Page 103 of Wind Rider

“And you have boats to carry that many, and supplies that will last the entire journey?”

“As you and I have just met I will not take offense at your questioning of me.” Death’s look darkened dangerously.

Dax swallowed hard, obviously uncomfortable. “I do not mean to offend you. It is just that the journey could take up to three, even four or five months. The first leg is the easiest, and there is nothing easy about paddling up the Umbria River, and then over Lost Lake. After that you either ditch the boats, or adapt them to litters to use in the second leg as we make our way through the Rock Mountains. It is an arduous, difficult trip.”

“I understand that, and we will be ready to depart in five days,” Death said.

“Well, then, I will guide you if you do pay me five times more than my usual fee, plus a bonus of a brace of my choice of pelts when we reach the Wind Riders—whether they accept you or not,” Dax said.

“Accept me or not? Whatever do you mean?”

“Wind Riders rarely accept outsiders. They only allow them to remain on their Plains if the settlers can prove that they have skills the Wind Riders need. Even then the acceptance is sometimes more whim or feeling than need. The horse people are proud and strong and independent—and they are sole rulers of a huge area of land.”

Death threw back His massive head and laughed. As if they had no will of their own, Thaddeus, Iron Fist, and the Attendants all echoed the God. Death wiped his eyes and, smiling his terrible smile, said, “Oh, Dax, let me worry about beingacceptedby the Wind Riders. I agree to your terms. We leave in five days. Please, be my guest until then.”

“Thank you,” Dax said. “I can help Thaddeus be sure that your People are bringing the proper supplies.”

“That would be helpful,” Death said absently, as if He had no real concern for whether or not they brought the proper supplies with them. Then His expression became much more animated. “Dax, I know little about the peoples we will encounter on the journey, but I assume there are many settlements along the river.”

“Not as many as you might imagine. The lands bordering the Umbria and Lost Lake are not welcoming to settlers, except for a river people called the Saleesh. Part of what I will discuss with Thaddeus is the fact that we will need to pay the Saleesh a form of tribute as we pass each village.”

“And why do these river people deserve tribute?” Death asked, sounding more curious than angry.

“Well, they control the most difficult parts of the Umbria. Without their permission to pass, and their help getting your boats through the ruins around which they build their villages, you would have no chance of making it to the Rock Mountains in time to cross. It would add months onto your journey.”

“Are the Saleesh such great warriors?” Death said.

“Truthfully, I don’t know how adept they are at fighting. I do know that they are expert river men. I’ve traveled far, and never met any people who have greater knowledge of waterways, except perhaps the Whale Singers, though they understand the seas, and not so much rivers.”

“Ah, I understand. And are there many rivers on the Plains of the Wind Riders?”

Dax looked surprised at the question, but he answered it smoothly. “That depends on which part of their territory you’re asking about. There are rivers that begin in the mountains and spill down to the Plains. The eastern boundary of Wind Rider territory is an enormous river called the Missi, and there are a few others as well.”

Death nodded his enormous head and scratched his chin contemplatively. “So, the Saleesh would be excellent additions to my People.”

“Well, yes, they probably would be, but I have never known of any Saleesh to leave the banks of the Umbria. They marry into other Saleesh villages, but it is usually the women who move. The men almost always remain in the village in which they were born for their entire lives.”

“You might be surprised at how persuasive I can be.” Death waved away Dax’s response. “And what types of peoples will we encounter in the Rock Mountains?”

“Not many,” Dax said. “There are some odd, reclusive mountainpeople, though they are only seen when they want to be. And, of course, there are several Lynx Chains that call those mountains home, but as the snow begins to fall they only leave their dens to hunt and trade.”

“Fascinating…” Death said.

Ralina’s nausea rose again. She understood exactly why Death was asking those questions. She spent so much time shadowing Him that the God tended to forget she was present and spoke freely around her—especially to His disgusting Blade, Iron Fist and Thaddeus. She hadn’t thought her loathing of Him could be any greater, but the past ten days had proved her wrong. The God of Death was a merciless, despicable, manipulative tyrant bent on destroying everything and everyone who did not bend to His will. Ralina had to force herself to breathe slowly and deeply, and to remain silent.I can do nothing to stop Him if I’m dead,she reminded herself.

The sound of Dax’s voice broke into Ralina’s dark thoughts.

“My Lord, if I have your permission, I would like to retire for the night. Mihos and I traveled far and fast to reach you today.”

“Of course! Iron Fist, show our guest to the nest we prepared for him, and be sure that he has plenty of food and water,” Death said.

Dax wasted no time. He quickly followed the Skin Stealer from the platform, still throwing the God of Death glances of shock mixed with curiosity.

Ralina waited until the God and Thaddeus had their heads together, speaking in low, animated voices. Then, moving quickly, she remained hugged to the shadows, making her way silently to the stairway.

His voice stopped her just before she reached the exit.

“Storyteller, I did not give you permission to leave.”