remain intact. She resolved to put her father’s worries to
rest. She would bear the burden for these responsibilities,
but on her own terms.
It was now imperative that Tearsong help her bring
Riverwind to the true religion of the Que-shu. If the warrior
became a believer, her father could have no strong objection
to their union. She was confident that Loreman and Hollow-
sky would be no match for her with Riverwind by her side.
The princess was dressed in her riding leathers of
doeskin when Clearwing and Starflower finally came in to
attend her. She had already packed up her own bedroll for
travel.
“Forgive us for keeping you waiting, mistress,”
Clearwing begged.
“It is of no matter, Clearwing,” Goldmoon said softly.
“I rose very early. Just do my hair quickly. I’m anxious to be
off.”
The very first golden rays of morning lit the grasslands
as Chieftain’s Daughter stepped from her lodge to begin her
journey to speak with her gods. Many villagers had turned
out to see her off, despite the early hour. Riverwind held her
horse’s reins and stroked the animal’s forehead. Hollow-sky
stepped forward.
“Allow me to help you up, Princess.”
Goldmoon paused. Her father watched them, looking
older and more tired than she had ever seen him look
before. She could make his life and her own much simpler.
Hollow-sky’s hand reached out for her own.
What kind of goddess has no pride? she thought. She
turned a withering look on Hollow-sky and said in a frigid
tone, “I’ve been riding horses since before I could walk! Do
I look as if I need help, Hollow-sky, son of Loreman?” She
grabbed her horse’s mane and pulled herself onto its back.
Hollow-sky and Riverwind mounted their own beasts
while Clearwing and Starflower climbed into a small cart
driven by Clearwing’s younger brother.
Without warning, a flutter of dark wings swooped
down on the princess. Goldmoon felt a pinch at her scalp.
She cried out more from surprise than pain. Glancing up,
she saw a huge raven circling overhead, cawing fiercely,
waiting for another opportunity to strike.
“It is an evil omen!” Loreman cried.
“Nonsense,” Riverwind countered. The bird plunged
again at the princess, but a twang of a bow put an arrow
through its breast, and it dropped to the ground with a thud.
A boy in the crowd retrieved it and handed it up to
Riverwind, for it had been the shepherd’s arrow that felled
the creature.
“You are a very quick notch and aim,” Goldmoon
complimented him.
Riverwind smiled at her.
“It is an omen,” Loreman repeated more loudly, “of
war!”
“Just a crow” – Riverwind laughed – “that wanted to
steal the princess’s shiny treasure.” Carefully he drew out
several strands of long, golden hair clenched in the bird’s
claws. He held them up for the crowd to see. “Wealth
beyond any man’s dreams,” he called out. “Who can blame
the poor crow?”
The crowd laughed, and as the sun shone even brighter,
the evil feeling was dispelled. The crowd cheered as the
party left, Goldmoon in the lead.
When the near-silent party crossed into lands the Que-
shu shared with other tribes – sometimes disputed over –
Hollow-sky took the point, which he considered his by his
superior rank, while Riverwind rode behind the princess.
As they settled into their new positions, Goldmoon held
her horse back from Hollow-sky’s and signaled for
Riverwind to ride alongside her. She saw that the raven was
strapped to his saddlebag.
“What are you going to do with that bird?”
Riverwind grinned. “Later, we will see if it is good
eating. Some of them are, you know.”
Goldmoon shook her head. It was not a dish she had
ever been served. Noticing then that the Plainsman had her
strands of stolen hair still wrapped about his fingers, she
gave a slight, hastily concealed smile.
Riverwind looked down at his hand to see what made
her smile. “Stolen gold,” he murmured, flushing. “These are
yours, I believe, lady,” he said, untangling the golden
threads from his fingers and leaning over to hand them to
her.
Goldmoon took the hair carefully.
“It is a lovely color.” Greatly daring, he reached over to