Mary Herbert: Dark Horse

Athlone and Gabria stood by the mound as the quiet twilight dimmed. Overhead, a hawk soared in the cool evening breeze.

“Do you think he was terribly disappointed with me?” Gabria asked, looking up at the spears silhouetted against the sky.

“I doubt it. Surprised, maybe. But he would have been proud of your courage,” Athlone replied.

She laid her head back on his shoulder. “Do you suppose he would have put me to death for joining his werod?”

Athlone chuckled. “Father would probably have considered marriage to me punishment enough.”

“But what. . .”

He tilted her head up. “Enough questions.” Then he gathered her close and kissed her.

High above them, the hawk cried once and swept away into the darkness.

Corin - Dathlar - Red

Khulinin - Savaric - Gold

Geldring - Branth - Green

Wylfling - Medb - Brown

Dangari - Koshyn - Indigo

Shadedron - Malech - Black

Reidhar - Caurus - Yellow

Amnok - Ferron - Gray

Murjik - Jol - Purple

Bahedin - Babur/Ryne - Orange

Jehanan - Sha Umar - Maroon

Ferganan - Quamar - Light Blue

Hearthguard:The chieftain’s personal bodyguards. These men are the elite warriors of the clan and are honored with this position for their bravery, skill, and loyalty.

Herd-master:The man responsible for the health, breeding, and well-being of the horse herds.

Holdings:Land granted to a clan for its use while in winter camp.

Outriders:Those werod riders who guard the herds and the camp or act as scouts.

Treld:A clan’s permanent winter camp.

Weir-geld:Recompense paid to the family of a murdered person in the form of gold or livestock, or by death in a personal duel.

Werod:The fighting body of a clan. Although all men are required to learn the rudiments of fighting, only those who pass certain tests make up the werod.

Wer-tain:The commander of the werod. These men are second only to the chieftain in authority.