Crown of Renewal (Legend of Paksenarrion) (76 page)

Nearer. Nearer still … and it slowed to that same high-stepping, airy trot and finally halted just out of her reach. Nostrils flared; it uttered a sound more like a human mutter than a horse. Dorrin took a step forward. “You …” she said. Her voice sounded strange after the days of silence. “You are beautiful,” she said. “Where are you from? Whose are you?”

The horse yawned, showing a mouthful of big yellowish teeth, then walked the rest of the way to her and put its head against her chest. Her hands moved naturally to caress the cheeks, rub the poll, scratch behind those alert ears. The horse pulled its head from between her hands and reached over her shoulder, then pulled—a hug, she realized. It sighed, a big gusty horse sigh. Then it released her, walked around her, and went to drink at the pool. Dorrin followed, her mind in a whirl of confusion.

When the horse had drunk its fill, it pushed among the trees to where she’d left the box, picked it up in that very large mouth, and came back to her. She reached out; it bumped her hand with its nose and—as suddenly as it had appeared—dropped the box, bent the near foreleg, and bowed. Did she want to mount? Of course … but the box? She picked up the box; the horse turned to look at her and snorted. She put it back down; she could come back for it later. Maybe.

She clambered on, awkward without the familiar aid of a stirrup. The horse stood, then reached down to nose the box. It disappeared in that instant, and Dorrin found herself sitting in a saddle, saddlebags behind her and her rolled blanket tied in front of them, her boots resting in stirrups. “Falk?” she said. No answer but a toss of the horse’s head, and then it set off at a trot, angling across the sun’s light … north, she thought. It must be Falk.

“You know where we are going,” she said to the horse. An ear
flicked back at her. She knew it meant yes. “Do I—is there something I need to do there?”

Another ear flick. Dorrin’s heart lifted. Here was the change she wanted, a new adventure, a challenge—and as if the horse understood that, it surged into a gallop.

It may seem odd to thank a bicycle shop for help on a book that has no bicycles in it (not even one!), but sustaining the writer is part of the help needed to keep a series going. In this case, the good advice and service of University Cyclery in Austin, Texas, enabled this writer to recover physically and regain the endurance necessary for those weeks of very long days at the computer. So thanks, guys. As usual, David R. Watson supplied important information and suggestions for more sources on ships and sailing appropriate to this world and period. The fellowship of musicians in St. David’s music program provided more musical and spiritual support. Jenny Meadows helped me untangle a particularly knotted section with wise advice. The denizens of the Paksworld blog (
www.paksworld.com/blog
) helped out repeatedly by looking up minor details in previous books for me and making very interesting comments that pushed me to think twice (or more) about situations and characters. Both my agent, Joshua Bilmes, and my editor, Anne Groell, offered sound advice and assistance in the last revision process. And, of course, this book rests on the help of all who helped with previous books in this storyuniverse, all the way back to those first months in 1982 when I started
Sheepfarmer’s Daughter
and a few friends clamored for more. Thank you all (and as always, mistakes are all my fault, not that of any helpers).

Former Marine E
LIZABETH
M
OON
is the author of many novels, including
Echoes of Betrayal
,
Kings of the North
,
Oath of Fealty
, the Deed of Paksenarrion trilogy,
Victory Conditions
,
Command Decision
,
Engaging the Enemy
,
Marque and Reprisal
,
Trading in Danger
, the Nebula Award winner
The Speed of Dark
, and
Remnant Population
, a Hugo Award finalist. After earning a degree in history from Rice University, Moon went on to obtain a degree in biology from the University of Texas, Austin. She lives in Florence, Texas.