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.Several weeks after his first night with Katala, Pug found himself alone with Kasumi, as Laurie was embroiled in another shouting match with the woodcrafter who was finishing his lute.The man considered Laurie somewhat unreasonable in objecting to the instrument’s being finished in bright yellow paint with purple trim.And he saw absolutely no merit in leaving the natural wood tones exposed.Pug and Kasumi left the singer explaining to the woodcrafter the requirements of wood for proper resonance, seemingly intent on convincing by volume as much as by logic.They walked toward the stable area.Several more captured horses had been purchased by agents of the Lord of the Shinzawai and had been sent to his estate, at what Pug took to be a great deal of expense and some political maneuvering.Whenever alone with the slaves, Kasumi spoke the King’s Tongue and insisted they call him by name.He showed a quickness in learning the language that matched his quickness in learning to ride.“Friend Laurie,” said the older son of the house, “will never make a proper slave from a Tsurani point of view.He has no appreciation of our arts.”Pug listened to the argument that still could be heard coming from the wood-carver’s building.“I think it more the case of his being concerned over the proper appreciation of his art.”They reached the corral and watched as a spirited grey stallion reared and whinnied at their approach.The horse had been brought in a week ago, securely tied by several leads to a wagon, and had repeatedly tried to attack anyone who came close.“Why do you think this one is so troublesome, Pug?”Pug watched the magnificent animal run around the corral, herding the other horses away from the men.When the mares and another, less dominant, stallion were safely away, the grey turned and watched the two men warily.“I’m not sure.Either he’s simply a badly tempered animal, perhaps from mishandling, or he’s a specially trained war-horse.Most of our war mounts are trained not to shy in battle, to remain silent when held, to respond to their rider’s command in times of stress.A few, mostly ridden by lords, are specially trained to obey only their master, and they are weapons as much as transport, being schooled to attack.He may be one of these.”Kasumi watched him closely as he pawed the ground and tossed his head.“I shall ride him someday,” he said.“In any event, he will sire a strong line.We now number five mares, and Father has secured another five.They will arrive in a few weeks, and we are scouring every estate in the Empire to find more.” Kasumi got a far-off look and mused, “When I was first upon your world, Pug, I hated the sight of horses.They rode down upon us, and our soldiers died.But then I came to see what magnificent creatures they are.There were other prisoners, when I was still back on your world, who said you have noble families who are known for nothing so much as the fine stock of horses they breed.Someday the finest horses in the Empire shall be Shinzawai horses.”“By the look of these, you have a good start, though from what little I know, I think you need a larger stock for breeding.”“We shall have as many as it takes.”“Kasumi, how can your leaders spare these captured animals from the war effort? You must surely see the need to quickly build mounted units if you are going to advance your conquest.”Kasumi’s face took on a rueful expression.“Our leaders, for the most part, are tradition-bound, Pug.They refuse to see any wisdom in training cavalry.They are fools.Your horsemen ride over our warriors, and yet they pretend we cannot learn anything, calling your people barbarians.I once sieged a castle in your homeland, and those who defended taught me much about warcraft.Many would brand me traitor for saying such, but we have held our own only by force of numbers.For the most part, your generals have more skill.Trying to keep one’s soldiers alive, rather than sending them to their death, teaches a certain craftiness.“No, the truth of the matter is we are led by men who—” He stopped, realizing he was speaking dangerously.“The truth is,” he said at last, “we are as stiff-necked a people as you.”He studied Pug’s face for a moment, then smiled.“We raided for horses during the first year, so that the Warlord’s Great Ones could study the beasts, to see if they were intelligent allies, like our cho-ja, or merely animals.It was a fairly comical scene.The Warlord insisted he be the first to try to ride a horse.I suspect he chose one much like this big grey, for no sooner did he approach the animal than the horse attacked, nearly killing him.His honor won’t permit any other to ride when he failed.And I think he was fearful of trying again with another animal.Our Warlord, Almecho, is a man of considerable pride and temper, even for a Tsurani.”Pug said, “Then how can your father continue to purchase captured horses? And how can you ride in defiance of his order?”Kasumi’s smile broadened.“My father is a man of considerable influence in the council.Our politics is strangely twisted, and there are ways to bend any command, even from the Warlord or High Council, and any order, save one from the Light of Heaven himself.But most of all it is because these horses are here, and the Warlord is not.” He smiled “The Warlord is supreme only in the field.Upon this estate, none may question my father’s will.”Since coming to the estate of the Shinzawai, Pug had been troubled by whatever Kasumi and his father were plotting.That they were embroiled in some Tsurani political intrigue he doubted not, but what it might prove to be he had no idea.A powerful lord like Kamatsu would not spend this much effort satisfying a whim of even a son as favored as Kasumi.Still, Pug knew better than to involve himself any more than he was involved by circumstance.He changed the topic of conversation.“Kasumi, I was wondering something.”“Yes?”“What is the law regarding the marriage of slaves?”Kasumi seemed unsurprised by the question.“Slaves may marry with their master’s permission.But permission is rarely given.Once married, a man and wife may not be separated, nor can children be sold away so long as the parents live.That is the law.Should a married couple live a long time, an estate could become burdened with three or four generations of slaves, many more than they could economically support.But occasionally permission is granted.Why, do you wish Katala for your wife?”Pug looked surprised.“You know?”Without arrogance Kasumi said, “Nothing occurs upon my father’s estates that he is ignorant of, and he confides in me.It is a great honor.”Pug nodded thoughtfully.“I don’t know yet.I feel much for her, but something holds me back.It’s as if.” He shrugged, at a loss for words.Kasumi regarded him closely for a time, then said, “It is by my father’s will you live and by his whim how you live
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