“It is normal hair,” Norah said, and both women laughed.
“Do all people in the North have light hair?”
Norah nodded. “Most of them, although not as light as mine. Many are more golden haired.”
Tahla’s mouth opened in surprise. “Even the men?”
“Yes.”
“That sounds beautiful,” the chief’s daughter said with a smile.
Norah thought of Alexander. “It is,” she said, and they laughed again.
Tahla quieted, but still radiated a burning curiosity. “How do you command Savantahla?”
Norah didn’t know how to answer. “I’m not even sure what that is. Do you mean the horse?”
“Savantahla means the spirit of the Wild,” she explained. “Animals from the land of the Wild, they’re all Savantahla. Horses, birds, wolves, foxes. Savan is in all of them.”
“Foxes?” Norah asked in surprise. Her mind drifted back to the fox in the Wild. Now she was certain they were connected. But how were they connected to her?
“Any animal of the Wild. You know them by their compulsive beauty, and their eyes.”
Norah thought about the mare. She was beautiful. Her mane was thick and long, and even without the sun, her dappled coat shined. Norah knew that compulsive beauty, and she knew the eyes: a hypnotizing gold. “I don’t command her,” Norah told her. “I only ask of her.”
Tahla paused. “They say only witches can speak to Savantahla.”
Norah raised a brow and rocked her head to the side. “I’m not a witch, although I have been accused of being one.”
“How did you capture her?”
“I didn’t. King Mikael took her from a man named Abilash as recompense… for a transgression.”
Tahla’s eyes widened. “King Abilash? Salar took Savantahla from King Abilash?”
“The king didn’t seem very happy about it, but Abilash gave the horse willingly. We parted on good terms.”
“I can assure you that you didn’t part on as good of terms as you think. But he dares not defy Salar. Not alone anyway, unless he wants his tribes to starve. And he was probably scared of you and your witchery.” She smiled. “Horsemen are extremely superstitious people.”
Norah realized that the Shadow King must help the Horsemen with provisions through the winter, too, and she smiled at the witchery jest. “The king said the mare was quite valuable to them.”
Tahla nodded. “Tribes of the Horsemen compete for land and power. If Abilash had Savantahla, he could rally more tribes to follow him.”
“Over a horse?”
“The animals of Savantahla are not ordinary animals. You cannot track them. They speak to the earth, and the earth speaks back. You can’t tame them unless they want to be tamed. They have great power, and anyone who controls Savantahla has great power too.”
Norah looked back at the horse, which was grazing by the others along the river. She wasn’t sure what this great power could be.
Tahla smiled. “I was named after Savantahla. Tahla.”
“Ah,” Norah said, “I hear it.”
“My mother died in childbirth. I should have died too. But I didn’t. My father said I was so wild out of the womb that the spirit must be within me. It’s a strong name.” She looked at the horse with a smile. “Few have seen Savantahla. Your visit is a great honor.”
The warmth of gratitude filled her. “Do you want to see her?” she asked. “Touch her?”
Tahla let out a gasp. “Surely she wouldn’t let me.”
Norah shrugged. “We can see.”
The chief’s daughter jumped up eagerly, making Norah laugh, and the women made their way toward the river. The other grazing horses took little notice of them as they approached, but the mare tossed her head and snorted.
“Easy,” Norah called to her. “I bring a friend who wants to meet you.”
The mare shook her head again but let them draw near. Norah scratched her neck under the thick mane and gave her a gentle pat. Turning back to Tahla, she held out her hand. “Come here.”
Speechless, Tahla stepped closer, and Norah brought their hands together to the creature’s silver coat. Tahla let out an emotional breath, running her hand down the mare’s neck. Norah smiled at the love and respect the chief’s daughter had for the animal. This horse was special. Norah just wished she knew what her connection was to it.
Norah grabbed a fistful of mane and pulled herself onto the mare’s back. “I think she likes you,” Norah said, reaching down. “Do you want to try a ride?”
“What?” Tahla breathed in disbelief.
“Come on.”
Tahla patted the mare gently, unsure, but she grasped Norah’s hand. Norah pulled her up and behind her. The mare danced anxiously but seemed amenable.
“Good?” Norah asked.
“Beyond!” Tahla exclaimed. “I’ve only dreamed of such things!”
“Let’s go!” Norah whispered to the mare, and the beast kicked into a gallop along the river. The rippling water caught the last rays of sun, and the curve of the earth rose to meet them. Tahla let out a squeal of joy, spreading her arms wide, as if in flight, and Norah laughed. Norah urged the mare faster, and they flew over the banks of the river. The wind whipped through their hair, and tears stung Norah’s eyes. Finally, she slowed the mare to a walk, breathless.
“I can’t believe this is happening!” Tahla squealed.
Norah smiled back at her.
“It feels like we’ve left the earth behind.” The chief’s daughter laughed, looking into the purple sunset. “And now we ride among the heavens.”
It was heavenly. Beauty lay all around them, but the weight of her circumstance pulled her spirit back. “I suppose we should return.” Norah sighed. “The king will have noticed my absence and fear my escape.”
“Your escape?” Tahla asked. Then she paused as the realization came to her. “You don’t want to marry him?”
Norah’s silence answered for her.
“Look,” Tahla told her, pointing behind them. Norah slowed the mare to a stop and looked behind them. There were no tracks along the muddy bank of the river, no trail of their ride. Norah’s breath caught in her throat.
“See?” the chief’s daughter said. “The power of Savantahla.”
Norah let out a shaky breath, realizing her chance.
“You could go,” Tahla said softly. “If this isn’t what you want, if you don’t want to marry him.”
Norah wanted to run. She closed her eyes and breathed in the pull of freedom. “Why would you help me?” she asked Tahla. “Is Kharav not your ally? Your friend?”
Tahla paused for a moment, and then let out a breath. “Six years ago, my father forced me to marry. And on my wedding night, when I didn’t want to give myself to him, my husband beat me, then took me anyway.”
“Oh, Tahla. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. I got my revenge.”
Norah’s stomach turned. Was that her future?
“Salar’s a good man,” Tahla said, seeming to read her mind. “And he’ll be a good husband. But I’ll not be idle for a woman marrying against her will. Ride two days west, past the ruins of Choan, and then turn north. You’ll find yourself deep into the Tribelands, but with Savantahla, any tribe will give you shelter, safety, provisions.”