Sureya blushed and bowed her head. “I am not nearly as skilled as you are, Lady Trynne.”

“Who taught you?”

“My father has only daughters. He made certain we were trained to defend ourselves. There was a man, a mercenary of Genevar who had gone to live among the Bhikhu. My father hired him to train us.”

Trynne wrinkled her brow. “Your father mentioned the Bhikhu previously. They are the ones who fight for Gahalatine.”

Sureya nodded. “I cannot float as the Bhikhu do.” She wrung her hands together. “You fought today like Turandokht, Lady Trynne. I am honored to serve you.”

Trynne approached her, appraising her further. “You fought very well yourself. You use your elbows and feet as deftly as you do your weapons. Who is this Turandokht you mention?”

“You have not heard of her?” Sureya said in surprise. “She was the most famous Fountain-blessed of her generation.”

“In our histories, the most famous Fountain-blessed was the Maid of Donremy. She was a girl from an obscure village in Occitania who led her people to victory against Ceredigion. Could we be using different names for the same person?”

“No, Turandokht is from our part of the world,” Sureya insisted. “She was from Chandigarl. Her uncle was the Emperor of Chandigarl three centuries ago. Her father’s name was Turan. In that country, dokht means ‘daughter.’ She had brothers, but she was the best fighter and horse rider in all Chandigarl. She fought with hook swords. Two of them. They were Turandokht’s specialty.”

Trynne nodded. “While I am gone, please speak to Farnes about them. He will have the castle weaponsmith make them. Thank you for sharing her story with me.”

Sureya beamed at her with pleasure. “Even your name sounds like it comes from Turan, Lady Trynne. She was famous in our lands. She refused to marry anyone who could not outwrestle her. It was said that if a man challenged her for the right, he had to give her three horses if he failed. There was grazing land dedicated to the herd of horses she’d won. No one ever did defeat her, although she did choose to marry eventually. After Turan died, her brothers fought over the inheritance. People said that she should have inherited all of her father’s wealth, for she was very wise.”

“Whom did she marry?” Trynne asked. Her father had always said that certain roles were played over and over throughout history. He had described it as being trapped on a waterwheel in a river of destiny that one could not easily escape. She knew better than to ignore coincidences.

“A man who tried and failed to murder her father,” Sureya answered with an impish smile. “The history of the East Kingdoms is lavish with intrigues.”

The words sent a tremor through Trynne, as if some heavy stone were being dragged across the floor, rumbling the entire castle. It struck her forcibly, stealing her breath.