The Woman Who Rides Like a Man (25 page)

Alanna forced her eyes open, grinning weakly at the man who was propping her up. She was wrapped in her blankets. "I just wanted to fix my sword. No more fireworks tonight, Coram, I promise."

He snorted, clearly disbelieving her. Carefully he picked up something and fitted her hand around the hilt.

She was almost too tired to lift it. Lightning's battered round crystal topped the silver hilt. The blade was thin, as Lightning's had been; it was steel with a ghostly gray sheen. There was no feel of alien magic or anger in it, and the sword fit Alanna's hand well.

As she looked it over, Coram observed, "Ye've traveled a distance, haven't ye? 'Twas only a year ago ye said ye'd never use yer magic again. Now ye're a shaman and makin' up yer own spells."

Alanna smiled ruefully. "Have you ever noticed that when you try to deny some part of yourself, things fall out so you need that part more than any other? I was afraid of magic, partly because I was sure it couldn't be controlled. But the crystal sword taught me it can. Before I came to the Bazhir, I saw a lot of magic used only to harm; being shaman cured me of that. I guess I'm not' afraid of my Gift anymore.
I'm
the one who wields it—my Gift doesn't wield me. And now I can help the people I swore to help with my abilities. Does that make any sense?" she asked worriedly.

Coram grinned. "As much sense as anything from the mouth of a noble."

"You've
been living among thieves too long," Alanna told him. Testing her thumb on the sword's edge, she cut herself. Smiling with delight, she hefted Lightning.
"Now
I'm ready for anything!"

"Speakin' of anything," Coram said as he banked the fire for the night, "What next? Where do we go in the morning?"

Someplace new?
Faithful wanted to know. His tail was twitching with excitement.

Alanna crawled into her bedroll, feeling exhausted but satisfied. "Well, we need to take the sorceress's envelope to Halef Seif." She yawned. "It must be pretty important, or she wouldn't have tried to burn it rather than let anyone she didn't trust have it."

"Very well. And then?"

"I think we'll ride south," Alanna told her companions. "King Barnesh of Maren is holding a great tournament in April. I want to start acting like a knight again. And maybe we'll find some adventures along the way. Sound good?"

It's about time,
Faithful grumbled as he curled up beside her nose.

From his own bedroll, Coram said, "It sounds beautiful. Now get some rest, Lioness."

Alanna reached beside her and found Lightning's hilt. She gripped her restored blade as she moved toward sleep, a weary smile on her lips. Her first year as a knight was over. She had survived. And if there was trouble ahead, well, she was ready for it.

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