Tamora Pierce - Immortals 1 - Wild Magic

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Wild Magic

The Immortals Book One

Tamora Piece

CHAPTER ONE

GIRL WITH A PONY

Each year, at the end of March, a great fair was held in Cria,

the capital of Galla. Like thousands of others in the Eastern

Lands, Onua Chamtong went there to do business: buying ponies, in

her case. This year she had another transaction to make and was

having no luck with it. By the end of her fifth day at the fair,

it seemed she would never find the assistant she required. The

prospect of taking her animals south, with no one to help, was an

unpleasant one.

"Excuse me - Trader Onua?" The speaker was a girl, shy and

country bred. "I heard you was hiring. I'm" - she paused, then

went on - "a fair hand with animals, all kinds." She waited as

Onua looked her over: a girl in a green wool dress, skirts short

enough to show leggings and boots. Brown curls tamed by a head-

scarf fell to thin shoulders. A soft, full mouth said she was

vulnerable; her chin was entirely stubborn. A quiver filled with

long arrows hung on her back, a bow rested in her hand, unstrung.

"Is that yours?" the trader asked, pointing.

Blue-gray eyes flashed. "I'd not have the nerve to carry it

otherwise."

"Hmph. String it." The girl hesitated. "Just what I thought"

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Onua jibed. "Whose is it, really?"

The girl brought a coiled string out of her sash. With ease she

fitted it to one end of the bow and set it against her foot.

Raising the free end of the string, she brought the other end of

the bow down, hooking them together neatly. The bow strung and in

her grip, she turned sideways to it, caught the string in two

fingers, and drew it back to her ear in a smooth, practiced

gesture. Now Onua could see she wore an archers wrist- and

armguards.

"I'd put an arrow up," the girl said, gently releasing the

string, "but I'd hit someone, surely."

Onua grinned. "I'm impressed. I can't draw a bow that big."

The girl took the string off the bow, coiled it, and put it

away. "Nor did I, at first. I keep this one limber, or I still

couldn't draw it."

"Crossbow?" The question was out before Onua remembered, I

don't want to hire her - I want to send her home to her mama.

She's a runaway for sure.

"Yes'm. We have-" Something flickered in her eyes. She looked

down. "We had bandits at home. I stood watch with the sheep, so I

learned crossbow and longbow. And sling" - a half smile appeared; -

"not that I'm bragging."

We had, Onua thought. Did she change it 'cause she wants me to

think she's been gone from home awhile? Or hasn't she got a home?

Something looked around the girl, inspecting Onua with a large

brown eye. It was a shaggy mountain pony, a steel gray mare. She

was plump and well combed, and bore two packs easily.

"Yours?" The girl nodded. "How much would you ask for her?"

Onua motioned to a pen filled with ponies at her back. "I'm in the

market."

"I can't sell Cloud. She's family - all the family I got."

Again Onua saw a flash of sorrow that was pushed aside.

"What's your name?" The K'mir stuck her fingers into a pouch

filled with a powder known as "eyebright."

"Daine, mum," came the soft reply. "Veralidaine Sarrasri."

The eyebright made her fingers itch when Onua called on her

magical Gift. "How old are you, Daine?"

"Fifteen." An aura of red fire, visible only to Onua, flared

around the girl's face. The lie was a good one - she must have

practiced on the way, the trader thought wryly - but a lie

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nevertheless. She looked about thirteen.

"Where are you from?"

"Snowsdale, up north. About two weeks' walk."

There was no flare of red - she had told the truth. Onua

sighed. "Are you a runaway? From home, or a bad master-"

"No, mum." The soft mouth trembled. "I got no family - just

Cloud."

No red fire this time. Onua dusted the powder from her hand.

"I'm Onua Chamtong, of the K'miri Raadeh."

Daine looked puzzled. "The k-k - the what?"

"The K'mir are a people to the east. Raadeh is the name of one

of the K'miri tribes." Daine looked only slightly less baffled.

"Never mind. You say you're good with animals. C'mere." She led

the girl to her pen. Inside, twenty-seven shaggy ponies in all

colors and sizes milled around.

"I buy horses. I had an assistant, but he got offered a better

job working for a horse merchant here, and I wasn't about to hold

him back. Ij you hire on - and I didn't say I'd hire you - you'll

help me take these south. It's three weeks' drive - if we don't

bog down in mud, if we aren't hit by raiders, and if we go before

all these people take the road to the next fair. It'll be just you

and me, and my dog, Tahoi. Why don't you climb in and look 'em

over? I want to see how you manage 'em."

Daine glanced back at her mare, Cloud. "Stay put, and no

biting" she ordered sternly, and clambered over the fence and into

the pen.

Poor thing must have been alone a long time, to be talking to a

mare as if she could answer back, Onua thought. She sat on the

fence rail to watch.

The ponies watched as Daine passed among them. Ears went back.

Those close to her appeared to wonder which would do better: a

bite or a kick.

When a yellow stallion, the king of the small herd, minced into

place at her back, the girl spun and put both hands under his

muzzle, lifting his head to stare into his face. "No, sir," she

told him firmly. "I'll not stand for any tricks. I may be human,

but I'm not stupid." The stallion tried to rear. She forced him

down, then blew gently in his nostrils, to teach him her scent. He

shuffled, then fidgeted - then bowed his head in submission.

Horse Lords, Onua thought. She's establishing domination over

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him and the entire herd!

In years of managing horses, she'd never seen the like. This

particular breed was famous for its fiery nature (one of the

reasons she purchased them for her employers). She had achieved

peace - of a sort - with them using her strength, her wits, and

bribes. All horse folk handled their animals that way. Only this

child was different: Daine treated the stallion as if she were a

pony herself, a dominant one.

She isn't lying about her folks or running away - just about

her age. If I let her go, she might get into trouble. There are

too many predators around, looking for a pretty like this one. The

road isn't too safe - but what is?

She watched the girl move among the ponies, running her hands

over each one. She was giving them bits of apple and sugar from

her pockets. Onua was glad to see she could deal with the animals

in a normal way. One display like that with the stallion was more

than enough.

"D'you ride?" she called.

Daine came over to the fence. "Some. Mostly bareback, but I can

use a saddle, and I know how to look after tack."

"What about hunting, fishing, tracking?"

The grin lit a face that was too thin and eyes that were too

weary. "I do all that - had to, to get this far. I couldn't trust

folks on the road, Some looked like - bandits."

As Daine climbed over the rail, the shadow was back in her

eyes: grief, Onua decided, but anger too, "Tired of them already?"

The girl shook her head. "I'm getting an oil I have, and a

swab. The strawberry has ear mites. They're not too bad - if I get

them now, he won't spread them to the herd." She went to the gray

mare, who was plainly sulking, and opened one of her packs.

"How do you know you can trust me?"

Daine shrugged. "I don't. How do you know you can trust meT

"Was that a joke?" Onua's voice was stern, but her eyes

laughed. Her last two assistants had possessed no sense of humor.

Daine gave her a quick smile and climbed into the pen, a clay

bottle and swabs in one hand. Onua watched, amazed, as the

strawberry gelding trotted up to the girl. If someone had said

that morning she'd see one of her charges willingly submit to an

ear cleaning, she would have laughed herself sick.

I shouldn't do it. She's a baby. There re all those rumors - no

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smoke without fire. Still, my magic will keep us safe at night,

and she can handle a bow. "Daine." she called.

The girl had finished the geldings ears. She came over. "Yes?"

"I'll tell you right now - I've heard a lot of weird stories

lately, about monsters in the wild, attacking travelers. Things

out of legend, so folk say. I haven't seen any myself, but that

doesn't mean I won't. Are you sure you want to hire on?"

Daine shrugged. "I hear talcs. I need work, mum. If I see

monsters, I see monsters. My family was killed and my home burned

by human ones."

"All right, then - here s the job," said the K'mir. "You, me,

and my dog take the herd south, like I said, I have the Gift, 'and

I can shield our camp at night. It's two coppers a day, two silver

nobles as a bonus at the end. I pay all expenses, and we share

chores. No drinking, no drugs. If you leave me on the trail,

you'll wish you died as a child." Daine giggled. "At the end of

the road - we'll see. We're bound for the capital of Tortall-"

The girl's face lit up. "Where a lady knight is the king's

champion, right? And they let girls in the army? That Tortall?"

"You heard those stories too," the K'mir murmured. "Well, they

don't let girls in the regular army, mind - just the Queen's

Riders. Why - have you a fancy to be a soldier?"

Daine shook her head. "Not me. But if they take girls for that,

maybe they'll let a girl be a hostler, or work around the camp, or

some such." Her eyes were filled with painful hope.

"As it happens, they do let girls work as hostlers - or at

least, they let me. I'm in charge of the horses for the Riders,"

"Oh, glory," the girl whispered. "I'll do whatever you want, if

you'll take me on-"

Onua put a hand on Daines shoulder, touched by her eagerness.

"We'll see. If we don't get on, I'll make sure you have some kind

of work. I won't leave you stranded. Sound fair?"

Daine nodded vigorously. "Yes, Mistress Onua."

Onua offered a callused hand. "Then shake on it. And stop

calling me 'Mistress.' My name's Onua."

Daine returned the woman's firm grip. "Onua Chamtong, of the

K'miri Raadeh," she said. "I remember."

Onua smiled. "Very good. Now, will your Cloud mix in with the

others?"

"No reason not to." Daine removed packs and saddle from Cloud s

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back.

"Stow your things with mine." Onua pointed to a canvas-covered

mound in one corner. "They'll be safe - these ponies are better

than guard dogs."

Daine ushered Cloud into the pen and stored her packs with

Onuas, She finished in time to stop Cloud from biting the yellow

stallion, and then from kicking a bjood bay mare. "You behave,"

she ordered her pony. "I mean it."

Cloud flicked an ear back, and lifted a hind foot

experimentally. Daine leaned down and whispered in her ear. The

mare snorted, then stood on all fours, looking as innocent as a

summer sky.

"What did you tell her?" Onua asked, letting the girl out of

the pen.

"I said I'd sell her to the man that makes dumplings down the

way."

Onua chuckled. "That's the threat my mother used on me. Look -

I want you to meet my dog, Tahoi." She put her fingers to her lips

and whistled two short notes. A large form surged over the rear

wall of the pen and wound through the ponies, ducking hooves and

teeth with the ease of long practice. Coming over the fence in

another easy jump, he sat panting at Onua's feet. He was as tall

as his owners hip, and covered with curling gray fur.

"He's near big enough to be a pony himself." Daine offered her

open palm. The dog rumbled in displeasure, and warily sniffed her

fingers.

"Tahoi means 'ox' in K'mir. Careful - he's a one-woman dog-"

Onua shut up. Tahoi's plumed tail had begun to wave. The wary

guardian of her stock turned into an eager-to-please pup that

licked Daine's hand, then stood to sniff her face. "He's supposed

to be a guard dog," Onua continued, frowning. "Not a pet. Not a

dog who believes every humans his friend."

"Don't blame him." Daine looked up at Onua apologetically. Her

fingers scratched Tahoi in a place he couldn't reach, while his

tail thudded in the dust on the ground. "Animals just take to me,

is all,"

"Hmph, Can you spare her, Majesty?" the woman said to Tahoi.

"I'd like to get some grub, saving your presence. And your new

friend is coming with me. Guard.'" She steered Daine away from the

pen.

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At one of the cook tents littering the fairgrounds, Onua

ordered a rich meal for them both. When it was over, they

explored. After a while

Daine's eyes hurt from staring so much. Coming from a poor

mountain village, she couldn't believe the variety they found at

every turn.

"How are you fixed for gear?" her new employer asked. She was

eyeing a pair of boots in a leather-worker's stall.

"I'm fine," Daine assured her. Meeting the K'mir's warning

look, she insisted, "Really. It was too wet" - she swallowed,

trying to speak as if it were someone else's farm that was

attacked - "too wet for our place to burn much, so I saved a lot.

Clothes, boots, my sleeping gear. I really don't need anything."

Seeing the woman's gray green eyes remained suspicious, she raised

a hand. "Swear by the Goddess."

"All right, then. Just remember, its my responsibility to keep

you decently clothed and outfitted, I don't want people saying I'm

a skinflint."

Daine thought of the huge meal she had consumed, "Just point

them out to me, and I'll set them straight," she offered,

Onua chuckled, "Good enough."

On their return, the K'mir raised a sleeping

platform outside the pen. "Wcci best turn in," she advised. "We

leave an hour before dawn,"

Dame laid the bedrolls out, wriggled into hers, and took off

everything but her shift under the sheltering blankets. "Onua?"

The woman was nearly asleep already. "Yeah?" "Thanks."

They had a cold breakfast: fruit, cheese, and bread. Onua said

little as they ate and packed. She split a pile of lead reins with

Daine, indicating she was to connect half of the ponies into a

string, while she did the same with the others. They worked

quickly as the fair came to life and the air filled with breakfast

smells. When the ponies were ready, Onua placed their packs on the

first animal in each string.

"Aren't you going to put her on a lead?" Onua pointed to Cloud,

who stood free of the others, wearing only a halter and a cross

expression. The mare snorted and shook her head.

"She'll be fine," Daine assured the K'mir. "She's as good as a

guard dog, that way."

"You know best," Onua said, dubious, "Let's move 'em out."

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The K'mir led them away from the fairgrounds and the traffic

coming in. They had reached open road when she called for a

midmorning break. Digging apples out of her pocket, she gave Daine

one, "You eat this," she ordered, "Ive more in a basket for the

ponies. I should've warned you, by the way - I'm a realrbear in

the morning. It's no good talking to me - I'll only bite your head

off. You didn't take it personally, did you?"

Daine had begun to wonder if the K'mir regretted hiring her.

She smiled her relief. "It's all right. Ma always says" - her lips

tightened - "Ma always said there was no living with me until

lunchtime."

"You miss her," Onua said gently.

Daine twisted the stem off her apple. "Her, Grandda, our farm-"

Her face was grim. "They took my life, those bandits. I saved

thingst like clothes and food, but all my family was gone except

Cloud. They wouldn't even have left her, except she was with me

and we weren't there." She got to her feet. "I'm sorry. I didn't

mean-"

"To speak of it?" asked the K'mir. Daine-nodded. "You have to,

just to bleed off the poison from the memory." The girl shrugged.

"Well, it doesn't have to be today." She peered at the sun. "We'll

be at Coolspring by noon - a village, good-sized, Lets pass that

before we stop again."

If Onua and Daine were now well awake, so were their charges.

They fussed at every turn. Luckily, many who them were

traders who knew mountain ponies: they kept a respectful distance.

Only Cloud, who seemed to realize she would go into a string the

moment she misbehaved, walked meekly beside Daine, The only time

she offered violence to a bystander was when he, or she, was too

interested in how well the strings were tied together.

Daine worked on the ponies one by one, talking, pleading,

cajoling. Repeatedly she explained why she wanted them to follow

Onua, without making a fuss. One after another the ponies listened

as she appealed to their better natures. Some people would have

said these creatures had no better nature, but - as Daine told

Onua - she had found most animals listened, if things were

properly set out for them.

Onua had explained things to ponies and horses for twenty-eight

years without the success this thirteen-year-old was having. How

does she do it? the K'mir wondered, fascinated. They're ponies, by

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all the gods. They're wonderfully clever animals, but they don't

think, not the way people do.

Past the village of Coolspring lay a rest stop, one of the

springs that gave the town its name, sheltered by elms. Picketing

the animals, the two women sal down to share a mead of btead and

cheese,

"Tell me if you get tired," the K'mir "I can go for hours, once

I get moving."

"I'm fine," Daine said. It was the truth. It was good to be in

fresh air, headed away from the city. "It's easier than it was

coming all the way here. The roads were muddy, you know - with the

spring floods."

"Ever been to Cria before?"

Daine shook her head. "Never saw a village bigger than

Snowsdale, till yesterday."

"How can folk live like that, all mashed together?" Onua

shrugged. "City people. They're different is all. They look down

their noses if you didn't grow up penned in." Getting to her feet,

she stretched. "Unless something goes wrong, we'll make Wishing

Hollow by dark - we'll camp there. We're making wonderful time,

thanks to you."

Daine looked at her, baffled. "Me?" "This is the fastest I've

gotten clear of the fair in six years of trade. That's your doing.

You must have the Gift - though I never heard of it being put to

such a use,"

Dame laughed, "Oh, please! I've a knack with animals, but no

Gift. Ma-" She stopped, then made herself go on, "She tried to

teach me, but I never learned, I can't even start i fire, and

Gifted babies that. She was so disappointed. Wanted me to

follow her path, I s'posc,"

Onua touched the girls hair. "Your mother will be proud no

matter what path you take, Daine, I don't know you well, but

anyone can see that," Daine smiled at her. "Thanks." They sat

quietly for a few moments, until Onua remembered something. "I saw

you draw that bow of yours, but I don't know what kind of shot you

are.

Daine shrugged. "I'm good."

"Mind giving me a demonstration?"

Daine got up and took her longbow from her packs. "Name your

target."

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The wood was warm from the sun and bent willingly for the

string. She drew it a couple of times back to her ear, loosening

her muscles.

Looking around, Onua spotted a fence that would serve. It lay

well within the range of such a powerful bow, but it wasn't so

close that Daine would feel insulted. Walking out to it, she fixed

her handkerchief to a post with her belt-knife and returned. "How

about three arrows?"

"Fair enough." Daine had already fitted one arrow to the

string, and her quiver was on her back. Carefully she set her

feet, and gently she brought the string back as she focused on her

target. The arrow, when she loosed, flew straight and true. Two

more followed it.

Onua gaped. All three arrows clustered neatly at the center of

her handkerchief. Their heads were buried so deeply she had to cut

them loose.

"I take it this is something else you have a 'knack' for," she

said when Daine came to help.

"Grandda thought so." The girl shrugged. "It worked out for the

best. His bones got to hurting him so bad he couldn't even string

a bow, so I brought in all our game."

The yellow stallion screamed a challenge to a passing draft

horse and reared, pawing the air. "Odd's bobs!" Daine yelled,

exasperated. "Can't a person take her eye off you for a moment

without you acting up?" She ran to the stallions head and dragged

him back down to all fours, holding him until the draft horse

walked calmly past.

Onua came up to them, smiling. "Time to get back to work."

Well before dark, Onua led them out of sight of the road and

into a grassy hollow sheltered by trees. It was plain other

travelers stopped here: the fire pit was lined with stones, and a

lean-to kept stacks of firewood dry.

"Toss you to give the ponies a going-over," Onua suggested.

"For ticks, stones, whatever. Winner gets to dig the latrine

trench and catch fish."

Daine considered. "I druther check the ponies."

Onua grinned. "Wonderful - I feel like a bit of fishing just

now."

Smiling, Daine went to work. It made no sense to give the

ponies a thorough grooming while they were on the road, but she

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Tamora Pierce - Immortals 1 - Wild Magic

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