“My nose is itching. Many whispers have tickled my ears these many nights, but this is the tale that speaks. Listen! To the famous tale, the most famous tale, of the Silk Slippers.”

Shai had heard snatches of song and chant in the streets of Olossi, seen folk punctuate a line of melody with graceful gestures made by their hands or by the bending of elbows or knees. He had not seen a tale fully chanted, complete from beginning to end.

The brigands raged in,

they confronted the peaceful company seated at their dinner,

they demanded that the girl be handed over to them.

And all feared them. All looked away.

Except foolish Jothinin, light-minded Jothinin,

he was the only one who stood up to face them,

he was the only one who said, “No.”

It took her half the day, pausing four times to drink water Bai brought in a bowl. By the end, she was sweating and triumphant, shaking with fatigue and yet standing proud.

“Hu!” said Tohon. “Impressive.”

“I’m in love,” murmured Veras.

“No, I am,” whispered Ladon.

Edard glared. “I don’t know why either of you think the likes of her would take a second look at your callow hides, despite your rich clans and good connections.”

Shai had no words. She would never look at a mere tailman, a Kartu lad, nothing-good Shai.

The three unveiled lendings raised bows and each loosed an arrow. The arrows raced high and then, tumbling, were incinerated in gouts of flame.

“Demons!” Tohon leaped to his feet.

Eridit sank exhausted to her knees, Bai squatting beside her. The lendings whistled, and just like that they mounted and cantered away, still whistling. Cursed if their own horses didn’t tug at their lines, break loose, and gallop after. Everyone ran in pursuit, even Eridit.

“Gods-rotted savages!” swore Edard when they had straggled back empty-handed, panting and heaving and having lost every horse. “They stole them!”

Eridit hid her tears. The lads kicked up clumps of grass.

“They must be demons, to have such magic,” said Tohon.

“They’re not demons,” said Bai. “They’re lendings.”

“The tale was payment for the transgression,” said Eridit through her tears. “But they also said they wanted payment for the food we ate.”

“Aui!” Bai shook her head in disgust. “That’s why they took the horses!”

“We’ve got half the day left to get off this cursed grass,” said Edard as he surveyed the heavens. “We’ll have to go back to Olossi and get refitted.”

“And lose more days?” said Bai. “Neh. We’ll redistribute our goods, and we’ll walk. We’ve come too far to go back now.”

“The hells you say!” He puffed up in that way men have when they are trying to intimidate others. He was a fit man, one of Kotaru’s ordinands, physically imposing.

“The hells I do,” she said so calmly that he stepped back. “Over long distances, we don’t make that much better time with the horses, and they’ll attract attention. I say, we cut along through the grass at the edge of the Lend, making straight for Horn. We’ll make decent time, and we’ve been left with our own provisions, at least. What do you say?”