Ashe waved Ian and Shane up to ride on either side of him, a sign that these with him were his kinsmen and equals. "This will end now," the angry words spoken while maintaining a calm smile on his face.

"You said that before." Shane glanced at his father. Far from being angry, Ian seemed amused by his uncle's mood. "Peace, Ashe. I don't care if the rest accept me or not; Evaynan acknowledged my children as being of his blood. That is enough for me."

Brennus had, by this time, dropped back to walk next to Shane's horse, his hand lightly gripping the stirrup, and he gave a hoot of laughter. "He's put the weasel in the yard for sure. Some had high hopes for their future!" He peered up at Shane. "Got some Darkwinds blood, don't you?"

"My birth-mother was Darkwinds clan."

"Thought as much. Used to see them now and again by the Wall. You have the height from your Da's Sithryn blood, and the ears aren't as big as theirs, but the silver hair gives it away. I'd heard they'd been massacred or such. Shame that."

"Wall? What wall?"

"Hadrian's, of course! My father served there, helped hold back the blue painted wild folk, then married a woman from the hill tribes when he retired from the Legions! You've never seen Hadrian's Wall?"

"I've never been to the North."

"Pity. You'd like it." Brennus glanced up again. "So, lad, tell me who is the Emperor now?"

Shane was speechless. How long had Brennus been in the Green Silences? The legions had left Britain centuries ago, and the only emperors Shane knew of were in Germany and Byzantium. "I... we've not had news from Rome for years now."

Brennus let the stirrup go, reaching up to pat Shane's leg. "Ne, ne, lad. I but jest with you. I know Rome fell years ago. The elves, they think I don't know, but word filters through even here. I hear the lads gossip at night. You've a good heart in you." He stepped further to the side as he kept walking. "But we're here now. We'll talk later."

Shane looked up. They had indeed reached the other side of the Field and a group of mounted elves sat awaiting them. Sitting slightly ahead of them was Evaynanvathallion, ruler of the Green Silences and Shane's great-grandsire. "The fox!" murmured Ashe. "He'll meet us all as kin! They'll choke on it, but this will leave no doubt about the decree." He moved his horse closer, reached out, and the two gripped each other's forearms in a kinsman's greeting. "Father! I've brought you Iannon and Shane his son to visit you!" He motioned the other two closer, and watched smiling as Evaynan leaned across in his saddle to give each in turn an embrace.

"Welcome and thrice welcome, my daughter's son and grandson. It makes my spirit sing to see you all three here!"

A voice rang out from the other elves. "And what of me? Does your spirit sing to see me as well, father?" An elf stepped forward, threw back his hood to reveal a face that was the image of Ash's, except no scar marred the perfection of it. His eyes glinted darkly as he smiled. "Now, a true family reunion, heh? Hello, brother, still keeping bad company I see!"

"Hello, Yarrow. I hope you've not come here to cause more trouble."

"Ashe, you wound me! On the contrary, I merely seek to make this occasion even more memorable!" He gestured to someone behind him, and a young elf stepped out of the crowd to join him. "Father, allow me to introduce to you your other great-grandson. Duirnanvathallion, greet your liege."

10/2000


Horses of Dawn VI

"Greetings, Lord Evaynan. I claim myself kin by right of blood." Duir bowed.

"Yarrow, what sort of sick joke is this? You dare make a mockery.."

"No jest, brother. He is our nephew, I swear this on my soul." He stepped forward to stand beside Duir as all eyes suddenly turned to Ian. One eyebrow flicked up as Blackthorn looked at the pair, then shook his head.

"Surely you are not saying I've a son I have no knowledge of siring, Uncle?" He slid down out of his saddle to stand a few feet away from Duir. "If so, you have made this boy a pawn for naught. I've no other issue except those born at Camelot."

Duir spat at the ground a few inches from Ian's black boots. "I'm no son of yours, mixed blood. Aye, I'm Midsummer Night get, but my sire was Sethanvathallion, true blood son of your mother. My father was the man you killed, along with your mother and many other warriors whose kin stand here today. I am true Sithryn, without the taint of human or lesser breed of elves within my veins. And I stand here to take my place by Evaynanvathallion as his trueblooded kin."

"A pretty speech," Ian murmured. "I see you've learned your lessons well at Yarrow's knee."

Shane heard angry voices now all about, and he realized how very much he and his father must stand out as different to these folk. For one thing, they all were clad on elven fashion, either in supple leathers or brightly woven cloth; Shane wore his usual linen shirt and trousers, while his Da's leathers were his favorite somber black. Worse still was the sensation that all eyes were staring at him, his Darkwinds silver hair a badge of shame in their eyes. His chin jutted out defiantly as he dismounted along with Ashe to join Ian standing across from Duir.

"Sethan's son, you say?" Ashe 's voice was rough with anger. "And he's not been known of all these years, except, of course, by you? Are we expected to believe this?"

"Don't speak over me! I'm not a hound you are arguing bloodlines over!" Duir hissed. Ashe regarded this newfound kin coolly but nodded. "Your pardon. This is a bit much for us to take in you see. Where have you been? Why have you not revealed yourself before now?"

"I was with my mother. She hadn't known ..she hadn't known they'd conceived me when they rode out with Rowan to meet.. him." Duir looked angrily at Ian. "And then after, when Sethan was dead and she realized she was bearing his child, she feared for her life and mine. So she set out on the Road and went someplace she felt was safe to birth and raise me."

Yarrow nodded. "I didn't know about them either until I stumbled across them one day as I was on the Road myself. A shock, as you might imagine, father."

And now Evaynan stood beside them, his eyes bewildered. "Why? Why would she fear for her life?"

"She feared him!" Duir pointed a trembling finger at Ian. "She feared he would kill us to ease his way to become your heir!" Again the murmur rose around them.

"But Ian was exiled! How could he become heir?"

"My mother didn't know that! She was hiding!"

Ashe gazed past the boy and saw the smirk on his twin's lips. There was something more, and Yarrow laughed at his expression. "Go on, brother, ask who his mother is. Or was; she's long passed back upon the skyroad. Go on!"

Duir didn't wait to be asked. "My mother was Beithsaildholon. Your old student, Lord Ashe. You know they were lovers."

"Aye, that they were. And I loved them both, even twisted as Sethan was by Yarrow's hatred of all humankind. But we've only your word that you are their son."

Duir nodded, then knelt before Evaynan. "Then I ask to hold the clanblade, Lord Evaynan. Let it show I am a true son of your House."

"You do not need to do this!" Evaynan paled, suddenly looking older than he had before. "Do you know it will destroy you, burn you to dust if your claim is false? What if your mother was mistaken?"

"I'd rather lie as dust at your feet than have people doubt my word."

"Very well." And with trembling hands Evaynanvathallion, Lord of the Green Silences, drew his sword and offered it hilt first to the young man who claimed to be his blood.

Duir reached out to take the sword.

10/2000


Horses of Dawn VII

Shane looked anxiously at his father. "Da?"

Ian simply shook his head to his son. The only person who could stop Duir was Evaynan, and the elf lord made no sign that he would. The sword would decide the truth of Duir's claim.

Then the younger elf's hand closed over the pommel, and with a laugh he took the blade and swung it over his head. "You see! Proof, proof I am who I say I am!" The elvenblade flashed with a dim inner light as he whirled about in place, letting the whole group see his validation. "And I am here to take my rightful place at my great-grandsire's side, as the true heir to the Green Silences. My blood is pure, not tainted by human," he pointed the tip of the sword at Ian, "or by a lesser line of elves." He'd turned to point the blade at Shane with his last words. He gave a fierce grin." He's tainted by birth by Darkwind blood and by upbringing among humans with a human mother! He's not fit to be your kin, m'lord Evaynan." He proffered the sword now to Shane with a mocking grin on his face, perhaps thinking his words had rattled the boy.

He was wrong.

His eyes locked with Duir's, Shane unerringly reached out and took the sword in turn, and then smoothly moved it into the mid guard position, then up in to the air above his head. Light burst brightly over gathered elves, and if Duir had looked behind him he would have seen Yarrow's face set in chagrin. Shane raised his voice to be heard above the murmurs. "My name is Shanenonvethallion of the Clan of the Silver Rose, and I make no claim for anything from this clan but the welcome due kin. And, cousin, I am proud of my heritage, on all sides!" He turned, tossing the sword to Ian, who caught it from mid air. The sword continued to glow brilliantly as Ian knelt and held it out to Evaynan to take back.

Gravely, the elf lord reclaimed the sword, then sheathed it. "Duir, I welcome you to kith and kin, but more than that you cannot claim. Mine is the lordship of the Clan, mine the right to name my Heir."

"But grandsire, surely you-" Duir stopped to turn and glare towards the rear of the gathering, where someone was yelling to be let through. The crowd moved aside, and the elf who had shot at Ashe earlier stumbled forwards, a body cradled in his arms. He fell to his knees weeping before Ashe and Ian could reach him.

"Mor, what happened?" Ashe crouched down to look at the wounds, then sat back on his heels, a silent shake of the head to Ian that nothing could be done.

"I told m'lord you had arrived, and then set out along the other path to waylay Ailim. A game, you see. But…he's dead! I found him. The grey beasts, they'd killed his horse, It looks, and then he fought afoot .He killed some, but …" Mor's voice broke.

"Grey beasts?"

Ashe nodded to Ian. "Sometimes things from along the Road sneak through. These are some sort of cross between wolves and something else."

"They were probably brought through by someone inept, like Blackthorn or his son." sneered Duir.

"I summoned the Road we rode, Duir? Do you say I am inept?" Ashe got back up to his feet and looked at Duir, who now shook his head.

"Of course not, Uncle. My apologies."

Ashe turned to his father. "We best go after them in the morning. Brennus and the youngest will stay here to guard the horses, the rest will hunt."

"We will find them, Grandsire!" Duir smiled fiercely, but it vanished as Ashe made a negative motion with his hand.

"I said the youngest stay here. That includes you, and Shane, and the rest of the herd guards."

"Stay? With him?" He glared at Shane.

By this time, Shane had had enough. Days spent playing about the barracks came to the fore as he hooked his thumbs in his swordbelt in an unconscious imitation of the salty Sgt.Timmons. "You whine like a dwarf. " He walked past his cousin to stand by his father, then looked back over his shoulder. "Most likely you ride like one, too."

There was laughter from all around and Yarrow quickly stepped over to place a warning hand on Duir's shoulder.

The last glimpse Shane had of Duir as the crowd broke up and blocked his view was a look that burned with hate.

10/2000


Horses of Dawn VIII

"They are beautiful, aren't they?"

Shane turned and smiled at Brennus; the little man's face beamed with pride. "Aye, they are like no other horses I've ever seen."

It was two days since the older elves had ridden off to the hunt, and Shane had been left in a strange land in the hands of people he did not think would be overly concerned for his well being. He'd been pleasantly surprised that first morning by a new set of riding leathers and boots, laid out for him in his tent so that they were the first thing he saw upon waking. They were of elven cut like those his father favored, only tan, and incredibly soft to the touch, yet durable. Everything fit, and Ian and Uncle Ashe had told him he looked the very picture of a proper elven hunter, and for a brief few minutes Shane nursed the hope they would take him with them. But when the order came to ride, his horse was nowhere in view, and Da had placed his hands on Shane's shoulders and promised he'd be back as soon as he could.

At least he hadn't hugged Shane. Or worse, kissed him.

He was still standing watching after the riders when Brennus came along to collect him and took him out to the herd and the other younger elves left to guard it. Duir was there, but said no word of welcome, only scowled as a few of the others spoke with Shane. That had started a competition that Shane wished no part of, for Duir seemed intent on dividing the group into those who were his friends, and those who were not. His mood was not helped by the fact that Brennus took Shane under his wing, for the herdmaster was well-liked and most of the others followed his lead. Another difficulty was that Shane's barb about Duir's riding ability was not far off the target. Duir was a poor rider. Apparently he'd never even been near a horse while in hiding and had only lately learned. He bounced about in the saddle and his face reddened at the good natured jests about it. Soon the other elves left Evaynan's new found kin to himself.

Meanwhile, Brennus took Shane out and they spent the afternoon looking over the herd for Lady Touchfire's promised horse. At long last the king stallion led a colt and two fillies in from of them. Brennus looked up at the steed and nodded.

"He says the larger filly is for your father's friend. The colt is yours, and the smaller filly for your sister."

Shane stared. "HE said?"

"Aye. He chose them for you. He sired them, after all. And when your younger brothers sisters are ready, there will be those of his blood to bear them as well."

In the end, Shane had bowed solemnly to the stallion and thanked him.

Now it was late in the afternoon of the second day, and Shane and Brennus sat beneath a tree at the edge of the Field, eating apples and cheese and washing it down with water from the river. Duir sat a few yards away with the few friends he'd won. And the topic, as in any conversation with Brennus, was horses. Shane took a sip of water and looked at the man.

"Do you ever regret it? Don't you ever miss your home, your family?"

The human shook his head. "I was the youngest of a big brood. Truth be told, the best I could have hoped for would have been herding sheep or ponies, or trying to scratch a living out of the ground. My folks, they loved me, as they did all their children, but after they stopped grieving for me, they would have had one less mouth to worry about feeding." He fell silent for a few minutes, then whispered: "I don't recall their faces anymore. All I remember, is a song my mother sang, a lullabye." He hummed a few bars, and grinned as Shane picked it up and joined in. " You know it, heh?"

"Aye, I think the words go like so.." and Shane sang them. Brennus cocked his head to the side and listened but shook his head.

"The words were different." He looked back out across the Field where the herd was grazing. "As for regret, look at them! The Horses of Dawn! I saw them thunder over that ridge, and I knew what I wanted. I wanted to be with them, to ride with them, to go where they went! How could I see them and not want them? How could anyone?" He shaded his eyes with his hand as he looked and then frowned. "Something's spooked them. They're running this way."

Shane stood and looked as well. "Do you think they caught scent of those beasts on the far side? Is that why they are moving so swiftly?"

"I don't know." Brennus turned to the other group. "Up, lads! Trouble ahead!"

He was wrong. The trouble, as it turned out, was behind them. A large gray shape hurtled out of the woods, followed by more. Brennus was knocked to the ground and Shane screamed, grabbed for the dagger at his belt and hacked wildly at the thing attacking the man. Then one of the attackers knocked Shane flying, and the world was full of roars and the bugling of a stallion as rage filled Shane and he turned his blade at his attacker.

11/2000