"Kemoc's head whipped around. His words trailed off as a lance of the dying sunlight betrayed her. White-dappled. Pale rose. Dear Alma....
"The scent of Night Roses had grown more intense. She approached him, eyes grown luminous and large. 'What stays thee from speaking? Art thou like me...a lover of the roses and a watcher of the Dance?'
" 'I...' Kemoc could manage no more than that. The mare's eyes flashed with recognition. 'Thou art a moondancer as well. I remember seeing thee at a distance when thou went with thy companions at Pilgrimage to the bitter pool. Thou hast gone that way many times since, always a companion to the nervous young ones.' Her eyes betrayed her for a moment, and Kemoc saw the depths of sorrow there...and the longing. He knew that she had watched him each time he traversed the old path, from his initiation to the latest one of a year past. The white-dappled mare continued. 'The Free People of the Plain know how the Southlanders feel about us. I simply saw the feather in thy mane and thought thee a curious Plainsdweller like myself. My apologies...I trouble thee no more.'
"She walked past him and vanished into the forest. A recollection of his duties and responsibilities of a warrior ghosted up beside him. He made to turn back, and met the dawn-colored warrior mare, once again at his side. She looked at him quizzically.
" 'Why dost thou never follow her? Always standing here, letting my presence weight thee like lead.'
" 'She is a Renegade-' Kemoc began. The other cut him off. 'Not so! She was born upon the Plain. She did not flee from my Ring. I never intended it to become so binding, as to hold back a sensible warrior from his own heart.'
" 'Thy Ring? By...Halla...' Kemoc gasped. The fiery mare nodded. 'Indeed. And it is obvious thou hast no need of its Law. Thy descendants will be welcome when the Hills are safe again, but it has evidenced me that perhaps thy descendants will come to call the Plains their home. Go. Da'Quiris has more need of thee than my Ring.'
"Kemoc plunged past her into the shadows of the forest, heartbrokenly calling the dappled mare's truename as given to him by the ancient princess Halla.'
"He did not find her for many days, but when finally Kemoc met his love once more upon the Plain, a more beautiful reunion has never been recorded. Their descendants were many and still can be traced in the blood of those ranging Alma's Back. A stallion bearing the coat of his great-great-great grandsire and the dapples of his great-great-great granddam traveled the Plains during the time of Aljan Moonbrow, earning himself a name to match his coat and wonted as a dreamer and singer...but that is another tale, and this tale is done."
"The scent of Night Roses had grown more intense. She approached him, eyes grown luminous and large. 'What stays thee from speaking? Art thou like me...a lover of the roses and a watcher of the Dance?'
" 'I...' Kemoc could manage no more than that. The mare's eyes flashed with recognition. 'Thou art a moondancer as well. I remember seeing thee at a distance when thou went with thy companions at Pilgrimage to the bitter pool. Thou hast gone that way many times since, always a companion to the nervous young ones.' Her eyes betrayed her for a moment, and Kemoc saw the depths of sorrow there...and the longing. He knew that she had watched him each time he traversed the old path, from his initiation to the latest one of a year past. The white-dappled mare continued. 'The Free People of the Plain know how the Southlanders feel about us. I simply saw the feather in thy mane and thought thee a curious Plainsdweller like myself. My apologies...I trouble thee no more.'
"She walked past him and vanished into the forest. A recollection of his duties and responsibilities of a warrior ghosted up beside him. He made to turn back, and met the dawn-colored warrior mare, once again at his side. She looked at him quizzically.
" 'Why dost thou never follow her? Always standing here, letting my presence weight thee like lead.'
" 'She is a Renegade-' Kemoc began. The other cut him off. 'Not so! She was born upon the Plain. She did not flee from my Ring. I never intended it to become so binding, as to hold back a sensible warrior from his own heart.'
" 'Thy Ring? By...Halla...' Kemoc gasped. The fiery mare nodded. 'Indeed. And it is obvious thou hast no need of its Law. Thy descendants will be welcome when the Hills are safe again, but it has evidenced me that perhaps thy descendants will come to call the Plains their home. Go. Da'Quiris has more need of thee than my Ring.'
"Kemoc plunged past her into the shadows of the forest, heartbrokenly calling the dappled mare's truename as given to him by the ancient princess Halla.'
"He did not find her for many days, but when finally Kemoc met his love once more upon the Plain, a more beautiful reunion has never been recorded. Their descendants were many and still can be traced in the blood of those ranging Alma's Back. A stallion bearing the coat of his great-great-great grandsire and the dapples of his great-great-great granddam traveled the Plains during the time of Aljan Moonbrow, earning himself a name to match his coat and wonted as a dreamer and singer...but that is another tale, and this tale is done."