After the protracted and arduous ascent from the Spoiled Plains up to where the river Landrider cascaded down from the foothills of the Southron range, as Linden and her companions gained the plateau of the Upper Land, they found a figure on horseback awaiting them and patiently studying their approach.
His garb was as outlandish as had been that of the Harrow, the Ardent or the Mahdoubt; he wore trousers so deeply blue as to appear black with a yellow stripe down each leg and a scarlet high-collared tunic secured with a broad belt and gold buttons. On his head was a wide-brimmed tan campaign hat.
He faced their approach while mounted astride a snow-white horse. As they drew nearer, it became apparent that his seating there was unconventional, facing the horse's nethers.
Stave rode Hynyn close up beside Lynden. "Chosen, there are accounts of this man in the lore of the
Haruchai. It is said he is an untiring hunter of those whose deeds conduce ill ends, and that he never fails to catch those he seeks. He might be a potent ally.
"While we knew not of such beings when those stories first were shared in the mind-speech of my people, his deeds and the way he was known to us suggests that he may be an Insequent. In our tales, he is called The Mountie. However, there is another name mentioned_and if he is truly Insequent, that name may be a key to impel his aid to our cause."
Linden hardly heard him. Her entire focus was upon the stallion The Mountie rode. She slipped from Hyn's back, circled around the mounted figure until she met the eye of the beast bearing him. She drew a shuddering breath and spoke one word in a voice deeply affected by passion:
"Horse!"
At this, The Mountie's head snapped around "How do you know his name?"
Before she could answer, Hyn, Hynyn and Narunal all stamped and whinnied at once. Khelen made no move nor sound, but but both he and Jeremiah astride him were avid with attention as acrescendo of hoofbeats hearalded innumerable
Ranyhyn thundering from the southwest where the Plains of Ra stood in the distance beyond the horizon.
As the great horses arrived, forming a ring enclosing the company, Mahrtiir dismounted and respectfully stepped away from Narunal. Stave followed suit, dismounting from Hynyn, but the stallion turned and nuzzled the back of the
Haruchais head. Stave stopped immediately; despite his characteristic dispassion, it was clear that something had very much engaged his attention.
"So, this is the intendment of what was imparted to me in the horserite. Chosen, I mispoke a moment ago, but Hynyn has enlightened me, calling upon knowledge which I was given when you and I ran with the manes one dark night far away.
"Notwithstanding what has been handed down in
Haruchai legend, this man is neither Insequent nor anything more than the abettor of one far greater. Your utterance a moment ago touched on who that one is.
"Still, I must reiterate the question you were asked.
How did you know the name you spoke?"
Linden and the white horse had not broken eye contact throughout the arrival of the
Ranyhyn, nor while Stave spoke. They did not look away from each other now.
"Neither this man nor his steed are unknown to me. Many times have I seen him, posing as hero. I even know his real name. Although you now tell me it will have no power over him, I still say: Dudley Do-Right, get off The Horse!"
Dudley did as she asked, doffing his hat with characteristic politeness as he said, "But of course, dear lady. Just as Nell always seemed to know who the real hero was, clearly you do too. He has served me well, even if I have not always returned the favor. However, he has long awaited the time when he could return here to reclaim what he was forced to leave behind. His foe believed him dead_but he has merely taken sanctuary where Time runs differently than here.
"Surely, you know who The Horse is?"
Mahrtiir, Stave, Linden and Jeremiah spoke the name as one voice "Kelenbhrabanal!"
And the assembled
Ranyhyn nodded joyfully.
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