On Fire's Wings - Christie Golden [60]
“The khashimu is gracious to say so,” said Halid. Then, with no warning, he kicked out and the knife went flying from Jashemi’s grasp. Jashemi made a face and rubbed his stinging hand.
“But the khashimu also needs to be more alert,” teased Halid, his eyes twinkling. He picked up the blade and in mock surprise said, “Why look! It seems I have the dagger again.”
Jashemi grinned, readying himself for the next round. “And I’ll take it from you again.”
They had been practicing for sometime, though, and Jashemi was growing tired. He did not get the knife, and instead wound up facedown in the sand, one arm yanked behind his back.
“I yield,” he said, and immediately the pressure relaxed. Halid extended a hand to help his young master to his feet.
Tahmu had been gone for a few days now. He was visiting another clan and had taken with him servants and higher-ranking caste men. He was on a diplomatic mission, not on a raid, and Halid had remained behind as he always did at such times. As Second, he went with his master into battle, but in peacetime, he made sure Tahmu did not slip behind in his duties at the House. He disliked this intensely and Jashemi did not blame him. Most of what Tahmu had to do seemed very boring to him, and those aspects of being khashim held little appeal.
Halid sniffed at his rhia and whistled. “I’m for the caverns. Cold water, sweet soap, and clean clothes are what I need.”
Jashemi wrinkled his nose as his own odor assaulted him. He, too, could use a bath. He wondered how the poorer clans, with no access to water, managed not to suffocate from the stench. As they walked back to the House, Halid briefly rested his hand on the boy’s slim shoulder.
“You did well today,” he said. “When you are a man full grown, you will be a warrior to be reckoned with.”
Jashemi’s smile faded a little. He hoped that by the time he was a man full grown, there would be less need for warriors and more need for good leaders.
He fought back a yawn. He had not been sleeping well; the dreams came every night. Most often it was the dream of the sad, beautiful woman looking out onto the roiling darkness and telling him not to forget. But there were other dreams, too. Other people, unlike any he had ever seen.
His thoughts were interrupted by a nudge from Halid. He looked where the Second pointed, and saw a hawk approaching the aerie.
The caverns would have to wait.
Tahmu returned home two days later, and his face was grim. He called for his son and Second even before he went in to bathe and refresh himself. Despite hours of hard riding, Tahmu insisted they all mount their sa’abahs. When they were well away from the House, Tahmu spoke.
“This morning, I received a falcon. The Star Clan and the Cattle Clan were supposed to ride together to raid the Horserider Clan. But the Star Clan and the Horserider Clan had made their own agreement. When the men of the Cattle Clan rode to battle alongside the Star Clan, they were shocked when their ally turned on them. They were downed by the joined forces of the Star Clan and the Horserider Clan. While they fought, another group of raiders from the Star Clan attacked their defenseless House.”
He looked first at Halid, then Jashemi. It was the first time Jashemi had been brought in on so important a decision, and he sat straight in his saddle.
“We will ride against the Star Clan and the Horserider Clan. I have sent falcons to the Sheep Clan and the Sa’abah Clan, who—”
“But we just raided the Sa’abah Clan!” blurted Jashemi before he could censor himself. Halid and Tahmu exchanged amused glances.
“My son does not yet appreciate the pervasive power of gray, even though he is a master of Shamizan,” Tahmu said, chuckling. “It is precisely because we so decimated the Sa’abah Clan that they will want to ally with us in this raid. They will at least be able to take many fine horses, and I have offered to return a few Sa’abahs to sweeten the drink.”
“Do not look chagrined, young lord,” Halid rumbled in his