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Show said quietly into the device, and her calm voice resounded over the field. Activity came to a dead halt. "First centime," she continued, "prepare for a joust with Amateur Group One. Be careful not to draw blood," she said, "they are unschooled." She looked over the field which had immediately cleared except for a double row of one hundred horsemen-plumes and standards flying in the light breeze. "Warm up and good games! " She said, and was answered by a hundred-lung Commenium shout from the field. She put the device back into her belt and turned to look at the newcomers from Round Valley spread out behind Dr'Anya, Dr'Igor, and the others. "Get weapons and armor as needed," she called to them, "and stand by under cover." The Round Valley folk and those of Westwick melted into the surrounding cottages and embattlements, copses and thickets, and to Dr'Anya it looked as though the entire valley was completely empty except for the one hundred horsemen prancing around out in the field-and this in less than five minutes. She allowed herself a moment to marvel at this discipline and then frowned in puzzlement. Training indeed! And that which portended much more foresight than the few weeks elapsing since their first glimpse of the gathering Four Kingdoms forces, and much more tactical thought that merely honing their skills for tourney duels with disgruntled Bauercrats after the takeover! She turned at length, still troubled, and went to search out Janni. She found her in the equipment shed struggling into capeskin hauberk and helmet. "Here, my Mother," the girl said, tossing the good Dr'Anya an identical outfit. "If this were but a midsummer t o u r n e y . . . ! " Dr'Anya said, taking the 259 |