“Merlin!” I heard Luke call, but my attention was nearer at hand. I advanced slowly, not wanting to upset him further. “Are you all right?”
I had simply put in an order for a horse. Any old hay burner would have served, for purposes of keeping up with my companions.
I found myself looking at an absolutely lovely animal-black and orange-striped like a tiger. In this, he resembled Glemdenning with his red and black striping. In that I didn’t know where Benedict’s mount came from either, I was glad to let it be the place of magic.
I advanced slowly.
“Merle! Anything wrong?”
I didn’t want to shout back a reply and frighten the poor beast. I placed my hand gently upon his neck.
“It’s okay,” I said. “I like you. I’ll undo it and we’ll be friends, all right?”
I took my time untangling the reins, using my other hand to massage his neck and shoulders. When he was free he did not pull away, but seemed to study me.
“Come on,” I said, taking up the reins, “this way.”
I led him back the way I had come, talking the while. I realized by the rime we emerged that I actually liked him. I met Luke about then, a blade in his hand.
“My God!” he said. “No wonder it took you so long! You stopped to paint it!”
“You like, huh?”
“You ever want to get rid of that one, I’ll make you a good offer.”
“I don’t think I’ll be getting rid of him,” I said.
“What’s his name?”
“Tiger,” I said without premeditation, and then I mounted.
We headed back to the trail, where even Dalt eyed my mount with something like pleasure. Nayda reached out and stroked the black and orange mane.
“Now we may be able to make it in time,” she said, “if we hurry.”
I mounted, and I guided Tiger over onto the trail. I anticipated all manner of reactions to the trail, as I recalled from my father’s story the possibly intimidating effects of the thing upon animals. It didn’t seem to bother him, though, and I released the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
“In time for what?” I asked as we found a formation-Luke in the lead, Dalt behind him and to the right, Nayda to the left of the trail, rear, me to her right and somewhat back.
“I cannot tell for certain,” she said, “because she is still sedated. However, I do know that she is no longer being moved; and I have the impression that her abductors have taken refuge in the tower, where the trail is much wider.”
“Hm,” I said. “You wouldn’t have happened to notice the rate of change in width per unit of distance traveled on this trail, would you?”
“I was in liberal arts,” she said, smiling. “Remember.”
She turned suddenly then, glancing in Luke’s direction. He was still an entire horse’s length ahead, eyes front-though he had looked back moments before.
“Damn you!” she said softly. “Being with you both this way gets me to thinking about school. Then I start talking that way-“
“In English,” I said.
“Did I say that in English?”
“Yes.”
“Shit! Help me if you catch me at it, will you?”
“Of course,” I said. “It seems to show you’d enjoyed it somewhat, despite its being a job Dara’d laid on you. And you’re probably the only ty’iga with a degree from Berkeley.”
“Yes, I enjoyed it-confused as I was over which of you was which. Those were the happiest days in my life, with you and Luke, back in school. For years I tried to learn your mothers’ names so I’d know who I was supposed to be protecting. You were both so cagey, though.”
“It’s in the genes, I guess,” I observed. “I enjoyed your company as Vinta Bayle-appreciated your protection as others, too.”
“I suffered,” she said, “when Luke began his yearly attempts on your life. If he were the son of Dara I was supposed to protect, it shouldn’t have mattered. But it did. I was already very fond of both of you. All I could tell was that you were both of the blood of Amber. I didn’t want either of you harmed. The hardest thing was when you went away, and I was sure Luke had lured you into the mountains of New Mexico to kill you. By then, I suspected very strongly that you were the one, but I was not certain. I was in love with Luke, I had taken over the body of Dan Martinez, and I was carrying a pistol. I followed you everywhere I could, knowing that if he tried to harm you the geas I was under would force me to shoot the man I loved.”