Four Horses For Tishtry Read Online Free Page B

Apollonia. Nothing else will work.”
    “I had not considered that,” Barantosz said, trying to show his approval.
    “I have. It’s all I’ve had to think about these evenings. I want to show you that I can improve.”
    “And show your worth so that you can earn enough to buy your family’s freedom,” Barantosz finished for her. “A worthy ambition for you. I have already placed the valuation with the court, and the price is fixed. I have also given my word that I will not sell any of them for a period of five years—barring bankruptcy or war, of course—so that you will have time enough to get the money needed.”
    Tishtry stopped walking her horses again. “Why are you being so reasonable? There are other masters who would not do this.”
    “There are good reasons for Armenians to cooperate with the Romans. The Romans are very strict in their slave laws, and they are not pleased when their laws are abused. I have a license to sell mules and horses to them, and the authority from our King to breed up to five hundred horses. You are a good girl, Tishtry, and your father is a good man, but none of you are worth that government license. So I will do all that I can to uphold the Roman slave laws, and be careful in my conduct. I want to have another license next year, and the year after that. It is my hope that I will have a thousand horses here in ten years, but that will not happen if the Romans do not approve of how I run my business.” He nodded slowly. “So you see, girl, I have no reason to play you false. And you have every reason to do the best that you are able, so that you may free your family at last. It is in both our interests that you perform and improve.” He stroked Shirdas. “Your horses are a testimony to the quality of my animals. Take good care of them.”
    “As you have already reminded me, it is in my best interests to do that.” She lifted her chin to stare at him. “And besides, they are mine.”
    Barantosz made a growling sound that Tishtry knew was his way of chuckling. “You’re right; they’re yours.”

IT WAS difficult for Tishtry to look at Soduz because she was afraid that she would cry, and that would be wrong. The four months since she had received her team had passed too quickly. She took the cup of watered wine he offered and drank the stuff down much more quickly than she usually did. “Then it is set? I leave in three days?”
    “Yes. Barantosz was pleased at the report of his neighbors, and so there’s no reason to keep you here. The Games at Apollonia begin in a month, and this way you will have a little time to get used to the larger arena, and the team can, too.” He coughed once to clear his throat. “I said you’d be ready.”
    The time had gone by so fast, Tishtry thought. She had assumed it would be much longer—always in the past the months had crept by. Now she was about to leave and it seemed only a few days ago, not four months, that her master had outlined his plans for her. “I ... I’llbe ready.”
    “Good. There will be a group of trainers going to Apollonia for the spring bidding, and Barantosz has said that you will go with him. After you arrive in Apollonia, he will pay the fees to enter you, and from then it is up to the Master of the Bestiarii to decide where you will do the best.”
    “Fine.” She wished that they were not alone. Her mother and her father’s other wife would let her have the chance to cry.
    “Macon has almost finished the saddles. She might be able to go with you.” He doubted that Barantosz would be willing to stand the cost of taking another slave with him, but he could see how miserable Tishtry was, and he knew he had to make the effort, even if nothing came of it.
    “I’ve practiced with the two she has finished,” Tishtry said, hardly knowing what she meant. Being without Macon was unthinkable. She could not face losing all her family so completely.
    “Good. You’ll do fine in Apollonia. I have heard that