A horse of her own!
She held the saddle as she smiled at Mearch, and shut her eyes
momentarily in thanks to the Invisible God.
Chapter Six - Coming Out
The following year passed uneventfully, with Si'Wren on an endless
course of private study and practical exercises both in and outside of
court, during the course of which she found little time to think on
other, less pressing concerns.
Emperor Euphrates declared one day that he had decided to review his
kingdom and would greet his loyal subjects openly in the city streets,
and so a date was set.
On the appointed holy day, the royal criers carried out the decree with
much pomp and ceremony and fanfare. There was a large turnout of the
citizenry in the narrow streets. Attendance from the palace was made up
of a long procession of court officers, underlings, self-serving
hangers-on, and peons of every station and calling in life. The display
of royalty was to be immediately followed by a military parade.
It was a grand and wonderful procession.
There were the royal wives and concubines, Fatoo the Sorcerer, Borla
the Royal Adviser, with many beautiful young girls to act as flower
bearers and dancers.
There were the Captains of Fifty with their long lines of soldiers
marching four-abreast with their shields, spears, swords, and bows
carried openly in their hands, together with the lines of proud and
haughty horse and camel soldiers riding two-abreast.
Pages:
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285