said, “I find it hard to believe.”
    Rannach looked past the Tachyn akaman, thinking to see Vachyr standing close to his father. There was no sign of Chakthi’s son, and he wondered if Vachyr hid himself in shame. Then all his attention was focused on the Council as his own father spoke.
    â€œIt is surely,” Racharran said, “hard to believe. But that does not mean it is not true. I have no doubt but that Colun speaks the truth.”
    â€œNor I,” said Yazte. “And so it seems to me that our decision must be what we do about it.”
    â€œHow so?” Chakthi’s tone was a challenge. “Is it true, then some horde has come into the land of the People Beyond the Mountains. What concern is that of ours? We’ve no dealings with the Whaztaye. They are not our brothers—what is their fate to us?”
    â€œDid they enter the Whaztaye country