Page 13

Markus glances at it. “What does it say?”

“It’s in Ur-Ambolk,” says Damon. “I am planning to take Lyr to Attar where there is a scholar I believe will be able to read it.”

5

TOBI

It takes a little time to make ready to leave. Tobi stands dazed as the circus folk and Riddlestone people come up to him in turn to take his hand or embrace him and thank him for saving them by sacrificing himself.

Baby’s wheeled cage is hitched to two of the Ambolk horses. “Be careful with her,” Tobi calls, “She comes all the way from the jungles south of the Ibian plains.” He doesn’t think they understand him. Lymok is the only one of the Ambolk who seems to know any Artemian.

But Tobi is sure he can face anything if he has Baby with him. Anything. Even this.

Meanwhile Darvo and Myrtle take charge of packing up some of Tobi’s clothes and belongings into a battered trunk which is loaded onto a cart.

Harok sits on his horse, waiting silently besideTobi, a possessive hand on Tobi’s shoulder. Wrists as thick as Tobi’s upper arms.

When all is ready and the Ambolk begin to assemble their horses, ready to leave, Tobi looks up at Harok. His chestnut mount is so huge, Tobi has to crane his neck to speak to him.

“Do you have a horse for me?” he says, wondering if perhaps Harok does speak Artemian and his translator was all for show. Because surely if he wants an Azurian consort he will have some way of communicating.“Your new kushir?”

For a moment Harok just stares down at Tobi.

Tobi points to himself. “Me,” he says. He points to the horses. “A horse.”

Harok narrows his eyes, then says, “Ei,” with a shake of his head.

So that, Tobi presumes, is a no.

“Do you expect me to ride in the cart?” Tobi says, waving in its direction. “Cart?” he says again.

Harok shakes his head once again and says, “Ei.”

Tobi looks up at Harok. He puts his fists on his hips. “So you expect me to walk? Through the forest. In these heeled boots I had made in Fanost?”

He points down at his boots. They are very old, but beautifully made. One of his most treasured possessions. The soft black leather hugs his calves from ankle to knee. The toes have delicate subtle points. They have block heels that lend him a little extra height and give his walk a playful rolling gait. And they are very helpful when he is climbing the sides of Baby’s cage to perform acrobatic tricks, and they are absolutely not made for traipsing through the Forest of Amber.

Harok smiles slightly. He seems to find this amusing although Tobi is sure now that Harok really cannot understand a word of Artemian. He says, sudden and sharp, “Kushir,” as he leans down, leaning further than Tobi would think it possible to do and not lose his balance. He grasps Tobi’s waist in two big hands. His grip is so firm Tobi could not pull free if he tried. He doesn’t try, but he does cry out in shock, as Harok lifts him easily from the ground. Tobi quickly realises what is happening and moves his body, swinging his leg across the horse as Harok hauls him up, so he finds himself sitting astride the beast, nestled in front of Harok. Tobi feels so conscious of the bare skin on Harok’s thighs, wrapped, hot, around Tobi’s body.

His heart is fluttering. He can smell the fresh sweat on Harok’s body, light and woody.

Harok puts his arms around Tobi to take hold of his horse’s reins. “Ai idi,” he says, mouth very close to Tobi’s ear.

Tobi takes a breath. “Ai idi?” he echoes back, mimicking Harok with no idea what he is saying. He is surprised he has breath in his body to speak at all as he feels Harok’s legs flex, urging his horse forward.

The horse moves. Moves like it is part of Harok, darting forward, sharp and fast, far faster and more suddenly than Tobi expected, thundering towards the trees. Tobi cries out again, louder this time, shocked to find himself unexpectedly in such motion. Night air rushes past Tobi’s ears. The ground below is transformed into a blur of dark green.

Tobi can hear the sounds of the rest of the Ambolk behind them, making strange jubilant cries as they follow their king. Their king and his kushir.

They are approaching the river. Fast.

There is a ford over the Ramriddle river less than half a mile away, just before Riddlestone, but Harok clearly is not going to take that detour. He flexes his thighs again and shouts a word of Ambolk. His horse speeds up, faster, faster. But surely the Ramriddle river is too wide here to jump.

Tobi screws his eyes shut as the river bank approaches, nearer, nearer…

He feels the horse leap in the air. His belly drops. At the same moment, one of Harok’s arms pulls firm around Tobi’s waist, forcing their bodies together, so tight Tobi can barely breathe. Tobi opens his eyes, curiosity overcoming his fear, just as the horse lands with a bone shaking thud on the muddy bank of the other side of the river.

“Is that meant to impress me?” Tobi says, although his voice sounds weak and shaky.