Ehrik glowered a minute longer into Geros’ open, honest eyes, then, with a smile that was almost shy, he closed the gap between them, saying, “Freefighter, would you then hold my wife and hand her up to me, an’ I be mounted on your pretty mare? Ah … be you careful of her feet, man! She be … hurt.”
When Ehrik had swung up and was settled betwixt the high cantle and flaring pommel of the battle kak, Geros gingerly passed the feather-light girl back to him. The headman reined about, heading the mare toward the entry passage, then thrust his big, callused hand down to grip Geros1 own crushingly. Geros was shocked to see tears glistening in the deep-blue eyes of this man who had suffered so much so stoically.
“What be your name, Freefighter?” asked Ehrik huskily. “Geros Lahvoheetos, sir.”
The thick black brows rose perceptibly. “A Ehleenee Freefighter?”
Geros shook his helmeted head. “Fm not really a Freefighter, sir, though I’ve ridden with them much of late.”
“Well, Geros Lahvoheetos, be you whatever you be, you done been a good friend to me and my Mairee. When you need a friend, you yell for Ebrik Goontehros, an* sure as Sacred Sun’s a-comin’ at dawn, I’ll be with you. Heah?”
He trotted the mare to the mouth of the entry passage, one big arm steadying his wife on the mare’s withers. Then he reined about one last time and roared the length of the courtyard. “Cousin Hari, your lady warn*t dead, whin I left her. But I took sufferin’ price out’n her fat carcass, give her a good hidin’, I didl 111 git this here lil’ mare back here t’marra mornin*. An* you tek good care of Master Geros Lahvoheetos-he be a friend o* mine.”
And thus was that friendship which was to affect the lives of so many-noble and common, Kindred and Ehleenoee- born in the crowded, torchlit courtyard where the legend of Geros first began, with a mule and a spear.
CHAPTER VII
The city of Morguhnpolis had never before seen such activity. While about its walls camped near twenty thousand soldiers of the Confederation, the city itself housed the persons and retinues of High Lord Milo, High Lady Aldora, an arhkeethoheeks, no less than six thoheeksee, and scores of komeesee, vahrohnoee, vahrohneeskoee and untitled Kindred noblemen. Chief Hwahltuh of Sanderz and his clansmen lodged, too, in the city not because they liked city life-they one and all hated it!-but because the lovesmitten Hwahltuh had taken to heart the beauteous Mother Behrnees Morguhn’s parting admonition to “look out for our Bili.” Though, to the thinking of Clanbard Gil Sanderz, if any one of these mostly softer eastern Kindred definitely did not need the services of a bodyguard-much less a clan of them-it was that grim, stark warrior, Thoheeks Bili, Chief of Morguhn.
Awaiting the arrivals of the remaining three thoheeksee and certain other tardy nobles, Bili began to wonder if his duchy would be stripped bare in sustenance of the swelling hordes. One night in the soft bed he now shared with the Undying High Lady Aldora, he mindspoke of his apprehensions, and within a week, Confederation commissary wagons were stocking his larders to the very rafters. He remarked, lightly he thought, in her presence that it was a shame there were no more unemployed Freefighters about, as late arrivals would find themselves unable to field more than what swords they brought with them from their demesnes. Shortly, the north and east traderoads seemed to swarm with bands of Freefighters, ranging in size from two or three bravos to a score. Yet Bili knew that not even the legendary Confederation Gallopers could have so rapidly spread the word.
On the large bed in the sumptuous suite which had been Vahrohnos Myros* own while he had governed Morguhnpolis, Bili and Aldora lay entwined. The dim light thrown by the low lamps glinted on their sweat-shiny bodies. His long arms enfolded her, his thin, pale lips were locked to her full, dark ones, while the palms of her small, hard hands moved in lazy, sensuous circles on the fair, freckled skin of his thick-muscled back and wide, massive shoulders.