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was one of those hellish globes of fire he had seen floating in emptiness. Almost as quickly as he started
to panic, he relaxed. It was only the glint of moonlight off a chip of quartz embedded in the rock close to
his face.
He closed his eyes again, and this time did not open them until the sun began to sneak its first rays over
the eastern horizon.
XVIII
MORNING ARRIVED NOT WITH THE EASE OF AWAKENING WITH which Ehomba was most
comfortable, but with a thunderous declaration of life that had both him and Simna ibn Sind erupting from
their place of sleeping. Initially panicked, the men relaxed when they saw it was only Ahlitah, greeting the
arrival of the sun with an ardent bellowing that all but shook the rocks beneath them as his robust roars
detonated against the vast expanse of the veldt.
Must you play the lord of all roosters? Exhaling sharply, Simna sat back down on the smooth, cool
granite.
Standing with his forefeet on the highest point of the kopje, the litah turned his great black-maned head
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to glower down at him. I am king of this land, and must so remind my subjects every morning.
Well, we re not your subjects, Simna snapped, and we d appreciate it if while we re traveling in each
other s company you maybe just waved to your subjects every once in a while.
Yes. Ehomba was already packing to depart. I am sure the mere creatures who inhabit the veldt
already recognize your suzerainty, and that it is not necessary for you to remind them of it quite so loudly
every morning.
Oh, I do beg your pardon. From now on I ll do it like this. Looking away and throwing back his head,
the massive jaws parted and Ahlitah let loose as resounding a meow as Ehomba had ever heard.
Much better, Simna commented tartly.
I am so pleased that you approve. Tomorrow morning, the great cat vowed, it would roar again as
loudly as ever making it a point to place his lips directly opposite one of the stocky swordsman s ears
as he did so.
But he would not argue the point now, when they were about to set off for a portion of the veldt that
was new even to him. While he was embarrassed at having to keep company with humans, a part of him
was anticipating the forthcoming opening up of new territory. He looked forward to meeting the
inhabitants, and to eating some of them.
As they descended the kopje, which had proved to be an agreeable refuge in the midst of the all but
featureless veldt, Ehomba found himself again questioning the suitability of his companions. Given
alternatives, he would have chosen otherwise. One was inhuman, tremendously strong, but reluctant to
the point of apathy. He wondered how he was going to be able to rely on someone to watch his back
who would do so only out of a sense of enforced obligation.
His other associate was fearless, wily, experienced, and tough, but interested in only one thing: the
domineering illusion of false wealth. Again, not the truest motivation for standing behind someone in need.
Still, he supposed it was better to have them at his side than not, to have company and companionship in
strange country than to be traveling alone. If nothing else, it gave potential enemies someone else to shoot
at. For all his unrelenting babble about treasure, Simna ibn Sind would prove useful if he took but one
arrow meant for Ehomba. And Ahlitah the same if he did nothing at all but stand still and frighten off a
single stealthy assassin.
Yes, it was better to travel in the company of an entourage, however small and however uncommitted.
They would be of no use against someone as overawing and powerful as this Hymneth individual, but if
they could simply help him to achieve that final confrontation then all would be worthwhile. Until that
ultimate moment he would suffer their company, dealing with Simna s endless harping about treasure and
Ahlitah s incessant muttering.
* * * *
Another day s walking brought them within sight of a line of trees. This was greatly to Simna s liking
since, as he put it, he had seen enough grass and weeds to last a million cattle the rest of their lives, and
him not able to eat a blade of it. Ahlitah was more circumspect.
Trees make good places to hide behind.
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Maybe in the veldt, where trees are few and far between. Simna was leading the way. In lands where
they re the rule rather than the exception, they re no more dangerous than taller grass.
But the trees did hide something: a river; broad, murky, and of indeterminate depth. Ehomba resigned
himself to another swim.
Don t be in such a hurry. Simna was leaning over the bank. It was a short drop, less than a foot, to the
water. There was no shoreline, no beach of sand or mud. Short, stubby grass grew right up to the
water s edge. Itlooks shallow.
Fine, commented Ahlitah. You try it first.
The swordsman nodded at the big cat. Your legs are longer than mine, but if you re that afraid of water,
then I ll break trail for you.
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