“It’s not simple.”

“What a glamourous wrap you’re wearing.”

But we were already at the tent before the conversation could develop. “Wait here, Smahil, she’s in there trying to sleep.”

I tiptoed through. The candles flamed a slim dusky yellow, the Beauty appeared asleep, her arm, sinous as a silent cobra, out-flung lustrous from the bedclothes among the unconfined cataract of black hair.

I emerged again into the oustide world with its twilight atmosphere composed of continuous wet movement, and handed Smahil his cloak.

“Thank you.”

I started for the pickets again without speaking a word, but Smahil fell into stride beside me. His fair head, uncovered, swam faintly glimmerng through the sibilant silver darkness.

“You are really preposterous, Cija,” his voice murmured amiably. “Dashing briskly about, anything rather than be alone with me.”

I didn’t answer.

“After all, just name what you’re so afraid of.”

“You flatter yourself. I’m going specifically to see my bird.” “Ridiculous, you loathe him.”

“If you insist on coming too, I suppose I can’t stop you,” I said unwelcomingly, and turned along the line under the awning.

Smahil stood and stared at the great, fierce, glossy, blue-black, rare-bred creature which confronted him. Sheg was nowhere to be seen, and the groom talked as if this were mine.

How come I have resisted showing him off now we were here?

“His name’s Umsarunza. He’s a young male, his father belongs to the Northern King. I call him Urns for short, it’s a baby-talk name but irresistible since it really is his first syllable. He lost that eye in a fight over a female, but he’s already been in several battles and never hurt.”

“Where did you get him?” Smahil said, slowly.

“The General gave him to me.”

“And I’m the only person who’s ever kissed you?”

“What do you mean, Smahil?”

“You know what I mean. Very well, stay faithful to the lover to whom it’s more expedient to stay faithful. But it’s a shame you’re a liar.”

He turned and walked out.

I had had enough of Smahil. I snarled, “All right, now you’ve decided on a conclusion I hope you’ll stay jumped to it,” but I didn’t turn immediately back to my bird.

The glimmer of the fair head moved gradually to invisibility in the heavy wet gloaming.

About fifteen minutes later there was a commotion of shouts, jingling and barks. I ran out to watch as the General and the forest Chieftain rode past. They were followed by Zerd’s commanders and a line of forest men. The forest men walked, holding their spears like staffs, and they were picked men, all tall enough not to look dwarfed by our commanders on their birds. They were the Chieftain’s bodyguards; the forest races are mainly small. The Chieftain rode a smallish, shaggy, ungroomed grey bird which had wise but frightening dark silver eyes.