Four Horses For Tishtry Read Online Free Page A

months away. Are you prepared to be ready to perform there?”
    The question came so abruptly that Tishtry stopped walking and was bumped into by Dozei. She resumed walking, a bit embarrassed at being inept with her horses. “Five months? Why not? I will have these horses ready before then.”
    “I will arrange for a party of local horse breeders and wine growers to watch you before then. You will see how they like you, and listen to what they have to say, so that you can correct any faults they may notice. You’re very young, girl, and you still have much to learn.” His face was a bit flushed, but whether from awkwardness or from exercise, Tishtry did not know. “I expect you to do very well.”
    “I will do everything I can to justify your confidence in me,” she said, a little stiffly. It was correct to address the master with formality, but the proper phrases came badly to her. “I know I am young. I know I have much to learn. My father has reminded me of this every day since I was six. He probably did so before then, but I no longer recall it. I do not need to be reminded again.”
    “You will also have to learn to guard your tongue. I am a liberal master, and I do not want my slaves to be silent, but there are others who are less willing to tolerate such conduct. Remember that when you are in Apollonia.” He panted when he was through, as if he had been running instead of talking. “Have Minish make you some new clothes. Leather leggings and tunica if you like, but with a little more ... dash. Have the leather dyed in bright colors, or fringed, or something so that you do not look like a stable hand. Ask Minish what she suggests. She has seen arena performers. She’ll know what’s best to do.”
    “As you wish,” Tishtry said, more baffled than ever by this unexpected kindness. “Is there anything else you require of me, or am I free to finish looking after my team? They need currying.”
    “Take care of your team,” Barantosz said with the practicality of a man who had worked with horses for a long time. “When they are stabled and you have seen Minish, then come to my study with your father, and I will see you have a copy of the deed to your horses, as well as a proper chest to keep it in. Nothing too large, so that you may carry it with you. I’llalso provide a blanket authorization that will permit you to decide how you want to perform, so that you will not find yourself having to argue at a later date.” He looked at her thoughtfully. “You will have to learn more tricks, of course, but you know enough for Apollonia. If you intend to go further, you should start now to learn new tricks.”
    “Yes. I’ve been thinking about that,” Tishtry said, surprised at the generosity that Barantosz was showing her. “I can jump from back to back of the team while they gallop, but I’ve been trying to find a way to do a somersault in the air while I leap, and then land on the next horse. I can do it coming off the back, but not going from one to another. I also want to find some way to get from the chariot onto their backs without just climbing. It seems so ... ordinary, doing that.”
    “A good start,” Barantosz agreed. “And you might teach the horses to do more, you know, to change paces together while you’re on them, or to dance while you’re in the chariot. All those things would be interesting.” He tried to smile, but his face was not used to it and he ended up looking as if he had a headache or a sore tooth. “I could ask some of the other horse breeders who have charioteers, if you like, what tricks their bestiarii can do. You might learn something from—”
    It was wrong for a slave to interrupt a master, but Tishtry did. “No, not anyone here. Everyone will have seen what they can do, and will compare me to the others, and all that will happen is that I will look like a beginner, which I am. If I am to learn new tricks, I must think of them myself, or wait until I arrive in