orders from my superior. For the moment, I suggest you make the best of it and join me by the

fire. You must be hungry--thirsty too, I expect. Come. It will be necessary to return you to your

less than luxurious quarters in a short while, so make the most of this brief reprieve."

Seeing the sense of this, Ramil turned to allow the Princess to precede him to the fire. In the

light, he saw

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for the first time that she had the most striking mane of long fair hair.

"Oh no, not her," the man said, taking a step to separate them. "I do not allow Western demons to sit with my people. She can eat on her own."

"Then I eat with her," announced Ramil, roused to anger on the Princess's behalf.

"No, you dine with me." The man produced a knife and felt its edge, drawing blood on his

thumb. "A Gerfalian prince is a worthy companion but a Blue Crescent woman is hardly human.

They feel nothing, have you not noticed?"

He waved at Tashi. "See, she says nothing--does nothing. We took her robes and she did not

complain. We threw her in with Kosind and she did not scream. It's unnatural. Leave her."

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The man hooked the Prince's arm in his and began to drag him away.

"I will stay with the Princess!" Ramil struggled to free himself.

Tashi turned her back on the fire, feeling so weary of these Easterners. She hardly cared for the

man's insults. How could such a one understand her?

There was no need for the Prince to risk injury on her behalf. In any case, she preferred to eat

alone.

"Go with him, Prince Ramil. I am content."

Tashi sat cross-legged on the ground, too far from the campfire to benefit from its warmth.

Looking up at the stars, she realized how late it was and she had not yet said the evening

service. The Mother would understand but Tashi knew she should delay no longer.

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Preparing herself, she rose to her knees and began quietly to say the words, miming the action

of the ringing bell as none was available. At first, no one noticed her humble ceremony, but then

the little man who had fetched them from their prison came over with a bowl of food. He put it

down but she continued without a pause, her hands sketching circles in the air before her.

This amused him so he fetched some of his friends from the fireside: the strong man, Gordoc,

and the tiger tamer, Pashvin. The tamer prodded Tashi with his whip but she did not break off

her prayer.

"See, it's as Orboyd says, less than human." Pashvin chuckled, sitting down to watch.

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The big man leant forward and fingered a strand of Tashi's long blonde hair.

"Pretty color," he murmured.

"See if you can make her squeal," suggested Tighe, the dwarf.

Gordoc grinned and put his mouth to the Princess's ear. "Boo!" he whispered.

Tashi closed her eyes. These men were no more than flies buzzing in a room, beneath her

regard. She had to complete the last prayer or her people would suffer.

Pashvin lifted the heavy hank of hair from her back and blew on her neck.

Getting no response, he let go and shrugged.

"She's no flesh and blood woman," he concluded.

Tashi came to the final blessing, giving the response that usually fell to her attendants. "As the Goddess wills."

It was at that moment that Gordoc decided to stroke

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her hair. Tashi emerged from her prayer to feel a large hand on the back of her head. Without

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thinking, she swung round and slapped the big man hard on the side of his face, then jumped up

and stalked away. Pashvin rolled around on the floor, howling with laughter.

"Maybe she's . . . half human," he said through gasps.

Gordoc set off in pursuit. "Aw, come back, my pretty one, I meant no harm."

The altercation caught the attention of Ramil, Orboyd, and the others by the fireside. Seeing

Tashi pursued by the giant man, the Prince leapt up. Swiftly, Orboyd kicked Ramil's feet from

under him and shifted the grip on his knife to prick him in the ribs.

"Settle down. He won't harm her. Let him have his fun," Orboyd ordered.

Ramil tried to get up a second time but the circus leader kicked him back again with an

exasperated sigh.

"Anyway, why should you care? It was no secret that you didn't want her.

You've no liking for these Blue Crescent women any more than I have. I wager neither of us

would say no to a handsome Eastern girl, but these fair-haired witches don't please a man."

Ramil rolled onto his knees.

"But I can't let you treat her like that. She's my guest. Any insult to her is an insult to the ac Burinholt royal family!"

"I'm sorry you feel like that, Prince, because it's no use getting all hot and bothered about her.

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She's no longer your problem. Lads, sit on our guest here."

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The three acrobats moved so quickly that Ramil had no chance to escape.

He found himself pinned to the ground by their combined weight.

"I was going to have to tie you up anyway. We're expecting company and unfortunately we need

to gag you." Orboyd produced a silk handkerchief and knotted it around Ramil's mouth. Next he

roped his hands and feet. "Put him back in with Kosind and cover him up," he ordered the

acrobats.

Carried like a rolled carpet, Ramil was put in the cage. His ropes were fixed tightly hand and foot

to rings on the floor, and finally he was buried under a layer of straw. Uncomfortable though he

was, he was tormented by fears for the Princess. If they treated him like this--a person they

considered an equal--what would they do to someone they considered a witch?

Gordoc cornered Tashi by the magician's wagon. She knew it was no good screaming. Who

would help her? Ramil was useless--she expected nothing from him. She gripped the sides of the

wagon behind her and closed her eyes tight, wishing the man away. She felt a big hand touch

the side of her face, just where she had struck him, then move to stroke her hair. She

shuddered.

"See, I just wanted to touch your hair. Like gold, it is. Please don't run away.

You can trust me to protect you. Come back and eat your supper. I'll tell the others not to tease

you." He took her hand and towed her after him. A few of the campers looked up in interest as

they returned to the fire.

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"Catch the witch, did you?" called out Orboyd.

Gordoc grunted. "You're not a witch, are you, Princess?"

Tashi shook her head.

"She's just scared of us."

Orboyd laughed. "Scared of you, more like."

Gordoc smiled proudly at his princess. "Oh no, I've given my word I'll not let you lot harm her.

She knows she can trust me." The big man picked up her bowl and thrust it at her. "Here, eat.

You have to go back in with the other one in a moment so you'd better get that down you."

Tashi ate quickly, trying to hide her movements by letting her veil of hair flop forwards, but

Gordoc brushed it back, out of her way. He then led her to a tent so she could wash and use the

privy, then guided her back to the wagon. Orboyd was waiting, holding a rope and scarf.

"I'll do that," said Gordoc. "There now, that's not too tight?" Once Tashi was bound and gagged, he scooped her up in his arms, climbed the steps back into the cage, and placed her gently on

the floor next to Ramil. "Make not a sound now and I'll let you out of here as soon as we've got