The Seeker - Isobelle Carmody [97]
There was no doubt in my mind that the proud, bitter horse meant what he said.
“That won’t make anyone like you or take—”
He snorted violently in my face. “Like! I care nothing for the likes and hates of the funaga. Allies we will be, or nothing. I have heard the funaga plan a journey to the lowlands. We will see how they fare with no equine to draw their carts or carry them in the dark lands.”
I blinked. “But we’re not going to the Blacklands.”
“The places where the funaga-li dwell are dark,” the horse sent bleakly.
“I tried to warn Rushton. And it’s not just the horses,” Alad said from behind.
I ignored this and addressed the horse again. I knew as well as Alad that no expedition could be undertaken on foot, especially one so far and through such terrain. We needed the horses. “What if the journey were a test—to see if your kind and mine could really be allies, working together, trusting one another?”
The black horse stood very still, but he did not respond.
“A way to find out if your kind and mine can work in accord,” I went on softly. “A test in which we funaga must pretend to have no special abilities, and equines must pull carts, be ridden by funaga, and reined.”
The horse reared violently, and Alad started swearing. I had expected the reaction, knowing the younger horses would not even tolerate a modified rein and would only work with beastspeakers.
For long moments he bucked and reared, driving bladelike hooves deep into the ground. At last he calmed and turned to face me, his coat dark with sweat. “What if all who journeyed were slain? What if this journey fails?”
“If the equines do their part faithfully, the test will be judged a success—regardless of the outcome. And one of your kind will sit at guildmerge.”
I knew I was offering what I had no right to offer, but I had no doubt Rushton would concur. He knew we needed the horses.
“It shall be as you have stated, funaga,” the horse sent finally. “I will find those to draw your cart for this testing. But I will join your expedition also. Not to draw a cart, but to bear you. Then we will see whose kind is best fitted to lead.”
“Elspeth, you can’t!” Alad cried aloud. “A guildmistress on an expedition? Rushton would have a fit!”
The black horse did not take his eyes from mine, and there was challenge and cold amusement in his look. He was daring me to agree, certain I would refuse.
I took a deep breath, ignoring the horrified Beastspeaking guildmaster. “It will be as you say, equine. Together we will deceive the lowlanders into thinking I am your master.”
The horse neighed his laughter.
5
“WHO ARE YOU? Where are you? I know you’re there. I feel you.”
The probe was clumsy, its movements graceless and badly focused. “He’s young,” I assured Ceirwan. Even so, I was surprised he had sensed my presence, since I was tightly shielded. I let my probe brush against his fleetingly, testing.
His mind stabbed out in fright. “Are you the demon?”
Even while he grappled with my shielded probe, I entered him at a deeper level, deep-probing to find trace memories of his encounter with Zarak. The meeting had made a huge impact on his mind, for he thought Zarak a minor demon come to test his faith.
I decided to risk outright contact. If he reacted by calling out to his masters, I would stun him, and Domick would manufacture a coercive block.
Rushton had insisted Domick monitor the attempt after being reluctantly convinced we had to establish whether Zarak’s probe had been traced back to Obernewtyn. I suspected Domick had orders to cripple the boy’s mind if there was any risk of the Herders using him.
“Do your elders know of us?” I sent.
The boy’s mind recoiled from my mental blast. I had deliberately made it harsh and even painful. While the boy believed he was dealing with demons, we were in no real danger.
“It is the way of a priest to undergo his tests in silence, demon. My master has warned me your kind would try to shake