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.The bonds between host and guest are sacred to us, Mukthars. Heturned around to his men. You heard me: sacred. Then he lookedat Rodomesh. Sacred, he repeated once more. You will not shamemy given word. Rodomesh averted his eyes downwards under his prince s stare. No, Timishi, you know I won t, he said meekly.Anaxantis turned around to his men, to Hemarchidas s horrorexposing his back to the Mukthars. Hemarchidas, Iftang, I expect you to extend the utmost courtesyto our guests. Both men looked at each other.For a moment it looked as ifHemarchidas was going to say something, but then he thought betterof it.They both nodded.Anaxantis mounted Myrmos. Where are your horses, he asked Timishi. Or did you come onfoot? They were grazing peacefully when that one came and for noreason at all fell down upon us, Rodomesh bit at Hemarchidas. They startled and ran away.Who could blame them? They saw hisugly face. You call being shot at with at least a dozen arrows nothing at all,you little fu Bonds of Fear 299 Hemarchidas, Anaxantis interrupted him with raised voice. The utmost courtesy, he added in a softer voice. Please. Yes, of course, Anaxantis.Sorry, I forgot, he grumbled.Anaxantis sighed.Then he smiled and extended his hand toTimishi. Please, ride with me, he offered.He had meant for Timishi to sit behind him, but the Mukthar,using his arm as support, jumped upon Myrmos and landed in thesaddle before him.It was only in the nick of time that Anaxantisleaned back to make room for Timishi s right leg which would havehit him in the face.Timishi looked back and grinned while shrugging by way of anapology. No offense, but I d rather look at the landscape than at yourback. But it s all right for me to have to stare at yours, Anaxantismuttered, leaning sideways, so as to be able to see where they weregoing.Hemarchidas looked at Rodomesh and pondered if he shouldmake the same offer.One look at the Mukthar s face told him heneedn t bother.Rodomesh preferred walking beside his prince, hissword in its scabbard, but his hand on the pommel.While they returned to the camp, Anaxantis tried to engageTimishi in conversation. I know you can t tell me anything, and I don t want to press you,prince, but I wondered You can call me Timishi, the Mukthar said. After all you re also 300 Andrew Ashlinga kind of prince, albeit only a Ximerionian one. Ah, good.The first foot in the door.So sorry, my barbarianfriend, but I owe it to the army and the people to try to gain as muchinformation from you as I can. Very well, Timishi, then you should call me Anaxantis. I was planning to, Anashantish. Anaxantis.My name is Anaxantis. I know.Anashantish, Timishi said, looking left and right, takingin the landscape. No, no.Anaxantis.A-nak-zan-tisss. Yes, yes, A-nash-shan-tish.I heard you the first time. Anaxantis decided exasperated that it was no use.The wind blewstrands of the Mukthar s long hair in his face. He smells funny.It s not exactly unpleasant.It s.it s wild,somehow.Exciting. Timishi suddenly turned around and yanked the reins out of hishands. Give me those.I can t have my men see me being driven aroundlike a little child. He once more produced his grin-and-shrug combination. But my men can see me being driven around.On my own horse, Anaxantis fumed. And may I remind you, prince of the Mukthars,that there are a lot more of my men than there are of yours. Timishi ignored him and didn t look back.Anaxantis suspectedthat he was grinning.He looked the Mukthars over one by one. Bonds of Fear 301 They are so young.Not one of them can be older than twenty andTimishi is my age.That isn t strange in itself.but all of them? I haveIftang who is more than ten years my senior and a lot of the cavalrymenare even older.Maybe they re on a reconnaissance assignment.A youngprince and his companions.Or maybe it s a kind of initiation rite. He looked at their weapons.They all had a sword and a dagger.About half of them carried short hand bows and arrows as well.When they had almost reached the camp, while he wassurreptitiously studying the design of the hand bows, it suddenlystruck him. The arrow.If I had been a few inches to the right it would havestruck me in the face, in the eye or in the chest.I could have died.Inearly did.And he is all alone in the tower.What would become ofhim? He would be at the mercy.well, of anybody actually.I have madeno provisions for him in case something happens to me.The Gods onlyknow what they would do to him. One of the cavalry men was at the same time thinking back at theevents of the day as well. He almost got killed today
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