Alanna was silent for a few moments, trying to form a proper response, to such an unexpected request. "Kourrem, as much as I would like to help you, my duty is to the Crown now. I don't have time to teach, that part of my life is over. I barely have time for my own family, it would be unfair of me add teaching to my list of duties. I'm sorry." Alanna tried to soften her words, trying not to be too harsh with her answer to Koureem.
Kourrem remained silent for a few moments thinking Alanna's words over. "I thought you would respond that way. Now Alanna, let me tell you something, for ten nights I have had the same dream, you and Iselut would ride together into the sunset, and the whole tribe would watch. It couldn't be plainer if the God's had shouted in my ear. You must take Iselut from here." As she finished, Kourrem was breathing heavily, a result of her attempts to control herself, to keep from shouting at her former mentor.
Experience had taught Alanna not to ignore messages from the Gods, to ignore them was just an invitation for chaos.
Kourrem, sensing that she had struck a nerve, decided to change tactics, " I know I will not be able to force you into a decision, but please, just wait to make your judgment until you meet her."
As if on cue, the muffled sound of hooves against the desert sand answered Kourrem's plea. The approaching footsteps began to sound closer and the tent flap opened. It didn't reveal a girl as Alanna thought, but a young woman. Her body was hidden under a burnoose, and her face was covered by a thin veil. Her eyes over her veil were her only visible feature. At first glance, they appeared to be a dull brown, but upon closer inspection, Alanna could see flecks of green, gray, and an array of browns. They reminded Alanna of something, but she couldn't place her finger on it.
Korrem watched anxiously as both Alanna and Iselut made a silent inspection of each other. Alanna's normally expressive face remained expressionless, and Iselut's thoughts remained masked behind her veil. As Alanna took Iselut's measure, her hand remained clasped to the red jewel at her throat.
Alanna was the first to break the silence, "You know Kourrem, your dream only showed Iselut and me riding from the tribe, it never showed me teaching her, if I am not mistaken."
"Well, yes," Kourrem answered slowly, for fear of what Alanna would say next.
"What do you say Iselut, will you come with me? Although I will not teach you, I swear by the Goddess, I will find someone who will." Alanna's eyes remained transfixed on Iselut as she spoke, and she fiddled with the pendent around her neck.
In a voice as whispery as the desert winds, Iselut spoke, "Kourrem's dream will be fulfilled. I will ride away with you, Woman who Rides Like a Man."
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The tribe feasted that night, in part for Alanna's return to her tribe, for as time passed, they had seen less and less of their lady knight, and in part for Iselut's departure. During the feast, Alanna watched Iselut, she did not sit next to the Kourrem, as a shaman's apprentice should, but served along with the other women of the tribe. When Alanna asked Kourrem about this, Kourrem became flustered, "Iselut is not treated as she should be." That was all Kourrem spoke of the matter, and quickly changed the topic, asking of Alanna's husband.
As Iselut served, Alanna could see that she was crippled in her walk, with every step her left side dipped about a foot. "Goddess," Alanna thought, "Iselut is missing at least a quarter of her left leg." Try as she might, she couldn't be exact on how much of Iselut's leg was missing, Iselut's burnoose covered her body and its hem swept the ground, guaranteeing that no observer would see her deformed leg.
The tribe feasted late into the night and Alanna woke late the next morning, and went to see Kourrem. Iselut, who lived with Kourrem, was not in the tent, but Alanna saw several small, neatly packed bundles on Iselut's side of the tent. They were to leave in the evening.
Confused, wondering of Iselut's whereabouts, Alanna asked Kourrem, "Where is Iselut?"
Kourrem smiled, not looking up from her weaving, "She went to collect some plants for me, I am in low supply of willow bark, and it is the time of the year when many complain of headaches, I am sure it will be soon in demand."
"How many men did you send out with her, Hillmen, being all over the area; surely the tribe would not blink to send twenty men to guard one as Gifted as you claim." Alanna said in jest.
"Kourrem paused, and stopped her weaving, "Iselut needs no guards, but you shall see that for yourself soon enough."
The hum of the loom sounded as Kourrem restarted her weaving, leaving Alanna to her own thoughts.
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Iselut returned on horseback in the late afternoon, with a two large baskets of willow bark. Alanna went to saddle her horse, Blackthunder, leaving the two women to say goodbye in private.
When they came out from the tent, both women's eye's were red, Kourrem blaming it on the glare from the sun.
Iselut tied her packs onto the horse and mounted the sand colored mare as Alanna hugged Kourrem tightly.
"I am horrible at saying good bye." Alanna said to her.
"That is why we Bazhir don't say them," Kourrem responded with a watery chuckle, "Iselut, mind Alanna, remember you will always be in my prayers, as you have been for the past eight years."
Iselut grasped Kourrem's hand tightly and then mounted her mare, her eyes, left uncovered by her veil, over bright. A man slapped each horse on the rump and they kicked into a gallop.
As the two women rode into the sunset the entire tribe watched.