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THE WOMAN WHO RIDES LIKE A MAN - Tamora Pierce



THE WOMAN WHO RIDES LIKE A MAN
Tamora Pierce
[15 nov 2002тАФscanned for #bookz]
[24 nov 2002тАФproofread by #bookz, help from newbee]



1тАФThe Woman Who Rides Like a Man
Lanna of Trebond, the sole woman knight in the realm of Tortall, splashed happily in the waters of an
oasis, enjoying her first bath in three days. Hard to believe that it's winter in the north, she reflected. In
the Southern Desert the temperatures were just right, although she objected to so much sand.
"Best hurry up," Coram told her. Her burly man-at-arms stood guard on the other side of the bushes that
concealed the pool. "If this is a Bazhir waterin' place, we don't want to wait and find out if they swear for
the King or against him."
Alanna stepped out of the water, grabbing her clothes. She had no urge to meet any Bazhir tribesmen,
particularly not renegades. She and Coram were bound for Tyra in the south, and coming to battle with
the warlike desert men would cut their journey very short.
Drying off, the young knight pulled on a boy's blue shirt and breeches. Although her femininity was not
the secret it had been when she trained in the royal palace, Alanna still preferred the freedom of men's
clothing. It was odd to remember that the last time she bathed in an oasis, she had been a page and Prince
Jonathan had just found out she was a girl. Those daysтАФthe days in which she bound her chest flat and
never went swimmingтАФwere gone. She didn't miss them.
Faithful, her pet cat, was yowling a warning. "Alanna!" Coram yelled, seconding the cat. "We've got
trouble!"
Grabbing her sword, Alanna raced for Coram and the horses. An approaching cloud of dust indicated
tribesmen or robbers, and she grimaced as she threw herself into Moonlight's saddle. She trotted forward
to meet Faithful, a small black streak racing toward her across the sand. The cat leaped, landing squarely
in front of his mistress, before climbing into the leather cup that was his position on her saddle. Alanna's
gentle mare held steady, used to the cat's abrupt comings and goings.
"Let's try to reach the road!" Alanna told Coram.
They rode hard, Alanna crouched low over Moonlight's pale mane. She looked back to see Co-ram
shaking his head. "It's no good," he was bellowing. "They've spotted us! Ride onтАФI'll hold 'em!"
Alanna wheeled and stopped, Lightning glittering in her hand. "What sort of friend d'you think I am?
We'll wait for them here."
Coram swore. "If ye were my daughter, I'd tan yer hide! Go!"
Alanna shook her head stubbornly. She could see their pursuers now: they were hillmen, the worst of the
desert raiders. Reaching behind her, she unbuckled her shield from its straps, slipping it over her left arm.
Coram was following suit.


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 THE WOMAN WHO RIDES LIKE A MAN - Tamora Pierce

"Stubborn lass," he grumbled. "I'd druther tangle with ten Bazhir tribes than any hillmen."
Alanna nodded. The Bazhir were deadly fighters, but they had a strict code of honor. Hillmen lived for
killing and loot.