The Dragons of Sara Sara Read Online Free Page B

trouble had come to the village. The wild hordes of Tharsians from Mordos Gloom, the dark forest far to the east had taken to raiding farms and small villages bordering on the plains. They carried off the people and live stock and put all else to the torch. Word had got back to the city of the Queen, Nan Hai. The city lay in the south of the lowland country of Xiao Altai. The city of Nan Hai was ancient. It was said to be the most ancient city in the land. It had been built in a time long past by people long disappeared. Those living there now had come to the city only two thousand or so years ago, long after the great ages of the past had come to an end. Long after the last great battle between The Dark Lord and the Forces of Light. Long after the passing into myth and legend of the Lord of the Dragon Armies.
    The Dog and Girl began to fill rapidly. The men jostling for chairs and benches in the vast common room. The women heading instead to the house of the Women’s Council. Regardless of the men thinking that they alone ran things and made all the decisions, nothing took place without the approval of the women’s council. It had never been openly decided. It was just the way it was. In matters that effected the social and cultural life of the district the women held sway. In matters of the land, or of war and turmoil, the women gladly left matters to the men. So they said at least.
    Except for the Warrior Maidens. The Mare Altan. They were a law unto themselves. They were under the guidance of the elders of their clans. Those considered too old to fight, or those in whom the Gift of the Wind was strong formed the core of the clan. The young ones were the warriors. It was they who now kept the roving bands of Tharsians from destroying completely the otherwise peaceful life of the people of The Star Field Plain.
    It was hard to tell the age of these women. Not all were young, some showing streaks of grey at the temples, their hair pulled back and tied into braids that hung down their backs. Once a maiden came back from a raid with her hair in a braid it was a foolish foe who crossed her path after that. No girl taking up the spear and the bow could braid her hair until fully trained and considered so by her peers. This nearly always meant the death of an enemy in combat. With the Tharsians raiding out of Mordos Gloom on a regular basis the warriors were in no short supply of enemies. The Queen’s Guard were many weeks away to the south, and the Catharsis raids were left to the warriors of the plain to deal with. It was the Spear Maidens who kept the peace and security of the Star Field Plain. Indeed throughout the whole of Da Altai and Xiao Altai. The last Trader to put a number to them had counted fourteen clans across Da Altai and each of these had a number of septs making up the clan. It had been the same in Xiao Altai. Fourteen clans, and septs making up each clan. The sept numbers were unknown, and apparently a secret. It still made up a number of well over one thousand warriors. It was said that a squad of Maidens could run down a horse and still continue on at a steady pace for as long as they chose. Horses formed a part of their lives, but many a foe had found that the maidens were just as deadly on foot as mounted. Perhaps more so.
    Their clothes were the colours of the land, all browns and greens and greys. They could hide behind a blade of grass it was said. As deadly as they were in battle, they were still the children of the villagers and farmers of the districts, and were treated still as their children by the mothers. It was a matter of great pride for a family to have a daughter take up the spear or a son to join the secretive societies of the warrior men. Those girls found to have the Gift of the Wind had no choice. They were shown respect and love, and included in the daily lives of the people of the plains. Only their foes need have fear of them.
    In all cases though, the girls left home and moved to the