Sorrel In the Shadow of the Bear

Chapter One THE EMISSARY FROM THE STEPPES "I don't know who he is, but he's come about something important," saidClovermead. She squeezed Auroche with her knees, and her horse movedforward a few inches. "He's a Tansyard, so he looks a little like you,Sorrel. I saw him ride up to the Castle yesterday afternoon, and he's sixand a half feet if he's an inch, with a face like a marble statue. Theguards at the Castle door whisked him up to Mother's study, and I haven'tseen either of them since. I tiptoed to her doorway toward midnight, incase she'd left the door open, so I could peek in. She hadn't, but I sawlight under the door and heard them talking. He had a low voice like abull -- Auroche, what are you doing? Don't stop now." Auroche neighednervously and refused to budge. "He thinks you are not paying attention to your riding or to him," saidSorrel. He trod softly through the mud to Auroche, patted him a moment,then stepped away again. "He thinks your jaw is so busy moving that youwill send him galloping into the water before you notice anything is wrong.I agree with his suspicions. Stop thinking about this stranger, Clovermead.You can be scatterbrained when you have a saddle and reins to help you,but not when you ride bareback. Keep your back straight and help Aurocheto reach dry land." "Why? He's thrown me three times today." Clovermead glowered at her horse,but she followed Sorrel's instructions. Auroche whinnied apprehensivelyas he took another step on the plank laid over the pool of water thatfilled up half the back courtyard after the latest spring rains. "Shh,Auroche," she whispered. "That puddle's only a few inches deep. Pleasedon't send me into the mud again. It's cold and it squelches." Aurochetook another step forward, then stopped. Clovermead pressed his flanksagain. "Aren't you curious to see him, Sorrel? I don't think I've seenanother Tansyard besides you in all the time I've been in Chandlefort. Andhe is such a sight! He doesn't just sound like a bull, he's as big as onetoo." "I am not a Tansyard any longer," said Sorrel. He plucked at the yellowsleeve he wore. "I am a Yellowjacket and a Chandleforter now. Mycompatriots are here." "That doesn't stop you from talking about the Steppes all the time," saidClovermead. Auroche teetered forward another step. "I know every inch ofthem, just from listening to you talk. I'd think you'd at least want tosay hello to a countryman." "I love the Steppes," said Sorrel. "That does not mean I wish to chatterwith every Tansyard who shows up in Chandlefort. And even if I did --Clovermead, to you Chandleforters I am simply a Tansyard, but my nationwas the Cyan Cross Horde. The other Hordes were not as strange to me asyou farmer-folk are, but they were foreigners too. And not friends. Mostof Cyan Cross' wars were with other Hordes. No, I do not need to speakwith this man." He clucked his tongue and Auroche straightened up from adangerous wobble. "Be careful, please! Your mind is wandering. And do notpress Auroche so hard. You need only a gentle touch." "I'm doing my best," said Clovermead. "It's not as easy as you think.Still, I do think I'm getting better at this -- " But as she spoke,Auroche's front legs rose into the air, Clovermead tumbled from his back,and there was a loud splash and a fountain of muddy water as she landed.When the fountain settled, Clovermead sat sprawled in the puddle. Shelooked very bedraggled and very brown. "Phooey," said Clovermead. Grimy droplets trickled down from her yellowhair and over her eyes. She glared at Auroche. "Unruly beast! Back intothe saddle you go!" "You cannot become a bareback rider in a day," said Sorrel. Fastidiouslyhe flicked a murky globule off his hand. He had managed to dodge most ofthe mud and to keep his clotheRandall, David is the author of 'Sorrel In the Shadow of the Bear', published 2007 under ISBN 9780689878725 and ISBN 0689878729.