Pegasus Part 3

CHAPTER 5.

By the time she could creep off to her room and be alone, Sylvi was so tired that when she closed her eyes she still saw the crowd in the Court, moving, eating, laughing, talking-looking at her, wondering who she was and who she was growing up to be-painstakingly making conversation with the thirty or so pegasi who had come with Lrrianay and Ebon, whose s.h.i.+ning coats sparkled more brightly than any of the jewels in the humans' dress. As she grew more tired, it had seemed to her that the sprinkling of pegasi in the crowd of humans made some kind of pattern-if she could just rearrange them a little-that dark bay pegasus should be a little closer to the Court wall, and the white one should move nearer the centre, and that clump of humans near the Gate needed to be lightened, maybe by Oyry and Poih, who were wasted where they were standing among the chairs, gravely attending to-oh, horrors-Great-aunt Moira.

No one asked Sylvi directly about the odd change in the ritual, but she could a.s.sume everyone had seen Fthoom's face afterward-many of them would have heard his outburst-and seen the king dismiss him as if he were a stableboy. Magicians used to performing in rituals tended to have deep, sonorous voices, and Fthoom's was especially so: but no one shouted at the king. If there had been any chance that her mistake would be forgotten-those not immediately concerned with pegasi by being bound to one usually had only a vague notion of the peculiarities and pitfalls of the system-Fthoom had seen to it that it would instead be a subject of intense interest. She might have hoped that the interest would fade as soon as this day was over, but her father had told Fthoom to speak to him tomorrow, which meant the morning court.... She heard voices rise at the ends of sentences, and saw people who had been in earshot of the question turn their heads to look at her. At her and Ebon.

Ebon had stayed near her for most of that long afternoon. He didn't mind being stared at as much as she did. Well, they're not my people, you know, Well, they're not my people, you know, he said. he said. I'd mind if you were at one of our five-seasons festivals and everyone was staring at me and you. Although I'm not looking forward to what old Gaaloo is going to say later. I'd mind if you were at one of our five-seasons festivals and everyone was staring at me and you. Although I'm not looking forward to what old Gaaloo is going to say later. Gaaloo was one of Lrrianay's cousins, bound to one of Eliona's sisters. Reesha was here for her niece's binding, although she rarely came to the palace, but Gaaloo was one of Lrrianay's courtiers and often came in his train. Gaaloo was one of Lrrianay's cousins, bound to one of Eliona's sisters. Reesha was here for her niece's binding, although she rarely came to the palace, but Gaaloo was one of Lrrianay's courtiers and often came in his train. Gaaloo can talk the hind legs off a unicorn. Gaaloo can talk the hind legs off a unicorn.

Are we supposed to stay together? Sylvi said anxiously. Sylvi said anxiously.

Haven't a raindrop's idea in a hailstorm, said Ebon cheerfully. said Ebon cheerfully. I've never been to one of these things before. You tell me. I've never been to one of these things before. You tell me.

Sylvi shook her head. Children don't attend bindings unless it's someone like your brother, and I was still too little for Garren-my youngest brother's-to notice much. Children don't attend bindings unless it's someone like your brother, and I was still too little for Garren-my youngest brother's-to notice much.

Figuratively and literally: too short to see what was going on, except when Danny let her sit on his shoulders. That was before he'd been through the acceptance of the heir, and didn't always have to be part of important rituals with their father, and had more time for his little sister. But she'd been taken away soon after the ritual-although her mother had sent one of the housefolk after her with a plate of the banquet food. She thought about it a moment. It's funny, though, isn't it? That n.o.body told me what I-we-were supposed to do afterward. They've been drilling me silly in the sign-language for years of course-it's one of the first things I remember, trying to learn the sign-language. Maybe we're supposed to stand around and say things like, "Nice day, isn't it? But I believe it will rain tomorrow." It's funny, though, isn't it? That n.o.body told me what I-we-were supposed to do afterward. They've been drilling me silly in the sign-language for years of course-it's one of the first things I remember, trying to learn the sign-language. Maybe we're supposed to stand around and say things like, "Nice day, isn't it? But I believe it will rain tomorrow." Sylvi made a creditable effort to say this in sign, and one or two Sylvi made a creditable effort to say this in sign, and one or two huffs huffs.

Ebon made the noise like a whinny with a hiccup again. I didn't know pegasi laughed, I didn't know pegasi laughed, she said. she said. Well-out loud. Where humans can hear them. Well-out loud. Where humans can hear them.

Ebon shook his head so that his already-magnificent mane (pegasus manes didn't usually come in fully till adulthood) whipped back and forth. The plaits were coming out fast, and it rained flowers. She bent to pick them up.

What a lot of old bores we are with you then, he said, but he said it with less than his usual vigour. he said, but he said it with less than his usual vigour.

Maybe you don't find our jokes funny, said Sylvi sadly. said Sylvi sadly.

There was a pause, and he answered soberly, I think we're all too worried about getting along. It's hard to know what to say to you. Especially since we mostly can't. I think we're all too worried about getting along. It's hard to know what to say to you. Especially since we mostly can't.

You don't, said Sylvi. said Sylvi. Worry about what to say. Worry about what to say.

Well, I'm hopeless, said Ebon, recovering his spirits. said Ebon, recovering his spirits. Everybody says so. You can't have been drilled any sillier in signing than I was in signing and Everybody says so. You can't have been drilled any sillier in signing than I was in signing and manners manners after they decided I had to be your pegasus. Think of the breath stoppings and the heart burstings and the dumbfoundings if they'd had any idea we'd be able to talk to each other! after they decided I had to be your pegasus. Think of the breath stoppings and the heart burstings and the dumbfoundings if they'd had any idea we'd be able to talk to each other!

She'd laughed-she couldn't help it-and too many people turned to look at her: at her and Ebon, standing a little apart from the rest of the crowd at that moment and only making half-hearted and erratic attempts at signing to each other. And yet she'd laughed. At what?

Silence fell, and the king, as if idly, as if his feet just happened to be taking him in the direction of his daughter, joined them, and with him came Lrrianay. Shortly after this the queen, equally idly, ended her conversation with some cousins, here from the other side of the country for the princess'binding, and drifted over with Hirishy, whereupon the king wandered away again. No more silences fell, but Sylvi didn't laugh out loud again either; nor were she and Ebon left to stand by themselves again.

She lay in bed now, staring out the window. Her nurse always pulled the curtains closed, last thing before she blew out the lamp and after she made sure Sylvi was in in bed instead of hiding somewhere with a book on hawks or a bridle she'd decided needed a different colour browband. After a few minutes, as soon as Sylvi was sure the nurse was really gone, she got up and pulled the curtains open again. bed instead of hiding somewhere with a book on hawks or a bridle she'd decided needed a different colour browband. After a few minutes, as soon as Sylvi was sure the nurse was really gone, she got up and pulled the curtains open again.

She had always felt shut in behind walls and doors; she was notorious for going for long tramps over open countryside even in the worst weather. Her father's dogs tended to jump up hopefully when they saw her, because she took them for longer rambles than her father had time to do. One of the best things that had ever happened to her was when her mother declared that she no longer always had to have a nurse or a groom or a courtier go with her-but she did have to have either a dog or a pony, and she had to tell her mother first exactly where she was going. She wondered if Ebon liked to go for long walks ... well, not very likely, was it? He had wings. Who would walk who could fly?

But that wasn't true. They did walk, he had told her. Flying is Flying is tiring tiring, he said. Of course we walk. We walk Of course we walk. We walk more more than we fly. than we fly. He had told her too that, while their land centred on the Linwhialinwhia Caves, as Balsinland centred on the palace within its Wall, the pegasi did not live there. This made sense to Sylvi; to the extent that she understood He had told her too that, while their land centred on the Linwhialinwhia Caves, as Balsinland centred on the palace within its Wall, the pegasi did not live there. This made sense to Sylvi; to the extent that she understood sssha.s.ssha sssha.s.ssha at all, it made the Caves sound like a kind of very large library with pictures instead of books. And she preferred the outdoors herself. at all, it made the Caves sound like a kind of very large library with pictures instead of books. And she preferred the outdoors herself.

The pegasi spent most of their time wandering through the high wild meadows that were their private country-as specified by the treaty-and foraging, and sleeping out of doors wherever the end of day found them; although they grew and tended certain crops for food, paper, dyes and paints, and weaving. These were planted around the shfeeah, shfeeah, which Sylvi tentatively translated as a kind of small village, where the craftspeople lived, and where other pegasi stayed for a time to help with the crops. which Sylvi tentatively translated as a kind of small village, where the craftspeople lived, and where other pegasi stayed for a time to help with the crops. The story-tellers and shamans roam with the rest of us, but the sculptors stay near the Caves. The story-tellers and shamans roam with the rest of us, but the sculptors stay near the Caves.

Sylvi had some trouble with "sculptor," although she heard the word clearly enough and she knew a little about the Caves: it was one of the things you learnt about the pegasi, with the Alliance and the gesture-language. The Caves had been there when the pegasi came, so long ago that even the pegasi only had myths about their origins; but, while extensive, they had been much smaller and far less beautiful. Thousands of years of pegasus sculptors, rubbing and smoothing and chipping and carving, using such small tools as their frail feather-hands could hold, and the Caves were-so beautiful you can't really stay there long, you want to jump out of your skin and run for it. They're perfect perfect, you know, even though they're not finished-will never be finished-it's part of their perfection, that it goes on and on into the future and you'll never see it, that us little short-lived mortals create perfection by you know, even though they're not finished-will never be finished-it's part of their perfection, that it goes on and on into the future and you'll never see it, that us little short-lived mortals create perfection by not not being there long, although we keep coming, us and our sons and daughters and their sons and daughters and so on.... Sorry. I'm sounding like a grown-up. being there long, although we keep coming, us and our sons and daughters and their sons and daughters and so on.... Sorry. I'm sounding like a grown-up.

But the sculptors themselves don't stay inside long-a few weeks or months-and then they come out and join us in the fields for a while, although they mostly don't like to go far. "Remember how to not fly," is the proverb: remember how to walk. They come out and join us in the fields. And teach their beginning apprentices sculpting on the pillars of the shfeeah. The Caves knock your Courts hollow, although this one's pretty nice, he added, looking round consideringly. he added, looking round consideringly. But it's only barely just been built. But it's only barely just been built.

Sylvi, fascinated, forbore to say that the Outer Court was one of the oldest bits of the palace, over seven hundred years old.

You can see it too clearly, Ebon went on, Ebon went on, where it begins and ends, your Court. It's different in the Caves. The chambers and corridors all open out of each other and weave back and forth like the king's plaits on coronation day. Very very occasionally, an old sculptor may ask for a decision to rub through a wall-the other sculptors have to agree, where it begins and ends, your Court. It's different in the Caves. The chambers and corridors all open out of each other and weave back and forth like the king's plaits on coronation day. Very very occasionally, an old sculptor may ask for a decision to rub through a wall-the other sculptors have to agree, and and the monarch and the decision-making shamans. It doesn't happen often. And it becomes a permanent day on our calendar, the day that someone brushes the thin-made place on a wall and suddenly there's a hole there, even if it took years to scratch open and it will be years more before the hole is big enough to climb through and see what's on the other side. I was born on Damonay-the day three hundred and twenty-six years before that they had made a hole in Damonay chamber. Ambernia chamber, which is the one they let out of darkness, is all red stone and considered one of the most beautiful in all the Caves, so being born on Damonay is lucky. the monarch and the decision-making shamans. It doesn't happen often. And it becomes a permanent day on our calendar, the day that someone brushes the thin-made place on a wall and suddenly there's a hole there, even if it took years to scratch open and it will be years more before the hole is big enough to climb through and see what's on the other side. I was born on Damonay-the day three hundred and twenty-six years before that they had made a hole in Damonay chamber. Ambernia chamber, which is the one they let out of darkness, is all red stone and considered one of the most beautiful in all the Caves, so being born on Damonay is lucky.

Do humans ever go there? To your Caves?

Ebon looked at her, puzzled: head low, chin pulled in, one ear half back. Not that I know of. Humans don't come to us. We come to you. The Caves aren't a human sort of thing. Not that I know of. Humans don't come to us. We come to you. The Caves aren't a human sort of thing. He paused and-this was a frown, Sylvi thought: both ears half back, head raised again but held rather stiffly to one side. He paused and-this was a frown, Sylvi thought: both ears half back, head raised again but held rather stiffly to one side. I ... I don't know. They ... they wouldn't fit around you, somehow. And it's in the treaty that we're supposed to come to you. I ... I don't know. They ... they wouldn't fit around you, somehow. And it's in the treaty that we're supposed to come to you.

Sylvi was human enough, and princess enough, to know what that meant in human terms. Don't you-mind? Mind always coming to us? Don't you-mind? Mind always coming to us?

Ebon shrugged again-she was sure, now, that it was a pegasus shrug. What's to mind? That we keep our quiet and our privacy? That we don't have to worry about providing dead flesh for you to eat? And What's to mind? That we keep our quiet and our privacy? That we don't have to worry about providing dead flesh for you to eat? And chairs chairs? I would not be your father, the human king, to have the winning of that old war carried on my back, and on the backs of all the kings and queens after me, until the end of humans and pegasi-and the winning of any other wars. We are free, we pegasi, thanks to you. We are glad to honour you in this way if it pleases you-if it means you'll go on carrying the burden for both of us. I would not be your father, the human king, to have the winning of that old war carried on my back, and on the backs of all the kings and queens after me, until the end of humans and pegasi-and the winning of any other wars. We are free, we pegasi, thanks to you. We are glad to honour you in this way if it pleases you-if it means you'll go on carrying the burden for both of us. In what Sylvi was already learning was a typical Ebon manner, he added, In what Sylvi was already learning was a typical Ebon manner, he added, Mind you, I wouldn't want to be my dad either-he still has to listen to all the bickering when someone feels left out of some decision-and he has to listen to people like Gaaloo go on and Mind you, I wouldn't want to be my dad either-he still has to listen to all the bickering when someone feels left out of some decision-and he has to listen to people like Gaaloo go on and on on because usually there's about six important words in what Gaaloo says that n.o.body else thinks of and since my dad's king, he'd better hear them. because usually there's about six important words in what Gaaloo says that n.o.body else thinks of and since my dad's king, he'd better hear them.

Sylvi sat up in bed. Something had moved very quickly between the window and the stars; something not only swift but large. There-there it was again, higher than the first time-no, gone again; no, not gone; it had banked and turned and- Ebon folded his wings at the last minute, to fit through the window, and landed, therefore, rather abruptly and rather hard; his knees buckled and he rolled right over, wrapped in his wings, but making surprisingly little noise for all of that. Sylvi was out of bed and kneeling beside him before he scrambled to his feet again. Ow, Ow, he said. he said. There must be a better way. Can't you sleep somewhere with bigger windows? There must be a better way. Can't you sleep somewhere with bigger windows?

Are you all right?

He walked once around the room, lifting his legs gingerly. Yes. Don't worry. We're taught to fall and roll like that when we're babies and first learning to fly. They taught me really emphatically because I've always been too big. There were a lot of these doomsayers when I was a baby proclaiming that I'd be too big to fly. Ha. But you don't break anything if you roll. Are you ready to go? Yes. Don't worry. We're taught to fall and roll like that when we're babies and first learning to fly. They taught me really emphatically because I've always been too big. There were a lot of these doomsayers when I was a baby proclaiming that I'd be too big to fly. Ha. But you don't break anything if you roll. Are you ready to go?

Sylvi, still confused by his sudden entrance, was nonplussed. Go where? Go where?

Out, said Ebon mysteriously. said Ebon mysteriously. Can you get down to the ground without waking anybody up? Can you get down to the ground without waking anybody up?

Yes, of course, she said. She'd crept down the two stories of wall from her bedroom many times, clinging to the k.n.o.bbly, weatherworn stone heads of her ancestors-with useful little ridges for her feet where their necks ended-and to the heavy vronidia vine, which seemed to grow just enough bigger every year to go on bearing her weight. There were some nights, when the wind was singing to her and the sky went on forever, she couldn't stay indoors. she said. She'd crept down the two stories of wall from her bedroom many times, clinging to the k.n.o.bbly, weatherworn stone heads of her ancestors-with useful little ridges for her feet where their necks ended-and to the heavy vronidia vine, which seemed to grow just enough bigger every year to go on bearing her weight. There were some nights, when the wind was singing to her and the sky went on forever, she couldn't stay indoors.

Come on then. He tucked his forelegs to leap over the bal.u.s.trade like a pony over a fence, but as he jumped his wings sprang out and he soared up, not down, and then turned once or twice (showing off, she thought), before he sailed gracefully down to earth-landing so lightly he made no sound at all. Because of the no-flying-in-mixed-company convention, she didn't see pegasi flying all that often, except from a distance, and had never had one land so near her. She put her leg over the bal.u.s.trade, felt around with her foot for Great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Neville's nose, and began climbing. He tucked his forelegs to leap over the bal.u.s.trade like a pony over a fence, but as he jumped his wings sprang out and he soared up, not down, and then turned once or twice (showing off, she thought), before he sailed gracefully down to earth-landing so lightly he made no sound at all. Because of the no-flying-in-mixed-company convention, she didn't see pegasi flying all that often, except from a distance, and had never had one land so near her. She put her leg over the bal.u.s.trade, felt around with her foot for Great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Neville's nose, and began climbing.

Ebon was dancing with impatience by the time she reached the ground. Come on, Come on, he said, and led the way quickly through the gardens; she had to trot to keep up with him, and he was very hard to see in the dark, especially as he led her away from the more open flower-beds and into the winding, yew- and cypress-lined paths that surrounded them. In their shadow he disappeared entirely, except for the sparkle of his eye when he turned his head to check that she was still following him, and the just-discernible s.h.i.+mmer of motion as he pa.s.sed from one shadow to the next. She noticed that he had his wings unfolded from his sides, although they were no more than a quarter spread; there wasn't s.p.a.ce between the trees. he said, and led the way quickly through the gardens; she had to trot to keep up with him, and he was very hard to see in the dark, especially as he led her away from the more open flower-beds and into the winding, yew- and cypress-lined paths that surrounded them. In their shadow he disappeared entirely, except for the sparkle of his eye when he turned his head to check that she was still following him, and the just-discernible s.h.i.+mmer of motion as he pa.s.sed from one shadow to the next. She noticed that he had his wings unfolded from his sides, although they were no more than a quarter spread; there wasn't s.p.a.ce between the trees.

How did you find me?

Spent most of the party trying to work it out. Knew about the palace-I've even been here a few times-knew you humans live inside walls all the time. And sleep in special rooms. Asked my brothers as if I was asking just because everything is so bizarre-which it is, how do you sleep sleep all wrapped up like a sickly baby?-where their humans lived-slept. They told me everyone has his own separate cell. Weird. But figured all your sleep cells would be together. Saw your dad and mum standing with their arms around each other at one window, staring at the sky. Okay, that's where they are, but I wished they'd go away. Then I was lucky: I saw your nurse shut your curtains. She is your nurse, isn't she? all wrapped up like a sickly baby?-where their humans lived-slept. They told me everyone has his own separate cell. Weird. But figured all your sleep cells would be together. Saw your dad and mum standing with their arms around each other at one window, staring at the sky. Okay, that's where they are, but I wished they'd go away. Then I was lucky: I saw your nurse shut your curtains. She is your nurse, isn't she?

Sylvi, entranced, said, Pegasi have nurses too? Pegasi have nurses too?

Eah. Although the kids are all together and then there are several nurses. But I guess I know what a nurse looks like, even when she's human. And I figured your brothers are too old for nurses. So that had to be your sleep room. I was ready to be really confused and bewildered and apologetic if it wasn't. I used to wander in my sleep when I was little. I thought I might just manage to bring it off as some kind of reaction to the ritual. That . . . smoke was really peculiar, wasn't it?

Yes. It was. But don't your shamans puff smoke over you for rituals? You have rituals too, don't you?

Yes. Lots and lots. She could hear exactly her own aversion in his words, although she doubted that shyness was any part of Ebon's dislike. But the smoke is never like that. It never makes you feel ... But the smoke is never like that. It never makes you feel ...

Frightened, she thought. Frightened and all alone.

A low laugh. "No, I don't think so," said a young male voice.

Ebon and Sylvi froze.

"Well, I'm sure I heard something," said another voice-a young female voice. "And it sounded large."

"Our rabbits are enormous," said the first voice. "Our specially bred Wall guardian rabbits are feared all over the country for their ferocity."

"Very funny," said the second voice. "I still want to go back indoors."

That was Farley, thought Sylvi. I wonder who the girl is?

Come on, said Ebon. said Ebon. They're gone. They're gone.

The king's palace lay in the largest piece of flat ground in the country; the rest of the landscape was a patchwork of plains, hills and mountains, and abundant lakes and rivers. Banesorrow Lake lay within the Wall, and the foothills of the Kish Mountains began near its eastern gate. The shape of the palace plain was irregular, extending several leagues to the southern tip but only a league and a half to the north and barely half a league to the east. But in a perfect circle, magician-measured, at half a league all round the palace at its centre, lay a Wall. The Wall had been erected after the final battle that had given Balsin his country and his kings.h.i.+p, although it had taken the reigns of three kings and three queens and the best efforts of six generations of magicians to finish it. It was twenty feet high and broad enough for a pair of guards to walk on abreast, which they did, because the full circ.u.mference was patrolled, guardtower to guardtower, of which there were twelve, one on each side of the six gates.

There were many buildings, homes, offices and administrative buildings, warehouses, markets, shops and smithies that had sprung up within the Wall, although all of those people had, to be and to stay there, a royal warrant to do so. But the palace's Inner and Outer Courts were reflected in the capital city having the Inner and Outer City, on either side of the Wall, although the doors of the six gates had not been closed in defence in hundreds of years. They were closed on the nights of two holidays, that of the Signing of the Treaty-which had been followed so closely by one of the worst battles of the war that the treaty itself had been lost for a day and a half-and that of the End of the War; which also provided the opportunity to ensure that they were in full working order. Both inside and outside the Wall, the city extended in erratic cl.u.s.ters and doglegs, with gaps for small farms and big gardens and the occasional munic.i.p.al park. Ebon was leading her to the biggest of these parks within the Wall, on the far side of which lay the lake.

She panted up to him and said crossly, being already sure that he'd led her so briskly to keep her fully occupied not blundering into anything in the dark and therefore less likely to ask awkward questions, All right, are you ready to tell me what we are doing? All right, are you ready to tell me what we are doing?

He had stopped, and was looking up at the stars-it was a very bright night, with a half-moon brilliant as a torch-and switching his tail gently. His wings were three-quarters open but down, the tips of them trailing softly against the gra.s.s. I thought I'd take you flying, I thought I'd take you flying, he said. he said.

Sylvi was tired. It had been a long day, and while she was still too keyed up to sleep, her mind rattled and buzzed and could not focus, and her intellect veered away from trying to comprehend what Ebon had said. Flying? I can't fly. I'm human. Flying? I can't fly. I'm human. And in her determination not to understand him she felt angry with him for teasing her. And in her determination not to understand him she felt angry with him for teasing her.

I know that, he said. he said. Stupid. You can sit on my back. I was trying to decide how. My wings have to be free to flap, you know. Stupid. You can sit on my back. I was trying to decide how. My wings have to be free to flap, you know.

Sylvi burst into tears. At once she felt a warm velvety muzzle against one cheek and a little feathery hand against the other. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, said Ebon. said Ebon. You're crying, aren't you? You're sad? I've made you sad. I'm sorry. I thought you'd want to. I've been thinking about it all day, since I saw how small you are. There's a story that all humans want to fly, that you dream about it. Like we dream about having large strong hands with wrists. But maybe it's-you can want something and not want it-I felt that way about being your pegasus. It's okay if you don't want to fly. I-I won't think you're like Hirishy. You're crying, aren't you? You're sad? I've made you sad. I'm sorry. I thought you'd want to. I've been thinking about it all day, since I saw how small you are. There's a story that all humans want to fly, that you dream about it. Like we dream about having large strong hands with wrists. But maybe it's-you can want something and not want it-I felt that way about being your pegasus. It's okay if you don't want to fly. I-I won't think you're like Hirishy.

This made Sylvi laugh, which, in the middle of crying, made her choke, and it was a minute before she could breathe or think anything at all. I want to fly more than anything else in the world, I want to fly more than anything else in the world, she said. she said. But there's no point in wanting something you can't have, is there? We're taught that pegasi are not for riding before we're old enough to know what riding or flying or pegasi But there's no point in wanting something you can't have, is there? We're taught that pegasi are not for riding before we're old enough to know what riding or flying or pegasi are are. It's like-it would be like trying to steal the Sword or something. It's like-it would be like trying to steal the Sword or something.

Grown-up rules, said Ebon. said Ebon. Human Human grown-up rules. You people have too many rules. So, can you get up, or do we need to find a bench for you to stand on? You can't kick my wing on the way. If I lose any feathers I won't be able to carry the extra weight. I think maybe if you lie along my back, you can maybe hook your feet under the back edges of my wings. grown-up rules. You people have too many rules. So, can you get up, or do we need to find a bench for you to stand on? You can't kick my wing on the way. If I lose any feathers I won't be able to carry the extra weight. I think maybe if you lie along my back, you can maybe hook your feet under the back edges of my wings.

But Sylvi stood, s.h.i.+vering with fear and longing, and stared at him. I-can't. It's-it's rude. It's I-can't. It's-it's rude. It's horribly horribly rude. rude.

Ebon was silent a moment. You mean to me, I guess. I think this is another of those things like what you asked me earlier-don't we mind that we have to come to you and stand around in your Court and take places you give us in your rituals. This is a human thing, this making it matter who stands where. We think that it is mixed up in why you won the war. We do not mind standing where you want us to. If you had not won the war we would not stand anywhere at all. You mean to me, I guess. I think this is another of those things like what you asked me earlier-don't we mind that we have to come to you and stand around in your Court and take places you give us in your rituals. This is a human thing, this making it matter who stands where. We think that it is mixed up in why you won the war. We do not mind standing where you want us to. If you had not won the war we would not stand anywhere at all.

I know humans don't ride us, but I don't know any great forbidding about it. You don't ride us because we're too small and you're too big. It's rather nice of you, I think, to make it into a big forbidding. It's-it's to do us honour, I can see that. Human honour. Thank you. But I would like like to take you flying. My dad would tell me no-that's why I'm here in the middle of the night-not because it's rude but because it's dangerous. I bet you aren't allowed to climb down the wall from your window, are you? to take you flying. My dad would tell me no-that's why I'm here in the middle of the night-not because it's rude but because it's dangerous. I bet you aren't allowed to climb down the wall from your window, are you?

No.

Well then.

He moved around till she was facing his near shoulder. He'd flattened that wing and stretched it as far back as it would go; she put one hand on his withers and one just behind, and gave a little heave, and lay belly down over his back. She could do this without thinking on her own pony who was, in fact, a little shorter than Ebon, but who was also, of course, uncomplicated by wings. She lifted her right leg very gingerly as far as it would go and then laid it along his back-his right wing was now stretched out horizontal to prevent her rolling off the other side-wriggled her body around, laid her left leg beside her right, took hold of his mane and wriggled a little further forward. Except for his (mercifully low) withers gouging into her breastbone, she was-surprisingly-fairly comfortable.

Okay?

Okay.

He walked forward a little cautiously. She could feel him trying to adjust to the weight of her; his wings were half spread, and they vibrated as he sought his balance. He bowed his head up and down a few times, stretched his wings to their full extent-they seemed leagues leagues wide to Sylvi-said, wide to Sylvi-said, Here we go, Here we go, and shot forward at a gallop. The powerful wings seemed to grab the air; she could feel not only the great muscular thrust down, but the kick of the released air again as the wings rose and freed it; and with each downstroke, Ebon-and Sylvi-briefly left the earth in a long bound. One ... two ... three ... the sweep of wings and the boom of wind deafened her to any other sound; she could just feel the tap of Ebon's galloping feet, one-two-three, one stride for each wing-stroke, beneath her ... four ... five ... six.... and shot forward at a gallop. The powerful wings seemed to grab the air; she could feel not only the great muscular thrust down, but the kick of the released air again as the wings rose and freed it; and with each downstroke, Ebon-and Sylvi-briefly left the earth in a long bound. One ... two ... three ... the sweep of wings and the boom of wind deafened her to any other sound; she could just feel the tap of Ebon's galloping feet, one-two-three, one stride for each wing-stroke, beneath her ... four ... five ... six....

They were airborne.

Sylvi was crying again, but it might have been the wind. She could guess at the extra effort Ebon was making to carry her; the body beneath her was taut with exertion, the muscles both as solid as stone and as live and lithe as running water. It should have been difficult, and terrifying, to stay on, but somehow it was not; the muscles of her belly and thighs seemed to know how to keep her centre of gravity so perfectly balanced over Ebon's spine that when he turned and banked she merely sank a little closer to him, almost as if she were a part of him. She knew the old horse-riding adage of striving to become one with your horse, but this was nothing like riding a horse, and she had never felt anything with her pony-whom she loved dearly and rode every day-like she now felt with Ebon, as if they were almost one creature indeed.

She'd always found the stories of centaurs a little unsatisfactory. The earthbound centaurs interested her not at all, but she often thought about the winged ones-thought of them for having human faces, voices, hands-and wings. But what would centaurs eat? If they ate hay for their horse digestion, didn't it hurt their human mouths? If they grazed like horses, didn't the human heads get dizzy? She thought, Maybe there's a very, very old story, that we aren't allowed to know about, that some magician put a spell on so we shouldn't find it, that centaurs are really humans riding pegasi.

She felt secure enough to rearrange her hands in his mane and raise her face a little so that she could glance to one side and then the other-careful not to move her head far enough or quickly enough to disturb Ebon's equilibrium.

He was gaining height, spiralling up and up in a huge gyre. Even in the dark she could see-her view came and went, like an eye's slow blinking, by the whip of Ebon's wingbeats-the great shadowy loom of the palace, spilling off in one direction with stables and barns, and in another with servants' quarters, and another with courtiers' and magicians' apartments, and another yet with the special open rooms for the pegasi. She could make out the always-lit dome of the Inner Great Court and the walls around the Outer, the whole surrounded by wide formal gardens and carriageways like the erratic spokes of a very strangely shaped wheel. She thought, This is how it really really looks. looks.

As all these pa.s.sed under Ebon's wings she could see farther and farther, forest and parkland and a clutch of buildings like a small village at a crossroads of the inner city; and there was the Wall. Now, as Ebon turned again, the palace came once more into view, a little smaller this time. Her people were fascinated by what they called sky views; some of the most prized and valuable of the decorative artwork in the palace were paintings of hills and valleys, lakes and forests, towns and villages, as if seen from above, and there were many miniature landscapes called sky holds, made out of stone and wood and clay and, occasionally, jewels. None of them were as beautiful-or as exciting-or as shocking-as this dark-blurred, wing-nicked scene, with the wind streaking past, tangling her hair and chilling her back and her bare feet; but her hands were buried snugly in his mane, and Ebon himself was as warm as a hearth.

She thought, This is how it really really looks. And again, wonderingly: This is how it really looks.... looks. And again, wonderingly: This is how it really looks....

At last he stopped climbing and flew for the Wall, and over it. It hadn't occurred to her to wonder (as presumably it had not occurred to Ebon) whether the airborne magic carefully suspended and maintained above the Wall would let a human pa.s.s; they had just proved that it would. Moving boringly at walking speed through one of the gates, there was a faint chilly press or wash against your skin rather like diving into Banesorrow Lake; she felt nothing tonight but the wind and the flick of Ebon's mane.

Sylvi briefly saw the moving figures of two of the guards walking along the Wall as they pa.s.sed through one of the circles of torchlight, and guessed as well that Ebon had flown so high that they could not possibly see her. Pegasi did not commonly fly at night, but they did do so; no one would think anything of a pegasus flying so late, especially not after a day like today, when there were so many of them visiting the human king.

Once they were over the Wall he turned again, northwest, and they flew for a while over farm and field and more villages, till the mountains at the edge of the plain by some trick of the dark seemed to grow larger though they did not seem any nearer; and then, at last, although Sylvi reckoned that in actual minutes they had not been gone very long, he turned round again and headed back for the Wall, and the palace.

They had not spoken during the flight, but when Ebon was over the Wall again and losing height as they neared the park where they had started out, he said suddenly, I should have taught you how to fall first. I'm afraid this is not going to be one of my better landings. Can you fall? I should have taught you how to fall first. I'm afraid this is not going to be one of my better landings. Can you fall?

Of course I can fall, said Sylvi with dignity. said Sylvi with dignity. I have fallen off my pony many times. I have fallen off my pony many times.

She thought he laughed. Don't tense up, Don't tense up, he said. he said. And you want to try to roll when you hit. I hope your pony-teacher taught you that. Sorry. d.a.m.n. Stupid of me. Look, I'll tip you off a few secs before I land myself, so I won't fall on you. Ready? And you want to try to roll when you hit. I hope your pony-teacher taught you that. Sorry. d.a.m.n. Stupid of me. Look, I'll tip you off a few secs before I land myself, so I won't fall on you. Ready?

Ready, said Sylvi, since she didn't have any choice. said Sylvi, since she didn't have any choice.

The ground was rus.h.i.+ng up toward them. The great wings arched and curled, and Ebon seemed to rear in the air, and stalled for the briefest fraction of a moment; then they levelled out, and now the ground was very close indeed. Ebon said, Now, Now, and gave a lurch to one side, and Sylvi let herself tumble off the other side of his tail, and with a vague memory of the horse-dancers who threw themselves on and off their galloping horses to amuse people on feast days, tried to flip herself round in the air. She landed nearly on her feet, ran a few steps, knowing she was going to fall anyway, and managed to roll when she finally did so. and gave a lurch to one side, and Sylvi let herself tumble off the other side of his tail, and with a vague memory of the horse-dancers who threw themselves on and off their galloping horses to amuse people on feast days, tried to flip herself round in the air. She landed nearly on her feet, ran a few steps, knowing she was going to fall anyway, and managed to roll when she finally did so.

Ebon, who had also fallen, was already up and giving himself a vigorous shake when she staggered to her feet again. Are you in one piece still? Are you all right? Are you in one piece still? Are you all right? he said, leaving off shaking and coming toward her; and a laugh burst out of her as suddenly as she had burst into tears when he had said he would take her flying. he said, leaving off shaking and coming toward her; and a laugh burst out of her as suddenly as she had burst into tears when he had said he would take her flying. Yes. No. But not from falling. Tonight was the most- Yes. No. But not from falling. Tonight was the most- Words failed her, and she went up to him and put her arms round his neck, and rested her face against his hot sweaty shoulder. She felt his nose in her hair, and then his teeth gently gripped a lock of it, and tugged, even more gently, which she would learn was a pegasus caress, like a human kiss.

CHAPTER 6.

She was so sodden with sleep the next morning that her new attendant could not rouse her. It was only when her mother came and shouted in her ear, "Your father wants to see you immediately after breakfast!" that she dragged herself unwillingly to the surface. She had been dreaming about flying. She had discovered, climbing up the wall to her bedroom window the night before, that both holding on and diving off had used (or misused) more skin and muscles than she had realised at the time, and between trying to find a comfortable way to lie and an inability to stop reexperiencing the magic journey over and over in her head, it had been nearly dawn before memory slid gradually into dream, and she was a pegasus too, and it was her own wings that carried her aloft with Ebon.

Her father wanted to see her after breakfast. Fthoom. Fthoom. She was suddenly thoroughly awake, and the joy drained out of her, leaving only a leaden grey tiredness shot through with a sick-making gleam of fear. She was suddenly thoroughly awake, and the joy drained out of her, leaving only a leaden grey tiredness shot through with a sick-making gleam of fear.

"Where-?"

"In his private receiving room."

Not the public court then. Fewer people ... but Fthoom would seem even bigger in a small room.

Her mother looked at her, frowning, put her hand under her chin and tipped her head up. "Did someone give you unwatered wine last night? If you were a few years older, I would say you looked hung over."

Sylvi managed to smile. "I-I had a lot of trouble falling asleep. I just kept-going on thinking about things."

The queen sat on the edge of her bed. She had stopped frowning, but she looked a little quizzical. "Yes. You're twelve years old now, and nearly a grown-up in all the wrong ways. You still can't make your own decisions-you can't even stay up late without permission-but you'll have to come to all the official banquets, although you will be allowed to leave early. As I think about it, maybe I could develop a gentle little wasting illness whose only symptom is that I have to go to bed early on official banquet nights." She smiled at her daughter, and her daughter smiled back. The queen had an old wound in one hip that made it difficult for her to sit for long periods-mysteriously, however, it did not trouble her in the saddle-but she refused to use it to get out of state events. Maybe when I'm older, she'd said when Sylvi had once asked.