as the man was, he still managed to look like something from a painting.
"Sinja-cha," Balasar Cice said in the tongue of the hhaiem. "I was
hoping to find you here.,,
Sinja took a pose of respect and welcome.
"I'd say winter's cone," the general said.
"No, Balasar-cha. If this was real winter, you could tell because we'd
all be dead by now."
Balasar's eyes went harder, but his wry smile didn't fade. It wasn't
anger that made him what he was. It was determination. Sinja found
himself unsurprised. Anger was too weak and uncertain to have seen them
all this far.
"I'd have you ride with us," the general said.
"I'm not sure Eustin-cha would enjoy that," Sinja said, then switched to
speaking in Galtic. "But if it's what you'd like, sir, I'm pleased to do
it."
"You have a horse?"
"Several. I've been having them walked. I've got good enough fighters
among my men, but I can't speak all that highly of them as grooms. A
horse with a good lather up in this climate and with these boys to care
for it is going to he tomorrow night's dinner."
"I have a servant or two I could spare," Balasar said, frowning. Sinja
took a pose that both thanked and refused.
"I'd take the loan of one of your horses, if you have one ready to ride.
Otherwise, I'll need to get one of mine."
"I'll have one sent," Balasar said. Sinja saluted, and the general made
his way back to the main body of the column. Sinja had just washed down
the last of the bread with the dregs of his tea when a servant arrived
with a saddled brown mare and orders to hand it over to him. Sinja rode
slowly past the soldiers, grim-faced and uncomfortable, preparing for
their trek or else already marching. Balasar rode just after the
vanguard with Dustin and whichever of his captains he chose to speak
with. Sinja fell in beside the general and made his salute. Balasar
returned it seriously. h,ustin only nodded.
"You served the Khai NIachi," Balasar said.
"Since before he was the Khai, in fact," Sinja said.
"What can you tell me about him?"
"I-fie has a good wife," Sinja said. Eustin actually smiled at the joke,
but Balasar's head tilted a degree.
"Only one wife?" he asked. "'That's odd for the Khaiem, isn't it?"
"And only one son. It is odd," Sinja said. "But he's an odd man for a
Khai. He spent his boyhood working as a laborer and traveling through
the eastern islands and the cities. lie didn't kill his family to take
the chair. He's been considered something of an embarrassment by the
utkhaiem, he's upset the I)ai-kvo, and I think he's looked on his
position as a burden."
"He's a poor leader then?"
"He's better than they deserve. Most of the Khaiem actually like the job."
Balasar smiled and Eustin frowned. "I'hey understood.
"He hasn't posted scouts," Eustin pointed out. "He can't he much of a